Home-->Virtual Research Guides-->History & Geography

Virtual Research Guide:
History & Geography

Resources in this guide include databases, digital reference books, and Internet sites covering the subjects of U.S. history, world history, and geography. The materials included in this guide would be generally classified in the 900s of the Dewey Decimal System.

American Civil War Reference Library. Lawrence W. Baker, Kevin Hillstrom, and Laurie Collier Hillstrom, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2000. 952 pp. 5 vols.

Covers the events and people of the Civil War period and provides students with all the in-depth information they need for reports an class assignments, including biographical profiles and primary source materials.

American Decades. Vincent Tompkins, Ed. Detroit: Gale, 2001. 5690 pp. 10 vols.

American Decades is a cross-disciplinary source for junior and high school students and teachers, public librarians and general researchers who need a single, consistent reference to document and analyze periods of contemporary American social history.

American Decades Primary Sources. Cynthia Rose, Ed. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 6906 pp. 10 vols.

Each volume of American Decades Primary Sources includes full or excerpted primary sources in 160-170 entries from the period representing a diversity of views that provide insight into the seminal issues, themes, movements, and events from the decade. Also included are concise contextual information, notes about the author, further resources, and photos and illustrations. Patterned after the popular American Decades series, each American Decades Primary Sources volume includes chapters on the arts, medicine and health, media, education, world events, religion, government and politics, lifestyles and social trends, law and justice, religion, business and the economy, and sports.

American Revolution Reference Library. Barbara Bigelow, Stacey A. McConnell, and Linda Schmittroth, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2000. 974 pp. 5 vols.

Covers the events and people of the Revolutionary War period in easy-to-understand language. Students will find all the information they need for reports and class assignments on the period, including the biographies and primary source materials in this comprehensive set.

Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History. William McNeill, Jerry Bentley, and David Christian, Eds. Great Barrington, Massachusetts: Berkshire, 2005. 2221 pp. 5 vols.

The first true encyclopedic reference on world history, this definitive work meets the needs of students, teachers, and scholars for a connected, holistic view of world history. Developed by a team of leading scholars and educators, its 550 articles were written by historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, sociologists, geographers, and other experts from around the world. Emphasis is on cultural contact and social change over time and place; comparisons across time and place; and extensive coverage of arts, literature, religion, and science.

Cambridge World History of Food. Kenneth Kiple and Kriemhild Ornelas, Eds. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge, 2000. 2153 pp. 2 vols.

Ranging from the eating habits of our prehistoric ancestors to food-related policy issues we face today, this encyclopedia covers the full spectrum of foods that have been hunted, gathered, cultivated, and domesticated; their nutritional makeup and uses; and their impact on cultures and demography. It offers a geographical perspective on the history and culture of food and drink and takes up subjects from food fads, prejudices, and taboos to questions of food toxins, additives, labeling, and entitlements. It culminates in a dictionary that identifies and sketches out brief histories of plant foods mentioned in the text - over 1,000 in all - and additionally supplies thousands of common names and synonyms for those foods.

Countries and Their Cultures. Melvin Ember and Carol R. Ember, Eds. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. 2549 pp. 4 vols.

Focuses on cultures and countries around the world, specifically what is and is not shared culturally by the people who live in a particular country. Entries contain descriptive summaries of the country in question, including demographic, historical, cultural, economic, religious, and political information.

Dictionary of American History. Stanley I. Kutler, Ed. 3rd ed. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003. 5539 pp. 10 vols.

The first comprehensive revision of this classic reference source, originally published in 1940, features updated and revised entries from previous editions, as well as more than 800 new entries covering recent events and topics not covered previously. This authoritative work serves students, scholars, and general readers interested in a wide range of topics in American history, from the well studied and familiar to the obscure.

Early Civilizations in the Americas Reference Library. Sonia Benson and Deborah Baker, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2005. 871 pp. 4 vols.

The three-volume Early Civilizations in the Americas Reference Library provides a comprehensive overview of the history of the regions of the American continents in which two of the world's first civilizations developed: Mesoamerica (the name for the lands in which ancient civilizations arose in Central America and Mexico) and the Andes Mountains region of South America (in present-day Peru and parts of Bolivia, northern Argentina, and Ecuador). In both regions, the history of civilization goes back thousands of years.

Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History. Colin Palmer, Ed. 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2006. 2746 pp. 6 vols.

The Encyclopedia is a 5-volume set and a supplement covering all aspects of the African-American experience from 1619 to the present day. Using biographies, historical essays, and thematic pieces-many by the foremost scholars in the field-it addresses a wide array of subjects in over 2,300 articles to fully define in one source the cultural roots and current condition of the African-American community.

French and Indian War. Lawrence W. Baker, Kevin Hillstrom, Laurie Collier Hillstrom, and Julie L. Carnagie, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2003. 206 pp.

Provides information and historical context behind the mid-eighteenth-century conflict also known as the Seven Years' War. The volume is divided into two sections: Almanac and Biographies. The Almanac contains nine chapters that address the political, military, and social aspects of the war. The Biographies section details the lives of eleven people who played a significant role in the French and Indian War.

Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. Jeffrey Lehman, Ed. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2000. 1974 pp. 3 vols.

Contains 8,000 to 12,000 word essays on specific culture groups in the United States, emphasizing religions, holidays, customs, and languages in addition to providing information on historical background and settlement patterns. Also covers ethnoreligious groups such as Jews, Chaldeans, and Amish. Each essay lists organizations and research centers; name, address, and contact information for periodicals, radio, and television stations; and a further readings section.

Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. Thomas Carson and Mary Bonk, Eds. Detroit: Gale, 2000. 1250 pp. 2 vols.

Designed to answer such key questions as: How has the U.S. Constitution shaped the economy of the United States? What were the consequences of Prohibition on consumers' behavior? This title presents 1,000 entries, era overviews, event/movement profiles, biographies, business/industry profiled, geographic profiles, and more.

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Foods and Recipes of the World. Karen L. Hanson, Ed. Detroit: U*X*L, 2002. 702 pp. 4 vols.

Provides comprehensive coverage of the foods and recipes of approximately 75 cultural groups from more than 60 countries. Entries provide 10-15 recipes for each group and include data on the agriculture and dietary habits of each group as well as an overview of each group's nutrition and health.

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Canadian Provinces. 5th ed. Detroit: UXL, 2007. 294 pp.

Provides information on Canada's provinces and territories. Includes details on Canada's arts, climate, government, health, languages, notable persons, and ethnic groups.

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Mexican States. 2nd ed. Detroit: UXL, 2007. 423 pp.

Presents profiles of the 31 states and the Distrito Federal (federal district) of Mexico. Topics include climate, plants and animals, population and ethnic groups, religions, transportation, history, state and local governments, political parties, judicial system, economy, education, arts, media, tourism, sports, famous people.

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations. 5th ed. Detroit: UXL, 2007. 3167 pp. 10 vols.

Presents profiles of 194 countries of the world. Topics include climate, plants and animals, population and ethnic groups, religions, transportation, history, government, political parties, judicial system, economy, education, arts, media, tourism, and famous people.

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the States. 5th ed. Detroit: UXL, 2007. 1189 pp. 4 vols.

Presents profiles of the 50 states of the nation, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US dependencies. Topics include climate, plants and animals, population and ethnic groups, religions, transportation, history, state and local governments, political parties, judicial system, economy, education, arts, media, tourism, sports, famous people.

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cultures. Timothy L. Gall and Susan Bevan Gall, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 1999. 2078 pp. 9 vols.

Profiles more than 290 of the most representative and studied groups from around the world. Presented in nine volumes and arranged into 20 easy-to-follow rubrics that facilitate quick scanning and meaningful comparisons among cultures, including location, language, folklore, religion, social problems, and more.

Landmarks of the American Revolution: Library of Military History. Mark Boatner, III, Ed. 2nd ed. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. 443 pp.

Zooming in on key locations connected to the American Revolution, this expanded and completely revised edition of Col. Mark M. Boatner III's original book goes beyond U.S. borders when profiling historical sites and landmarks significant to the war. The original state-by-state guide now also includes coverage of the war in the West Indies and an expanded treatment of Canada.

Middle East Conflict Reference Library. Tom Pendergast and Sara Pendergast, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2006. 803 pp. 4 vols.

Despite the daily news coverage of chronic unrest in the Middle East, many students remain confused about this tangled and politically charged situation. UXL's Middle East Conflict Reference Library is designed to meet the pressing need for a lucid, comprehensive and objective overview of the people, events and documents that are key to understanding the region. The Almanac volume gives an overview of the history of the conflict as well as the ways in which the conflict continues to effect the region and the world, while the Biographies and Primary Sources volume explore the various conflicts more in-depth by viewing them through the lives of the people who influenced them and the documents that shaped them.

St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast, Eds. Detroit: St. James Press, 2000. 3065 pp. 5 vols.

Includes more than 2,700 signed essays ranging from 500 to 2,500 words, written by subject experts and edited to form a consistent, readable, and straightforward reference. Entries include subject-specific bibliographies and, where appropriate, photographs and textual cross-references to related essays.

Spanish-American War. Daniel E. Brannen, Jr., Julie L. Carnagie, and Allison McNeill, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2003. 232 pp.

Provides information and historical context behind the Spanish-American War (1898). The Almanac addresses different subjects in relation to the Spanish-American War. Biographies provides insight on ten individuals key to the war. Primary Sources contains full or excerpted primary source documents, along with introductory material to place each excerpt in context. Sidebars highlighting interesting individual, events, or facts related to the topic appear throughout the volume, while entries conclude with brief further information lists (including Web sites).

Vietnam War Reference Library. Kevin Hillstrom, Laurie Collier Hillstrom, and Diane Sawinski, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2001. 1029 pp. 5 vols.

The Almanac traces the progression of this controversial war from its beginnings in 1941 through its last days in 1975. Biographies contains comprehensive biographical essays on the people involved in the war. Primary Sources provides a variety of perspectives on the war through excerpted screenplays, literature, speeches, and hearing testimonies.

War of 1812. Julie L. Carnagie and Kelly King Howes, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2002. 333 pp.

Presents information on the issues surrounding the War of 1812, from the causes of the war to its ending, and the motivations of various people involved in the conflict. Placed throughout the text are excerpts from primary source documents such as diary entries, letters, and newspaper articles, as well as other sidebar boxes. The volume contains 50 photographs and maps, timeline, glossary, research and activity ideas, lists of sources for further study, and a subject index.

World War I Reference Library. Tom Pendergast, Sara Pendergast, and Christine Slovey, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2002. 626 pp. 4 vols.

Presents comprehensive coverage of the World War I period. The Almanac contains 15 chapters covering major topics related to the period, including the root causes of the war and U.S. involvement. Biographies profiles the major players of the period, including Woodrow Wilson, Kaiser Wilhelm II and many others. Primary Sources presents full or excerpted primary source materials, including diaries, letters, speeches, journals, and memoirs related to the period.

World War II Reference Library. George Feldman, Barbara C. Bigelow, and Christine Slovey, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2000. 970 pp. 5 vols.

Covers significant events, topics, and people related to the World War II period. Provides the in-depth information that students need to write reports and class assignments, including biographical profiles and primary source materials.