BASIC REFERENCE SOURCES
FOR HISTORICAL RESEARCH

Handbooks

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.
King Ref D 20.G854 1995,.

Handbook for Research in American History: A Guide to Bibliographies and Other Reference Works. Francis Paul Prucha. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1987.
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 1987

Encyclopedias

Oxford Classical Dictionary. 3rd ed. edited by Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth. Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1996.
King Ref DE5 .O9 1996

Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Richard Stillwell, editor, William L. MacDonald, associate editor, Marian Holland McAllister, assistant editor. Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, 1976
King Ref DE59 .P7

The History of the State of Ohio, edited by Carl Wittke ..Published under the auspices of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society ..Columbus, O., 1941-1944.
King Ref F491 .W78

Almanacs

Ohio Almanac. Lorain, Ohio : Lorain Journal Co and Wilimington, OH: Orange Frazier Press., c1967-
King Ref AY271.L6 O5 1997/98

World Almanac and Book of Facts. New York : Press Pub. Co. (The New York World) 1897-
King Ref AY67.N5 W7 also online

Annual Register. Publisher varies. 1800-
King D2 .A7 1800

Miscellaneous

Album of American History. New York, Scribner, 1945-.
"The intent of the present work is to tell the history of America through pictures made at the time the history was being made."
King Ref E178.5 .A48

Chronologies

The Timetables of History. Bernard Grun. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991.
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. Laurence Urdang. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1981.
Same as above.
King Ref E 18.5 .U75

Timetables of African American History: a chronology of the most important people and events in African-American history. Sharon Harley, ed. New York : Simon & Schuster, 1995.
Similar to the sources above..
King Ref E 185.H295 1995

The People's Chronology. James Trager. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1979.
Basic facts by year with explanations.
King Ref D 11 .T83

The American Chronicle: Year By Year Through the Twentieth Century. Lois Gordon and Alan Gordon. New York: Crown Publishers Inc.,.
A year by year detailed summary of fads, music, sports, books, technology, etc.
King Ref E 169.1 .G664

Dictionaries/History of Language

A Dictionary of Americanisms on Historical Principles. edited by Mitford M. Mathews. Chicago, University of Chicago Press [1956, c1951]
King Ref PE2835 .D5 1956

The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. prepared by J.A. Simpson and E.S.C. Weiner. Oxford : Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1989.
King Ref PE1625 .O87 1989 and MiamiLINK

Dictionary of American Slang. Compiled and edited by Harold Wentworth and Stuart Berg Flexner. New York, Crowell [1967].
King Ref PE3729.U5 W4 1966

New Dictionary of American Slang. Edited by Robert L. Chapman. New York : Harper & Row, c1986. Rev. ed. of: Dictionary of American slang
King Ref PE2846 .C46 1986

Statistics

Abstract of British Historical Statistics. B.R. Mitchell. Cambridge: University Press, 1962.
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. B.R. Mitchell & H.G. Jones. Cambridge: University Press, 1971.
Continues first volume to 1965.
King Ref HA 1135 .M52

International Historical Statistics: Africa, Asia, and Australia 1750-1993. B.R. Mitchell. New York: Stockton Press, 1998.
King Ref HA 4675 .M55 1998

International Historical Statistics: Americas: 1750-1993. B.R. Mitchell. New York: Stockton Press, 1998. See next entry.
King Ref HA 175.M552 1998

International Historical Statistics: Europe 1750-1993, B.R. Mitchell. New York: Stockton Press, 1998
Excellent source for historical statistics.
King Ref HA 1107.M5 1998

Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970. Washington D.C.: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1975.
Statistics based on the U.S. Census.
King Ref HA 202 .B87 1975

Historical Statistics of Black America. Jessie Carney Smith and Carrell Peterson Horton, eds. New York : Gale Research, 1995.
Statistics vary by type and dates, depending on data available.
King Ref E 185.H543 1995

Statistical Abstract of the United States. U.S. Department of Commerce & the Bureau of the Census. Washington D.C.: GPO, 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

Atlas’ and Gazateers

Atlas of American History. James T. Adams (ed.). New York: Scribner, 1943
Black and white maps arranged chronologically. Indexed. Supplements the Dictionary of American History.
King Ref E 179.5 .A3

Historical Atlas. William R. Shepherd. 9th ed. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1980.
Standard historical atlas; covers from 1450 B.C. to 1980; color maps; index.
King Ref G 1030 .S4 1980

Atlas of the Holocaust. Martin Gilbert. New York : William Morrow and Company, c1993.
King Ref G1797.21.E29 G58 1993

Historical Maps on File. New York: Facts on File 1984.
Maps of events and places of historical significance. Designed to be photocopied and altered.
King Ref G 1030 .M37 1984

Atlas of Russian History. Martin Gilbert. second edtion. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.
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

Webster's New Geographical Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam Webster, Inc., 1972-.
Defines and locates virtually all contemporary, and some extinct, cities, countries and regions throughout the world.
King Ref G 103.5 .W42

Columbia Gazetteer of the World. edited by Saul B. Cohen New York : Columbia University Press, c1998.
Provides population, exact location and very brief description of cities, states, countries, areas, territories, etc. Needs revision, but invaluable in locating even the smallest, most obscure place on earth!
King Ref and Science Ref G103.5 .C65 1998

Place Name Changes Since 1900: A World Gazetteer. Adrian Room. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1979.
Name changes in all countries, especially post WWII. Refers to new name of place.
King Ref G 103.5 .R66

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

Book Review Digest. New York: H.W. Wilson. 1905-.
King Index and MiamiLINK

Book Review Index. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1965-.
King Index

Biography

American National Biography. New York : Oxford University Press, 1999. Broader coverage of individuals often overlooked in American history.
King Ref CT213 .A68 1999

Dictionary of American Biography. New York: Scribner, 1927-1981.
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. London: Oxford University Press, 1917-1981.
Contains signed articles, with brief bibliographies, on persons from the 15th century to 1970.
King Ref DA 28 .D4

National Cyclopedia of American Biography. New Jersey: James T. White, 1898+.
Biographies of 19th and 20th century prominent persons in all fields of American life.
King Ref E 176 .N28

Notable American Women 1607-1950. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971.
Biographies of women who were notable because of their accomplishments.
King Ref CT 3260 .N57 (3)

Dictionary of Literary Biography. Detroit : Gale Research Co.
Biographies and criticism of writers of all genres.
King Ref PN451 .D5

Who's Who. London: A&C Black, 1849+.
King Ref DA 28 .W6 1988
Who Was Who. London: A&C Black, 1897-.
King Ref DA 28 .W65
Who's Who in America. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who Inc., 1899+.
King Ref E 176 .W65
Who Was Who in America. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who Inc., 1607-1981.
King Ref E 176 .W4
These four "Who's Who" sources provide basic biographical data on prominent American and British individuals, living and deceased.

Biography Indexes

Biography and Master Genealogy Index. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1975+.
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. Succasunna, N.J.: Roxbury Data Interface, 1976.
Indexes names in the NYT from 1851-1989.
King Ref CT104.A1 F3