Generations of researchers who rely on primary sources faced a frustrating hurdle. Conducting original historical research typically required traveling to distant archives, navigating cost-prohibitive interlibrary loans or adjusting a project’s scope based on access to sources. For students engaged in a senior honors thesis or a graduate seminar, these logistical barriers frequently stifled academic curiosity before research even began. As a result, scholarship was often limited to those with the resources to access specific geographic locations or well-funded departments.
To democratize the research process at UC Santa Barbara, UCSB Library recognized the need to expand the depth of its primary source collections beyond the holdings of its renowned Special Research Collections. The Library addressed this challenge by adding a comprehensive suite of digital archives from AM, formerly known as Adam Matthew, to the Library’s general collections. This significant acquisition makes millions of curated historical materials available to UCSB researchers and students across every discipline, at any hour, from anywhere. AM’s digital archives encompass a wide range of subjects, historical periods and geographic regions, supporting research across the humanities, social sciences and interdisciplinary fields. Collections include "Apartheid South Africa" and "The Gilded Age and Progressive Era," among hundreds of other archival resources.
That breadth has opened new possibilities across multiple disciplines, particularly for students. Humanities and Social Sciences Librarian Heather Nisen immediately added these resources to her research guides for upper-division classes, honors thesis seminars and graduate students. "These archives completely level the playing field," Nisen said. "Students can now interrogate rare global documents from their laptops, sparking breakthroughs that used to require expensive travel."
Embedding digital archives directly into the research pathways students already use is central to the Library’s commitment to supporting deep, original scholarship. This integration fosters greater independence, from undergraduates writing their first thesis to doctoral students building new arguments. Chizu Morihara, the Library’s Director of Collection Strategies, added, "The depth and range of AM’s collections means students can pursue independent, evidence-based scholarship across disciplines."
Funded entirely through the Library's core state-supported collections budget, this initiative underscores a lasting institutional commitment to equity in research. By continuously integrating premier digital collections and research tools, UCSB Library ensures that all scholars at UCSB have access to the high-quality primary sources needed to pursue original, evidence-based research across disciplines, generate new knowledge and explore questions unconstrained by geography or access to physical collections.
