As many plays are positioned historically or deal with significant historical events, you might find researching Native American history necessary to acquire a more nuanced understanding of the social and historical context for the theatre or theatremakers you are studying. The University of Illinois has a wealth of materials relating to Native American Studies and it can be difficult to know where to start, so we've compiled some recommendations below for archival collections, databases, and collected resource guides to help direct your research.
The University Archives includes a rich collection of oral history records and other archival materials related to Native American history. If you want to consult them in person, check out the University of Illinois Archives' Plan a Visit page.
The Library subscribes to dozens of databases that collect resources relating to Indigenous Studies. We are linking two below that are great places to start when looking for historical context for your projects, but there are many more you can explore by checking out the resource guides linked in the next section.
Several libraries on campus have created their own guides relating to Native American and Indigenous Studies. We've listed a few below to help you navigate the diversity of materials held across different University of Illinois unit libraries in case you want to consult other interdisciplinary resources in the course of your research.