HIST 2630 - Historical Methods - ALLISON: Gather Background Information
This guide provides library and web-based information appropriate for students enrolled in HIST 2630: Historical Methods.
Try Specialized
Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
Subject-specific encyclopedias and dictionaries are more specialized than general ones. Coverage is limited to a specific subject or field of study and contain more developed entries written by scholars and experts within the field.
Gather Background Info with Reference Resources
Most reference resources are considered "tertiary" source materials. These books and websites provide background information and an overview and analysis of a subject or concept.
Tertiary sources have been compiled from secondary sources. Unlike a secondary source book or journal article, tertiary sources are not intended to be read in their entirety. Instead, they are most often used to clarify terms and concepts about a particular topic. Tertiary sources include:
- Almanacs, Yearbooks, and Factbooks
- Bibliographies*
- Dictionaries and Encyclopedias*
- Indexes and Abstracts
- Manuals
- Textbooks*
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History Reference Databases
- History Reference Source This link opens in a new windowThe database features reference books, encyclopedias, non-fiction books, and history periodicals.
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new windowIncludes over 650 titles with particular emphasis on subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and reference handbooks.