Background Reading
Histories
Encyclopedias/DictionariesBook Reviews
Bibliographies and Handbooks
Chronologies
Biographic Dictionaries
Statistical Sources
Atlases
Gazeteers
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.
African Studies Companion. Zill, Hans. New York: H. Zill, 1989.
King Ref DT 19.8 .Z45 1989
Cambridge Ancient History. 3rd edition. London: Cambridge University Press, 1970-1977.
Comprehensive, signed chapters, with extensive bibliographies.
King Ref D 57 .C252
Cambridge Medieval History. 2nd edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1924, 1964 reprint.
Contains chapters written by specialists, with full bibliographies at the end of each volume.
King Ref D 117 .C3 1964
New Cambridge Modern History. G.R. Potter (ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1957-1979. Comprehensive articles; see Roach.
A Bibliography of Modern History
(King Ref Z 6204 .R62) for bibliography.
Covers history to 1945.
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 Southeast Asia
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
Encyclopedia of American History. Richard B. Morris (ed.). 7th edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1996.
Comprehensive survey in a chronological and topical arrangement; exploration to 1981.
King Ref E 174.5 .E52 1996
Encyclopedia of American Social History. Mary Kupiec Cayton, Elliott J. Gorn, and Peter W. Williams, eds. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1993. Thematic encyclopedia that deals with a wide range of American cultural issues and icons.
King Ref HN 57 .E58 1993
Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Alexander P. Kazhan, ed. et al. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.
Excellent for early church history. 3 volumes.
King Ref DF 521.O93 1991
New Encyclopedia of Archaelolgical Excavations in the Holy Land. Ephraim Stern, ed. New York: Simon and Schuester, 1993.
Alphabetical entires discuss excavations and research on sites. Includes bibliography.
King Ref DS 111.A2 N488 1993
The Modern Encyclopedia of Russian and Soviet History. Joseph L. Wieczynski (ed.) Gulf Breeze, Fla.: Academic International Press, 1976-1983. Historical and cultural encyclopedia of Russia and the Soviet Union based on Russian, Western European, and North American scholars and sources. English language bibliographies.
King Ref DK 14 .M6
Dictionary of the Middle Ages. Joseph R. Strayer. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1982+.
Nearly complete, this encyclopedia covers factual and historical analysis of the Middle Ages. Examples of articles: Accounting, Antipope, St. Thomas Acquinas.
King Ref D 114 .D5 1982
Australians: A Historical Library. D.J. Mulvaney and J. Peter White, eds. New South Wales, Australia: Fairfax, Syme, and Weldon, Assoc., 1989. Beautiful and extensive (11 vols.) examination of Australian History. Last volumes contain historical statistics. Includes excellent historical maps.
King Ref DU 96.A877 1987
Dictionary of Concepts in History. Harry Ritter. New York: Greenwood Press, 1986.
Dictionary of concepts such as idealism, intellectual history, and fascism as they relate to history. Excellent, current bibliographies.
King Ref D 13 .R49 1986
Encyclopedia of Asian History. Ainslie T. Embree (ed.). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1988.
Basic four volume encyclopedia of Asian people, places, and concepts. Most bibliographies in English.
King Ref DS 31 .E53 1988
Civilization of the Ancient Mediterranean. Michael Grant and Rachel Kitzinger. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1988.
Topical articles with excellent bibliography.
King Ref DE 59 .C55 1988
Civilizations of the ancient Near East. Jack M. Sasson, ed. New York : Scribner, 1995-.
Similar to the ancient Mediterranean above.
King Ref DS57 .C55 1995
Encyclopedia of the Holocaust. Israel Gutman, ed. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. 1990.
Five Volume encyclopedia covering anything concerning modern Jewish history, especially the twentieth century.
King Ref D804.3 .E53 1990.
Encyclopaedia of India. P.N. Chopra, ed. New Delhi : Rima Pub., 1992- . Thirty volume set on the history and culture of India. Organized by state or territory.
King Ref DS405 .E53 1992
African American Almanac. Detroit, MI : Gale Research
Excellent for history as well as statistics. Orgnaized by broad topic.
King Ref E 185.A275 1994
Also
Asian American Almanac
King Ref E184.O6 A824 1995
Hispanic American Almanac
King Ref E184.S75 H557 1993\
Historical Dictionaries Series:
series by Greenwood Press scattered and arranged by time period and or event or empire.
Encyclopaedia Iranica. Ehsan Yarshater, ed. London ; Boston : Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1985-.
Comprehensive encyclopeida on Islamic history and culture.
King Ref DS 253 .E53 1995Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation. Hans J. Hillerbrand, ed. New York : Oxford University Press, 1996.
Basic subject encyclopedia.
King Ref BR302.8 .O93 1996
International Dictionary of Historic Places. Trudy Ring, ed. Chicago : Fitzroy Dearborn, 1995.
Histories of cities. Organized on a regional basis.
King Ref CC135 .I585 1995
Encyclopedia of Africa South of the Sahara. John Middleton, ed. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1997
Comprehensive lookd at Africa by country. Includes historical and ethnic information.
King Ref DT 351/E53 1997
Encyclopedia of Precolonial Africa. Joseph O. Vogel, ed. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press/Sage Publications, 1997
Broken into issues and geographic areas.
King Ref DT@ .E53 1997
Nations Without States: A Historical Dictonary of Contemporary Movements. James Minahan. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 1996.
Histories of those nations who are regionally and culturally associated and consider themselves a nation or desire nationhood. (Quebec, Kurdistan, etc.)
King Ref D860.M56 1996
Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. Barbara A. Tenenbaum. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1996.
King Ref F1406 .E53 1996
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 Dissertation. 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.
Up to date 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.
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 IndexBook Review Digest. New York: H.W. Wilson. 1905-.
King Index and MiamiLINK/Article Indexes/General.
Book Review Index.
Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1965-.
King Index Tables
See also the following periodical indexes:
•Historical Abstracts
•America: History and Life
•Index to Book Reviews in the Humanities
•Arts and Humanities Citation Index
•Social Science Citations Index
These sources fix dates in context of other concurrent events.
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. Categories of events include: history; education; laws and leagla actions; religion; literature; publications and the black press; arts; science, technology, and medicine; and sports.
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: Seven Decades in American Life 1920-1989. Lois Gordon and Alan Gordon. New York: Crown Publishers Inc., 1990.
A year by year detailed summary of fads, music, sports, books, technology, etc.
King Ref E 169.1 .G664 1990
Day by Day the (1920’s-1980’s) New York: Facts on File.
Day by day listing of what happened in the U.S. and world-wide.
Scattered
American Decades. Detroit : Gale Research, 1994-.
Looks at American culture through the decades, begining at the turn of the century.
King Ref E169.12 .A419 1994
American Eras. Detroit : Gale Research, 1997-
Similar to American Decades above, covers the years 1600-1899.
King Ref E168 .A5118 1997
American National Biography. New York : Oxford University Press, 1999
Newest and most comprehensive source of American and American-related persons. Includes many figures left out of other, tradtional sources.
King Ref CT213 .A68 1999Dictionary 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)
Webster's Biographical Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam Webster, 1943-.
Short 'definition' biographies, both living and dead persons. Includes pronunciation.
King Ref CT 103 .W4
Nouvelle Biographie Generale. M.M. Firmin Didot Freres. Copenhague: Rosenkilde et Bagger, 1963.
In French. Universal biographical dictionary, concentrating on French figures, but including individuals world-wide.
King Ref CT 143 .H5
Neue Deutsche Biographie. Berlin: Drencker & Humbolt, 1953.
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. London: A&C Black, 1849+.
King Ref DA 28 .W6
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
INDEXESBiography 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 851-1989.
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 Documents 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. 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 Oceana 1750-1988. B.R. Mitchell. New York: Stockton Press, 1994.
See next entry.
HA4675 .M55 1995
International Historical Statistics: Americas: 1750-1988. B.R. Mitchell. New York: Stockton Press, 1993.
See next entry.
King Ref HA 175.M552 1993
International Historical Statistics: Europe, B.R. Mitchell. New York: Stockton Press, 1992 Excellent source for historical statistics.
King Ref HA 1107.M5 1992
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
The East European and Soviet Data Handbook: Political, Social and Developmental Indicators, 1945-1975. Paul S. Shoup. New York: Columbia University Press, 1981.
King Ref HA 1446 .S53 + stacks.
Monthly Labor Review. 1911-.
Periodical from U.S. Department of Labor which contains various statistics concerning labor.
King PeriodicalsHow Much is it Worth Today?
http://www.eh.net/ehresources/howmuch/dollarq.phpUnited States Historical Census Browser
http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/census/Historical Database (Great Britain)
http://www.geog.qmw.ac.uk/gbhgis/database/db_index.htmlGreat Britain Historical Database Online
http://hds.essex.ac.uk/gbh.asp
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
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
African History on File. New York : Facts on File, 1994.
Lots of charts, graphs and statistics relating to African history.
King Ref DT20 .A6194 1994
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 1988
Columbia gazetteer of the world . Saul B. Cohen (ed.). New York: Columbia University Press, 1998. Provides population, exact location and very brief description of cities, states, countries, areas, territories, etc.
King Ref G 103 .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
Omni Gazetteer of the United States of America: A Guide to 1,500,00 Place Names in the United States and Territories.
Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 1991. Locates just about anything, anywhere in the United States.
King Ref E 154.O45 1991.