University of New England

American Studies

Introduction   Library Catalogs  Reference Works  Databases / Indexes  Websites  Writing the Paper

Contact Information

For assistance with American Studies research, please contact Cadence Atchinson at the University Campus Library, catchinson@une.edu or x2497.

Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to help students find appropriate library resources for research in American Studies at the University of New England. It is introductory and selective; for further research assistance, contact Cadence Atchinson (above) and/or consult with your instructor. Other subject guides that may be of interest include History and Literature.

Library Catalog/Research Strategies

To find books, videos, DVDs, and journal titles held within the UNE Libraries, please search the UNE Libraries catalog.  The UNE Libraries catalog can be searched by author, title, keyword or subject.

To find works on American studies, you may wish to search the catalog using the following subject headings: (each of these subject headings may have more specific subheadings)

	United States -- Study And Teaching		United States -- Civilization
	Americana		United States -- Social Conditions
	United States -- Social Life And Customs		Popular Culture -- United States
	Material Culture -- United States		National Characteristics, American
	American Literature		Art, American
	United States -- History

UNE American Studies students are encouraged to pay special attention to MaineCat, the combined catalog of Maine university, college, and research libraries. Follow the "Search MaineCat" link from the UNE Libraries catalog, using the same subject headings or keyword search that you used to search the UNE Libraries catalog. Registered users may borrow books from MaineCat libraries using the 'Request this Item" link.

Books not available from the UNE Libraries or thru MaineCat can be borrowed using Interlibrary Loan.

Reference Sources

Reference works, such as subject specific dictionaries, encyclopedias and handbooks are a good place to begin your research. They are written by scholars in the field and usually provide definitions, background information, and bibliographies on your topic/s. The following is a very selective list. Each is a live link into the UNE Libraries catalog.

Encyclopedia of American Studies UC Ref E 169.1 E5393 2001
Encyclopedia of the United States in the Nineteenth Century UC Ref  E 169.1 E53936 2001
Encyclopedia of the United States in the Twentieth Century  UC Ref  E 740.7 E5393 1996
Encyclopedia of American Social History UC Ref HN 57 E539 1993 
Dictionary of American Folklore  UC Ref  GR 105 T35 1959
A Bibliography of North American Folklore and Folksong  UC Ref GR 65 .A1 H398b 1961
A Treasury of New England Folklore  UC Ref  GR 106 T74 1965

Databases / Indexes

The databases listed below will help you locate journal articles within American Studies. Databases usually contain journal article citations and abstracts, and many include the full-text journal article. For more help in finding the specific articles you want, see How to Find a Specific Journal Article. To determine the difference between scholarly and popular articles, see Is It a Scholarly Journal or Isn't It?

Online Databases

			Academic Search Premier
			America: History and Life
			Annals of American History
			Anthropological Index
			GenderWatch
			JSTOR
			Project Muse
			ProQuest Research Library

Print Indexes
Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, UC has 1953-1997, WCC 1929-2002
19th Century Reader's Guide 1890-1899, UC & WCC
International Index to Periodicals, 1907-1965

Primary Source Documents

			North American Women's Letters and Diaries, Colonial-1950
			American Women's Diaries  UC Reserves PS 669 A44753

 

Websites

		American Memory Project
		America's Story from Library of Congress
		Crossroads American Studies Web (Georgetown)
		DoHistory
		University of Virginia American Studies links
		Using Primary Sources on the Web

 

Web Site Evaluation: Questions to ask.

Writing the Paper

It is imperative that information resources be used ethically and legally. The following sources are intended to help with publication style, correct citation form, and in avoiding plagiarism.

Writing Handbooks

Chicago Manual of Style UC Ref WZ 345 C5325 2003
Turabian, A manual for writers of term papers, theses, and dissertations,
UC Ref WZ 345 T929m 1996
Reading, Writing and Researching for History: A Guide for College Students
Chicago/Turabian Documentation, from the University of Wisconsin Writing Center

About Plagiarism

Plagiarism-The Do's and Don'ts: Guidelines for Avoiding Plagiarism
Plagiarism: What It Is and How to Recognize and Avoid It 
Plagiarism Examples

Introduction   Library Catalogs  Reference Works  Databases / Indexes  Websites  Writing the Paper

This page created and maintained by Cadence Atchinson.