Unlocking the Past: The Digital Archive of Crime, Punishment, and Popular Culture, 1790–1920 - Library

Course description

Discover one of the Library’s newest digital collections: Crime, Punishment, and Popular Culture, 1790–1920. With over 2.1 million pages of trial transcripts, police reports, detective fiction, and more, this resource offers a rich lens into the legal, social, and cultural shifts of the 19th century. Great for interdisciplinary research and teaching, it bridges fact and fiction to explore the dynamic relationship between criminal events and their portrayal in popular media.

Type of course

Web conference

Presenters

Who should attend

Academic staff and researchers in History, Literature, Criminal Justice, Sociology, American/British Studies, and Women’s Studies.

What you will learn

• What’s in the collection - types of documents and materials available
• How to access and navigate the resource effectively
• Research applications across disciplines and teaching contexts
• Highlights and hidden gems: Unique items like phrenology texts, Wild West documents & literature, and juvenile crime records
• Tips for integrating the collection into coursework and student engagement

Prerequisites / assumed knowledge

Nil