GCSU Library Subject Guide
History


Reference Sources         Subject Headings        Articles        Web Sites        Citing Sources        Contact A Librarian




Reference Sources
The Reference Collection, located on the second floor of the GCSU Library, is often the best place to start you research.  Books in the Reference Collection can help you become more familiar with your topic and assist you with identifying keywords and important people.  Bibliographies can help you identify specific articles and books.

Guides to Research
  The American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature (Reference Z6201.A54 1995) contains over 27,000 annotated citations from sources published between 1961-1992. Covers pre-history to recent United States history.
  The modern researcher (D13 .B334 1970) is a standard text on historical methodology.
  Reference sources in history : an introductory guide (Reference D20 .F75 2004) is "designed to provide an introduction to the major reference works for all periods of history and for all geographical areas" (Preface).
  Sources of Information for Historical Research (Reference Z6201 .S64 1994): sources are arranged by Library of Congress Classification number. Useful starting point for locating sources that may have been overlooked.

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
  Dictionary of Historical Terms: A Guide to Main Themes and Events Over 1000 Years of World History (Reference D9 .C67 1990)
  Dictionary of World History (Reference D9 .D53 2000) includes over 20,000 entries, covering time from pre-history to 1970.

Biographical Information
  Abridged Biography & Genealogy Master Index (Reference CT214 .B572 1988) indexes more than 1.6 million biographical sketches from selected sources from the standard Biography and Genealogy Master Index through 1987.
  American National Biography (Reference CT213 .A68 1999)is the successor to the Dictionary of American Biography.
  Dictionary of American Biography (Reference E 176.D563) is the American version of the Dictionary of National Biography. It contains entries on individuals "who have made some significant contribution to American life".
  Dictionary of National Biography (Reference DA28 .D45 1921 vol. 2-21 1901-1960) contains entries on British and Irish men and women "who have achieved any reasonable measure of distinction in any walk of life."


Subject Headings & Call Numbers
To locate specific titles or subjects, try searching the GCSU Library Catalog.
To browse, try the following call numbers:

C Auxiliary to study of history
CB History of Civilization
CC Archaeology
CS Genealogy
CT Biography

D History: General and Old World
DA Great Britain
DC France
DD Germany
DS Asia
DT Africa
DU Australia

E United States History by period (e.g. Colonial, Civil War)
E 1-150 Discovery and Exploration
E 151-end Rest of the historical periods

F United States Description and history by region (e.g. New England states, Midwest, Pacific states as well as Canada and Latin America)
F 281-295 Georgia History
F 1001-1140 British America and Canada
F 1409.6-1419 Latin America


Articles

    Databases
    Most databases index articles from journals, newspapers, and magazines.  Some databases offer full text articles, while others contain only citations.  Some databases are subject specific, while others are more general in coverage.  While online databases, such as those found in GALILEO, may prove helpful to the historical researcher, print indexes should also be considered. Some databases relevant to the field of History are:

    Try these first
    JSTOR (provided by GCSU) is a full-text database covering a variety of disciplines with journal coverage dating back to the 19th century. Includes such core journals as American Historical Review, English Historical Review, Journal of Southern History, Journal of Negro History, Past and Present, William & Mary Quarterly, and many others
    Project Muse (provided by GCSU)is a full-text database covering many disciplines. Includes titles such as The Americas, Ethnohistory, Journal of Cold War Studies, Journal of Social History, Journal of Women's History, Victorian Studies, and many others.
    History Reference Center is a full-text history reference database designed for secondary schools, public libraries, junior/community colleges, and undergraduate research. The database features full text for more than 2,000 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books, as well as full text for more than 120 history periodicals. Further, the database contains 59,640 historical documents; more than 50,000 biographies of historical figures; more than 110,200 historical photos and maps; and more than 80 hours of historical video.
    World History Collection contains cover-to-cover full text for more than 130 titles, including many peer-reviewed journals. Full text dates as far back as 1964. These hand-selected information sources cover a wide range of historical topics including anthropology, art, culture, economics, government, heritage, military, politics, regional issues, and more. In addition to the full text, indexing and abstracts are provided for all journals in the collection.
    See Also
    American Periodical Series (provided by GCSU)Full-text of hundreds of 18th and 19th century magazines, fully searchable.
    ArchivesUSAindexes the holdings for 4500 U.S. manuscript repositories.
    Ancestry Library Editionis a collection of databases, records, and advice on genealogical research. (Available only on campus)
    Digital Library of Georgiais a gateway to Georgia's history and culture found in digitized books, manuscripts, photographs, and other materials . 
    Dissertation Abstractsindexes doctoral dissertations and master's theses from North America and Europe universities.
    Research Library provides abstracts and indexing for over 2,600, as well as full text for over 1,700 scholarly journals and general magazines.
    WorldCat Dissertations is a catalog of theses and disserations indexed in the WorldCat database. See also Dissertation Abstracts .
    For a complete list of databases related to history, access GALILEO's History page.


    Print Indexes
    While online databases, such as those found in GALILEO, may prove helpful to the historical research, print indexes should also be considered. Most online databases, with the exception of JSTOR, begin indexing articles from the 1980's forward. Print indexes are necessary to locate articles and book reviews prior to that time period.

    Scholarly Indexes
    America History & Life (Reference Z1236 .A48, vol. 0-vol. 17, 1954-1980) indexed and abstracted articles and reviews books and other materials related to United States and Canadian history.
    Historical Abstracts (Reference D299 .H5, vol. 1-vol.16, also parts A & B, 1964-1990) indexed and abstracted articles and reviews books and other materials related to world history, excluding the United States & Canada.
    Humanities Index (Reference A13.H85 1975-1994/1995) indexed articles in the humanities that appeared in English-language periodicals. Format is similar to that of Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, but content is more scholarly and authoritative.
    International Index to Periodicals (Reference A13.R49 1907-1965) was originally published as a supplement to Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature. It indexed 55 social sciences and humanities titles and 19 titles included in Reader's Guide. It was continued by Social Sciences and Humanities Index
    Social Science Index (Reference A13.R49 1975-1994/1995) is an alphabetically arranged author and subject index to articles in the social sciences that appeared in English-language periodicals. The format is similar to that of Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, but content is more scholarly and authoritative. Not as useful for historical research as Humanities Index, it does provide coverage for a few history journals not covered in Humanities Index.
    Social Science and Humanities Index (Reference A13.R49 1966-1974) continues the International Index to Periodicals. An alphabetically arranged author and subject index to articles in the social sciences and humanities, its format is similar to that of Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, but content is more scholarly and authoritative. Continued by Social Science Index and Humanities Index.

    Popular Literature Indexes 
    Poole's Index to Periodical Literature (Reference A13.P7 1802-1906) 
    Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature (Ref A13.R4 1900-2003) is a standard periodical index for general-interest periodicals.
    See Also: American Periodical Series in GALILEO


    Journal Locator
    Search for specific journals or magazines.  The Journal Locator will tell you the location and availability of a journal or magazine: either in the GCSU Periodicals Collection or in a database.


Web Sites

Citing Sources

Style Manuals

The standard style manuals for History are:

The chicago manual of style (Ready Reference Collection-Reference Desk Z253 .U69 2003)
A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations : Chicago style for students and researchers / Kate L. Turabian; revised by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, and University of Chicago Press editorial staff (Ready Reference Collection-Reference Desk LB2369 .T8 2007)

Web Sites

The Chicago Manual of Style Online: Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide, provided by the publishers of the style manual, explains the two documentation styles and provides examples of citing common source types.
 Turabian Citation Style Guide, from the University of Georgia Libraries, provides examples of the two documentation styles and provides examples of citing common source types.


Contact A Librarian
For further assistance, contact the Reference Desk in the GCSU Library or contact the GCSU Library liaison to the History Department: