Inspiring Inquiry: NYPL Visit Prepares Students for Capstone History Projects

As part of the lead-up to their culminating independent research projects, Susannah Walker’s Advanced U.S. History students took a meaningful and eye-opening trip to the main research branch of the New York Public Library—an essential experience designed to deepen their understanding of both the research process and the incredible resources available beyond the classroom.

Their visit began in the iconic Bill Blass and Rose Main Reading Rooms, where students received an introduction to the history and mission of the NYPL. Unlike the neighborhood branch libraries they may be more familiar with, the NYPL’s research branch is a closed stack library—meaning most materials are stored out of public view and must be requested for use. This distinction sparked conversations about the intentionality required in advanced research and the value of spending time with carefully curated, often rare or specialized materials.

Students were introduced to tools that predate the “Google model” of research, including card catalogs and archival finding aids. They learned to think critically about their sources, moving beyond quick searches and instead considering how to develop unique angles, refine their topics, and build arguments using a variety of traditional and nontraditional research methods.

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