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Information Sources in American Literature
I. Books and Audiovisuals
II Periodical Resources
A. Electronic Indexes and Full-Text Collections
B. Print Indexes, Abstracts and Bibliographies
III. Reference Materials
A. Bio-Critical Works
i.Gale Literary Publications
ii. Other Bio-Critical Publications
B. Literature Reviews and Analyses
C. Dictionaries
D. Encyclopedias
E. Other Reference Sources
IV. Microforms
V. Government Publications
VI. Web Resources
VII. Course Information
VIII. Help from the Library
Use tomCat (the U of M Library
catalog).
For subject searches, use Library of Congress Subject Headings such as american literature 19th century or poets, american . (LC Subject Headings volumes are available in Reference.)
For books about individual writers, use the writer's name as a subject; e.g., hawthorne nathaniel . (Last name first)
To find a book-length bibliography, look for the word "bibliography" in the subject heading; e.g.morrison, toni -- bibliograpy or women in literature -- bibliography. Using the word "bibliography" in a keyword search will retrieve all books with bibliographies in them.
To browse through time periods, type in american literature and click on subject. Then scroll through the list until you find the time period you want.
For greater range in searching, try keywords such as hawthorne melville or hawthorne criticism . (Leave out words like in, of, on, and the; AND is assumed between words.)
For audiovisuals, search by keywords; e.g., hawthorne videorecording .
Copy the call number from the catalog record to find the book. (See How to Find Books.)
netLibrary [UM Only] A collection of over 55,000 electronic books in various disciplines. Some of these items may be available in print as well as electronically.
Use an electronic database.
These are recommended. Other periodical databases are listed on Periodical Databases by Adademic Area. For help finding articles try How to Find Articles in Periodicals and refer to How to find Print Periodicals for help locating the articles you've found. If the periodical is available electronically, you will find a link to it from the electronic journals list.
Contemporary Literary Criticism see Literature Resource Center (LRC)
Humanities Full Text (citations, abstracts, full text).[UM Only]
Part of Wilson Omni File Mega. Indexes periodicals in archaeology, art, classics, film, folklore, journalism, linguistics, music, the performing arts, philosophy, religion, world history, and world literature. Coverage: citations & abstracts, 1984- ; full text, 1995-
JSTOR (full text archive) [UM Only]
Indexes and stores back issues of 47 critical literature journals, including American Literature.
Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe [UM Only]
Provides full text of many magazines and newspapers, including The Commercial Appeal since 1990. Good for book reviews and articles about authors.
Literature Resource Center (LRC) [UM Only]
Literature Resource Center provides full text access to biographies, bibliographies, and critical analyses of authors from all ages and literary disciplines. More than 120,000 novelists, poets, essayists, and journalists are covered. The 2,500 most-studies authors are covered in-depth.
MLA International Bibliography (periodicals and books chapters, 1963 - ) [UM Only]
Indexes 4,000 periodicals covering literature, languages, linguistics, and folklore. Now includes information from MLA Directory of Periodicals.
Project Muse(Full-text) [UM only]
Provides electronic full text of more than 200 scholarly journals in arts and humanities, social sciences, and mathematics.
Other Databases: These databases provide coverage on a wide range of subjects and may be useful in your research.
Electronic Journals Service (EJS) [UM Only]
Electronic journals service available through a common interface for online journal subscriptions. Search, browse, and identify journals and articles available online in either full-text or table-of-content format. Hyperlinks are provided to more than 1,300 electronic journals worldwide.
Expanded Academic Index (1980-) [UM Only]
Indexes about 1,900 magazines, journals, and the NY Times newspaper. Most have abstracts, and about 900 are full text.
IngentaConnect [Open Access]
Formerly Uncover. Browse the publication list or search tables of contents to over 17,000 periodicals; period of coverage varies. Provides document delivery service.
Oxford Reference Online [UM Only]
The Oxford Reference Online Premium collection is an online collection of dictionaries and encyclopedias in many fields including: art & architecture, bilingual dictionaries, biological science, classics, computing, earth & environmental sciences, economics & business, English dictionaries and thesauruses, English language reference, food & drink, history, law, literature, maps & illustrations, military history, mythology & folklore, names & places, performing arts, physical sciences & mathematics, politics & social sciences, quotations, religion & philosophy, and science.
PowerSearch [UM Only]
Searches the 12 InfoTrac databases simultaneously.
Web of Knowledge
Resources specific to the Humanities on WoK include Arts & Humanities Citation Index, Current Contents Connect for Arts & Humanities, ISI Proceedings for Social Science and the Humanities.
Wilson Omnifile Mega Full Text [UM Only]
Provides access to eleven databases: Education , General Science , Humanities , Readers' Guide , Social Sciences, Wilson Business , Art, Applied Science & Technology, Index to Legal Periodicals, Library Literature & Information Science, Biological & Agricultural. Search databases individually, in selected groups, or all at once.
WorldCat [UM Only]
Records of any type of material cataloged by OCLC member libraries, including books, periodicals, audiovisual materials, and websites. Contains manuscripts written as early as the 12th century.
Abstracts of English Studies (1958-91) [Reference Abstract Shelves]
American and British Poetry: A Guide to the Criticism, 1925-78;1979-90 (2 vols.) [Reference Desk PS303.A52x]
American Drama Criticism,1890-1977 and 4 supplements [Reference Desk Z1231.D7P3 & PS332.A53x]
American Humanities Index (1968-97) [Reference Abstract Shelves]
American Literary Scholarship [PS3.A47] Annual survey of research.
The American Novel: A Checklist of Twentieth-Century Criticism (2 vols.) [Reference Desk Z1231.F4G4]
American Short Fiction Criticism and Scholarship, 1959-77 [Ref Desk (PS374.S5W45x)]
Articles on American Literature, 1900-1950;1950-1967;1968-75 (3 vols.) [Reference Desk (Z1225)]
Arts & Humanities Citation Index (1976-2002) [Reference Index Tables]
Biography Index (1946-) [Reference Index Tables]
Biography and Genealogy Master Index (3 sets of cumulative vols.) [Reference Index Tables]
A Criticial Bibliography of American Literature Studies (4 vols.) [Ref PS225.C74x 1998] - This series drawn from The Year's Work in English Studies (PE58.E6) provides "comprehensive chronological coverage" by "individual fields of study." An index of authors and subjects treated is at the end of volume 4.
Essay and General Literature Index (1900 - ) [Reference Index Tables]
Indexes articles and essays contained in books.
Guide to American Poetry Explication, 2 vols. [Reference Desk (PS201 .G83x)] - Indexes essays and chapters in books about authors and individual works.
Humanities Index (1974 - 96) [Reference Index Tables]
Modern Language Association Bibliography (MLA) (1921- 94) [Reference Index Tables]
Southern Literature [Reference Desk Z1225.S63 1978]
Twentieth-Century Short Story Explication 3rd ed. and 5 supplements, 1900-1988 [Reference Desk]
Twentieth-Century Short Story Explication, New Series, 1989-90; 91-92; 93-94 (3 vols.) [Reference Desk (PN3373)]
The Year's Work in English Studies [PE58.E6]
Critical surveys of studies published in books and periodicals.
i. Gale Literary Publications
Gale Literary Index is a comprehensive web index to most of the bio-critical reference sources listed below. This web index points to the relevant print volumes and allows you to search by title of work, author's name, birth date, death date or nationality. This web index points you to the relevant print volumes and allows you to search by title of work, author's name, birth date, death date or nationality. Please note: The web version does not cover all the material in the print volumes.
Dictionary of Literary Biography (DLB) [Ref PS21.D54x] multiple volumes.
A good place to begin for an overall perspective. Contains substantive articles about each author and his or her work, photographs, and a bibliography for further reading. Each volume specializes in a genre and time period. Use cumulative author index at end of the last volume.
Contemporary Literary Criticism (CLC) [Ref PN771.C59] multiple volumes.
Use for authors who are living or who have died since 1959. Cumulative author, title, and topic index is at the end of the last volume in the set. A separate cumlative title index is on a shelf nearby. Contains excerpts from articles and books and full citations for further reading. Volumes 95+ also available on the web.
Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism (TCLC) [Ref PN771.G27]
- Authors who died between 1900 and 1959. Same format as CLC.
Nineteenth-Century Literary Criticism (NCLC) [Ref PN761.N5]
Authors who died between 1800 and 1899. Same format as CLC.
Literature Criticism (LC) [Ref PN86.L56]
Authors who died between 1400 and 1800. Same format as CLC.
Poetry Criticism (PC) [Ref PN1010.P499] Poets. Same format as CLC.
Short Story Criticism (SSC) [Ref PN3321.S5x] Same format as CLC.
ii. Other Bio-Critical Publications
African-American Writers [Ref PS153.N5 A344 1990]. Complements American Writers.
American Slavery: A Composite Autobiography
American Writers; A Collection of Literary Biographies [Ref PS129.A55] 4 volumes, 3 supplements. Bio-critical essays.
Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers
Critical Survey of Drama (6 vols.) [Ref PR623.75]
Critical Survey of Poetry (9 vols.) [Ref PR502.C85]
Critical Survey of Long Fiction (8 vols.) [Ref PR821.C7 1983]
Critical Survey of Short Fiction (7 vols., 1 suppl.) [Ref 3321.C7]
Literature in Context
Magill Index to Literature: Cumulative Indexes, 1984-2001 [Ref Z6511.M2518 2001] - Combines and collates indexes from 32 multivolume reference sets, including the Masterplots and Critical Survey of Literature series.
B. Literature Reviews/Analyses
Book Review Digest (1905-) [Reference Index Table 11](1983 - )
Book Review Index (1946-) [Reference Index Table 8]Combined Retrospective Index to Book Reviews in Scholarly Journals 1886-1974 (15 vols.) [Reference Index Table 11]
New York Times Book Reviews
Magill Series
Magill Index to Literature: Cumulative Indexes, 1984-2001 [Ref Z6511.M2518 2001] - Combines and collates indexes from 32 multivolume reference sets, including the Masterplots and Critical Survey of Literature series.
Masterplots, Rev. 2nd ed. (12 vols.) [Ref PN44.M33 1996]
Survey of Contemporary Literature. Rev. Ed. (12 vols.) [Ref PN44.M34] - Updated reprints of 2,300 essay-reviews from Masterplots annuals, 1954-76.
Magill's Literary Annual (1977-2003) [Ref PN44.M35]
Essay reviews of books published during the year. Cumulative indexes at end of last volume.
New York Times Book Review Archive (1996- )
Cyclopedia of Literary Characters (5 vols.) [Ref PN44.M3 1998]
Masterplots II: African American Literature Series (3 vols) [Ref PS153.N5M2645 1994]
Masterplots II: Poetry Series (6 vols, 3 suppl) [Ref PN1110.5.M37]
Masterplots II: Short Story Series (6 vols., 4 suppl.) [Ref PN3326.M27]
Masterplots II: Women's Literature Series. (6 vols.) [Ref PN471.M37 1995]
The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English [Ref PR85.C29 1988]
Dictionary of Literary Symbols [Ref PN56.S9F47 1999]
Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory [Ref PN41.C83 1998]
Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 11,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins [Ref Z1041.R66 2004]
Glossary of Contemporary Literary Theory. 4th ed. [Ref PN44.5.H37 2000]
Oxford Companion to American Literature, 6th ed. [Ref PS21.H3 1995]
Oxford Companion to American Theatre [PN2220.B6 1984]
The Oxford Companion to Women's Writing in the United States [Ref PS147.O94 1995]
A Langston Hughes Encyclopedia [Ref PS3515.U274Z459 2002]
Reader's Encyclopedia of American Literature [Ref PS21.R4]
American Folklore: An Encyclopedia [Ref GR101.A54 1996]
Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature [Online, UM Only]
American College Novel [Ref PS374.U52 K72 2004]
American Folktales: from the Collections of the Library of Congress (2 vols.)[Ref GR105.5.A44 2004]
Annals of American Literature, 1602-1983 [PS94.L83 1986]
Characters in 20th-Century Literature (2 vols) [Ref PN56.4.H7]
The Columbia Companion to the Twentieth-Century American Short Story [Ref PS374.S5C57 2000]
Columbia Literary History of the United States [Ref PS92.C64 1988]
Contemporary Authors [Ref Z1224.C62x] Separate author index on shelf nearby.
Essay and General Literature Index (1900 - ) [Reference Index Table 3] - Indexes articles and essays contained in books.
Fifty Southern Writers Before 1900: A Bio-Bibliographical Sourcebook [Ref PS261.F543]
Fifty Southern Writers After 1900: A Bio-Bibliographical Sourcebook [Ref PS261.F54]
A Glossary of Contemporary Literary Theory. 4th ed. [Ref PN44.5.H37 2000]
Guide to American Literature and Its Backgrounds Since 1890 [Ref Z1225.J65]
A Handbook to Literature, 7th ed. [Reference Desk: PN41.H355 1996]
The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory & Criticism [Ref PN81.J54x 1994]
Literary Research Guide: A Guide to Reference Sources for the Study of Literatures in English and Related Topics, 2nd ed. [Ref Z2011.H34 1993]
Literature and the Internet: A Guide for Students, Teachers and Scholars [Ref PN73.B76 2000]
Modern American Literature (3 vols.) [Ref PS221.M53 1999]
Provides excerpts from critical articles in books and periodicals on works by 489 authors.
A Research Guide for Undergraduate Students [Ref PR56.B34 2000]
The Periodical/Microforms Department on the second floor of McWherter Library houses several collections of materials useful for study and research in early American Literature. A card catalog in the department and staff can help you locate requested items. The following collections have separate indexes/guides to help you locate specific items. If you need assistance in finding or using microform materials, please ask staff at the Periodicals Desk.
American Bibliography (Evans, Shaw-Shoemaker) [Micro Z1215.E923] - Practically everything printed in America from 1639 to 1820.
American Culture Series [Micro E169.1.A47 1975] - Early American books and pamphlets from 1493 to 1875.
American Fiction (Wright) [Micro PZ1.A4x] - Fiction written by Americans and printed in the U.S. between the years 1774 and 1900.
American Periodical Series [Micro Unclassified] - More than 1100 periodicals published in America from 1741 to 1900.
Early American Newspapers [Micro Unclassified] - An on-going collection of newspapers from America's beginning, 1704-1820.
Ingram's Poe Collection [Micro PS2629.I54x] - Manuscripts, printed matter, source materials assembled by John H. Ingram. Essential Poe.
Library of American Civilization [Micro Unclassified] - Collection covering all aspects of America from the beginning to WWI. Indexed by author, title, subject and general topic. [Micro Z1236.L5 1971]
Publications related to American literature issued by federal and Tennessee state agencies are available online and in the Government Publications Department on the first floor of McWherter Library. Staff in the department will assist you in finding and using
both electronic and print materials produced by various federal and state agencies, such as the National Endowment for the Arts or the Library of Congress. You can also get information through their web page at http://exlibris.memphis.edu/resource/unclesam.html
You may want to explore web sites using various internet resources or, if you have them, specific URLs. [See
Robert Harris's Internet Search Tips and Strategies ] The web sites
listed below are examples of the various types of information available via the Internet.
Bedford/St. Martin's LitLinks
Literary Resources--American
Humanities Text Initiative (HTI) American Verse Project Update (University of Michigan)
Center for the Study of Southern Culture (University of Mississippi )
William Faulkner on the Web
Research and Documentation in the Electronic Age: The Humanities, MLA Style
Internet Public Library Online Literary Criticism Collection
Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia
Wikiquote Quotes available in every language
New York Times Book Section
Poet's Corner
The National Endowment for the Arts
Department of English, University of Memphis
Guide to research in McWherter Library
Still can't find what you're looking for?
Try Ask A Librarian
For additional assistance, you may contact the liaison librarian for Literature:
Kay Cunningham
Phone: 901.678.4345
Email: lkcnnngh@memphis.edu
Related Research Guides
English Literature | African American Literature | Hispanic Literature and Culture | Language and Linguistics
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Updated December 8, 2004
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