Typical questions

• • Where can I get the text of Martin Luther King's ‘I have a dream’ speech?

• • I need to check the source for this quotation.

Starting points

• • Students often need to trace and check the original source of a quotation. The internet has revolutionised access to speeches. It is increasingly possible to access transcripts and audio files online. However, in order to search successfully, try to find out as much information as possible about the speech, its date and possible location.

• • Many governments provide free access to recent and historic speeches from their prime ministers and presidents. Transcripts of speeches made in parliament can be found in parliamentary proceedings. Universities often create podcasts and/or webcasts of speeches from famous visitors. Some famous politicians and personalities provide free access to materials via their personal websites. National libraries may also hold sound archives of some key speeches. However, remember to check whether a speech is abridged or transcribed in full and its copyright status before using!

• • In terms of tracing quotations from books, a good starting point is a search of Google Books to look within the content of what it has available. In some cases, the full text is not online so students will need to refer to a printed copy for final verification.

Recommended resources

Quotations

Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations Requested from the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress

www.bartleby.com/73

Free online access to over 2,000 of the most popularly requested US political quotations. Note the date of publication as the most recent items will not be listed!

Oxford Reference (Subscription)

www.oxfordreference.com

Contains a range of useful dictionaries, including a free research tool – Oxford

Essential Quotations.

Speeches

American Rhetoric.com

www.americanrhetoric.com

Useful online speech bank maintained by Dr Michael E. Eidenmuller. Indexes over 5,000 items, including examples from politicians and celebrities. Most include transcripts and audio files.

British Library Sounds

sounds.bl.uk

National collection with a searchable catalogue of different types of material, including music and natural history recordings. Many can be accessed free of charge online. It also includes interviews from the History of Parliament Oral History Project, which is run by the History of Parliament Trust and offers fascinating insight into UK parliamentary history.

Library of Congress

www.loc.gov/audio

Get free access to over 20,000 online recordings from the world famous library, including music and speeches.