The display features two works by Perkins herself: The Roosevelt I knew, and People at work. Readers will also find biographies including Madam Secretary, Frances Perkins and Frances Perkins : a member of the Cabinet, and contextualising works such as Nothing to fear : FDR’s inner circle and the hundred days that created modern America, Challenge and change : a brief history [of the U.S. Department of Labor, 1913-1963, and For the many : American feminists and the global fight for democratic equality.

Library staff have also selected online resources which may be of interest to those wanting to learn more about Perkins’ life and legacy. The Library of Congress research guide and the Frances Perkins Center website both provide biographical information and links to a range of other resources for further research. Readers may also be interested in Time magazine’s August 1933 article, Labor: Truce at a Crisis, which discusses her appointment as Secretary of Labor, or in chapter 3 of U.S. Department of Labor: the first seventy-five years, which discusses the period 1933-1945 during which Perkins served in that role.

The book display can be found on the ground floor of the Vere Harmsworth Library by the comfy chairs towards the back of the room. Books are labelled as loanable or for library use only, and links to ebooks are given where the Bodleian has ebook access.

If you have any questions about working in the Vere Harmsworth Library, please email vhl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

UPDATE: The scaffolding will be removed from the RAI Foyer on the morning of Thursday 9th April. As before, access into the building will be maintained, but the automated door will be out of use. Readers should expect some noise disturbance from the foyer during this time. [8.4.2026]

UPDATE: the scaffolding has been installed in the RAI Foyer, but the essential works have not yet been completed. The scaffolding remains in place, but access into the building is maintained, and the automated door can be used. We will continue to provide updates for when the scaffolding will be removed. [7.4.2026]

Essential works in the Rothermere American Institute (RAI) Foyer, will require the installation of scaffolding in the Foyer on the 2nd April, and removal of the scaffolding on the 7th April.

Entry into the RAI building and the Library will be maintained, but the automated door (on the far right as you approach the building entrance) will be unavailable. The revolving door and manual door on the far left will remain available. Signage will be provided outside for building users who are unable to access the building.

Access to the RAI basement level will be restricted.

The Library will remain open as per our currently advertised opening hours (9am-7pm). However, Readers should expect noise disruption whilst the scaffolding works are taking place. It is recommended that Readers sit on the western side of the Library (the side where the Group Study Rooms are located, closest to Rhodes House) and avoid the Mezzanine level. Readers may also request soft earbuds from the Library Enquiry Desk.

Please note that the library will also be closed, as previously advertised, on Friday 3rd April and Monday 6th April for the Easter Bank Holidays.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused during these works. If you have any questions about the works, or using the library during this time, please email vhl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Over this week, we will be releasing brief blogposts aimed at helping researchers find primary sources on the American Revolutionary War, in a variety of different formats, geographic focus and subject areas. It is intended to help those interested in the War, who may already have some general knowledge on the subject, to dig deeper into the different primary sources available and start their own research journey.

This guide is primarily aimed at Oxford students and researchers, and some resources will require subscription access via SSO or access to the print collections across the Bodleian Libraries, but Open Access resources are also included. This is not meant to be a complete guide nor will it be updated with new resources going forward.

This is Part 3: British and French perspectives and the information has been kindly provided by Isabel Holowaty, History Librarian (Research), who provides subject support for British and Western European History.

The American Revolution through British eyes

The American Revolution was profoundly significant in shaping Britain’s modern history. After the initial shock – the loss of its largest mainland colonies and suffering a humiliating military defeat – the events across the Atlantic ultimately led to a redefining of the limits, priorities, and meaning of British power. Within the British political establishment and public sphere, the Revolution intensified debates about representation and executive power, with the British government and British political discourse primarily framing the conflict as an internal constitutional crisis and rebellion.

Sources for the study of the American Revolution through British eyes include parliamentary and government sources, diplomatic papers and correspondence, writings and speeches of individuals, and the public press.

GOVERNMENTAL AND DIPLOMATIC SOURCES

• Journals of the House of Commons
• Cobbett’s Parliamentary History of Britain
• George III. By the King, a Proclamation, for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition. Boston: Printed by John Howe, 1775
• Simmons, R. C, and P. D. G Thomas. Proceedings and Debates of the British Parliaments Respecting North America, 1754-1783. Millwood, N.Y: Kraus International Publications, 1982.
• Knox, William. Extra Official State Papers : Addressed to the Right Hon. Lord Rawdon, and the Other Members of the Two Houses of Parliament, Associated for the Preservation of the Constitution and Promoting the Prosperity of the British Empire. Dublin: London printed, Dublin reprinted …, 2018.
• A Complete Collection of All the Protests of the Peers in Parliament, Entered on Their Journals, since the Year 1774, on the Great Questions of the Cause and Issue of the War between Great-Britain and America, &c to the Present Time. London: printed for J. Stockdale, opposite Burlington House, Piccadilly, 1782.
• Dickinson, H. T. British Pamphlets on the American Revolution, 1763-1785. 8 vols. Pickering & Chatto, 2007-
• Moore, Frank. The Diary of the Revolution : A Centennial Volume Embracing the Current Events in Our Country’s History from 1775 to 1781 as Described by American, British, and Tory Cotemporaries. Hartford: J.B. Burr, 1876.
• Burke, Edmund, and James Rivington. The Speech of Edmund Burke, Esquire, on Moving His Resolutions for Conciliation with the Colonies, March 22d, 1775. New-York: Printed by James Rivington, 1775.

THE PUBLIC PRESS

Newspapers are an excellent source to reveal how the American Revolution was understood, debated, and experienced at the time, not just how it unfolded politically or militarily. They provide direct access to contemporary opinion and public debate as published in the press. The press also helps historians trace the circulation of ideas across the Atlantic world. For instance, newspapers frequently reprinted speeches, pamphlets, letters, and reports from Britain, the colonies, and Europe. As such, newspapers are a useful foil to the debates in the political establishment.

Check out our guide to newspaper resources which cover historical national and regional newspapers for Britain & Ireland and France.

• Hinkhouse, Fred Junkin. The Preliminaries of the American Revolution as Seen in the English Press, 1763-1775. New York: Columbia University Press, 1926.
• Bickham, Troy O. Making Headlines : The American Revolution as Seen through the British Press. DeKalb, Ill: Northern Illinois University Press, 2009.
• Grant, Alfred. Our American Brethren : A History of Letters in the British Press during the American Revolution, 1775-1781. Jefferson, N.C ; McFarland, 1995.
• Bickham, Troy O. “Sympathizing with Sedition? George Washington, the British Press, and British Attitudes during the American War of Independence.” The William and Mary Quarterly 59.1 (2002): 101–122.
• The American Revolution from a British Perspective (database) 11 volumes published in Britain and Ireland, related to the American Revolution and related American topics, primarily taken from those listed in Thomas R. Adams’ The American Controversy. Providence : Brown University Press 1980.

Major newspapers

• The London Gazette: the first official journal of record and the newspaper of the Crown, which presented an official framing of the war and proclamations.
• The Public Advertiser: one of the most widely read London newspapers which published parliamentary news, war reports, and political letters, including radical critiques.
• The London Chronicle: a popular, accessible paper with extensive coverage of military events and colonial affairs; Important for gauging middle-class opinion and war weariness.
• The Morning Chronicle: Often critical of ministerial handling of the war in 1780s and 1790s. From 1789 increasingly sympathetic to opposition Whig views.
• The Gentleman’s Magazine: Highly influential and circulated monthly periodical which reprinted speeches, pamphlet extracts, letters, and news from America. Useful for understanding how American events were digested by a broad reading public.

Some personal views:

• British and Irish Women’s Letters and Diaries 1500-1950 (database)
• Electronic Enlightenment (database of digitised correspondence)
• Eighteenth Century Collections Online (digital library of C18th century publications)
• Smith, Paul H, and Library of Congress. American Revolution Bicentennial Office. English Defenders of American Freedoms, 1774-1778 : Six Pamphlets Attacking British Policy. Washington: Library of Congress, 1972.
• Sainsbury, John. Disaffected Patriots : London Supporters of Revolutionary America 1769-1782. Kingston [Ont: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1987.

USEFUL READINGS

Kamensky, Jane, and Edward G Gray. The Oxford Handbook of the American Revolution. 1st ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.

Conway, Stephen. “From Fellow-Nationals to Foreigners: British Perceptions of the Americans, circa 1739-1783.” The William and Mary Quarterly 59.1 (2002): 65–100.

To find more readings, use the following subject search in SOLO:

“United States — History — Revolution, 1775-1783 — Foreign public opinion, British”

The American Revolution through French eyes

In contrast to Britain, France framed the American Revolution largely as an international struggle and an opportunity to restore strategic balance within Europe, esp. after the Seven Years’ War. The initial diplomatic approach was outwardly neutral combined with some covert encouragement. During the Revolution, France adopted a more overtly critical stance towards Britain and supportive of the American cause, not least for ideological sympathies. Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes and French foreign minister 1774-1787, was the central figure in shaping French diplomatic policy.

French sources

GOVERNMENTAL AND DIPLOMATIC SOURCES

• Assemblée nationale — Archives & historical collections
• Gallica (French Digital Library) > 18^th century diplomatic sources
• Louis XVI et al. Louis XVI and the Comte de Vergennes : Correspondence 1774-1787. Oxford: Voltaire Foundation, 1998.
• Vergennes, Charles Gravier. Correspondence. Oxford: Electronic Enlightenment Project, 2008.
• Gérard, Conrad Alexandre, Charles Gravier Vergennes, and John J Meng. Despatches and Instructions of Conrad Alexandre Gérard, 1778-1780 : Correspondence of the First French Minister to the United States with the Comte de Vergennes. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1939.
• Écrits autour des Révolutions américaine et française
• Traité d’amitié et de commerce, conclu entre le Roi et les États-Unis de l’Amérique septentrionale, le 6 février 1778 (1778)
• Treaty of Alliance with France / Traité d’alliance (1778)
• Stanley J. Idzerda (ed.), Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers. Ithaca, N.Y: Cornell University Press, 1977.

THE PUBLIC PRESS

Check out our guide to newspaper resources which cover historical national and regional newspapers for France.

Newspapers and Gazettes

• Gazette de France: official newspaper of the monarchy which carefully framed American events.
• Mercure de France: one of the most important literary-political journals which published essays, poems, and commentary celebrating American liberty and figures like Franklin.

Journals and Reviews

• Affiches, annonces et avis divers (via Gallica): regional papers that largely spread enthusiasm for the American cause beyond Paris. The availability of issues for this period is very mixed so you may need to search Gallica in more detail.
• Journal de Paris: the first daily newspaper in France which covered American events in an accessible, non-specialist tone.

Some personal views:

• Electronic Enlightenment (database of digitised correspondence of writers & thinkers)
• Raynal, Guillaume Thomas. The sentiments of a foreigner, on the disputes of Great-Britain with America. Translated from the French. Philadelphia: Printed by James Humphreys, Junior; 1775

USEFUL READINGS

Corwin, Edward S. French Policy and the American Alliance of 1778. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1916.

To find more readings, use the following subject search in SOLO:

“United States History Revolution, 1775-1783 Foreign public opinion, French“

For more guidance on finding resources related to American History, contact bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

For more guidance on finding resources related to British and Western European History, check the online Bodleian guide or contact isabel.holowaty@bodleian.ox.ac.uk or rachel.darcy-brown@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Over this week, we will be releasing brief blogposts aimed at helping researchers find primary sources on the American Revolutionary War, in a variety of different formats, geographic focus and subject areas. It is intended to help those interested in the War, who may already have some general knowledge on the subject, to dig deeper into the different primary sources available and start their own research journey.

This guide is primarily aimed at Oxford students and researchers, and some resources will require subscription access via SSO, but Open Access resources are also included. This is not meant to be a complete guide nor will it be updated with new resources going forward.

This is Part 2: archival documents, maps and state histories.

US archival documents– printed and manuscript

• America in Records from Colonial Missionaries, 1635-1928 [Requires Oxford University SSO to access]

This collection is part of the archives of the United Society Partners in Gospel (USPG) or Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG) related to the activities of the North American branch. The collection includes correspondence and journals from missionaries documenting life during the American Revolution (the B and C series letter books) as well as sermons and responses from the Society. Note: the Weston Library holds the physical collections of the USPG.

• American Antiquarian Society Historical Periodicals Collection [Requires Oxford University SSO to access]

The full text of thousands of American periodicals published between 1684 and 1912, digitised from the collections of the American Antiquarian Society. Search full-text, browse by publication date or search by Subject Terms (“American Revolutionary War, 1775-1783”).

• American Battlefield Trust: Primary Sources

This online site contains a range of transcribed primary sources. Although mostly aimed at younger ages, the sources provide a useful glimpse into American military history. Sources can be filtered to the American Revolutionary War.

• American Periodicals 1740-1940 [Requires Oxford University SSO to access]

Digitised images of the pages of American magazines and journals published from colonial days to the dawn of the 20th century. It includes 89 journals published between 1740 and 1800 which offer insights into America’s transition from colonial times to independence. It includes one of the first mass printings of the Declaration of Independence, a letter by George Washington on the crucial Battle of Trenton, and the writings and publications of Benjamin Franklin.

• Early American Imprints: Evans [Requires Oxford University SSO to access]

Collection of early printed American imprints (1639-1800). Over 37,000+ imprints embrace every aspect of life in 17th and 18th century America. Includes printed books, pamphlets and broadsides, alongside advertisements, chapbooks, diaries, gazetteers, hymnals, wills and more. Covers the Revolutionary War period – limit your search by date or use terms such as “American Revolutionary War” or “Continental Army.

Maps

Maps provide a useful visual tool to understand the military positions of both sides during the American Revolutionary War, as well as the British, French and American understanding of the country. They were also tools used by both sides to plan their next moves.

• American Battlefield Trust: Animated Battle Maps

The Animated Map Collection helps to bring the story of America’s past to life, while illustrating the important role that these conflicts and battlefields played. Although aimed at younger audiences, this provides useful information about the American Revolutionary War’s battles.

• American Revolution and Its Era: Maps and Charts of North America and the West Indies, 1750 to 1789

Digitised maps from the collections of the Library of Congress. Includes general mapping of the geography and terrain, as well as military movements and encampments. Maps are sourced from seven different countries, including the United States, Britain and France.

• American Revolutionary Geographies Online (ARGO)

A digital portal that collates digitized maps of North America made between 1750 and 1800 into a single place, sourced from 20 different libraries and archives. Maps can be searched by specific areas, time periods, colonial powers or native tribes, or by map features (such as images of animals).

Histories of the American Revolutionary War by state

Each American state has their own archive and library, which will include digitised collections related to their histories. The National Archives has a webpage which lists all digital state and territorial collections. You might also want to check University collections based in your state of interest.

The below are resources from the original 13 colonies specifically on the American Revolutionary War, or created to mark the Semiquincentennial.

Connecticut

• America 250 Connecticut: Online Resources
• Connecticut State Library: Revolutionary War and a new nation (1775-1815)

Delaware

• Delaware 250: Resources
• Delaware State Library: Delaware Celebrates America at 250!

Massachusetts

• Revolution 250: Resources
• Massachusetts State Archive: America 250 Collection

New Hampshire

• New Hampshire 250: Revolutionary New Hampshire

New Jersey

• Revolutionary New Jersey: Resources
• New Jersey State Library: Revolutionary War

New York

• New York State Library: American Revolutionary War
• New York State Museum: Revolutionary Research

North Carolina

• North Carolina 250: For researchers
• North Carolina 250: Revolutionary NC

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania State Archives: Revolutionary War Records Overview
• The State Library of Pennsylvania celebrates America 250

South Carolina

• SC250: Education Resources

Next time…. finding British and French sources!

For more guidance on finding resources related to American History, contact bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Some of the books on display, such as The Hollywood motion picture blacklist : seventy-five years later and The Academy and the award : the coming of age of Oscar and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, focus on specific aspects of the film industry, while others like The American drive-in movie theater and Videoland : movie culture at the American video store look at the culture around watching movies. Other books examine the impact of specific filmmakers and studios, with titles including Stanley Kubrick : American filmmaker, Understanding Disney : the manufacture of fantasy, and The Warner brothers, or specific places, such as Fade in, crossroads : a history of the southern cinema and Tinsel and rust : how Hollywood manufactured the Rust Belt.

Looking at the wider picture, some of the selected titles explore the various ways in which the American film industry interacts with politics, such as Hollywood goes to war : films and American society, 1939-1952, The sky is falling! : the unexpected politics of Hollywood’s superheroes and zombies, and Hollywood’s long civil war. Other areas covered by the display include representation and identity in American films, through titles such as Black Caesars and foxy Cleopatras : a history of blaxploitation in cinema, Fade in, crossroads : a history of the southern cinema, and Queer cinema in America : an encyclopedia of LGBTQ films, characters, and stories.

The display also highlights the following online resources which may be of interest:

• The Bodleian’s Film Studies LibGuide is intended to help users find books, films and online resources such as ebooks, journals, and bibliographic databases on film studies topics.
• The Media History Digital Library is a free online resource featuring millions of pages of books and magazines from the histories of film, broadcasting, and recorded sound. Users can search US collections specifically, and there are short guides to topics such as “Early cinema” and the “Hollywood studio system”.
• The National Film Preservation Board webpages on the Library of Congress website provide information about film-related resources. Of particular use may be General Film Publications & Guides, and Public Research Centers & Archives, which gives a long list of archives and research centres, with the ones in the US organised by state.

The book display can be found on the ground floor of the Vere Harmsworth Library by the comfy chairs towards the back of the room. Books are labelled as loanable or for library use only, and links to ebooks are given where the Bodleian has ebook access.

If you have any questions about working in the Vere Harmsworth Library, please email vhl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Over this week, we will be releasing brief blogposts aimed at helping researchers find primary sources on the American Revolutionary War, in a variety of different formats, geographic focus and subject areas. It is intended to help those interested in the War, who may already have some general knowledge on the subject, to dig deeper into the different primary sources available and start their own research journey.

This guide is primarily aimed at Oxford students and researchers, and some resources will require subscription access via SSO, but Open Access resources are also included. This is not meant to be a complete guide nor will it be updated with new resources going forward.

This is Part 1: Useful Starting Points, Founding Documents and Founding Fathers.

Some good starting points

• Oxford Guide to US History: Colonial/Revolutionary Era

This is our Bodleian online guide to everything related to US History, Politics and Culture at Oxford, with new subscriptions and resources regularly updated. This specific page relates to the Colonial and Revolutionary era, and includes a range of different primary sources.

• Library of Congress guide on the American Revolution

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, and includes a range of resources on US and global history. They also produce useful research guides, like the one linked above, which summarise their collections (both digitised and physical), and recommended external resources.

• The Smithsonian: American Revolution: A Fight for Independence

The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. Here you can find a snapshot of the material history of the American Revolutionary War, including portraits, pamphlets and objects.

• The American Revolution Institute: Digital Archive

Part of Society of Cincinnati Historical Society, the collection includes contemporary books, prints, maps and manuscripts from the period. This link is for the digitised collections, but the main website also includes online exhibitions and further information.

• Museum of the American Revolution

Based in Philadelphia, the online pages of the museum includes a catalogue of the key items, online exhibitions, interactive features and wider bibliographies. 

Founding Documents and Official Papers

• America’s National Founding Documents

Hosted by the US National Archives, this webpage includes digitisations, transcripts and historic background of three key documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the US Bill of Rights.

• Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789

Hosted by the Library of Congress, this collection includes 277 documents relating to the work of Congress and the drafting and ratification of the Constitution. Items include extracts of the journals of Congress, resolutions, proclamations, committee reports, treaties, and early printed versions of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

• The Documentary History and Ratification of the Constitution (Digital Edition) [Requires Oxford University SSO to access]

This landmark work in historical and legal scholarship draws upon thousands of sources to trace the Constitution’s progress through each of the thirteen states’ conventions.

Founding Fathers

• American Founders: A Guide to Their Online Papers and Publications

Detailed Guide from the Library of Congress for each American Founder, including further links and bibliographies. The Library of Congress holds and has digitised the papers of several key political figures and presidents, such as Washington, Hamilton, Franklin and Jefferson

• Founders Online

Based on the records of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). Includes correspondence and other papers of seven key figures from the American Revolutionary era.

• Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Overview provided by the Smithsonian of each signer of the Declaration of Independence, with portraits and further bibliographic information.

Next time…. archival sources, maps and state histories!

For more guidance on finding resources related to American History, contact bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

I am pleased to report that the Oxford University members now have trial access to the Adam Matthew database Sex and Sexuality (parts I and II). This trial will run until the 28th February 2026.

Researchers may also be interested in our trial access to LGBTQ+ Life in America. Find out more via our previous blogpost.

About Sex and Sexuality

Please be aware that this resource contains material of a sexually explicit nature. Content includes, but is not limited to, descriptions and imagery of sexual violence; non-consensual sexual activity; sexual activity including minors; surgery and suicide.

From papers of leading sexologists to LGBTQI+ personal histories, Sex & Sexuality allows researchers to explore changing attitudes to human sexuality, gender and sexual behaviour. Geographic coverage is primarily in the United States, but also includes archival material from the UK and Australia.

Module I is sourced solely from the Kinsey Institute Library and Special Collections

Module II is sourced from US, UK and Australian archives, and focus on personal experiences and self-expression.

About the US based collections

Collections sourced from the Kinsey Institute Library and Special Collections include:

• The personal and professional correspondence of Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey, founder and Director of the Institute (1935-1956)
• Professional and personal correspondence of the 2nd-3rd Directors of the Institute.
• Articles and correspondence related to “The Kinsey Report”, a sexual advice column from the 1980s-early 90s.
• Annual reports from the founding up to the 1980s.
• Papers of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex (SSSS)
• Papers of key researchers associated with the Institute or later donated, such as Alice Fields, Harry Benjamin and James W. Edwards.
• Ephemeral collections of leaflets, pamphlets, newsletters, magazines and “pulp fiction” including discussions of depictions of sexual behaviour, or pornographic material.

Collections sourced from the One Archives at the USC Libraries include:

• LGBTQ+ activists, such as Adele Starr, founder of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG).
• LGBTQ+ individuals, providing insights into their personal lives and relationships.
• Papers of various Community and Activist Groups, many of which are based in Los Angeles but also includes national organisations.
• Pamphlets such as Little Blue Series, part of the Halderman-Julius Publications.

Oxford University members can access the resource via this link. Note that you will need your Oxford SSO to access.

Please send any feedback about this database to bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk and isabel.holowaty@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

I am pleased to report that the Vere Harmsworth Library has organised trial access to the Newsbank/Readex database LGBTQ+ Life in America. This trial will run from the 28th January until the 28th February 2026.

Researchers may also be interested in our trial access to Sex and Sexuality. Check our blogpost for more information.

About LGBTQ+ Life in America

Sourced from more than 16,000 American and global news publications, this resource provides insights into the reporting and voices of LGBTQ+ communities. Coverage begins from the earliest representations in American and global news up to the modern day. This includes historic coverage which may be difficult to identify due to the use of veiled language or media biases. Coverage starts from the 19th Century up to the present period.

Sources are full-text searchable and can be categorised by era, or researchers can use the Suggested Searches to find popular topics. These list some of the key events/themes/figures from each time period, providing a helpful overview for users who may not be familiar with the wider historical context.

Oxford University members can access the resource via this link. Note that you will need your Oxford SSO to access.

Please send any feedback about this database to bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Readers will be able to see the new selections on the Ground Floor of the Library. This area, as part of our agreement with the Association of American Rhodes Scholars (AARS), will be dedicated to displaying and promoting the Collection.

With the kind agreement of the AARS, two collection intakes will be taken each year, totalling $10,000 worth of books per year.

A selection of some of the book covers from the January 2026 intake.

You can view the full list here and you can view all selected Alain Locke Collection titles here.

About the collection

In spring 2021, the VHL and RAI agreed to create the Alain Locke Collection with support from the AARS. Named after the first African American Rhodes Scholar, the collection aims to focus on research monographs in the areas of African American history, politics, biography and culture, alongside notable gaps in material not produced by commercial publishers.

The Bodleian is committed to providing students and researchers with world class access to resources to enable them to fulfil their scholarly ambitions. We are therefore hugely grateful to the AARS for pledging a gift of $25,000 over five years supporting the Alain Locke Collection. This supports our intention for the VHL to become a leading centre for the study of African American history, politics, and culture.

The establishment of the Alain Locke Collection will allow the VHL to expand the purchase of African American focused research monographs, without affecting expenditure on other research areas. It will build on the VHL’s current holdings and run alongside the continued intake of research monographs via the legal deposit agreements and e-book packages. It will allow the VHL to identify and address potential gaps in some of the older materials. Most significantly, it will demonstrate our commitment to representing African American history and culture within our collections.

Current students and researchers can recommend titles to be purchased for the Alain Locke Collection by contacting the Vere Harmsworth Librarian (bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk).

If you have any further questions about the Alain Locke Collection, or the display, please contact Bethan Davies. To find out more about supporting the Vere Harmsworth Library and the Alain Locke collection please contact the Vere Harmsworth Library (vhl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk).

The books on display cover themes including food insecurity (Feeding the crisis : care and abandonment in America’s food safety net and Life on the other border : farmworkers and food justice in Vermont), consumer activism (Upsetting food : three eras of food protest in the United States), the relationship between food and identity (Eating while black : food shaming and race in America, A taste of power : food and American identities and Sameness in diversity : food and globalization in modern America) and more. A full list of the other titles on display can be found below.

The library team has also suggested a range of online resources for those interested in delving deeper into food studies. The Food and Foodways Web Archive is a selection of food-related websites archived by the Library of Congress. Civil Eats is a news site covering the politics of the American food system, with an emphasis on social justice and sustainability. The Conrad N. Hilton Library lists a range of open access digital collections on food history, with a focus on historical menus, recipes and cookery books, and the UC Berkley library suggests a broad range of online archives and collections relating to diverse aspects of food studies.

The book display can be found on the ground floor of the Vere Harmsworth Library by the comfy chairs towards the back of the room. Books are labelled as loanable or for library use only, and links to ebooks are given where the Bodleian has ebook access.

Other titles on display

• Dinner with the President : food, politics, and a history of breaking bread at the White House
• Food and agriculture during the Civil War
• Food in the American military : a history 
• Food in the Civil War era : the South 
• Food power politics : the food story of the Mississippi civil rights movement
• Food, health, and culture in Latino Los Angeles
• From label to table : regulating food in America in the information age 
• Grocery : the buying and selling of food in America 
• How America eats : a social history of U.S. food and culture
• Manly meals and mom’s home cooking : cookbooks and gender in modern America
• Native foods : agriculture, indigeneity, and settler colonialism in American history

If you have any questions about working in the Vere Harmsworth Library, please email vhl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.