Mudrock, Theresa. History Research My Way. Duluth: Libraries R Us, 1996.
The author contends that history research requires perserverance, imagination and a tolerance for both ambiguity and dust. She covers the intricacies of using an online catalog, the indiosyncracies of databases such as America History and Life and the Arts and Humanities Citation Index, and the challenges of primary source discovery. Interspersed in the book are amusing bons mots detailing personal research experiences. The book concludes with this wise advice, "consult a librarian."
The author, Theresa Mudrock, currently works as an underpaid reference librarian at the University of Washington. She holds two masters from the University of Washington in library science and international studies. Despite the lack of a Ph.D. she appears to be well-respected in the field. She has written extensively in the field of library research and historical research methodology. She has also taught courses in the subject over the last few years. In a recent interview on NPR, Ms. Mudrock attributed her interest in history research to her early childhood experiences in public libraries. Some of her recent works include:
Mudrock, Theresa. How You too Can Succeed at Library Research. Minneapolis: LibQ, 1992.
Mudrock, Theresa. "Finding Primary Sources in Dusty Libraries." Journal of Old Libraries 15 (1994): 342-343.
Mudrock, Theresa. "Tracking Down the Elusive Diary." Library Secrets 4 (1995): 122-143.
Mudrock, Theresa and Nancy Huling. History Research for Non-Historians. St. Paul: Historians R Us, 1992.
In addition, Ms. Mudrock has written a number of reviews for journals such as Library Secrets, Manuscript Musings and The Journal of Archives and Users.
History Research My Way has been reviewed extensively in the last few years in both the popular and academic press. The book has also been nominated as the best library book ever by the American Library Association. The reviews have been generally positive and have focused on the more technical aspects covered in the book. Many reviewers are especially appreciative of the author's amusing banter and commonsense approach to history research. The three reviews below are typical.
Huling, Nancy. Review of History Research My Way, by Theresa Mudrock. Journal of Serious Library Research 22 (1996): 135-137.
Huling's enthusiasm for this book is unmistakable. She begins the review stating that this is "the best book ever written. That librarian deserves a raise!" She goes on to highlight the many strengths of the book from the witty banter to the novel ways in which the author explains searching for secondary sources. Huling concludes that every history student in the world would do well to buy this book.
Aiken, Corine. Review of History Research My Way, by Theresa Mudrock. Journal of Semi-Serious Library Research 23 (1997): 138-139.
Aiken takes a more sober approach to this book. She notes that it is the first book written that truely addresses the notion that historical research is a creative process, an art rather than a science. Aiken is especially taken with Mudrock's embrace of ambiguity and serendipity as powerful motifs in historical research. She concludes that this book is more than a mere text on research but a philosophical and political manifesto for all of humanities research in the next milliennium.
Zald, Anne. Review of History Research My Way, by Theresa Mudrock. Research and More Research: A Journal 24 (1998): 140-145.
In this rather protracted review, Zald compares the book to two other recent books written on history research. She contends that Mudrock's book far exceeds those written by others in its breadth of coverage and especially in its wit and wisdom. Zald highlights the chapters on online catalogs and America History and Life as works of "simplicity and clarity unknown in library literature." She goes on to conclude that the excitement of history research as never been so well communicated as in this book.
In addition to the numerous reviews (I came across 16, 7 in popular magazines and 9 in scholarly journals in library science, education and history), the book has clearly had an impact on the field of history research methods as shown in the number of citations found in Arts and Humanities Citation Index. Since the publication of the book in 1996 it has been cited 23 times in journals as varied as The Scholarly Journal of History Librarians and Historian's Technological Review. The variety of disciplines embracing Mudrock's book is revealed in a sampling of the citing articles:
Huling, Nancy. "Administrative Support for Research Methods in Large, Overwhelming Research Libraries: A Modest Proposal." Meetings: The Journal of Library Administrators 15 (1998): 67-107.
Johnson, Richard. "How Librarians Help Historians: A Plea for Partnership." Journal of the Professor Society 16 (1999): 2-4.
Escalona, E.M. "Sexual Ramifications of Research: What Really Goes on in Libraries." Underground Campus: A Feminist Review 3 (1999): 15-26.
In conclusion it appears that Mudrock's book, History Research My Way, has had a tremendous impact on the field of library research and has even contributed to the broader conversation concerning the future of humanities research in the age of the internet. Any future researcher of history research methods would do well to consult this book.