Finding Books (criticism, biographies, historical background etc.)

Sample Searches Using Library of Congress Subject Headings

For books about authors, literature, or history:

Dickinson, Emily

Thoreau, Henry David

American literature--1783-1850--History and criticism

American literature

American literature--Women authors

United States -- History

Sample keyword searches

• For works by an author, do an Author Words search on the author's name, e.g. Benjamin Franklin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, etc.

• For works about an author, do a Boolean search using the author's name and one of the following: criticism, biography, bibliography, like this:

  Emily Dickinson and biography

  Thoreau and criticism

Resources for Historical Context

Literature and Its Times: Profiles of 300 Notable Literary Works and the Historical Events that Influenced Them. Covers world literature from ancient times to 2000. Reference R809.93358 L776.

Britannica Online ~ A good source for historical context.

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Finding Articles (criticism, bibliographies)

Scholarly Resources

• MLA International Bibliography ~ The major index in literary studies.

(To access this resource from off campus, go to Articles and Databases, and choose MLA from the list of databases. For information about off campus access, look at Accessing Library Resources from off campus.)

How do I find out if the Elmhurst College Library has the journal I need? 

Search for the journal title in Illinet Online. For example, search for the title Journal of African History. If you don't find the journal you need, take a look at the list, Journals and Magazines Available Online. You can also call (x 3173) or email the reference department to inquire about a specific title or ask a question. 

• Gale Literary Databases ~ The most helpful databases here are the Twayne Authors Series, and the Dictionary of Literary Biography.

Using the Web: Resources and Evaluation

Literary Web Sites

• Internet Public Library's Online Literary Criticism
• Voice of the Shuttle: American Literature
• Voice of the Shuttle
• Web of Memory from the Library of Congress ~ "American history in words, sound and pictures"
• Smithsonian American Art Museum ~ Browse thousands of digitized art works and online exhibitions.
• Women in American History from the Encyclopedia Britannica. Includes great audio and video, and lots of other fun stuff.
• The Britannica Guide to Black History ~ Lots of good audio and video. You can, for example, listen to Gwendolyn Brooks reciting her poem, "A Welcome Song for Laini Nzinga," 1983.
• National Archives Online Exhibit Hall ~ Look at historical American posters, original scanned documents like a report on the assassination of President Lincoln, President Nixon's resignation letter, the Dred Scott decision, and lots more. You might also want to look at the Digital Classroom , which includes history resources for teachers.

Evaluating Web Sites

• Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools

Documentation and Research Guides

• Using the MLA (Modern Language Association) Style
• A Research Guide for Undergraduate Students: English and American Literature by Nancy L. Baker and Nancy Huling, 1995. Reference R 807.2 B168r 1995.
• The Undergraduate's Companion to American Writers and Their Web Sites, 2001. 810.8 B797u

This page was created 10/30/2002 and was last modified 10/30/2002. 

Email Anne Jordan-Baker, Assistant Librarian.