Introduction
This guide is intended to help Harvard students and faculty find theses and dissertations at Harvard and worldwide. The main source for U.S. and some foreign dissertations is Dissertations and Theses: Full Text (ProQuest). Other countries have their own systems for recording dissertations. Some of these are described below.
United States
Dissertations and Masters theses from most American and some foreign universities can be found in Dissertations and Theses: Full Text (formerly Dissertation Abstracts). American dissertations are recorded from 1861, Masters theses from 1962, and some foreign from 1976. Abstracts of dissertations are available electronically from 1980; for Masters theses, from 1988. Abstracts of dissertations prior to 1980, and theses pre-1988, are available in microfiche or print (see below).
Dissertations from 1997 to the present (and a few earlier) are available full text from Dissertations and Theses Full Text to members of the Harvard community. Interlibrary Loan will try to obtain dissertations not available through Dissertations and Theses: Full Text for current students, staff, and faculty of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. First check the HOLLIS Catalog, although Harvard owns relatively few.
Not all universities report to Dissertations and
Theses: Full Text. Some additional items may be found by a search in WorldCat. On the Advanced Search screen, at <Subtype limits>, change <Any Content> to <Thesis/dissertation>.
Printed Sources for Abstracts of U.S. Dissertations (pre1980)
Dissertation Abstracts, 1952-1966
LOCATION: Countway Abstr & Ind Z5053 I5 (1955-63, v. 15-23)
LOCATION: Gutman Z5055.U5 A53 (1955-66, v. 15-26)
LOCATION: Widener: B335.3.15 (1952-66, v. 12-26) Harvard Depository
Dissertation Abstracts International A (Social Science & Humanities), 1966-
LOCATION: Countway Abstr & Ind Z5053 D5a (1966-95(Feb), v. 27-55(#8))
LOCATION: Gutman Ref Abstr Z5055.U5 A53 (1966- , v. 27- )
LOCATION: Widener: B 335.3.15 (1966-76, v. 27-37(#6)) Harvard Depository
LOCATION: Widener RR 2 (microfiche) (1977-94, v. 37 (#7)-53(#6))
Dissertation Abstracts International B (Science & Engineering), 1966-
LOCATION: Countway Abstr & Ind Z5053 D5b (1966-95(Feb), v. 27-55 (#8))
LOCATION: Widener: B 335.3.15 (1966-76, v. 27-37(#6)) Harvard Depository
LOCATION: Widener RR 2 (microfiche) (1977-94, v. 37(#7)-55(#6))
Dissertation Abstracts International C (International), 1976-
LOCATION: Countway Abstr & Ind Z5053 D5c (1976-94, v. 37-55)
LOCATION: Widener: B335.3.15 (1976-95, v. 37-56) Harvard Depository
Printed Sources for Abstracts of Master's Theses (pre1988)
Masters abstracts, 1962-
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC Z1215.M37x
Master's theses directories [title varies], 1976- . Grouped under broad subject categories. Index by institution, author, subject.
LOCATION: Gutman Education: Ref Index Z5815.U5 M3
LOCATION: Widener: RR 707.9.5
Dissertations in Progress
American Historical Association Directory of Dissertations
Harvard Dissertations and Theses
Harvard Ph.D., Th.D., and Ed.D. dissertations and Honors theses are kept in the Harvard University Archives in the Pusey Library. Information on accessing Harvard dissertations and theses at the Harvard University Archives web site includes instructions for HOLLIS searching, obtaining photocopies, and other matters. Harvard dissertations which are not yet in HOLLIS are listed on the Harvard University Archives site and appear in Dissertations and Theses: Full Text (formerly called Dissertation Abstracts) before they are in HOLLIS.
Dissertations since 1982 are also available on microfiche in the Government Documents/Microforms Collection in Lamont Library.
Although all Harvard dissertations have records in the HOLLIS Catalog, pre-1982 records do not have subject headings. To find older dissertations in particular subject areas, see the following printed lists:
Doctors of philosophy and doctors of science: who have received their degree in course from Harvard University, 1873-1926, with the titles of their theses. (Official register of Harvard University.; v.XXIII, no. 39). [3rd. ed.]. Cambridge: Harvard University, 1926. 199 pp.
LOCATION: Harvard Archives: HU 20.38.3 Library has: 2 copies
LOCATION: Harvard Archives: HU 75.25 vol.23
LOCATION: Widener: Harvard Depository
Summaries of theses accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy, 1925-1945. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
LOCATION: Harvard Archives: HU 137.501
LOCATION: Harvard Archives: HU 90.135
LOCATION: Harvard Archives: HU 137.226
LOCATION: Widener: Harvard Depository
(Incomplete holdings in several other Harvard libraries)
Doctors of philosophy with the titles of their theses, 1939-1990. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
LOCATION: Harvard Archives: HU 20.38.5
LOCATION: Widener: Harvard Depository
Some issues do not include Doctors of Science. Radcliffe included 1939-1961/62.
First volume is: Doctors of philosophy, Radcliffe College, 1939-1945, with the titles of their theses.
LOCATION: Harvard Archives: HU 20.38.4
All the above lists are included in a microfilm:
Harvard University doctoral dissertations [microform] : primarily annual lists of authors and titles, arranged by subject with selected summaries, 1873-1983.
LOCATION: Microforms (Lamont): Harvard Depository Film W 8575 Consult Documents/Microtexts desk.
LOCATION: Harvard Archives: HU 20.38.5.2
Selected summaries of doctoral dissertations, 1873-1925
Doctors of philosophy and doctors of science of Harvard University, 1873-1926
Summaries of theses, 1925-[1945]
Doctors of philosophy [and doctors of science], with the titles of their theses, 1945-[1983].
Lists by Discipline
Harvard doctoral dissertations on sub-Saharan Africa, 1895 -1982, by Rita Mary Breen. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University, Committee on African Studies.
LOCATION: Baker Business: Archives
LOCATION: Harvard Archives: HUF 123.183.36
LOCATION: Kennedy Sch of Gov: DT351.B733
LOCATION: Law School: ILS DT 3.Z99 B73x 1983
LOCATION: Tozzer: REF DT351.Z99 B7 1983
LOCATION: Widener: Harvard Depository
Harvard Graduate School of Education: a bibliography of doctoral dissertations, 1918-1987, by John W. Collins. Westport, CT: Meckler, c1989.
LOCATION: Gutman Education: Ref. Z5811.C59 1989
LOCATION: Gutman Education: Z5811.C59 1989
LOCATION: Harvard Archives: HUE 22. 589.14
Several Harvard libraries have their own collections of dissertations, generally duplicating material in the Archives. Examples include Cabot Science Library (theses formerly in the Kummel Geological Science Library) and Physics Research Library. These can often be found in HOLLIS on the Expanded Search screen, using the search term <thesis> or <th> as an Other call number search, limited to the particular library. This search does not always work, and you may wish to contact the library in question for instructions. Some of these dissertation collections circulate.
Europe
DART is the European portal for finding electronic theses and dissertations.
United Kingdom
Index to Theses is a comprehensive listing of theses accepted for higher degrees by British and Irish universities since 1716. Abstracts are available from many theses since 1970 and for all since 1986.
Dissertations in Progress
Historical research for higher degrees in the United Kingdom. Part II, Theses in progress, 1986-
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC D20.Z99 H572x
Historical research for higher degrees in the United Kingdom. Part I, Theses completed, 1985-
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC D20.Z99 H57x
Continue:
Historical research for university degrees in the United Kingdom. Part II, Theses in progress, 1967-1985. LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC D20.Z99 H57xHistorical research for university degrees in the United Kingdom. Part I, Theses completed, 1966-1984.
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC D20.Z99 H57xwhich continue:
Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research. Theses supplement, 1928-1966.
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC D20.Z99 H57x
Directory of PhD and DPhil Theses in Progress In Classics and related subjects in the UK and Ireland
France
French dissertations included in:
Systeme Universitaire de Documentation
which replaces TheseNet. To limit search to dissertations, choose "Options," select "Theses," click "Appliquer." Indexes French PhD dissertations in the sciences (1972- ); humanities, social sciences, law, health sciences (1983- ); and veterinary medicine (1990- ). Some records include abstracts in French and occasionally in English.
Catalogue des theses reproduites, 1988-
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC Z2161.C38x Current Issues: Periodicals Reading Room Stacks
Inventaire des theses de doctorat soutenues devant les universites francaises. Sciences, 1981- .
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC Q158.5.Z99 I58x
Inventaire des theses de doctorat soutenues devant les universites francaises. Droit, sciences economiques, sciences de gestion, lettres, sciences humaines, theologies, 1981- .
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC Z2161.C34x
Which continue:
Catalogue des théses de doctorat soutenues devant les universités françaises, 1959-1978.
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC Z2161.C34x
Which continues:
Catalogue des théses et écrits académiques, 1884-1958.
LOCATION: Countway Medicine: 1.Bb.5 (1884-1935 + tables 1906/07-1912/13)
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC AC821.Z99 F72x 1885
Maire, Albert. Repertoire alphabetique des theses de doctorat des lettres des universites francaises 1810-1900, avec table chronologique par universite[s] et table detaillee des matieres. List by author, also subject index and chronological list by university. Includes rejected theses.
LOCATION: Widener: B 335.21.13.5
Mourier, Athenais. Notice sur le doctorat es lettres, suivie du Catalogue et l'analyse des theses francaises et latines admises par les facultes des lettres depuis 1810, avec index et table alphabetique des docteurs (4. ed. 1880) is arranged by year and university. Subject and author indexes. Indicates contents, brief biographical data.
LOCATION: Widener: B 335.21.13.7
Continued by:
Recueil Mourier-Deltour: catalogue et analyse des theses latines et francaises, 1898-1902
LOCATION: Widener: B 335.21.13.
Germany
German dissertations are comprehensively collected by the National Library of Germany, so search its online catalog: Deutschen Nationalbibliothek. Try both the Frankfurt am Main library and the Deutsche Bücherei Leipzig. For scientific and technical dissertations, also go to: Technische Informationsbibliothek Universitätsbibliothek Hannover. Additional sources include:
Deutsche Nationalbibliographie und Bibliographie der im Ausland erschienenen deutschsprachigen Veroffentlichungen. Reihe H, Hochschulschriften. Monatliches Verzeichnis, 1991-.
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC Z5055.G29 D478 Current Issues: Periodicals Reading Room Stacks
CD-ROM version:
Deutsche Nationalbibliographie, 1986- . Includes books, periodicals and dissertations.
LOCATION: Widener: Reference Room: Ask for CD-ROMs at Reference DeskContinues:
Deutsche Bibliographie. Hochschulschriften-Verzeichnis (1974-1990) which merged with: Deutsche Nationalbibliographie und Bibliographie des im Ausland erschienenen deutschsprachigen Schrifttums. Reihe C, Dissertationen und Habilitationsschriften
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC Z5055.G29 D47
Gesamtverzeichnis deutschsprachiger Hochschulschriften (GVH), 1966-1980.
LOCATION: Widener: Collection Development Library has: 40 v.
Jahresverzeichnis der an den deutschen Universitten erschienenen Schriften, 1885-1985?. [title varies]
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC Z2221.J25x
Mundt, Hermann. Bio-bibliographisches Verzeichnis von Universitats- u. Hochschuldrucken (Dissertationen) vom Ausgang des 16. bis Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts. Leipzig, E. Charlsohn, 1936 [i.e. 1934]-1980.
LOCATION: Widener: Harvard Depository Z2221.M86x Library has: 4 v.
LOCATION: Widener: WID-LC Z2221.M86x Library has: 4 v.
LOCATION: Widener: B 335.25.13 Library has: v.1.
Digital Dissertations
Digitale Dissertationen im Internet
Quellensammlung zu "Dissertationen Online"
Other Countries & International Sources
Australia
Australian Digital Theses Program (ADT)
China
Dissertations of China (1977- ) provides full text and/or abstracts of masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral theses from the People's Republic of China.
Netherlands
Promise of Science
Spain
Bases de Datos de Tesis Doctorales (TESEO)
Foreign Doctoral Dissertations Database (Center for Research Libraries, Chicago)
Guide to theses and dissertations: an international bibliography
of bibliographies, by Michael M. Reynolds. Rev. and enl. ed.
Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press, 1985. LOCATION: Gutman Education: Ref.
Z5053.A1 R49 1985
LOCATION: Law School: ILS RR Z 1033.D5 R49 1985
LOCATION: McKay Applied Sci: REF Z5053.A1 R49 1985
LOCATION: Tozzer: REF Z 5053.A1 Z99 1985
LOCATION: Widener: RR 705. 42.10
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD)