Top Eleven (free) Resources for Medieval Research

By Catherine Ambrose

Not all of us have access to online databases that universities now offer their students. As a matter of fact, most of us have no idea what is offered now, since it’s such a change from when we were all in school once upon a time. How do we get access to the research we need, and without paying upwards of a thousand dollars a year for a resource that we rarely use?

Some of these resources require local library cards – but for the most part, obtaining a library card is free if you live in the area.

1. Interlibrary Loan
Let’s face it: not all libraries have everything, especially if you live in a smaller town or city. With the advent of the internet, however, we’ve gotten a step closer to freedom of information by allowing books to be lent world-wide through a process known as “Interlibrary Loan”. If your library doesn’t have a resource that you need, talk to your librarian about it, and usually within a few weeks that resource will be in your hands – and usually at no cost.

2. WorldCat – (http://www.worldcat.org/ )
The mother of all library catalogs, WorldCat is a catalog that taps into nearly every library around the world, including many local libraries. Not sure where to find something you’ve been wanting to get your hands on? Switch over to WorldCat and you can see at a glance where the book is carried and how far it is. You can even request a loan straight from the site, as long as you belong to a local library. It’s a combination of one-stop shopping and research.

3. JSTOR
If WorldCat is the mother of all library catalogs, JSTOR is the father of all historical research databases. Combining a massive number of regularly-updated scholarly journals and magazines, JSTOR offers the best of the best in historical research, and all of their sources are peer-reviewed and checked thoroughly. While many local libraries do not have access to JSTOR, state libraries usually will and a card is just as easy to obtain there.

4. Google Scholar – (scholar.google.com)
There has always been a battle fought between freedom of information and who that information really belongs to. This is where Google Scholar steps in, offering a middle ground of articles from older journals (ideal for historical research), article abstracts (summaries), and citations. Want to find out who the best are referring to in their research? Google Scholar has citation information too.

5. Online Subject Bibliographies
Chances are, if you’re facing a research problem for the SCA, it’s already been addressed. By searching for your specific problem and the term “bibliography” in your preferred search engine, lists of resources that are related may just pop up, compiled by fellow SCA members and researchers alike. If anything, this will give you a great place to begin.

6. Historical Atlases
Can’t find any information on your culture during the time period you want? Check a historical atlas. Place names change (a lot!). For instance, what we know now to be Germany has once been part of the Prussian Empire, and before had been divied up into dozens of smaller kingdoms and parcels of land. Historical atlases will give you the names you need, and the information to go along with them. Like much else, these atlases exist both in libraries and online.

7. Cambridge History of…
If you’re looking for something on a specific culture, encyclopedias won’t have the depth you’ll most likely need. The Cambridge History series features entire volumes on specific cultures. The series has a great reputation among scholars, and is popular enough to where many libraries hold the books.

8. Heralds and Librarians
In the case of finding information on your persona, what better resource is there than your local herald? With all the tools on naming, culture, and heraldic devices at hand, the herald is the first person you should check with if you’re starting persona research. Plus, most heralds have the experience to go along with the research; chances are that they’ve gone through the process plenty of times.

While most haven’t specialized in medieval history, librarians are trained in the art and science of search. Bring your questions in to the research or reference desk, and your local librarian will be more than happy to help get you started. They’ll also be able to help you with all the other resources listed here.

9. Bartelby (http://www.bartelby.com/)
Need some general information? Bartelby is a website that features full text of thousands of encyclopedias, reference books, fiction, non-fiction, and many, many other sources. Of particular note is The Oxford Shakespeare with full text of all of Shakespeare’s work, and entire sections on mythology and religion – excellent for medieval research.

10. British Library Online ( http://www.bl.uk/ ), British Museum Online (http://www.britishmuseum.org/)
With manuscripts being scanned in for the local public on a daily basis, all the information you need for research like this is right at your fingertips. Not only does the British Library and British Museum websites feature complete interactive manuscripts and entire exhibits right there online, they also offer the information with which to back it all up.

11. Other SCA Members
In many cases, one of the best resources to have at your disposal is people. Have a question on something specific? Ask someone in the SCA who focuses on the area. Peers (especially Laurels) are wonderful for this, because they’ve already done the research on their subject.

There’s absolutely no limit on geography. Ask around; find out who might know, and shoot out an email. Chances are that the recipient will be thrilled and more than a little humbled to have been approached. After all, that’s what the SCA is about: sharing what we know with other people.

Konnichiwa & Greetings to the Populace of Nottinghill Coill!

As I, Baron Takeda, compose the missive, Our Baroness, Ariel, travels to the northern reaches to lend aid to our Kingdom of Atlantia in the Pennsic War! We wish Ariel safe journeys and many good times.

We wish to Thank all those Gentles that have sent in Award recommendations. We have received numerous missives about many deserving Gentles and looking forward to recognizing these Gentles for their efforts. For those that have yet to send in Letters OR don't know what Awards there are, you will find the Link to the Baronial Awards below:
 
Nottinghill Coill Baronial Awards

This link provides the Names & Descriptions of Awards in Our Barony and a list of those that have already received them.

There are many events coming up in the next few months. Please take the time to write us letters of those Gentles you find deserving of recognition.

Our Emails are:

Takeda: barontakeda (AT) yahoo.com

Ariel:  gillasd (AT) bellsouth.net

Thank you for your assistance, as always we remain....

In Service to the Dream,
Takeda & Ariel
Baron & Baroness of Nottinghill Coill

Arts and Science Resources

There are so many people in the SCA with so many varied interests.  But when your interest is in something distinctive or not widely practiced in your area it may be hard to find the resources and support you need.  So go to Facebook and have a look at this page: SCA Related Special Interest Facebook Groups & Pages Directory (https://www.facebook.com/groups/scadiscussiongroup/doc/10150718194786242/). 

From the 14th Century Mafia to Gluten-free and Paleo in the SCA to the Slavic Interest Group (for those interested in all aspects of Slavic life and culture) – you’re likely to find some kindred souls here.  

Another superb resource is Atlantia’s own Arts & Sciences links website:  http://moas.atlantia.sca.org/wsnlinks/.  Did you know that right now there are 8,500 (yes – eight thousand five hundred!) links on this site?  

And there’s even a separate page devoted to the Performing Arts:  http://moas.atlantia.sca.org/performingarts/. 

So, start browsing and have fun!

Your Baronial A&S Champion,

Dame Morwenna Trevethan

Hidden Mountain Baronial Trailer Stolen

The trailer of the Baron and Baroness of Hidden Mountain was stolen out of our yard this afternoon. It is a plain 6x8 white single axle trailer with about 3/4 of our gear including the 20x30 Baronial pavillion, hand made and decorated boxes with dinnerware service for 8, banners, tables, table linens, serving gear, serving bowls and platters, some cooking gear, 4 rugs, the Baronial thrones, and our green take down chairs. Most of the cooking and serving gear is marked HM or Hidden Mountain. The feast gear is black and white, with a pair of Claybaby goblets with the Baronial arms on them. Pillows, a box of heraldic banners of the past B/B of Hidden mountain, two boxes of general heraldic banners, directional signs, and the fighting eric were also in the trailer.

So needless to say, if anyone comes across any of our gear, please contact me at adendra {AT} homesc.com . Please feel free to forward this.



Aodh Adendra Marland,
Baroness Hidden Mountain
mka Brenda Brenda Johnson Butler

The Marshall’s Cross: A Song by Sir Bryce de Byram

RAZO: Henry Curtmantle, King of England, had his eldest son crowned in his life time to assure both the succession of the Crown and the preservation of his empire, which stretched from the Pyrenees to the far North Sea. He established William Marshall, a simple household knight, to the role of sire in arms to his son Henry, called “The Young King”. But fate’s wheel turned against the King’s device and The Young King died of a flux. On his deathbed he bade The Marshall to carry his crusader’s cross to Jerusalem, which William did “doing more in two years than most do in ten”. Upon his death bed The Marshall, now raised by fortune and courtly skill to Regent of England under the minor King Henry III, returned to the Knight Templars, whom he served for as a lay brother while in Palestine, for the salvation of his soul.

CHORUS:

The hammer blows of combat are the sweetest psalms I know

Sing Exalt and Hosanna at the coursing of the foe.

This cross I wear for Henry I will bear unto my grave

My oath fulfilled my duty done and two souls shall I save.

The Marshall sore with grieving he has come now o'er from France.

His shield, his sword, his hauberk and his ever steady lance.

In service to the Young King did this captain ply his trade.

The spirit fled, the oath assumed now captive to a shade.

CHORUS

‘Take up your arms’, said Henry, Roi the father to the knight

‘Employ your skill, harass the foe and strike with all your might.

But come ye back to England and unto my court attend.

A king is ever needful of true valiant, loyal men.’

CHORUS

And so did William travel to the land height Palestine.

As confrere to the Temple for a time he was consigned.

His bread, his wine, his mass he took with brothers all around

Until at last his oath discharged he found him homeward bound.

CHORUS

Now many years and many kings the Marshall he did serve.

One called a rogue, one hailed a hero pledged unto the Lord.

The Marshall at his death bed, as Regent to the Crown

Called forth his loyal vassals and he bid them stand around.

CHORUS

‘When I was o'ver in Outreamer I pondered on my death

And so I claim the Temple as I draw out my last breath.

May God and Michael guide me as I flee unto the grave

My vows fulfilled, my oath discharged, and two souls have I saved.’

CHORUS (‘have I saved’)