Consonant with many of the comments and Debora Weber-Wuff's answer, you may find a goldmine in Umberto Eco's How to Write a Thesis from 1977. Not only does it explain index cards, but it also factors in what books are available at the library. (The last time I mentioned this book, Massimo Ortolano confirmed that it is an Italian standard resource.)

First published in English in 2015, the guide is even advertised for the throwback factor, on the "overview" page by the MIT Press:

Of course, there was no Internet in 1977, but Eco's index card research system offers important lessons about critical thinking and information curating for students of today who may be burdened by Big Data.

For what it's worth, this does sound like an interesting technological transition time period to study, particularly if you are able to figure out who was more likely to have access to newer technologies and compare their workflow/productivity to people without. You may also find that some learned societies' journals or newsletters from the time have editorials or columns that explain newfangled bibliographic tools to their readers. That is, if you can muddle your way through the archaic language you are likely to encounter (like "synergy" and "sea change" and "dynamic" and "World Wide Web").

Consonant with many of the comments and Debora Weber-Wuff's answer, you may find a goldmine in Umberto Eco's How to Write a Thesis from 1977. Not only does it explain index cards, but it also factors in what books are available at the library. (The last time I mentioned this book, Massimo Ortolano confirmed that it is an Italian standard resource.)

First published in English in 2015, the guide is even advertised for the throwback factor, on the "overview" page by the MIT Press:

Of course, there was no Internet in 1977, but Eco's index card research system offers important lessons about critical thinking and information curating for students of today who may be burdened by Big Data.

For what it's worth, this does sound like an interesting technological transition time period to study, particularly if you are able to figure out who was more likely to have access to newer technologies and compare their workflow/productivity to people without. You may also find that some learned societies' journals or newsletters from the time have editorials or columns that explain newfangled bibliographic tools to their readers. That is, if you can muddle your way through the archaic language you are likely to encounter (like "synergy" and "sea change" and "dynamic" and "World Wide Web").