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Course image Irish: Major Printed Sources
Intermediate Irish Records
Course Summary:

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Major Printed Sources

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

Printed sources can be contemporary to the period documented and often more reliable than later secondary sources for the same period. However, few are indexed and there tend to be large periods where even the printed sources themselves are not available. In Ireland, where many of the records have been destroyed or lost, what have survived are sporadic and incomplete. Contemporary-period printed sources by way of newspapers, directories, journals and local histories, occupational and society records often help establish human life events that may not be documented anywhere else. This course will discuss these printed sources available, information contained and their value, the challenges in accessing or using these records, locating source records, and discussing available bibliographies, indexes, and abstracts. 

Contact Hours: 21
Grading Scale: 70% Tests/30% Assignments
Course Length: 9 weeks
Course Content

MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
NEWSPAPER COLLECTIONS
Value of Historical Newspaper Collections
Challenges in the Use of Historical Newspapers
Social Context in Historical Newspapers
Social, Business and Political Details
Special-Interest Newspapers
Evaluating What You Find
A Brief History of Newspaper Publishing in Ireland

MODULE 2
NEWSPAPER COLLECTIONS ... continued
Description of Contents of Irish Newspapers
Dates of Coverage for Irish Newspapers
Types of Persons Covered in Irish Newspapers
Availability of Irish Newspapers
Bibliographies and Indexes to Irish Newspaper Collections

MODULE 3
DIRECTORIES AND ALMANACS
Value of Historical Directories and Almanacs
Challenges with the Use of Historical Directories and Almanacs
Description of Contents of Irish Directories and Almanacs
Dates of Coverage of Irish Directory and Almanac Collections
Types of Persons Covered in Irish Directories and Almanacs
Availability of Irish Directory Collections
Bibliography and Indexes to Irish Directory and Almanac Collections

MODULE 4
JOURNALS AND LOCAL HISTORIES
Value of Journals and Local History Publications
Challenges with Journals and Local Histories
Description of Contents of Journals and Local Histories
Dates of Coverage of Journals and Local Histories
Types of Persons Covered in Journals and Local Histories
Availability of Journals and Local Histories
Bibliographies and Indexes to Journal and Local History Collections

MODULE 5
OCCUPATIONAL RECORDS
Value of Occupational Records
Challenges with Occupational Records
Description of Contents of Occupational Records
Dates of Coverage of Occupational Records
Types of Persons Covered in Occupational Records
Availability of Occupational Records
Bibliographies and Indexes to Occupational Records

MODULE 6
SOCIETY RECORDS
Value of Society Records
Challenges with Society Records
Description of Contents of Society Records
Irish Freemasons
Fenian Brotherhood
Society of United Irishmen
Loyal Order of Orange Lodges
Dates of Coverage of Society Records
Types of Persons Covered in Society Records
Availability of Society Records
Bibliographies and Indexes to Society Records

MODULE 7
CASE STUDY