Library Guides @ VIU: Primary Sources in Humanities: Journals & Magazines

Selected Primary Source Periodicals Online

Eighteenth Century Journals This link opens in a new window
Rare journals printed between c1685 and 1815, illuminating all aspects of eighteenth-century social, political and literary life. Many are ephemeral, lasting only for a handful of issues, others run for several years. Topics covered are extremely wide-ranging and include: colonial life; provincial and rural affairs; the French and American revolutions; reviews of literature and fashion throughout Europe; political debates; and London coffee house gossip and discussion.
JSTOR This link opens in a new window
Multidisciplinary, full text, scholarly journal archive with strong retrospective coverage.
Periodicals Archive Online This link opens in a new window
Full text journal articles from 1665-2000, with international coverage.
Women's Magazine Archive This link opens in a new window
Digitized backfiles of consumer magazines aimed at a female readership. Women’s Magazine Archive provides access to the complete archives of Good Housekeeping, Ladies’ Home Journal, Better Homes & Gardens, Chatelaine, Redbook, Parents, Woman’s Day, Town & Country, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Essence, and Women’s International Network News. Topics include family life, home economics, health, careers, fashion, culture, and more; this material serves multiple research areas such as gender studies, social history, education, politics, and marketing/media history.

Avant-garde and modernist magazines | Monoskop
This index lists and in some cases links to online versions of avant-garde and modernist periodicals, first issues of which appeared between 1890 and 1939.
Google Magazines Archive
Google Books includes back issues for some magazines. Browse by title, or search all magazines

Historical Periodicals in the Library@VIU

Past issues of magazines and journals may have relevance for the study of historical topics. The titles below are available in the Nanaimo Campus library on microform or in print, and fulfill one or more of these criteria:

Holdings at least 40 years in the past AND one of the following:
- Intended for general or popular audiences (i.e. not scholarly journals)
- Coverage of a range of topics or subject areas (i.e. not focusing on one discipline or aspect of a discipline)
- Of Canadian historical interest
- Rarity, in the Library collection, of either subjects or time periods covered
- Providing an important or unusual perspective on society in the 19^th and 20^th centuries

Note: Retrospective newspapers are covered in our Newspapers guide.

Note: for many of these periodicals, the Library also holds current issues in print or online. Current issues also may be available at other campuses besides Nanaimo. Check our Journals A to Z list for all Library journal and magazine holdings

American Anthropologist by American Anthropological Association
Call Number: GN 1 A5 Nanaimo Microform
v. 6 (1904) – v. 25 no. 3 (1923); v. 54 (1954) – v. 58 (1958)
The Atlantic Monthly
Call Number: AP 2 A8 Nanaimo Microform
v.201 (1958) - v.281/282 (1998)
American magazine focusing on politics, culture and literature.
The Boy's Own Annual
Call Number: AP 201 B6 Nanaimo Special Collections
v. 33 (1910; v. 44 (1921); v. 52 (1927)
Stories, articles, games, and other miscellaneous writings for boys.
Inquire at Service Desk to view.
Canada Monthly
Call Number: AP 5 C12 Nanaimo Microform
v.4:no.6 (1908) - v.23 (1917)
Published in London, Ont. Non-fiction articles covering arts, politics and economics in Canada.
Canadian Bookman
Call Number: Z 487 C353 Nanaimo Microform
v.1 (1919:Jan.) - v.21 (1939:Nov.)
Canadian literary journal. The editorial committee went on to organize the Canadian Authors Association.
The Canadian Forum
Call Number: AP 5 C125 Nanaimo Periodicals
v.58/59:no.686/695 (1979) - v.79 (2000:Jun.)
Canadian cultural and political magazine founded in 1920 and published in Toronto.
v.1 (1920) - v.58 (1979) available on microform.
Canadian Geographical Journal by Canadian Geographical Society
Call Number: G 1 C3 Nanaimo Periodicals
v.1(1930) -v.50 (1955), v.92 (1976) - v.96 (1978)
Popular monthly magazine published by the Canadian Geographical Society, with the aim of “making Canada better known to Canadians and to the world.”
v.53 (1956) - v.93 (1977) available on microform.
Canadian homes and gardens
Call Number: NA 7100 C25 Nanaimo Special Collections
v. 6-35 (1929-58)
Photographs of exteriors and interiors of Canadian homes, including some from B.C.
Inquire at Service Desk to view.
Chatelaine
Call Number: HQ 1101 C49 Nanaimo Periodicals
v.55:no.1 (1982:Jan.) - v.57:no.12 (1984:Dec.) ; v.66:no.1 (1993:Jan.) - v.69:no.12 (1996:Dec.)
Canadian women’s magazine, "...aimed at the working wife and mother who is looking for practical advice on raising her family."
(1928) - v.54 (1981) ; v.58 (1985) - v.65:no.12 (1992:Dec.) available on microform.
Commentary by American Jewish Committee
Call Number: D 410 C6 Nanaimo Microform
v.23 (1957) - v.105/106 (1998)
Neoconservative public affairs journal.
Dominion Illustrated Monthly
Call Number: AP 5 D655 Nanaimo Microform
v.1 (1892:Feb.) - v.2 1893:Aug./Sept.)
Published in Montreal and Toronto. Fiction and non-fiction opinion pieces on sport, politics, society and the arts in Canada.
Some issues available online via Canadiana.
The Economist
Call Number: H 1 E7 Nanaimo Microform
v.190 (1959) - v.369 (2003:Dec.)
Weekly news and international affairs publication from London, England.
Everywoman's World
Call Number: HQ 1401 E94 Nanaimo Microform
(1914:Feb. - 1921:Feb)
Monthly Canadian magazine featuring fiction as well as illustrations and articles on women’s issues such as the Toronto Housewives' League, women immigrants and the Canadian suffragette movement.
Some issues available online via Canadiana
Financial Post
Call Number: HG1 F5 Nanaimo Microform
v.103 (1960) - (1998:Oct.)
Canadian business newspaper.
Girl's Own Annual
Call Number: AP 201 G5 Nanaimo Special Collections
v. 3 (1882) - v. 62 (1940)
Stories, articles, interviews, puzzles, games, clothing patterns and other miscellaneous writings for girls.
Inquire at Service Desk to view.
Girl's Own Paper & Woman's Magazine
Call Number: AP 201 G46 Nanaimo Special Collections
v. 30 (1908) - v. 49, no.3 (1927)
British magazine of fiction, poetry and non-fiction articles about the domestic arts.
Inquire at Service Desk to view.
Grain Growers' Guide
Call Number: FC 3231 G73 Nanaimo Microform
v.1:no.1 (1908:June) - v.20:no.5 (1928:Mar. 15)
Weekly pro-labour publication from Winnipeg. Farm trade news, plus commentary on political, economic and social issues affecting life in the Canadian prairies.
Some issue available online via Canadiana
Grip
Call Number: AP 5 G756 Nanaimo Microform
v.1 (1873:May 24) - v.42 (1894:Dec. 29)
19th century Canadian humour magazine, published in Toronto.
Some issues available online via Canadiana
Harper's Magazine
Call Number: AP 2 H3 Nanaimo Microform
v.216 (1958) - v.297 (1998)
American monthly general-interest magazine covering literature, politics, culture, and the arts.
Harper's Weekly
Call Number: AP 2 H32 Nanaimo Microform
v.1 (1857) - v.44 (1900)
American political magazine published from 1857 to 1916.
Illustrated London News
Call Number: AP 4 I3 Nanaimo Special Collections
v. 1-2 (1870); v. 9 (1891) v. 14-21 (1894-97)
Inquire at Service Desk to view.
Illustrated News of the World
Call Number: AP 4 I32 Nanaimo Special Collections
v. 8 (1891); v. 11-13 (1892-93)
British magazine of the Victorian era, providing illustrations of contemporary events.
Ladies Home Journal
Call Number: AP 2 L35 Nanaimo Microform
1901/03; 1912; 1917; 1922; 1927; 1932; 1937; 1942; 1947; 1952
American women’s magazine first published in 1883 as a women's supplement to the socialist weekly Tribune, becoming independent a year later.
Ladies' Journal
Call Number: HQ 1401 L34 Nanaimo Microform
v.3 (1884:Apr.) - v.11 (1896:Jan.)
Monthly Canadian magazine "devoted to literature, fashion, domestic matters, etc."
Life
Call Number: AP 2 L547 Nanaimo Microform
v.46 (1959) - v.73 (1972)
American photojournalism magazine that ran from 1936 to 1972. Published iconic images of events in the U.S. and the world.
v.9 (1986) - v.12 (1989) available on microfiche.
Maclean's
Call Number: AP 5 M2 Nanaimo Microform
1905:Oct. - 2010:Jan
Weekly Canadian newsmagazine.
Nation
Call Number: AP 2 N2 Nanaimo Microform
v.69 (1899) - v.117 (1923) ; v.188 (1959) - v.267 (1998)
Liberal weekly devoted to politics and culture. U.S. with many international bureaus.
National Geographic Magazine
Call Number: G 1 N27 Nanaimo Periodicals
v.49 (1926) - v.52 (1927); v.84 (1943) - v.218:no.5 (2010:Nov.)
Published by the National Geographic Society in the United States. Known for the quality of its photojournalism, and for its and maps.
National Review
Call Number: AP 2 N3545 Nanaimo Microform
v.5 (1968) - v.50 (1998)
Conservative U.S. political magazine.
New Republic
Call Number: AP 2 N624 Nanaimo Microform
v.138 (1958) - v.219 (1998)
Centrist U.S. publication of political, social and literary opinion pieces.
New Statesman
Call Number: AP 2 N64 Nanaimo Microform
v.57 (1959) - v.115 (1988:June 3)
Left-leaning political weekly published in London (England).
New Statesman & Society
Call Number: AP 2 N642 Nanaimo Microform
v.1:no.1 (1988:June 10) - v.9:no.406 (1996:June 7)
New Yorker
Call Number: AP 2 N676 Nanaimo Microfilm
v.35 (1959) - v.75 (1998/1999)
Weekly American magazine that publishes criticism, essays, investigative reporting, and fiction.
Newsweek
Call Number: AP 2 N678 Nanaimo Microform
v.53 (1959) - v.140 (2002:Dec.)
Weekly American newsmagazine published in New York City.
Outdoor Life
Call Number: SK 1 O78 Nanaimo Microform
v.15 (1905) - v.30 (1912)
“A magazine of the west”, covering hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor pursuits in the Western states, British Columbia, and Alaska.
Partisan Review
Call Number: AP 2 P27 Nanaimo Microfilm
v.22 (1955) - v.70 (2003)
American political and literary quarterly published from 1934 to 2003.
Popular Science Monthly
Call Number: T 1 P78 Nanaimo Microform
v.37 (1890) - v.44 (1894)
American magazine presenting information about developments in science and technology to the layperson. Continued by Popular Science.
v.174 (1959) - v.253 (1998) of Popular Science available on microform.
Queen's Quarterly
Call Number: AP 5 Q3 Nanaimo Microform
v.66 (1959) - v.105 (1998)
Canadian journal for both academic and general audiences, covering science, politics, economics, literature, and foreign affairs.
Saturday Evening Post
Call Number: AP 2 S388 Nanaimo Microform
v.173 (1900:July) - v.225 (1953:Feb.)
Weekly American magazine published from 1821 to 1969, covering current events as well as popular fiction.
Saturday Night
Call Number: FC 1 S26 Nanaimo Periodicals
v.90 (1975) - 1992; v.115:no.3 - no.3820 (2000:May 13)
Canadian general interest magazine founded in 1887, that ceased publication in October 2005.
v.25 (1911)-v.90 (1975) available on microform.
Scientific American
Call Number: Q 1 S7 Nanaimo Periodicals
v.178 (1948) - v.231 (1974)
Perhaps the oldest popular science magazine, published in the U.S. since 1848. Offers perspective on developments in industry, science and technology in the 19th and 20th centuries.
St. Nicholas
Call Number: AP 201 S3 Nanaimo Periodicals
Various issues published between 1895 and 1918
Fiction and non-fiction for children, published in New York.
Technology and Culture
Call Number: T 1 T27 Nanaimo Microform
v.1:no.1 (1959:winter) - v.15:no.4 (1974:Oct.)
Publishes articles on the history of technology, for general as well as academic readers. Thematic issues cover topics such as biomedical technology, patents and inventions, ecology, engineering in the twentieth century, and gender and technology. Published in the U.S. by the Johns Hopkins University Press.
Time
Call Number: AP 2 T37 Nanaimo Microform
v.1 (1923) - v.170 pt.1 (2007:Jul.2)
Weekly American newsmagazine.
TLS, the Times Literary Supplement
Call Number: Z 1035 T5 Nanaimo Microform
Jan.17,1902-Jun.1924; Jan.1925-Dec.1981
Book reviews, published in London (England) by Times Newspapers Limited.
U.S. News and World Report
Call Number: JK 1 U65 Nanaimo Microform
v.46 (1959) - v.126 (1999:June); v.128 (2000:Jan.)
Weekly newsmagazine based in Washington, DC.
University Magazine
Call Number: AP 5 U577 Nanaimo Microform
v. 1 (Dec. 1901)-v. 19, no. 2 (Apr. 1920)
This publication began as the McGill University Magazine, edited by Andrew Macphail. Content includes thoughts and opinion on various social issues, wartime narratives, and literary criticism.
Woman's Magazine Annual
Call Number: AP 4 W6 Nanaimo Special Collections
v. 52-58 (1931-37); v. 60 (1939)
British magazine featuring fiction, poetry and non-fiction articles about the domestic arts.
Inquire at Service Desk to view.
World Today
Call Number: D 410 W63 Nanaimo Microform
v.15 (1959) - v.47 (1991)
British magazine covering society, politics, foreign affairs and government.
Youth's Companion
Call Number: HQ 793 Y68 Nanaimo Microform
v.67 (1894) - v.84 (1910)
American publication (published in Boston) with articles and stories for adolescent boys and girls.