Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957) Research Paper

BACKGROUND

Famous for her Little House stories, Laura Ingalls Wilder spent her childhood during the westward expansion movement, resettling frequently from log cabin, to prairie home, to sod house following her restless father and resourceful mother. She wrote in story, letter, and diary of her life and adventures as she journeyed westward.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

Biography section under Wilder, Laura Ingalls

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Wilder, Laura Ingalls—1867–1957—Biography

Wilder, Laura Ingalls—1867–1957—Criticism

REFERENCE BOOKS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

Beetz, Kirk H., and Suzanne Niemeyer, eds. Beacham’s Guide to Literature for Young Adults, Vol. 2, 1989.

Cech, John, ed. Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol. 22, 1983.

Riley, Carolyn, and Barbara Harte, eds. Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vol. 2, 1974.

Rothe, Anna, ed. Current Biography Yearbook, 1948.

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

Biography Index

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

Dialog

Internet

KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Wilder, Laura Ingalls

Ingalls, Charles

Walnut Grove, MN
Pepin, WI

DeSmet, SD

VIDEOTAPES ON THIS TOPIC

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series (from the television series) is available on videotape.

FICTION BOOKS RELATING TO TOPIC

Fiction section under Wilder, Laura Ingalls

MacBride, Roger Lea. Little Farm in the Ozarks, 1994.

————. Little House on Rocky Ridge, 1993.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, P.O. Box 269, Pepin, WI 54759.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Compare and contrast the various homes and living arrangements described in the Little House series.

Compare the television version of Wilder’s life with her own stories.

Describe food and cooking in the Ingalls home.

Examine customs of frontier America as portrayed in the writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Almanzo Wilder, Laura’s husband

A favorite writer of children’s books

History of the Conestoga wagon

Journalist Rose Lane Wilder, Laura’s daughter

Pioneer women

This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.