United States History: A Selective Guide to Information Sources [Hardcover]

Ron Blazek (Author), Anna H. Perrault (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0872879844 | ISBN-13: 978-0872879843 | Publication Date: January 1994

Created for scholars, librarians, students and the general public, this work identifies and describes numerous reference books on American history. Arranged topically, subjects include politics and government, military, social and cultural items. Various search strategies are suggested.

Editorial Reviews

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With the assistance of graduate students in library schools at the University of South Florida and at Florida State University, Perrault and Blazek have updated and expanded their 1994 bibliographic tool.

The 1,250 selected sources (printed reference tools, online databases, Web sites, CD-ROMs, and microforms) include old standards but emphasis is on recent (1980s-2002) publications that focus on the social science aspects of U.S. history. Choices were based on favorable reviews in Reference Books Bulletin, American Reference Books Annual, Choice, Library Journal, and Reference Services Review and on firsthand knowledge. The Web sites that are listed are current as of November 7, 2002.

The introduction offers users an overview of trends in historical research and reference-source publishing, including electronic sources and networked materials. Part 1 covers general sources (biographical, chronological, statistical, geographical, and demographic). Part 2 is arranged by broad topics and a diverse array of subtopics. For example, chapter 6, "Social, Cultural, and Intellectual History," includes sections on Jewish genealogy, women's suffrage, Korean Americans, higher education, capital punishment, radio and television, and baseball, among others. Each chapter and many of the sections begin with an overview noting relevant organizations and their publications and directions in research. Besides bibliographic information, the annotated entries offer descriptions and often suggest search strategies. Annotations are 85 to 250 words in length. An author-title index and a subject index are provided.

The guide will be helpful for collection development as well as for research and is recommended for academic and large public libraries. The authors recommend retaining the first edition for use in conjunction with the second "to assure comprehensive coverage." RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

Hundreds of the best reference books pertaining to United States history are identified and described in United States History: A Selective Guide To Information Sources. Designed for a wide spectrum of users (practicing historians, scholars, graduate and undergraduate students, librarians, the general public), United States History offers selective but thorough coverage of both bibliographic and information materials on the subjects. Selections for inclusion were made on the basis of favorable reviews and first-hand knowledge with both standard tools and new reference materials included. Printed reference books, online databases, and CD-ROM titles, as well as microfilm are covered. To ensure historical perspective, 1975 (the end of the Vietnam period) was used as the cutoff in terms of content. Entries provide all standard bibliographic information and full descriptive and sometimes evaluative annotations. Scope notes provide valuable expository information and suggested search strategies in such areas as automation, government documents, and genealogy. Arranged topically and with a social science perspective that does not exclude traditional materials, United States History emphasizes social history in its treatment of multicultural and gender influences, and in its recognition of various societal institutions and issues. It is the first guide of its kind to consider the gay influence and treat genealogy seriously. -- Midwest Book Review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 411 pages
• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited Inc (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872879844
• ISBN-13: 978-0872879843
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,652,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)