HIST T335 History of the Americas 

Historical Research Process

When conducting historical research:

FIRST. Use specialized encyclopedias, handbooks, guides, and textbooks to identify who, what, when, where, how and why.

SECOND. Use the references cited at the end of chapters or articles in textbooks, specialized encyclopedias, handbooks, and guides, and specialized bibliographies to identify the core scholarly research on your topic or research problem.

THIRD. Use databases and indexes to update core scholarly research with current scholarly material.

FOURTH. Identify and obtain as much primary source material as possible. A primary source documents first-hand accounts or first recordings of events. The historian using a number of such primary sources produces a secondary source.  Examples of primary source materials include letters, diaries, memoirs, speeches, contemporaneous newspaper accounts, government documents, statistics, photographs, etc. Consult the History librarian for help in locating primary source materials.

Selected Reference Works for this Course

General

Colonial Latin America: A Documentary History (Reference F1412 .C642 2002) provides English translations of primary documents in colonial Latin American history.

Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture, 5 vols (Reference F1406 .E53 1996) includes entries written by scholars and a select list of resources at the end of each entry.

Latin America: A Guide to the Historical Literature (Reference  Z1601 .G75 1971) provides a historiographical essay at the beginning of each unit and a selective, annotated list of materials.

Latin America and the Caribbean: A Critical Guide to Research Sources (Reference F1408 .L3225 1992) provides an essay on the evolution of each field, the nature of research, and recent research trends followed by a guide to the principal sources for research.

Latin American History: A Guide to the Literature in English (Reference F1410 .H853 1964) while dates this guide highlights classic works by subject.

Latin American Studies: An Annotated Bibliography of Core Works (Reference F1408 .C536 2002) provides an annotated, recommended core list of books arranged by broad subject areas.

Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States

Reference Guide to Latin American History (Reference F1410 .R393 1999) consists primarily of a chronological explanation of events.

Central America

Central America in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries: An Annotated Bibliography (Reference F1428 .G74 1988) provides an annotated bibliography by country.

Costa Rica (Reference F1543 .S7 1991) provides an annotated bibliography of books and articles by subject.

Dictionary of Contemporary Politics of Central America and the Caribbean (Reference F2183 .G86 1991) includes brief explanations with generous "see also" references.

Guatemala (Reference F1463 .F73 1981) provides an annotated bibliography of books and articles by subject.

Historical Atlas of Central America (Reference G1551.S1 H2 2003)

Historical Dictionary of Costa Rica (Reference F1542 .C7 1991) includes brief entries with a bibliography at the end.

Nicaragua (Reference F1523 .W66 1983) provides an annotated bibliography of books and articles by subject.

Panama (Reference F1563 .L36 1982) provides an annotated bibliography of books and articles by subject.

Economic Development

Agrarian Reform in Latin America: An Annotated Bibliography (Reference Z7164.L3 W56 1974B) includes a chapter on Mexico with an annotated listed of books, journal articles, and pamphlets primarily in Spanish.

Encyclopedia of Urban Cultures, 4 vols. (Reference HT108.5 .E53 2002) Provides essays on comparative urban cultures. Covering issues of geography and sociology, the topical essays explore such topics as urban migration, the city and nature, health and disease in urban areas, urban Native Americans, and urban religious institutions. Other essays describe urbanization in the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia. The bulk of the volumes is taken up by the individual city entries, from Abidjan, Ivory Coast to Zagreb, Croatia. Each entry provides information on the city's location, population, attractions, and languages before offering discussion of its origins and historical development.

Latin America: A Guide to Economic History 1830-1930 (Reference  HC125.L3 L32 1977) written entirely in Spanish, this book provides a chapter on Mexico with an introductory essay and annotated list of resources.

Oxford Encyclopedia of Economic History. Scholarly articles cover the general conceptual categories Geography (entries on cities, countries, and regions); Agriculture; Production Systems, Business History, and Technology; Demography; Institutions, Governments, and Markets; Macroeconomic History and International Economics; Money, Banking and Finance; Labor; Natural Resources and the Environment; and Biographies.

Indigenous Groups

Cambridge History of the Native People of the Americas, 6 vols. (Reference E77 .C253 1996) Comprehensive history of the Native Peoples of North America from their arrival in the western hemisphere to the present

Colonial Wars of North America 1512-1763: An Encyclopedia (Reference E46.5 .C65 1996) Beginning with the Spanish conquistadors and ending with Pontiac's War in 1763, analytical essays explore wars, battles, and treaties, biographical sketches, and forts and geopolitically significant locales, the diplomatic and military history of some 50 Native American groups, as well as Dutch, English, French, Spanish, and Swiss colonies.

Encyclopedia of American Indian Wars, 1492-1890 (Reference E81 .K44 1997) A resource on the major conflicts between American Indian tribes and Euro-American settlers from the arrival of Columbus to the Battle of Wounded Knee

Handbook of Middle American Indians, 10 vols, 5 supplements (Reference F1434 .H3)

Handbook of North American Indians, 15 vols. (Reference E77 .H25)

Handbook of South American Indians, 7 vols (Reference E51.U6 No. 143 1963)

Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures, 3 vols. (Reference F1218.6.O95 2001) is the first comprehensive reference source to chronicle Pre-Hispanic, colonial, and modern Mesoamerica, defined as the lands stretching from Mexico to the southern tip of Central America. Encompassing the great civilizations of the pre-Columbian era (including the Olmec, Aztec, and Maya peoples) up through the colonial and postcolonial periods, the Encyclopedia covers art, archaeology, religious studies, anthropology, history, and historiography of the region in fully cross-referenced, signed articles by the leading scholars in the discipline.

Latin American Politics

Dictionary of Contemporary Politics of Central America and the Caribbean (Reference F2183 .G86 1991) includes brief explanations with generous "see also" references.

Encyclopedia of Political Revolutions (Reference JC491 .E63 1998) provides scholarly articles on the Mexican Revolution and Emiliano Zapata with a brief listing of additional resources.

Latin America: A Political Dictionary (Reference F1406 .R67 1992) provides an explanation of the significance of each entry.

Latin American Politics: A Historical Bibliography (Reference F1414.2 .L39 1984) includes journal literature in English and other languages on Latin American politics since 1914 and published between 1973-1982.

Revolutions and Revolutionists: A Comprehensive Guide to the Literature (Reference HM283.R54 B55 1982) highlights issues and key questions and singles out some of the most prominent books and articles in the field.

Latin American-United States Relations

Atlas of Hispanic-American History (Reference E184.S75 O287 2001) includes essays as well a visual representations.

Bibliography of Mexican American History (Reference E184.M5 M414 1984) includes references to both primary and secondary resources in English.

Bibliography of United States-Latin American Relations since 1810 and Supplement (Reference F1418.R4 T7 1968, 1979) includes references to published materials of all kinds in all languages.

Early U.S.-Hispanic Relations 1776-1860: An Annotated Bibliography (Reference Z6465.L29 T37 1994)

Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy

Encyclopedia of U.S. Foreign Relations, 4 vols. (Reference E183.7 .E53 1997) includes scholarly articles with lists of further reading.

Guide to American Foreign Relations since 1700 (Reference E183.7.U5 G84 1982) provides historiographical essays and annotated bibliography of books and articles.

Handbook of Research on the International Relations of Latin America and the Caribbean (Reference JZ1519 .A98 2001) provides a multidisciplinary analysis of the literature.

Legacy of the Monroe Doctrine: A Reference Guide to U.S. Involvement in Latin America and the Caribbean (Reference F1418 .D458 1999) summarizes major aspects of U.S. relationship with each country.

United States and Mexico at War: Nineteenth-Century Expansionism and Conflict (Reference E404 .U66 1997) includes scholarly articles with lists of further reading.

Mexico

Encyclopedia of Mexico:  History, Society & Culture, 2 vols (Reference F1204 .E539 1997) includes entries written by scholars and a select list of sources at the end of each entry.

Mexico (Reference F1208 .R63 1984) is a selected, critical annotated bibliography of works on the history, politics, culture, and social life of Mexico

United States and Mexico at War:  Nineteenth-Century Expansionism and Conflict (Reference E404 .U66 1997) includes scholarly articles with lists of further reading.

Religion

Destructive Power of Religion, 4 vols. (Reference BL65.V55 D47 2004) The four volumes, focus each on a range of topics and provide distinctive perspectives. The first looks at roots and sources of violence in sacred scriptures and ideology. In the second, scholars from Latin America and the US deal with religion, psychology, and violence. Psychotherapists, university professors, and research scholars from the US and South Africa explore models and cases in the third volume. The final volume surveys contemporary views in psychology, religion, history, and jurisprudence.

Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion, 2 vols. (Reference BL65.P7 E53 1998) This encyclopedia is an A-to-Z listing of a broad range of topics related to religious issues and politics, ranging from the religious freedom sought by the Pilgrims in the 1620s to the rise of the religious right in the 1980s.

Encyclopedia of Religion, 15 vols. (Reference BL31 .E46 2005) Standard work on religion.

Encyclopedia of Women and World Religion, 2 vols. (Reference BL458 .E53 1999) Major themes explored include comparative study of issues such as mythology, ordination and afterlife; wide ranging perspectives including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and others; relationship of religion to study of art, literature, and science; historical perspectives on religions both new and prehistoric; biographies of religious leaders and scholars; methods and theories for study of women in religion.

Slavery

Black Slavery in the Americas: An Interdisciplinary Bibliography 1865-1980, 2 vols (Reference HT861.S6 S63 1982) comprehensive list of books, articles, and dissertations in English on all aspects of slavery in North, Central, and South America.

Dictionary of Afro-American Slavery (Reference E441 .D53 1988)

Slave Life in America: A Historiography and Selected Bibliography (Reference E443 .O44 1983)

Slavery:  A Worldwide Bibliography 1900-1982 (Reference HT861.S6 M543 1985) lists books and articles on slavery in English and other European languages.

Women

Encyclopedia of Women and World Religion, 2 vols. (Reference BL458 .E53 1999)

Greenwood Encyclopedia of Women's Issues Worldwide, 6 vols. (Reference HQ1467.G74 2003)  Vol. 2 covers Central and South America and vol. 5 covers North America and the Caribbean.

Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women, 4 vols. (Reference HD1115 .R69 2000) Essays written by scholars cover all of the major areas: from Arts and Literature and Health and Sexuality to Spirituality and Religion.

Women in Spanish America: An Annotated Bibliography From Pre-conquest to Contemporary Times, 1977 (Z7964 .L3K525)

Women in the Third World: A Historical Bibliography (Reference Z7964.D44 B96 1986)

Women's Diaries, Journals and Letters: An Annotated Bibliography (Reference Z7963.B6 C55 1989) This bibliography includes annotated listings by profession or significant characteristics, by subject, and by location.

Databases for this Course

Academic Search Premier -

Coverage: Indexing coverage varies, with full-text content for some titles beginning 1975 or earlier, and most titles indexed from the 1990s. Brief Description: Provides abstracts and indexing of articles in more than 8,000 popular magazines, scholarly journals, and major newspapers in all fields of study, with nearly 4,000 titles available full text. Tools Available: A complete list of titles covered is available.

America: History and Life -

Coverage: 1954 to present Brief Description: Bibliographic references with abstracts to journal articles on the history and culture of the United States and Canada, 1954 to present.Also included are references to book and media reviews and to dissertations. Focus of content is from U.S. journals, but includes international journals covering America. Ninety percent of the articles are in English. Tools Available: An online list of journals indexed is available.

Handbook of Latin American Studies -

Coverage: 1936 to present Brief Description: An annotated bibliography on Latin America listing references to books, book chapters, journal articles, and papers from published conference proceedings. Other IPFW Formats: IPFW library owns the printed index 1935 to present (Stacks Z1605 .H23). Tools Available: An online guide is available.

Historical New York Times -

Call Number: Microfilm AP2 .N55 Coverage: From 1857 to two years ago [Historical New York Times] Brief Description: Provides full-text PDF page images of the New York Daily Times from 1851-1857 and New York Times from 1857 to two years ago. Other IPFW Formats: IPFW library owns the New York Times (Microfilm 1890 to present), in the microfilm cabinets.

LexisNexis Congressional -

Coverage: Indexes Congressional documents 1817 to present and provides full-text of many Congressional documents, 1990 to present. Brief Description: LexisNexis Congressional provides comprehensive access to U.S. Congressional resources 1817 to present. Other IPFW Formats: IPFW library owns the printed CIS U.S. Serial Set Index, 1789-1969 (CIS U.S. Serial Set Index - Government Publications Reference Z1223.Z9 C65 1975). Tools Available: An online guide is available after IPFW authentication.

Worldwide Political Science Abstracts -

Coverage: 1975 to present Brief Description: The database provides citations, abstracts, and indexing of books, dissertations, films, software and international serials literature in political science and its complementary fields, including international relations, law, labor relations, and public administration/policy. Tools Available: An online list of journals indexed is available. An online database guide is also available.

Finding Internet sites for this Course

WWW-VL Central Catalogue The World-Wide Web Virtual Library's History Index is the largest index to history Internet sources. The site is divided by types of materials, eras and epochs, historical topics, and countries and regions. See section on the Americas

Primary Source Materials

Examples of Primary Source Materials for this Course

Contemporaneous News Accounts

Historical New York Times

Diaries, Letters, Memoirs, Papers, and Speeches

Accounts of Nineteenth-Century South America: An Annotated Checklist of Works by British and United States Observers (Reference F2223 .N39 1969) arranged chronologically and by region.

Early Encounters in North America

Government Documents

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1863-1958 (University of Wisconsin)

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1945 to present (Department of State)

LexisNexis Congressional

Statistics and Surveys

 

Digital Archives for this Course

While the WWW is not useful as a general research tool for secondary scholarly literature, it is becoming an excellent source for digitized collections of primary source material.

Special Collections

19th Century Latin America is sponsored by the Internet Modern History Sourcebook and presents a diversity of source material in modern European, American, and Latin American history.

Association of Research Libraries Digital Collection of Mexican and Argentine Presidential Messages contains digital images of presidential speeches since the early 19th century from Mexico and Argentina (over 75,000 pages of speeches).

Brazilian Government Document Digitization Project goal is to digitize executive branch serial documents issued by Brazil's national government during the period between 1821 and 1993, and by its provincial governments from the earliest available for each province to the end of the Empire to 1889. Collections consist of Provincial Presidential Reports (1830-1930), Presidential Messages (1889-1993), Almanak Laemmert (1844-1889), and Ministerial Reports (1821-1960).

David Rockefeller Center For Latin American Studies-Working Papers contains a collection of working papers on a variety of topics in Latin America.

Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC), LANIC's primary objective is to facilitate access to Internet-based information on, from, or about Latin America. Its target audience includes people living in Latin America, as well as those around the world who have an interest in this region.

Sources and General Resources on Latin America sponsored by the Department of History, Oberlin College.

Style Guides for this Course

The style guide required for this course is the Chicago Manual of Style. The latest edition is located at the Service Desk (Reference Z253 .U69 2003). Turabian and Chicago Styles Citations (University of California Berkeley Library) provides examples and basic guidelines for citing sources using the Chicago Style. Using Chicago Style to Cite and Document Sources provides guidelines for citing Internet sources.