Histories | Encyclopedias and Dictionaries | Handbooks and Research Methodology | Book Reviews | Chronologies | Biographical Resources | Statistics | Maps and Atlases | Gazateers |

GENERAL BACKGROUND READING/SPECIFIC FACTS

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and broad scholarly surveys provide a basic factual and philosophical background from which to begin your research. Most contain bibliographies which will identify classic and basic sources. Some may supply a literature review

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HISTORIES
For histories about individual countries see also the Special Subjects section of this online guide.

• Cambridge Ancient History. King Ref D 57 .C252
• Cambridge Medieval History. King Ref D 117 .C3 1964
• New Cambridge Modern History King Ref D 298 .N4



These "Cambridge" sources are excellent, intensive historical and chronological surveys.
Cambridge History of Africa
Cambridge History of British Foreign Policy
Cambridge History of Central Asia
Cambridge History of China
Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia
Cambridge History of India
Cambridge History of Iran
Cambridge History of Islam
Cambridge History of Japan
Cambridge History of Judaism
Cambridge History of Later Greek and Early Medieval Philosophy
Cambridge History of Latin America
Cambridge History of Medieval Political Thought
Cambridge History of Modern France
Cambridge History of Poland
Cambridge History of Political Thought 1450-1700
Cambridge History of Renaissance Philosophy
Cambridge History of Seventeenth-Century Philosphy
Cambridge History of Southeast Asia
Cambridge History of Science
Cambridge History of the Bible
Cambridge History of the British Empire
Cambridge History of the Native Peoples of the Americas
Cambridge Economic History of Europe
Cambridge Economic History of India
Cambridge Economic History of the United States
Cambridge Encyclopedia of Africa
Cambridge Illustrated History of . . . . .
Cambridge Social History of Britain 1750-1950

 

• Longman Companion To..... Series by Longman Publishers focsing on specific time period and region or country . Scattered throughout the circulating collection. Search in the online catalog by title.

   

ENCYCLOPEDIAS/DICTIONARIES

• Encyclopedia of American History. King Ref E 174.5 .E52 2002
  Comprehensive survey in a chronological and topical arrangement;
• Encyclopedia of American Social History. King Ref HN 57 .E58 1993
  Thematic encyclopedia that deals with a wide range of American cultural issues and icons.
• Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. King Ref DF 521.O93 1991
  Excellent for early church history. 3 volumes.
• New Encyclopedia of Archaelolgical Excavations in the Holy Land. King Ref DS 111.A2 N488 1993
  Alphabetical entires discuss excavations and research on sites. Includes bibliography.
• The Modern Encyclopedia of Russian and Soviet History. King Ref DK 14 .M6
  Historical and cultural encyclopedia of Russia and the Soviet Union based on Russian, Western European, and North American scholars and sources. English language bibliographies.
• Dictionary of the Middle Ages. King Ref D 114 .D5 1982
• Australians: A Historical Library. King Ref DU 96.A877 1987
• Encyclopedia of Asian History. King Ref DS 31 .E53 1988
  Basic four volume encyclopedia of Asian people, places, and concepts. Most bibliographies in English.
• Encyclopaedia of India. King Ref DS405 .E53 1992
  Thirty volume set on the history and culture of India. Organized by state or territory.
• Encyclopedia of the Holocaust. King Ref D804.3 .E53 1990
  Five Volume encyclopedia covering anything concerning modern Jewish history, especially the twentieth century.
• African American Almanac. King Ref E 185.A275
  Excellent for history as well as statistics. Orgnaized by broad topic
• Asian American Almanac. King Ref E184.O6 A824
• Hispanic American Almanac. King Ref E184.S75 H557
• Historical Dictionaries Series. Scattered in King Reference
  S eries by Greenwood Press scattered and arranged by time period and or event or empire.
• Encyclopaedia Iranica. King Ref DS 253 .E53 1995
  Comprehensive encyclopeida on Islamic history and culture.
• Encyclopedia of Precolonial Africa. King Ref DT@ .E53 1997
• Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. King Ref F1406 .E53 1996.
• Dictionary of Concepts in History. King Ref D 13 .R49 1986
  Dictionary of concepts such as idealism, intellectual history, and fascism as they relate to history

HANDBOOKS/HISTORICAL METHODOLOGY

• The Modern Researcher. Jacques Barzun and Henry F. Graff. 4th edition. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1985.
  Authors are historians attempting to discuss how to 'do' research and how to process ideas (i.e. how to deal with facts and draw 'logical conclusions').
  D 13 .B334 1985
• Guide to the Successful Thesis and Dissertations. James E. Mauch and Jack W. Birch. 2nd edition. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1989.
  King Ref LB 2369 .M377 1989
• American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature. Mary Beth Norton, ed. 3rd edition. Ny: Oxford University Press, 1995, 2v.
  Contains nearly 27,000 annotated citations (primarily to English language works) divided into forty-eight sections; citations refer chiefly to works published between 1961 and 1992. Nice introduction to each geographic region or time period. Really replaces the classic Harvard Guide.
  King Ref D 20.G854 1995
• Handbook for Research in American History: A Guide to Bibliographies and Other Reference Works. 2nd ed. Francis Paul Prucha. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1994.
  Extensive listing of bibliographies and finding aids for primary collections by subject. Subjects include guides to newspapers, legal sources, political history, women's education, regional materials.
  King Ref E 178 .P985 1994
• Sources of Information for Historical Research. Thomas P. Salvens New York: Neal Schuman Publishers, 1994.
  Listing of resources applicable to all areas of history. Organized by Library of Congress Call Numbers.
  King Ref D 20 .S555 1994
• Readers Guide To American History. Peter J. Parish, ed. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 1997.
  Brief bibliographic essays with recomended readings. One of a series. Type the title "Readers Guide to.." in the online catalog for a complete list.
  King Ref E178 .R434 1997

BOOK REVIEWS

• Combined Retrospective Index to Book Reviews in Scholarly Journals, 1886-1974. Arlington, Va.: Carrollton Press, 1979.
  Indexes reviews from 459 journals in history, political science, sociology, and related fields.
  King Index Shelves
• Book Review Digest. New York: H.W. Wilson. 1905-.
  King Index and MiamiLINK/Indexes and Databases
• Book Review Index. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1965-.
  King Index Shelves
• See also most of the periodical indexes.

CHRONOLOGIES

These sources fix dates in context of other concurrent events.

• The Timetables of History.
  Contemporary names and events in chronological and subject (history, politics, literature, science, daily life) order.
  King Ref D 11 .G78 1991
• Timetables of American History.
  King Ref E 18.5 .U75
• The People's Chronology. .
  Basic facts by year with explanations. Dated by comprehensive for the years covered.
  King Ref D 11 .T83
• The American Chronicle: Year by Year Through the Twentieth Century.
  A year by year detailed summary of fads, music, sports, books, technology, etc.
  King Ref E 169.1 .G664 1999
• Day by Day the (1920’s-1980’s)
  Day by day listing of what happened in the U.S. and world-wide.
  Scattered
• American Decades.
  Looks at American culture through the decades, begining at the turn of the century.
  King Ref E169.12 .A419 1994
• American Eras.
  Similar to American Decades above, covers the years 1600-1899.
  King Ref E168 .A5118 1997
• Hyperhistory Online. http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/a.html
• Web Chronology Project.
  Collection of chronologies for most countries and eras. Does a poor job of creating relationships between categories of study, i.e. between science and politics.
  http://campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/

BIOGRAPHY

DICTIONARIES

• American National Biography.
  Newest and most comprehensive source of American and American-related persons. Includes many figures left out of other, tradtional sources.
  King Ref CT213 .A68 1999
• Dictionary of American Biography.
  Contains signed biographical articles, with bibliographies, on persons who resided in the United States or the American Colonies.
  King Ref E 176 .D562x
• Dictionary of National Biography.
  Contains signed articles, with brief bibliographies, on persons from the 15th century to 1970.
  King Ref DA 28 .D4
• National Cyclopedia of American Biography.
  Biographies of 19th and 20th century prominent persons in all fields of American life.
  King Ref E 176 .N28
• Notable American Women 1607-1950.
  Biographies of women who were notable because of their accomplishments.
  King Ref CT 3260 .N57
• Nouvelle Biographie Generale.
  In French. Universal biographical dictionary, concentrating on French figures, but including individuals world-wide.
  King Ref CT 143 .H5
• Neue Deutsche Biographie.
  In German. Biographies of major German figures throughout history.
  King Ref DD 85 .N47x

  These four "Who's Who" sources provide basic biographical data on prominent American and British individuals, living and deceased.

• Who's Who. 1849+.
  King Ref DA 28 .W6
• Who Was Who 1897-.
  King Ref DA 28 .W65
• Who's Who in America. 1899+.
  King Ref E 176 .W65
• Who Was Who in America. 1607-.
  King Ref E 176 .W4

INDEXES

• Biography and Master Genealogy Index.
  Comprehensive index to over 350 sources of biographical information on contemporary and historical figures.
  King Ref Z 5305 .U5 B57
• Personal Name Index to The New York Times Index.
  Indexes names in the NYT from 1851-1989.
  King Ref CT 104.A1 F3

Below is a concise listing of statistical sources. Such sources are perhaps some of the most prolific and elusive items. The Government and Law department has a wealth of information in the census reports and other resources. There are also other indices and statistical sources in the reference collection. Ask the librarian.

• Abstract of British Historical Statistics
  Presents economic statistics, some figures from 17th century and earlier, most from 18th and 19th century through 1938.
  King Ref HA 1135 .M5
• Second Abstract of British Historical Statistics
  Continues first volume to 1965.
  King Ref HA 1135 .M52
• International Historical Statistics: Africa, Asia, and Oceana 1750-1993
  King Ref HA4675 .M55 1995
• International Historical Statistics: Americas: 1750-1988
  King Ref HA 175.M552 1993
• International Historical Statistics: Europe
  King Ref HA 1107.M5 1992
• Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970
  Statistics based on the U.S. Census.
  King Ref HA 202 .B87 1975
• Historical Statistics of Black America
  King Ref E 185.H543 1995
• Statistical Abstract of the United States.1935+.
  Statistics concerning the political, social and economic organization of the U.S. Some tables will go back as far as 1800
  King Ref HA 202 .A4x
• Historical Statistics of Japan. Tokyo: Nikon Tokei Kyokai (Japan Statistical Association), 1987-1988. 5 vols. Also available on CD-ROM (Tokyo: Japan Statistical Association, 1999).
• The East European and Soviet Data Handbook: Political, Social and Developmental Indicators, 1945-1975
  King Ref HA 1446 .S53 + stacks.
• How Much is it Worth Today?
  http://www.eh.net/ehresources/howmuch/dollarq.php
• United States Historical Census Browser
  http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/census/
• Great Britain Historical Database (Great Britain)
  http://hds.essex.ac.uk/gbh.asp
• History Data Service (Great Britain)
  http://hds.essex.ac.uk/

ATLASES

• Atlas of American History.
  Old, but...black and white maps arranged chronologically.
  King Ref E 179.5 .A3
• Historical Atlas. William R. Shepherd.
  Standard historical atlas; covers from 1450 B.C. to 1980; color maps; index. Very Eurocentric.
  King Ref G 1030 .S4 1980
• Historical Maps on File.
  Maps of events and places of historical significance. Designed to be photocopied and altered.
  King Ref G 1030 .M37 1984
• Atlas of Russian History.
  Example of a series of atlas' by Gilbert on various ancient and modern topics. Maps are clear with lots of little dialog boxes explaining significant events and locations.
  King Ref G 2111 .S1 G52 1993
• African History on File.
  Lots of charts, graphs and statistics relating to African history.
  King Ref DT20 .A6194 1994-
• Perry Castan~eda Map Collection
  http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/map_sites/hist_sites.html
• David Rumsey Map Collection
  http://www.davidrumsey.com
• Map Collections: American Memory
  http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/gmdhome.html
• Ancient World Mapping Center Map Room
  Maps from Ancient Greece and Rome.
  http://www.unc.edu/awmc/mapsforstudents.html
  

GAZETTEERS

• Columbia gazetteer of the world .
  Provides population, exact location and very brief description of cities, states, countries, areas, territories, etc.
  King Ref G 103 .C65 1998
• Place Name Changes 1900-1991.
  Name changes in all countries, especially post WWII and the post Soviet era. Refers to new name of place.
  King Ref G 103.5 .R66
• Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
  Place names related to history, archaeology and art.
  http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/vocabularies/tgn/
  
  

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