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Books
Libraries' Catalog [http://library.ua.edu/] —access over two million books and journal titles in five campus libraries, including the Gorgas Library and the Hoole Special Collection.
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Start searching for articles by going to the Libraries’ web page at [http://www.lib.ua.edu/] and choose “Databases” from the "Search" menu. Select a database from the alphabetized listing. Here are some of the relevant databases for American Studies:
General Databases
Academic Search Elite(Database)—1980s--present
Expanded Academic Index(Database)—1980s--present
America: History and Life(1964-present)—any aspect of American society: history, culture, education, politics, war, women’s studies, media, literature, entertainment. Authoratative index for American Studies.
JSTOR(Database) (late1800s-present)—history, literature and linguistics, sociology, African-American studies, economics, education.
Subject-Specific Databases
MLA (Webspirs database) (1963-present) — literature and drama
Art Index(Webspirs database) (1929-present) — art, architecture, painting, drawing, sculpture, interior design, fashion, graffiti, cuisine, photography, crafts, comic books, television, cinematography, advertising.
ATLA(Database) (1949-present) --a collection of major religious and theology journals selected by religion scholars in the United States. Contains full text journals representing all major religious faiths, denominations and language groups.
Ethnic NewsWatchDatabase)—alternative viewpoints from ethnic, feminist, and radical presses.
African-American History and Culture(Database)—timelines, biographies, historical documents, subjects.
International Index to Music Periodicals(Database)
Music Index(Database)
MEDIA STUDIES
American Studies scholars often analyze through media studies. For example, a scholar might study the image of American families as portrayed in literature, television, and movies. This section lists appropriate resource for media studies.
Literature
Literature Online (Database)—offers thousands of online texts, essays and articles as well as author biographies
MLA (Database)—classic index to literature and related disciplines
See the subject listing on English for even more resourcesBooks Reviews
Book Review Index Ref Index Z1035.A1 B6 (1937-present)
Any of the journal article databases, especially JSTOR.Film, Television, and Performance Reviews
Variety Film Reviews (1907- ) Ref PN1995 .V34
Television Reviews(1923- ) Ref PN1992 .3 .u5 v37
New York Times Theater Reviews Ref PN2266 .N48
Also try some of the databases listed under "Journal Articles" above.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
This section offers resources for locating biographical sketches and books on American figures.
Biography and Genealogy Master Index(Database)—lists reference books that have succinct essays on your subject.
Dictionary of American Biography (Ref E176. D563) classic source for historical persons in America history.
Libraries’ Catalog
Use an appropriate database to find articles on your figure
ALTERNATIVE PRESS
The alternative press (also known as the radical press) presents viewpoints that are not adequately covered by the mainstream press. Alternative press publications thus offer unconventional perspectives on topics in the American experience.
Alternative Press Index(Gorgas Ref Index AI3 .A27)
Ethnic News Watch(Database)
REFERENCE BOOKS
Browse through this list to find reference books that offer concise, topical essays and suggestions for further research. The Reference section is on the first floor of the Gorgas Library.
Encyclopedia of American Studies Ref E169.1 .E625
An excellent place to start.Dictionary of American History Ref E174 .A43
General search for any topic in American historyReaders’ Companion to American History Ref E174 .R43
Essays on military and political—but also cultural—topics in U.S. historyHandbook of American Popular Culture Ref E169.1 .H2643
Animation, comics, circuses, amusements, toys, sports, the automobile, and more.Encyclopedia of Popular Culture Ref E169 .1 .S764
Birthing practices, Broadway, cakewalks, Coney Island, dime stores, and more.Encyclopedia of American Social History Ref HN 57 .E58
Focuses on the movements, themes, and people in social historyEncyclopedia of American Cultural and Intellectual History Ref E 169.1 E 624
Focuses on some of the important discussions in American StudiesEncyclopedia of Southern Culture Ref F201 .E53
Try any topic related to the Old or New South.African-American Culture and History Ref E185 .F54
Starting point for any aspect of African-AmericansHandbook of North American Indians Ref E77 .H25
Overview of each tribeAmerican Decades Ref E169 .12 .A419
Organized by decade—for example, find out about fashion, politics, and art in the 1960sEncyclopedia of Multicultural America Ref E 184 .A1 G14
Information on specific ethnic groups such as Korean-Americans or Italian-AmericansNew Dictionary of American Slang Ref PE2846 .C46
Origins and meanings of slangAlbum of American History Ref 178.5 .A482
Photographs from every period of American history.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Catalog
Libraries' Catalog [http://library.ua.edu/]—gives the call number and locations of items in the Gorgas Library and Hoole Special Collection. Here are some techniques for locating primary sources using the Catalog.
Combine keywords describing your subject with such words as sources, letters, speeches, writings, documents, diaries, papers, etc. For example, searching for “civil war” and diaries will locate diaries written during the Civil War era.
Search for contemporary people as authors. For example, let us say your are researching the Civil Rights Movement. Searching for Martin Luther King, Jr. as an “Author” will locate writings and speeches of King.
Find secondary sources on your topic. Look in the bibliographies for primary sources then look for the primary sources in the Catalog.
*Remember to try several of these techniques and consult a librarian to ensure that you are searching as thoroughly as possible.
Collections
Accessible Archives (Database)— Primary source material from 18th and 19th century periodicals. Databases include: Godey's Lady's Book; The Pennsylvania Gazette 1728-1800; The Civil War: A Newspaper Perspective; African American Newspapers: the 19th century; The Pennsylvania Newspaper Record: Delaware County (1819-1870); The Pennsylvania Genealogical Catalogue: Chester County; and American Counties to 1900. Coverage: 1728-1870
Poole’s Plus (Database)-- An index to nineteenth century literature. Contains the noted indexes: Poole's Index to periodical Literature, New York Times Index, Palmers Index to The Times, Harper's Magazine Index, Descriptive Catalogue of the Government Publications, and others. Coverage: Nineteenth Century.
Evans Digital Edition (database)—many book, pamphlet, and broadsides published in America from 1639-1800.
Library of Congress American Memory Project
[http://rs6.loc.gov/ammem/amhome.html]
Gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. Offers more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 historical collections.Academic Search Elite and Expanded Academic Index(Databases)—these two databases cover a range of topics in both scholarly and popular journals and magazines. Coverage: 1984-present
Magazine and Newspaper Indexes
The Gorgas Library keeps older copies of newspapers on the second floor in the microform area. However, indexes are kept on the first floor in the Reference Index Area. This list is only partial. You can find even more newspapers by searching in the Libraries Catalog. For example, entering Alabama and newspapers will provide call numbers and location for newspapers published in Alabama.
Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature 1890-present
Index to magazines, newspapers, bulletins, and other periodicals from the popular press.New York Times, 1863-
Ref. AI 21 .N44
Personal Name Index to the New York Times Index, 1851-1999
Ref. A 5301 .F28Washington Post, 1972-
Ref. AII 21 .W33 (Recent years in Ret. Ref. Stacks)Los Angeles Times, 1972-
Ref. AI 21 .L65 L67 (Recent years in Ret. Ref. Stacks)Christian Science Monitor, 1960-
Ref AI 21 .C46Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution, 1983-
Ref. AI 21 .A85xSan Francisco Chronicle, 1976-1996
Ref. AI 21 .S25 S2 (Recent years in Ret. Ref. Stacks)New Orleans Times Picayune, 1972-
Ref. AI 21 .T66 N49Index to Black Newspapers, 1977-
Ref. AI 3 .I46Birmingham News, 1978-1993
Microfiche 84-24Newspapers without indexes (located at MicroPrint 70-1 on the second floor)
Philadelphia Gazetter (1782-1796)
New York Evening Post (1801-1820)
Pennsylvania Chronicle (1767-1774)
Centinnel of Freedom (1796-1820)Many more newspapers are available in the mircoforms area as part of the Early American Newspaper collection.
MATERIALS FROM OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA
Some materials from outside UA can be ordered through the Interlibrary Loan system. An Interlibrary Loan Request Form is available on the Libraries’ home page(www.lib.ua.edu). After you order material, the ILL staff will notify you via email or phone when the material arrives. You can then check out the materials. Sometimes ILL charges a fee.
OCLC World Catalog—connects thousands of library catalogs from across the United States. Find books that you would like and then place an order with Interlibrary Loan.
Kudzu—search for and order books directly from a dozen of the largest libraries in the southeast. Kudzu works much faster than regular Interlibrary Loan. Accessible through the Libraries Catalog
National Union Catalog of Manuscripts
[http://lcweb.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/nucmc.html]—lists holdings from archives and repositories throughout the United States. To search: Go to the web site. Next, scroll down and click “RLIN AMC File Easy Search Form (word list)”Enter search terms and click “Search”. Manuscripts will appear. Click on each manuscript to find a description and location. Most manuscripts cannot be sent through Interlibrary Loan—you may have to travel to the archives or depository. Call the location before traveling in order to verify that they hold the manuscripts!WEB SEARCH TOOLS
The web tools listed below are bibliographies, indexes, and search engines for finding web sites in the field of American Studies. Be sure to thoroughly evaluate any web site that you find on the internet according to the Libraries’ scholarly guidelines for web sites [http://www.lib.ua.edu/services/instruction/eval_internet.htm].
UA Department of American Studies Links
[http://www.as.ua.edu/amstud/american_studies_links/index.php]
Links to some helpful web sites on American Studies.The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities
[http://www.iath.virginia.edu/]
As a research unit of the University of Virginia, IATH's goal is to explore and expand the potential of information technology as a tool for humanities research.E-Guide to American Studies
[http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eguides/amerihist/#servers]
Sponsored by Columbia UniversityAfrican American Mosaic
[http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/african/intro.html]
Also from Library of Congress. "...A Library of Congress Resource Guide for the Study of Black History and Culture."Cultural Maps
[http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MAP/map_hp.html]
American Studies at the University of Virginia. "...dedicated to the graphical presentation of non-graphical information -- whatever that turns out to mean. At present, it has something to do with maps in the ordinary and normal sense of the term; the immediate goal is to build a digital American Historical Atlas."Documenting the American South
[http://docsouth.unc.edu/]
“ a collection of sources on Southern history, literature and culture from the colonial period through the first decades of the 20th century.”Center for the Study of Southern Culture at Ole Miss
[http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/south/]
Sites of interest. Includes music, food and literature of the American South.American Studies Electronic Crossroads
[http://crossroads.georgetown.edu/]
Georgetown University. Reference and Research Page. For "...Finding Aids, Directories & Indices for American Studies resources." Includes an extensive Virtual Library.Asian American Studies Center at University of California, Los Angeles
[http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/aasc/]
" The Center will hopefully enrich the experience of the entire university by contributing to an understanding of the long neglected history, rich cultural heritage, and present position of Asian Americans in our society."
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Last modified:
02/25/08
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