American Studies

Finding Articles

(and Reports, Book Chapters, etc.)

Scholarly / Popular

How can you tell the difference between and scholarly and popular periodicals? The table shown below lists some differences between scholarly and popular sources.

For examples, see the Inflite tutorial.

Searching Article Databases

Background

University Library subscribes to hundreds of article indexing databases which are available to you on campus or from home once you have logged in with your user ID and password. These databases are important because they allow to search for articles by keyword, topic, title, author, etc. Remember, a library catalog such as IUCAT will allow you to search for journal titles, but will not allow you to search for specific articles within the journal.

Search Tips

To find out which databases are most likely to have the kinds of articles that will be helpful to you, check the "Database Descriptions", "Title List", or other "information" or "about" options available in a particular database. See the section below on Suggested Databases for American Studies specific databases.

Before you start entering any search terms, spend a few minutes trying to think of as many relevant terms and combinations of terms as you can. This will help you to avoid getting stuck in a rut with the first terms that come to mind.

If you need help in coming up with terms, you may want to try the databases' "Thesaurus" or "Subject Headings" features.

Check out the "Help" or "Search Tips" to learn some of the search features specific to that database. Most databases provide similar features, but the methods may vary.

Try the databases' Advanced Search feature, which usually gives you the ability to search multiple fields (author, title, keyword, subject, etc) with one search and may offer additional ways to expand or limit your search.

If your first search strategy does not work, try another approach. Remember, too, that you can ask for Reference Help.

Looking for a way to find out which electronic full-text journals IUPUI has access to? Then try here...

• American Studies Journals Online
  Alphabetical listing of all electronic full-text journals to which IUPUI University Library has access. Use when you would like to search or browse a specific journal that is not necessarily in the field of American Studies or when you already have a specific citation and want to see if the article is available online.

or, if you want to see a listing of all of the Women's Studies journals IUPUI subscribes to, try here:

• School of Liberal Arts Library Journals Database (Available inside Cavanaugh Hall and University Library only)
  "The Liberal Arts Journals database contains journal titles to which the University Library subscribes from the resources account for Liberal Arts." (from website) To see which American Studies journals IUPUI subscribes to, go to the Search by a specific Liberal Arts Department: menu and select American Studies, and then select Individual Report. This will yield a listing of all American Studies journals. The listing is updated at the beginning of the fiscal year.

Suggested Databases

Full-Text, Abstract, and Citation Databases (Journals, Magazines, Book Reviews, and some Newspapers)

• 49th Parallel
  The essays in this special issue of 49th Parallel introduce new critical perspectives
  on the changing composition of the field and provide a particular focus on transatlantic
  perspectives as these are now inflected by post national concerns. The 49th Parallel
  gives opinions and raises issues about American Studies from a European perspective.
• Abstracts of American Studies Dissertations
  This information is based on details submitted to the American Studies Association
  by American Studies graduate programs; it is published annually in the December
  issue of American Quarterly, whence the materials presented here have been
  excerpted. Please note that these pages contain only abstracts of dissertations and
  not full text articles.
• Academic Search Premier (access via Academic Search Elite link or EBSCOhost Web link)
  "Academic Search Elite offers full text for more than 2,000 serials, including more than 1,500 peer-reviewed titles. This multi-disciplinary database covers virtually every area of academic study. More than 100 journals have PDF images back to 1985. This database is updated on a daily basis via EBSCOhost." (from website)
• America: History and Life: Prehistory to the Present
  Call Number: E171 .A43 REFERENCE (2nd Floor)
  This resource includes abstracts to articles, books, and dissertations on U.S. and
  Canadian history from prehistory to the present.
• American Jewish History through Project Muse
  Call Number: E184 .J5 A5 STACKS (3rd Floor)
  American Jewish History is the official publication of the American Jewish Historical
  Society and focuses on every aspect of the American Jewish experience. Volumes that
  are included range from 1996 to 2001.
• American Poetry Database: 1760-1900
  The American Poetry Full-Text Database features the works of
  more than 200 American poets, along with six landmark anthologies
  of American poetry. The database gathers the works of the most
  influential American poets, from the Colonial period to the early
  twentieth century.
• American Quarterly Back Issues Online, through J-STOR
• American Quarterly Current Issues Online, through Project Muse
  Call Number: AP2 .A3985 STACKS (3rd Floor)
  Since its founding in 1949, American Quarterly has established itself as the outstanding
  guide to American Studies. It promotes a broad, humanistic understanding of American
  culture and encourages cross-disciplinary work.
• American Studies International through Academic Search FullTEXT Elite, 1990-present
  Call Number: E175.8 .A5835 STACKS (3rd Floor)
  Articles and book notes are included on the range of topics that fall under the heading
  American studies: history, literature and language, material culture, folklore, philosophy
  and religion and government and politics.
• Arts and Humanities Citation Index (1987-)
  Available through ISI's Web of Knowledge's Web of Science. This database features humanities citations from 1987 to the present. Features general, advanced, and cited reference searches.
• Canadian Review of American Studies through Academic Search FullTEXT Elite, 1990-present
  Articles, review articles and short reviews of multi- and interdisciplinary analysis give an
  understanding of the culture, both past and present, of the United States, and of the relations
  between the cultures of the United States and Canada.
• Database of African American Poetry
  The Database of African-American Poetry, 1760-1900, includes
  the poems of such well-known figures as Paul Laurence Dunbar and
  Phillis Wheatley and the verse of many lesser-known poets whose
  works may only be found in anthologies or private libraries. Covering
  a wide range of topics from slavery and abolition to love and death, this
  collection provides a unique portrait of early America through the
  reflections of African-American poets during the 18th and 19th centuries.
• EBSCOhost Web
  This database covers several disciplines, such as medical, business, academic,
  and professional subject areas. Full text for nearly 1,560 journals is included,
  with many dating back to 1990. Abstracts and indexing exists for nearly 2,750
  scholarly journals, with many dating back to 1984. There is also coverage of
  over 1,800 peer-reviewed journals, as well as charts and graphs.
• Expanded Academic ASAP
  Includes citations and lots of full-text. Very general database, but includes articles from American studies, and sociology journals.
• Historical Abstracts: 1450 to the Present
  Call Number: D299 .H5 REFERENCE (2nd Floor)
  Historical Abstracts is a complete reference guide to the history of the world
  (excluding the United States and Canada). It contains annotated references to
  information on over half a million topics.
• Humanities Full-Text (via Wilson Web)
  Includes full text of social history. Good source for examining how various topics have been presented in literature throughout history.
• Humanities Index International (access via EBSCOhost Web link)
  "Humanities International Index is a comprehensive database covering journals, books and other important reference sources in the humanities. Produced by Whitston Publishing (an imprint of EBSCO Publishing), Humanities International Index provides cover-to-cover indexing and abstracting for over 2,000 titles and contains more than 2 million records." (from website)
• Ingenta
  Ingenta is the global research gateway serving the online information needs of over
  1.4 million visitors a month. It provides a free online search service of published
  content from reliable research sources and is one of the UK's top 20 Web services.
  It currently contains 12,261,368 articles and 26,682 publications on several subjects,
  including Agriculture and Social Science.
• IngentaConnect
  Includes citations and lots of full-text. Very general database. Not all content is peer-reviewed, but you can limit your search to return only peer-reviewed items.
• Journal of American Studies through Cambridge Journals Online
  Journal of American Studies publishes works by scholars from all over the world on American
  history, politics, literature, institutions, economics, film, popular culture, geography, sociology and
  related subjects. A 'Notes and Comments' section provides a forum for shorter pieces and responses from readers to points made in articles or reviews. Also included are review essays, book reviews
  and, biennially, a list of theses on American topics in progress and completed at British universities.
• J-STOR
  All full-text and scholarly articles. Presents the back-files or the complete run of important journals up to a relatively recent embargo date. No controlled vocabulary or subject headings used. May limit keyword search to abstract, title, full-text. This database is complemented well by the ProjectMuse journals. Please view this tutorial for guidance in searching within J-STOR.
• Master File Premier (access via EBSCOhost Web link)
  "Designed specifically for public libraries, this multidisciplinary database provides full text for more than 1,700 general reference publications with full text information dating as far back as 1975. Covering virtually every subject area of general interest, MasterFILE Premier also includes nearly 500 full text reference books, 84,774 biographies, 100,554 primary source documents, and an Image Collection of 202,164 photos, maps and flags. This database is updated daily via EBSCOhost." (from website)
• Periodicals Archive Online
  "Periodicals Archive Online is the new name for PCI Full Text - an archive of hundreds of digitised journals published in the arts, humanities and social sciences." (from website)
• Periodicals Index Online
  "Periodicals Index Online is the new name for Periodicals Contents Index - a database of millions of article citations published in the arts, humanities and social sciences, across more than 300 years." (from website)
• Project MUSE
  All full-text, all scholarly.
• Research Society for American Periodicals
  The RSAP is an interdisciplinary organization of scholars interested in American magazines and
  newspapers. American Periodicals is an annual publication devoted exclusively to scholarship
  and criticism relating to American magazines and newspapers of all periods, including reviews of
  books in the subject area.
• Sociological Abstracts
  Call Number: HM1 .S67 REFERENCE (2nd Floor)
  This database covers the life sciences, environmental and aquatic sciences,
  computer sciences, materials science and engineering, aerospace, social
  sciences, and humanities. The abstracts are from not only an award-winning
  Internet Database Service, providing access to more than 70 databases, but
  also widely read print journals.

Newspaper Databases

• African American Newspapers: 19th Century (Windows Only)
  This database permits searching all newspapers that are indexed
  as well as choosing the following individual papers: the Freedom's
  Journal, The Colored American, The North Star, The National
  Era, the Provincial Freeman, the Frederick Douglass Paper,
  and The Christian Recorder.
• Historical New York Times (ProQuest Newspapers)
  Searchable online database which houses full-text digitized version of New York Times from 1860's-2004. Includes advertisements and images.
  
• Indiana Newsstand (ProQuest Newspapers)
  "Full-text coverage of major Indiana newspapers including the South Bend Tribune, and the Evansville Courier, plus selected coverage of other regional sources and indexing for the Indianapolis News and Star." (from the website)
• Indianapolis Star (via NewsBank)
  Online version of the Indianapolis Star, covering from 1/1/1999 to the present.
• Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe
  This database provides full text articles for News, Business, Legal Research, Medical
  and Health information, and Reference Resources. Lexis-Nexis also has a Statistical
  Universe link as well as a Government Periodicals link.
• Los Angeles Times (ProQuest Newspapers)
  "Major daily newspaper from Los Angeles. With the nation's largest editorial department, it offers extensive coverage of national, international, and local news." (from website) Covers from 1985 to the present.
• McClasky-Tribune Collection (access via EBSCOhost Web link)
  "The McClatchy-Tribune Collection includes a 90-day archive of approximately 290 newspapers from the McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. This database is updated daily." (from website)
• Newspaper Source (access via EBSCOhost Web link)
  "Newspaper Source provides selected full text for nearly 30 national (U.S.) and international newspapers. The database also contains full text television & radio news transcripts, and selected full text for more than 200 regional (U.S.) newspapers. This database is updated daily via EBSCOhost." (from website)
  

Access

When you find a reference for an article by using a database:

In the record for the article, if there is an icon for the PDF of the article (PDF Full Text - or something similar), click on it and the PDF of the article will open. You can then read, print, email, or save it. (If you want to print, be sure to use the Adobe printer icon or you will only get blank pages.)

If there is a choice between PDF and HTML, use the PDF because it will look like a photocopy of the article. If you need to quote something from the article, you will be able to see the correct page numbers of the quote (which you will need when citing your sources). In most cases, the HTML version will not indicate page breaks and will sometimes not include graphics.

If full text is not an option in the database you are searching, there should be an "SFX" linking icon such shown.

Clicking on this icon will lead you to a menu of Access options. Please see this brief Flash tutorial if you have questions about this menu.

If the article is not available electronically or in print through University Library, or if you are a Distance Education student and the article is only available in print, you can place an Interlibrary Loan for the article. When the article comes in (which usually takes at least a week), you will receive an email explaining how to access it electronically.

When you find a reference for an article from some source other than a database:

To find out if University Library has access to an article that you have found in a bibliography or some other source, you can:

Enter the citation (reference) information into Citation Linker. This should bring you to the Access menu. Please see this brief Flash tutorial if you have questions about this method.

Or

Check the Electronic Journal List to see if the journal and issue are available electronically. If not, search IUCAT by Periodical Title for the journal and check to see if University Library has access to the journal and issue you need. If you would like to see how to check IUCAT for access to journal holdings, please see this brief Flash tutorial.

Finding Books & Media

Library Catalogs

Library catalogs have been created to help you find out what a library has in its collection and where these items are located. IUCAT and WorldCat are two libraries catalogs that will be helpful to you.

IUCAT can be used to find out what is available in all of the Indiana University Libraries.

This catalog is open to the public, but as an IU student, staff or faculty member you have special privileges. For example, if you live near any of the Indiana University Libraries, you will want to log in so that you can use Request Delivery to request that books not available at your local IU campus library be delivered to the campus library of your choice.

Options for learning to use IUCAT features:

OCLC's WorldCat can be used to find out what is available in many public and university libraries in this country and in some other countries.

If you find a book, CD, DVD, or video in WorldCat that is not available through the Indiana University libraries, you can make an Interlibrary Loan request for the item. Keep in mind that it will usually take at least 7-10 days for the item to come in and these items must be picked up and returned to IUPUI University Library if you are an IUPUI student, staff or faculty member. If you are not able to pick up items at IUPUI, please make an Interlibrary Loan request through your local public library instead of through University Library.

Options for learning to use WorldCat features:

• Check the Help Feature
• Look at these brief Flash tutorials
  • WorldCat Subject Search
• Ask a Librarian to explain how to use WorldCat
• Experiment with WorldCat on your own

If you are searching by keyword or subject heading:

• Before you start entering any search terms, spend a few minutes trying to think of as many relevant terms and combinations as you can. This will help you to avoid getting stuck in a rut with the first terms that come to mind.

If you are searching by title:

• Leave out the first word of the title if it is a common article such as "the" or "an"
• If you are searching in WorldCat, do not include punctuation such as a ":"

Learn at least a few of the search features

• The most common one is Boolean searching:
  • using AND between terms to narrow the results to items containing both (or all) of the search terms
  • using OR between terms to expand the results to include items containing any one of the search terms

Subject Searching

Searching library catalogs by Subject Heading, rather than by Keyword, can help to target your search. The catalog records for most of the books and other items in IUCAT and WorldCat include Subject Headings that come from a list defined by the Library of Congress. This can be helpful because it narrows down the options for useful search terms, but you need to know the approved Subject Headings in order to take advantage of this system.

Options for finding/using applicable Library of Congress Subject Headings:

• Most library Reference departments will have a copy of the "Red Books" containing the Library of Congress Subject Headings
• WorldCat has a feature that allows searching for subject headings.
  • Go to the Advanced Search screen.
  • Or see the Flash tutorial on using this feature.
• When you do run across a catalog record for a book that is relevant to your topic, both IUCAT and WorldCat allow you to click on the hyperlinked subject headings to find more books on that topic.
• This Word document shows a list of some Subject Headings relevant to American Studies topics.

Locating/Viewing

When you want to view an e-book:

Click on the link in the IUCAT record. For a demonstration, see the Viewing e-books Tutorial or ask for Reference Help.

When you want to find an item on the Library shelves:

University Library and many other academic libraries use the Library of Congress Classification System and Call Numbers, not the Dewey Decimal System that you may have seen at your local public library.

At the bottom of an IUCAT record, you will see the call number and basic location for the item as shown in this example:

If the location for an item in the University Library collection says "Stacks" the item will be on the:

• 3rd floor shelves if the call number starts with the letters A-N
• 4th floor shelves if the call number starts with the letters P-Z

Reference materials, Current Periodicals, Microforms, and Government Documents are all in the Reference Room on the 2nd floor.

IUPUI's Philanthropic Studies Library is on the 2nd floor.

DVDs are kept behind the Circulation desk on the 2nd floor.

Special Collections are on the Lower Level

Library Maps

E-Books

If you are looking for full-text books that can be accessed and read online, then e-books are for you. Most of our e-books can be found by title in our catalog, IUCAT, but they can also be accessed or browsed directly in the database through which they are provided.

E-Book databases

• ACLS Humanities E-Book
  A fully searchable collection of high-quality books in the Humanities, recommended and reviewed by scholars and featuring unlimited multi-user. The majority of the titles are older but foundational works. Pages from the e-books are NOT designed for easy printing.
• Ebrary
  A multi-discipline collection of recent and older published books both scholarly and popular in nature. Workstation must have special, free Ebrary viewer downloaded to view the books. One can print multiple pages at a time and multiple users can view the same title at the same time.
• Google Book Search
  Google has photocopied and made available online thousands of books, both scholarly and popular, from libraries across the county. Some books can be viewed in full-text while others provide only snippets from the book. Because of the controversial (due to copyright issues) nature of the Google Book Search project you may want to make sure it is OK with your professor before using Google Book Search as means for class research.
• Net Library
  A multi-discipline collection of recent and older published books both scholarly and popular in nature. You can print one page at a time and only one user may view a specific title at a time.

Return to top

Reference Materials

Reference Materials

This is a selected list of some of the more useful American Studies reference sources. Check IUCAT for more options. Keep in mind that you can search for a topic and add the terms Handbooks, manuals, etc.; Dictionaries; Encyclopedias; or Bibliography to your search. If you need to find an e-book, you can also add the keywords electronic resource. For help with searching IUCAT, please see Books/DVDs/CDs/Videos or Reference Help.

Note: All materials listed are found in the Reference Room and are listed in order by Library of Congress call number.

Dictionaries:

• Black American Military Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary REF E181 .H382 2007
• Blackwell Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Social Thought H41 .B53 1993 Philanthropic Studies Reference (2nd Floor)
• Columbia Dictionary of Modern Literacy and Cultural Criticism REF BH39 .C62 1995
• Dictionary of American Biography REF E176 .D56
• Dictionary of American Immigration History JV6450 .D53 1990 Philanthropic Studies Stacks (2nd Floor)
• Dictionary of American Slang REF PE2846 .C46 2007
• Dictionary of Latino Civil Rights History REF E184 .S75 R69 2006
• Historical Dictionary of the Civil Rights Movement REF E185 .61 .L84 1997
• Historical Dictionary of Early North America REF E35 .W475 2005
• Historical Dictionary of Organized Labor REF HD4839 .D58 1996
• Historical Dictionary of the American Revolution REF E209 .M36 1999
• Historical Dictionary of the Great Depression, 1929-1940 REF E801 .H57 2001
• Historical Dictionary of U.S.-Latin American Relations REF F1418 .F457 2005
• Latino and African American Athletes Today: A Biographical Dictionary REF GV697 .A1 L345 2004
• Oxford Dictionary of American Quotations REF PN6081 .A623 2006
• Southern Writers: A New Biographical Dictionary REF PS261 .S595 2006

Return to top

Encyclopedias:

• African Americans at War: An Encyclopedia REF U52 .S88 2004, v.1-v.2
• American Indian Religious Traditions: An Encyclopedia REF E98 .R3 C755 2005, v.1-v.3
• Beat Culture: Icons, Lifestyles, and Impact REF PS228 .B6 B368 2005
• Black Women in America REF E185.86 .B542 2005, v.1-v.3
• Bulls, Bears, Boom, and Bust: A Historical Encyclopedia of American Business Concepts REF HF3021 .D59 2007
• Civil Rights in the United States REF E184 .A1 C47 2000
• Class in America: An Encyclopedia REF HN90 .S6 C564 2007, v.1-v.3
• Cold War Culture: Media and the Arts, 1945-1990 REF E169 .12 .S39 2000
• The Cowboy Encyclopedia REF E20 .S56 1994
• Encyclopedia of African American Business REF HD2358 .5 .U6 E53 2006, v.1-v.2
• Encyclopedia of African American Military History REF UB418 .A47 W45 2004
• Encyclopedia of African American Society REF E185 .E546 2005, v.1-v.2
• Encyclopedia of American Folklife REF GR105 .E53 2006, v.1-v.4
• Encyclopedia of American Folklore REF GR105 .W38 2007
• Encyclopedia of American Business History REF HF3021 .G44 2006, v.1-v.2
• Encyclopedia of American History REF E174.5 .E52 1996
• Encyclopedia of American Law Enforcement REF HV8133 .N498 2007
• Encyclopedia of American Opera REF ML102 .O6 W53 2006
• Encyclopedia of American Political Parties and Elections JK2261 .S218 2006
• Encyclopedia of American Urban History REF HT123 .E49 2007, v.1-v.2
• Encyclopedia of Colonial and Revolutionary America REF E188 .E63 1990
• Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Culture REF E169 .12 .E49 2001
• Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology REF GN307 .E52 1996
• Encyclopedia of Islam in the United States REF BP67 .U6 E53 2007, v.1-v.2
• Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture REF E184 .S75 E59 2004, v.1-v.2
• Encyclopedia of Mexican American Civil Rights Movement REF E184 .M5 M458 2000
• Encyclopedia of Multiculturalism REF E184 .A1 E58
• The Encyclopedia of New York State REF F119 .E53 2005
• Encyclopedia of North American Immigration REF JV6465 .P68 2005
• Encyclopedia of Rural America: The Land and People REF E169.12 .E5 1997
• Encyclopedia of Southern Culture REF F209 .E53 1989
• Encyclopedia of Southern History REF F207.7 .E52
• Encyclopedia of the American Armed Forces REF UA23 .A875 2005, v.1-v.2
• Encyclopedia of the Chicago Literary Renaissance REF PS285 .C47 P56 2004
• Encyclopedia of the Great Depression REF E806 .E63 2004, v.1-v.2
• Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance REF NX512.3.A35 E53 2004, v.1-v.2
• Encyclopedia of the Industrial Revolution in America REF HC105 .O45 2002
• Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social and Military History Philanthropic Studies Library REF DS557 .7. E53 1998, v.1-v.3
• Encyclopedia of United States National Security REF UA23 .E571274 2006, v.1-v.2
• Encyclopedia of War & American Society REF E181 .E634 2006, v.1-v.3
• Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America REF E184 .A1 G14 2000
• Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America: Primary Documents REF E184 .A1 G15 1999
• The Greenwood Encyclopedia of African American Civil Rights: From Emancipation to the Twenty-first Century REF E185 .61 E54 2003, v.1-v.2
• Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups REF E184 .A1 H35
• Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia REF E184 .S75 L35 2006, v.1-v.3
• New Encyclopedia of the American West REF F591 .N46 1998
• Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature REF PS21 .E537 2004, v.1-v.4
• Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America REF TX349 .E45 2004, v.1-v.2
• Polling America: An Encyclopedia of American Opinion REF HN90 .P8 P645 2005, v.1-v.2
• The Seventies in America REF E169 .12 .S447 2006, v.1-v.3

Return to top

Indexes:

**The following indexes can be found either electronically or in print format.**

• American Statistics Index REF HA215 .A4
• Arab American Yearbook: The Resource and Referral Guide for and about Arab Americans REF E184.A65 A73 2007/2008
• Biography and Genealogy Master Index
  This database indexes any print product that includes biographical information
  on multiple persons from all time periods, geographical locations and fields of
  endeavor. It also acts as an index to other indexes.
• National Index of American Imprints Through 1800 REF Z1215 .E924
• Social Sciences Citation Index
  REF E173 .A793
  Coverage of the Science Citation Index Expanded, the Social Sciences Citation
  Index, and the Arts and Humanities Citation Index are all included in this database.
  Hits will result in cited materials several scholarly publications that are from 1987 to
  the present.
• The Annals of America
  REF Z7161 .S65
• The National Cyclopedia of American Biography
  REF E176 .N29
• J-STOR
  J-STOR is a reliable and comprehensive archive of important scholarly journal literature. Several
  disciplines that are covered include African American Studies, History, Language & Literature, and
  Latin American Studies. Individual Journals can be searched as well as specific disciplines.
• Project Muse
  This database combines award-winning biographies and full-text articles from hundreds of
  periodicals. Search for people based on birth and death year, nationality, ethnicity, occupation
  or gender.
• International Index to the Performing Arts through ProQuest
  IIPA Full Text draws its content from more than 200 scholarly and popular performing arts
  periodicals, and also indexes a variety of documents such as biographical profiles, conference
  papers, obituaries, interviews, discographies, reviews and events. Also, it covers nearly all
  aspects of performing arts, from scholarly studies to snapshots of popular culture.

Return to top

Reference Sources:

• American Attitudes: Who Thinks What about the Issues that Shape Our Lives REF HN90 .P8 M58 1998
• American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature
  REF D20 .A447 1995 STACKS (3rd Floor)
• American Immigrant Cultures: Builders of a Nation
  REF E184 .A1 A63448 1997
• The American Woman
  REF HQ1402 .A52 1999/2000
• Atlas of Contemporary America: Portrait of a Nation REF G1200 .D6 1994
• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-1989:
  the Continental Congress, September 5, 1774 to October 21, 1788, and the
  Congress of the United States, from the First through the One Hundredth
  Congresses, March 4, 1789 to January 3, 1989, inclusive.
  REF JK1010 .A5 1989
• Books in American History: A Basic List for High Schools and Junior Colleges REF E178 .W53 1981
• Britannica Online
  Gateway to the Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
• Cold War America, 1946-1990 REF E741 .G76 2003
• Events that Changed America in the Eighteenth Century REF E195 .E94 1998
• Handbook for Research in American History: A Guide to Bibliographies and other Reference Works REF E178 .P78 1987
• Handbook of North American Indians
  REF E77 .H25
• Harvard Guide to American History
  REF E18 .F72 1974
• History of the United States of America: A Guide to Information Sources REF Z1236 .C33
• Merriam Webster's Online
  This link accesses Webster's Dictionary Online as well as
  its Thesaurus.
• Oxford Companion to American History
  REF E174 .J6
• Reader's Guide to American History REF E178 .R43 1997
• Revolutionary America, 1783-1800 E162 .P86 1995
• Statistical Handbook on Women in America
  REF HQ1420 .T34 1996
• Tiller's Guide to Indian Country: Economic Profiles of American Indian Reservations REF E93 .T55 2005
• Writings on American History (1902-1990)
  REF Z1236 .L332

Return to top

Web Resources

University Library Related Subject Resource Guides

African American Studies Resources This resource contains relevant research materials pertainingto the African American culture. Online, Internet, and print sources are included.

Anthropology Resources Link to the vast array of sources available for human studies. These include Reference resources, journals, the Internet, and information from various organizations.

Cultural Studies Resources These Cultural Studies resources cover both American and International topics. Several electronic sources are included, such as journals, encyclopedias, and indexes.

Government Information Resources From this page, both Federal and Indiana State Government resources can be accessed. Information is also available concerning the Government collections at University Library.

History Resources Several resources for History are available from this page, including Reference sources, an extensive journal list, and the ability to access archives, libraries, and museums across the United States.

Philanthropy Resources This page includes descriptions of, and links to, the Joseph and Matthew Payton Philanthropic Studies Library and Special Collections and Archives.

Philosophy Resources The Philosophy page has its own basic resources listed in order to begin research in this field. Some feature items include discussion lists and associations that are available for doing further research.

Political Science Resources Organizations, International politics, and United States political links are included in addition to the basic resources for researching in the field of Political Science.

Religious Studies Resources This page links the user to a wide variety of Internet resources, as well as Journals that are available. This field encompasses Religion in American Life, Biblical Studies, Christianity, Judaism, Myth and Mysticism, and the Eastern Religions.

Sociology Resources In addition to Journals, Indexes, and Reference resources, this page displays sources for Criminology, Demography, and various professional organizations.

Women's Studies Resources An extensive amount of information on Women's Studies is available from this page. The resources are broken down into two categories: Internet resources and University Library resources. The links provided give in-depth information to any researcher in this field.

American Studies Websites

American Colonists' Library The American Colonists' Library contains primary source documents pertaining to early American history, and it is an invaluable collection of historical works which contributed to the formation of American politics, culture, and ideals. 

American Memory Project  American Memory is a gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. The site offers  more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 historical collections.

American South Internet Resource Center This resource includes links such as The Center for the Study of the AmericanSouth, The Southern Historical Collection and Southern Folklore Collection, and The Center for Study of Southern Culture, which are three major locations to consider when researching the American South.

American Studies Crossroads Project The American Studies Crossroads Project is a project of the American Studies Association with sponsorship by Georgetown University. Included are links to communities, curriculum, technology, learning, reference, and research. Also available are links to the American Studies Association and the European Association for American Studies.

American Studies Program at the University of Virginia Included are links to cultural maps, information about the U. S. Capitol, the 1930's, and a virtual armory show. Their slogan for this site is "We DO American Studies."

American Studies Recommendations by Richard P. Horowitz, University of Iowa This site contains extensive information and was specifically designed for students and teachers of American Studies. Some areas to search pertain to history, literature, popular culture, maps and geography, government, visual arts, and religion.

American Studies Resource Guide Within this resource exists a heavy focus on U. S. Government and Politics as well as theAmerican Media. It is maintained by the FBI through USA.gov.

Amistad Digital Archive (Columbia University) While the educational guides on the site are geared towards a middle and high school audience the primary resources, including: photographs, audio, video, and documents, are of use to all research levels.

ARNet Find out how American Studies is viewed from a European point of view. John Moores University in Liverpool, England presents some interesting resources of information as well as an online magazine. Book reviews, forums, and conference information is also included.

Civil Rights Digital Library (University of Georgia) "The Civil Rights Digital Library promotes an enhanced understanding of the Movement by helping users discover primary sources and other educational materials from libraries, archives, museums, public broadcasters, and others on a national scale"- Homepage.

European Association for American Studies The objects and aims of the Association are to encourage the study of and research in all areas of American culture and society and to promote cooperation and intercommunication between European scholars of the United States from all parts of Europe and from various disciplines. To this end it organizes regular conferences and publishes the newsletter American Studies in Europe.

How to Read a 19th Century Newspaper Mid-nineteenth century newspapers differed considerably from our own. This resourceprovides examples of what topics were covered by newspapers during this time, especially concerning the crises America was facing.

Indiana Historical Society Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society – an independent, nonprofit membership organization – has worked to collect, preserve, interpret and share information about the unique heritage of our state. There are many programs, collections and activities to explore, as well as exhibitions and upcoming events.

In the First Person An index to letters, diaries, oral histories, and personal narratives.

Making of America Project Materials accessible here are particularly strong in the subject areas of education, psychology, American history, sociology, religion, and science and technology. This site, a collaborative effort between Cornell University and the University of Michigan, provides access to 267 monograph volumes and over 100,000 journal articles with 19th century imprint.

The Multicultural American West This site is intended as a space for the interactive exchange of ideas, information, and educational tools related to the American West in multicultural and intercultural perspective. The focus is in offering the best set of links to online documents, course syllabi, journals, resource sites, popular culture sites, and other relevant materials regarding the American West as a region.

National Archives and Records Administration NARA makes available all types of historically valuable Federal electronic records. It is a vast resource of data and information, and reveals how Federal Government organizations have carried out their legislative mandates and missions. Most of the electronic records at NARA date from the 1960s, and number over 30,000 files.

National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC)  NUCMC provides free-of-charge cataloging of archives and manuscript material through the Library of Congress to repositories and provides information concerning access to all  NUCMC cataloging since its beginnings in 1959. 

Presidential Libraries  The Presidential Library system is made up of ten Presidential Libraries. These are not traditional libraries, but rather repositories for preserving and making available the papers, records, and other historical materials of U.S. Presidents since Herbert Hoover. 

Sabin Americana, 1500-1926 Based on Joseph Sabin's landmark bibliography, this collection contains works about the Americas published throughout the world from 1500 to the early 1900's. Included are books, pamphlets, serials and other documents that provide original accounts of exploration, trade, colonialism, slavery and abolition, the western movement, Native Americans, military actions and much more. With over 6 million pages from 29,000 works, this collection is a cornerstone in the study of the western hemisphere.

Scholarly Societies Project In the pre-1800 period, by far the majority of scholarly journals were published by scholarly societies. Although scholarly societies no longer publish the vast majority of scholarly journals, the material that they do publish is often of superior quality. The Project is currently the largest free Internet-accessible database on scholarly societies across the world that allows database access via several fields.