Welcome to The Lakewood Public Library Student Guide to Timelines. Here, you will learn what a timeline is, how to make one, and the sources available at Lakewood Public Library to help you in the process.

What is a Timeline?
A timeline is an actual picture of events that happened in history. Timelines can be
LINEAR or COMPARATIVE:

A linear timeline shows a picture of events as they occurred in a certain period of time. Use a linear timeline for one subject and time frame.  A linear timeline can be written horizontally or vertically, for example:

A comparative timeline shows two or more subject areas which occurred at the same time; it shows readers the "big picture." A comparative timeline might compare historical events in two or more countries or compare two or more subjects like music and theater. A comparative timeline could look like this:

 

Getting Started

Before you start your research for your timeline project, be sure you understand the assignment. Has your teacher assigned a time period? Are there events you must include on your timeline? Do you have to choose your own time period? If you do, be sure to choose one that interests you. What you want to include in your timeline will determine whether you should do a linear or a comparative timeline. Once you are sure of your assignment, you are ready to begin your research. Lakewood Public Library has many resources available to you.

Sources to Help Create Your Timeline

There are many good books and Web sites you can refer to when constructing your timeline. Some sources contain a wide variety of topics while other sources deal only with one specific topics. Browse the lists below for some ideas or ask a librarian to assist you in finding the sources best for you.

Writing Your Timeline

After you have gathered your facts, you are now ready to lay them out in chronological order to create a timeline. At the beginning of your timeline, mark the starting date and what happened on that date. Next, go to the end of the timeline and mark the ending date and what happened. In between these dates, mark the other important dates and what happened.

Wrapping It Up

  • You can't include everything that happened - choose what's most important or interesting to you
  • Don't forget to list an event for every date on the timeline.
  • You are the HISTORIAN - what you put on your timeline will affect how others view your subject
  • Step back from your timeline and ask yourself some questions about the timeline. For example: What does the sequence of events suggest about history? How did earlier events affect later ones?

 

 

 

 

From Our Book Collection - General Sources

  • American Decades. Main Adult Book REF 973.92 American
  • Chronology of World History. Main Adult Book REF 902.02 Chronology V.1-4
  • Facts on File. Main Adult Book RREF 905 Facts
  • This Fabulous Century by the authors of Time-Life Books. Main/Madison Adult Book 917.303 Time-Life V.1-7
  • Timelines of the 20th Century. Main Juvenile Book j909 820202 Brownstone
  • The Timetables of American History. Main Adult Book REF 970.00202 Urdang
Encyclopedias often give timelines for the subjects they cover. Some in our collection include:
  • The Encyclopedia Americana. Main Adult Book RREF 031 Encyclopedia v. 1-30
  • Encyclopedia of American Facts and Dates. Main Adult Book RREF 973.0202 Carruth
  • New Encyclopedia Britannica. Main Adult Book 031 New v. 1-30
  • World Book Encyclopedia. Main/Madison Adult/Juvenile Book RREF/REF/jREF 031 World v. 1-22

Many timeline sources deal with very specific topics. For books to help you in constructing your timeline, search the catalog or ask a librarian. Here are a few subject specific sources.

From Our Book Collection - Topic Specific Sources

  • The Encyclopedia of African American Culture and History. Main Adult Book REF 973.0496073003 Encyclopedia
  • The Encyclopedia of Religion. Main Adult Book REF 291.03 En56 V. 1-16
  • Inventions: Inventors & Ingenious Ideas. Main/Madison Juvenile Book j609 894/Turvey
  • Kings & Queens: Rulers & Despots. Main Juvenile Book j909.82 MacDonald
  • McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology. Main Adult Book RREF 503 McGraw-Hill 1997
  • Medicine: Doctors, Demons & Drugs. Main/Madison Juvenile Book j610.9 Senior
  • Ohio Timeline: a Chronology of Ohio History, Mystery, Trivia, Legend, Lore & More. Main Juvenile Book j977.1 Marsh
  • Sport: Players, Games & Spectacle. Main Juvenile Book j796 Barrett
  • Timelines of Native American History. Main Adult Book/Book REF 970.00497 Waldman
  • Transport: on Land, Road & Rail. Main/Madison Juvenile Book j629.049 Davies

Go to Writing Your Timeline

On the Web - General Sources

  • The History Place < http://www.historyplace.com/ > This site is useful for students and teachers of American History.
  • PM Time Machine
    < http://popularmechanics.com/popmech/time/1HOMETIME.html > A fun timeline maker. Just give the time machine your topics for a decade of American History and it will generate a timeline based on your commands.
  • The Encyclopaedia Britannica Online < http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/act_ResearchDatabases.cfm?ID=23 > The online source for this popular encyclopedia includes timelines with its entries of world history. By subscription for Ohio residents.
  • OPLIN'S Homework Help: Social Studies:History
    < http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/products/oks/Homework/socstud/history.htm > OPLIN has easy to use historical information, organized by subject area and complete with timelines for various historical subjects. Particularly useful for Ohio History and Native American History.

On the Web - Topic Specific Sources

  • Women's History Month < http://www.gale.com/free_resources/whm/timeline/index.htm > Detailed timeline from 3000 BC covering significant events and individuals in women's history.
  • Test of Courage - Diversity Timeline < http://www.pbs.org/testofcourage/diversity4.html > PBS presentation of segregation and integration, cultural and gender diversity in U.S. history.
  • Shakespeare's Globe < http://www.rdg.ac.uk/globe/ > In addition to a timeline on Shakespeare's theater, The Globe, this site gives a virtual tour and hyperlinks on Shakespeare.
  • Timeline Science: One Thousand Years of Scientific Thought < http://www.timelinescience.org/ > Between 1000 and 1600 the timeline is divided into spans of 100 years. The years 1600 to 1900 are in 50 year periods; the 20th century is in blocks of 25 years.
  • HyperHistory Online < http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/a.html > The History section displays timelines for the major civilizations. There are "lifelines" for People and a year-by-year Events section.
  • AlternaTime < http://www2.canisius.edu/~emeryg/time.html > A super collection of timelines on the Web.

Go to Writing Your Timeline

 
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