It's often helpful to begin your research by reading the work of other historians. A literature review can also be a useful way to position your argument within the ongoing scholarly dialogue. Consider these secondary source options:
Books offer detailed information and interpretations of particular historical events and phenomena. For information on how to look up a book at UNLV Libraries, visit the Begin Finding Books tutorial. After you have completed the tutorial, search the Library Catalog for books pertaining to the 1954 mass deportation.
Scholarly journals present original research in specific fields. Articles in them are reviewed by other scholars to ensure they meet academic standards and rigor. For information on how to find journal articles at UNLV Libraries, visit the Finding Articles tutorial. For a list of databases that contain history-related articles, try the History Library Guide. After completing the tutorial, search several databases for the operation and related immigration programs. Read the articles you feel are most relevant to your research.
Perhaps the most underutilized secondary sources, theses and dissertations are products of original research crafted by students seeking graduate degrees. They can provide a wealth of information, can be excellent sources of historical interpretation, and and can often give a researcher ideas of possible locations of primary sources.
Many of the theses and dissertations produced by students across the United States are added to UMI's Dissertations and Theses database. To access it, go to the list of databases of the UNLV Libraries' website and choose the Dissertations and Theses database. Alternatively, try searching the America: History and Life database and limiting your search to dissertations. Search for items related to Operation Wetback.
Now that you've done a brief review of the literature, what are some keywords other than "Operation Wetback" that you can use when conducting primary-source research?
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