How to find an old magazine article?
December 18, 2008 10:28 AM Subscribe
How can I find an old magazine article? My research skills are lacking and I'd like to figure out how to find a long article from a magazine published sometime in the 90's. Are there search services one can hire for something like this?
Some years ago I read about what I thought was a great proposal by the author of the article. The article was in some depth, and I believe it may have been from part of a book he had written.
The article itself discussed having public utility companies finance free or low cost energy-saving improvements for poor customers' homes. The labor was provided (I think) by otherwise unemployed people and/or prison inmates. I'm positive it included putting storm windows on every house at no up front cost to homeowners.
I think I read this in the 90's or early 00's in either The Atlantic, Harper's, or The New Yorker, all of whom run more in-depth articles on a regular basis. But it may have been in some other magazine. I have tried searching the archives of each of these with no luck.
Any hints or techniques on what to try next? Can people be hired that do a single search for something like this at an affordable cost?
Thanks for any suggestions!
David
Some years ago I read about what I thought was a great proposal by the author of the article. The article was in some depth, and I believe it may have been from part of a book he had written.
The article itself discussed having public utility companies finance free or low cost energy-saving improvements for poor customers' homes. The labor was provided (I think) by otherwise unemployed people and/or prison inmates. I'm positive it included putting storm windows on every house at no up front cost to homeowners.
I think I read this in the 90's or early 00's in either The Atlantic, Harper's, or The New Yorker, all of whom run more in-depth articles on a regular basis. But it may have been in some other magazine. I have tried searching the archives of each of these with no luck.
Any hints or techniques on what to try next? Can people be hired that do a single search for something like this at an affordable cost?
Thanks for any suggestions!
David
I would bet you could put this on Mechanical Turk and get an answer PDQ...
posted by jckll at 11:02 AM on December 18, 2008
posted by jckll at 11:02 AM on December 18, 2008
Response by poster: Thanks guys! You know, I live 3 blocks from the central branch of the Denver Library, and would not have thought of asking for that kind of research/favor, or that they might offer that. I'm headed there this afternoon!
posted by davidaugust111 at 11:14 AM on December 18, 2008
posted by davidaugust111 at 11:14 AM on December 18, 2008
To add to this topic, when you're at the library ask the librarian what subscription databases they have available for patrons. Most libraries have a lot of online databases including things like magazine indexes that you can search for yourself from home. Now it might still be a good idea to ask the librarian your specific question, but it's also good to know that a lot of this information exists and sometimes it's free.
So you're near Denver Public... a quick look at their website shows they have a huge list of databases you can poke through. I have similar lists near me. I picked the one that seemed most likely to have what you were looking for -- one called Expanded Academic which you have access to as well -- and did a search for the phrase "storm windows" in both the New Yorker and the Atlantic going back maybe 15 years. I found one long article about windows in the Atlantic but it didn't seem like a good fit. This database doesn't index Harpers, so that might help you narrow it down and judging by what you said, sounds likely.
I'm a librarian and these are likely the steps a librarian would go through to help you find your article
- collect info about what you remember about it
- identify likely places to search for that article
- narrow it down, maybe ask you more questions if nothing seems likely
Best of luck, let us know if you find it!
posted by jessamyn at 11:33 AM on December 18, 2008
So you're near Denver Public... a quick look at their website shows they have a huge list of databases you can poke through. I have similar lists near me. I picked the one that seemed most likely to have what you were looking for -- one called Expanded Academic which you have access to as well -- and did a search for the phrase "storm windows" in both the New Yorker and the Atlantic going back maybe 15 years. I found one long article about windows in the Atlantic but it didn't seem like a good fit. This database doesn't index Harpers, so that might help you narrow it down and judging by what you said, sounds likely.
I'm a librarian and these are likely the steps a librarian would go through to help you find your article
- collect info about what you remember about it
- identify likely places to search for that article
- narrow it down, maybe ask you more questions if nothing seems likely
Best of luck, let us know if you find it!
posted by jessamyn at 11:33 AM on December 18, 2008
You could always use the services at IPL (Internet Public Library) and "Ask a Librarian". It's via email but worth a shot.
posted by collocation at 11:34 AM on December 18, 2008
posted by collocation at 11:34 AM on December 18, 2008
Was it this proposal by Stockton Williams?
On the other hand the idea isn't exactly unique. There are already numerous assistance programs for weatherization, some federally-supported, and there are already jobs programs and "green" job initiatives. This just involves some synergy.
Is it possible this was in the Whole Earth Review, or that you saw it in Utne Reader or another slightly more granola source?
posted by dhartung at 4:02 PM on December 18, 2008
On the other hand the idea isn't exactly unique. There are already numerous assistance programs for weatherization, some federally-supported, and there are already jobs programs and "green" job initiatives. This just involves some synergy.
Is it possible this was in the Whole Earth Review, or that you saw it in Utne Reader or another slightly more granola source?
posted by dhartung at 4:02 PM on December 18, 2008
Response by poster: Thanks again, everyone, I've had mixed luck. The librarian couldn't find anything immediately, but later found something from some more obscure way of searching. Probably one of those databases you mention, jessamyn.
But the result (from 1990) wasn't what I had remembered, though it is useful, and maybe a starting point for some more research, as is your Stockton Williams link, dhartung.
And it is possible it came from another mag including Utne, which I haven't read on a regular basis, but you know we get some cold gray Sundays that demand a trip to our local bookstore that is very well stocked in magazines to snatch up several (at breathtaking cost) before stopping at 7-11 to load up on crap before curling up on the couch for the rest of the day. So yes, who knows where it may have come from.
posted by davidaugust111 at 2:00 PM on December 19, 2008
But the result (from 1990) wasn't what I had remembered, though it is useful, and maybe a starting point for some more research, as is your Stockton Williams link, dhartung.
And it is possible it came from another mag including Utne, which I haven't read on a regular basis, but you know we get some cold gray Sundays that demand a trip to our local bookstore that is very well stocked in magazines to snatch up several (at breathtaking cost) before stopping at 7-11 to load up on crap before curling up on the couch for the rest of the day. So yes, who knows where it may have come from.
posted by davidaugust111 at 2:00 PM on December 19, 2008
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posted by crush-onastick at 10:35 AM on December 18, 2008