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Boston Marathon: Introduction and Databases

Boston Marathon

This is a guide to the resources in the BHCC Library on the Boston Marathon, including books, eBooks and databases.

The Marathon started in 1897 and is the world's oldest annual marathon.

Due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, the Boston Marathon has been delayed in 2020 until September 14, 2020.  It is the first time in 124 years this race has been delayed.

 

Boston Marathon

Image Citation:

Elsa. 115th Boston Marathon. Getty Images. 18 Apr. 2011. eLibrary. Web. 08 Apr. 2016.

Boston Athletic Association

The Boston Athletic Association organizes the Boston Marathon which runs on the third Monday of April every year.

The course starts in Hopkinton, travels through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline and ends outside the main branch of the Boston Public Library on Boylston Street near Copley Square in Boston.  

 

Databases

We have multiple databases in which one can find resources about the Boston Marathon.  While we don't have any databases specifically geared to the Marathon or to sports in general, you can definitely find reliable resources.  

The databases (articles and more) page is found here

Here are a few that you could use to find articles.  These can be used to find articles on all aspects of the Boston Marathon.

Academic Search Premier
Academic OneFile
Boston Globe
Points of View Reference Center 

Here is one you could use to find articles and images:

eLibrary

One can use the following databases to find articles about the history of the Boston Marathon:

Gale U.S. History in Context
JSTOR

Chat with a Librarian

BHCC Librarian

Andy McCarthy's picture
Andy McCarthy
Contact:
617 228-2323

Patriots' Day

The day that the Boston Marathon is run is Patriots' Day in Massachusetts.  It is a state holiday which commemorates the beginning of the American Revolution which started with the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.  Please see the LibGuide on this event

Images from the Databases

Image Citation:

"18 APR 1994: COSMAS NDETI SPREADS HIS ARMS IN VICTORY AS HE CROSSES THE FINISH LINE TO WIN THE 1994 BOSTON MARATHON Mandatory Credit: DARRELL INGHAM/ALLSPORT." (1994): Image Collection. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.