Fourth Avenue Project
Geography 407 and Geography 456

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Questions? Contact Chris Kollen, Geography Librarian (e-mail: kollenc@u.library.arizona.edu), phone: 621-4869, Office: Main Library A209

Final Class Project

Description

The final project for this class will involve small-group research on the history, development, and contemporary geography of one historic street in Tucson, specifically 4th Avenue. Students will be expected to collect archival data including maps, tax records, city directories, and periodicals to construct a general history of the street since the late 1800s. Students will also be expected to conduct oral histories and interviews with current and/or past proprietors of selected businesses on the street. Students will also be expected to visit 4th Avenue and observe the contemporary use of space and sense of place there. Finally, each group will be required to contribute to a project website that will collect and organize this information so that it can be used as a data source for future geography classes.

General Library Resources

Citation Guide provides examples of how to cite articles using MLA: Modern Languages Association Style Manual, APA: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, or the CMS: Chicago Manual of Style (Association of American Geographers).

RefWorks is a web-based resource that helps manage references to information resources.  Since you will be working in a group, you may want to set up an account so that you can easily share what you find. 

What is Plagiarism and Why is it Important? provides tips on how to avoid plagiarism and examples of good and bad paraphrased statements with commentary.

Library Information Resources (Archival Data)

Special Collections Material

Note: All resources in Special Collections must be requested at the reference desk in the Special Collections Reading Room and used in the Reading Room.  Using the Collection provides additional information.

Arizona, Southwestern, and Miscellaneous Vertical File -- includes various materials (mainly from newspapers).  Examples include materials on West University Neighborhood, Fourth Avenue, and specific buildings.

Southwest and Arizona Photograph Collection -- includes photographs on a wide range of subjects.  Arranged similar to the vertical file. 

City Directories:

Cole Directory of Tucson and Vicinity -- F189 T93 C76 1986-2006 Special Collections

Cross Reference Directory, Greater Tucson -- F189 T93 C76 1964-1985 Special Collections

Polk's Tucson (Pima County, Ariz.) City Directory -- D9791 T89 various years from 1881-1999 Special Collections

Maps

Digital Sanborn Maps -- access to Sanborn Fire Insurance maps.  These are very detailed maps showing buildings etc at the scale of one inch to 50 feet in black/white.  Tucson coverage includes the following years:

• 1886
• 1889
• 1896
• 1901
• 1909
• 1919
• 1947
• 1949

Print Sanborn Maps -- Special Collections has the print version of the Sanborn maps in color (color tells you what buildings were constructed out of).  In addition, Special Collections has two additional years:

• 1883
• 1960 (black/white microfilm)

Key to the print Sanborn maps: Description and Utilization of the Sanborn Map -- GA325 S3 (Special Collections)

To find additional maps, search the UA Library Catalog by the following subjects.  Also for aerial photographs, look at the Locating Aerial Photographs website.

Business Districts Arizona Tucson Maps

City Planning Arizona Tucson Maps

Land Use Arizona Tucson Maps

Land Use Arizona Pima County Maps

Pima County Ariz Aerial Photographs

Regional Planning Arizona Pima County Maps

Real Property Arizona Tucson Maps

Traffic Surveys Arizona Tucson Maps

Traffic Surveys Arizona Pima County Maps

Tucson Ariz Maps

Tucson Ariz Historical Geography Maps

Tucson Ariz Aerial Photographs

Zoning Arizona Tucson Maps

Zoning Arizona Pima County Maps

Newspaper Articles

Arizona Newspapers at the University of Arizona Library tells you what Tucson newspapers the Library has. 

Arizona Daily Star Index -- online from 1991 to the present (includes full-text of articles).

Index to Arizona news in the Arizona Daily Star -- AI21 A72 Information Commons -- in print from 1953-1989

Articles published prior to 1991 will be found on microfilm in the Microfilm Collection on the first floor of the Main Library.

Books

Here are some ideas on subject headings to use to find information on the West University Neighborhood and Tucson in general. 

To find additional books, search in the UA Library Catalog by the following subjects:

City Planning – Arizona Tucson

Land Use Arizona Tucson

Land Use Arizona Pima County

Regional Planning Arizona Pima County

Real Property Arizona Tucson

West University Neighborhood Association

West University Historic District

Zoning Arizona Tucson

Zoning Arizona Pima County

Census Data

U.S. Census of Population and Housing -- you may want to find population and housing statistics on the West University Neighborhood (Fourth Avenue). 

1970-2000 Census Geography and Maps are available on CD-ROM in the Main Library. 
CensusCD Neighborhood Change Database (NCDB) : 1970-2000 Tract Data -- Information Commons (GIS Computer)

American FactFinder -- 1990 and 2000 Census of Population and Housing data

Census CD 1970 -- Information Commons (GIS Computer)
Census CD 1980 -- Information Commons (GIS Computer)
CensusCD+Maps (1990) -- Main Library
Census2000 (various CD-ROMs) -- Information Commons (GIS Computer)

Census of Population and Housing for 1910-1960 is only available in print.  Of the 1910-1960 census data, only 1960 data is available to the detail of the census tract.  Earlier years provide data by county subdivisions, wards, and minor civil divisions (election precincts and school districts). 

Oral Histories and Other Examples

The Murmur -- includes oral history projects from Toronto (Spadina, The Annex, and Kensington Market), Vancouver, Montreal, Canada and San Jose, California.

Miner's Story Project -- share stories about life in mines and mining communities in the Southwest US.

Chicago Alley Tours -- take a virtual tour of Chicago's alleys, hear about historic events that occurred in alleys, and view photographs.

Los Angeles Urban Rangers -- offer educational campfire programs and guided hikes throughout Los Angeles.  The site includes past events with photographs, descriptions, and links. 

Historic Residences of Dallas
Includes maps, photographs, and narratives of each building's history.