AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

 

Introduction to African American Studies Research Guide

 

AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES AS A DISCIPLINE: SELECTED TEXTS
The African American Studies Reader.  Edited by Nathaniel Norment, Jr.
Langsam Stacks E184.7.A27 2001
Afrocentricity and the Academy: Essays on Theory and Practice.  Edited by James L. Conyers, Jr. 
Langsam Stacks E184.7.A35 2003
Black Studies Reader.  Edited by Jacqueline Bobo et. al.
RWC Stacks E184.7.B56 2004
Langsam Stacks  E184.7.B56 2004
Decolonizing the Academy: African Diaspora Studies.   Edited by Carole Boyce Davies, et. al.
Langsam Stacks E184.7.D43 2003
Dispatches from the Ebony Tower: Intellectuals Confront the African American Experience. 
Langsam Stacks E184.7.D57 2000 [Copy 2 on Closed Reserve]
Giddings, Geoffrey J.  Contemporary Afrocentric Scholarship: Toward a Functional Cultural Philosophy.  E184.7.G53 2003
Leading Issues in African-American Studies.  Edited by Nikongo BaNikongo
Handbook of Black Studies
Langsam Stacks E184.7.H25 2006
Out of the Revolution: The Development of Africana Studies.  Edited by Delores P. Aldridge and Carlene Young. 
Langsam Stacks E184.7.O88 2000
Oxford African American Studies Center Connect to resource online
Rojas, Fabio.  From Black Power to Black Studies: How a Radical Social Movement Became an Academic Discipline
Langsam Stacks E184.7.R65 2007
Rooks, Noliwe M., White Money/Black Power: the Surprising History of African American Studies and the Crisis of Race in Higher Education
Langsam Stacks  E184.7.R66 2006
Schomburg Studies on the Black Experience Connect
Scott, William R.  Upon These Shores: Themes in the African-American Experience 1600 to the Present
Langsam Closed Reserve E185.S416 2000
Walker, Clarence Earl.  We Can’t Go Home Again: An Argument About Afrocentrism
Langsam Stacks DT21.W34 2001
 
  Use the subject headings African Americans—Study and Teaching in Uclid, the library’s online catalog, to find additional books about the discipline of African American Studies.
    This organization is devoted to preserving and studying the African American experience:
ASALH—Association for the Study of African American Life and History http://www.asalh.org/index.html
     Founded in 1915 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson.

Although now in need of updating, this landmark bibliography remains an important guide to African American studies materials:

    Work, Monroe Nathan.  A Bibliography of the Negro in Africa and America
Langsam Stacks Z1371.N39W8 [1928] and
Langsam Ref Z1371.N39W8 1965 [reprint of the 1928 edition]
 

SELECTIVE LIBRARY CATALOGS
     Use these online catalogs to identify books about topics in African American studies:

Uclid Web Version
     Conduct author, title, keyword, or subject searches in Uclid, the University of Cincinnati’s library online catalog, to locate books about African American studies topics in the University of Cincinnati’s library collections.

       The University’s ArchivesandRareBooks Library houses the Urban Studies Collection  documenting Cincinnati’s history, politics, and neighborhoods in the 20th and 21st centuries.  The collection includes the records of the Better Housing League and Housing Opportunities Made Equal.  For additional information about Urban Studies Collection Records, contact the Archivist, Kevin.Grace@uc.edu
    The University of Cincinnati’s library is cataloging and placing the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center’s library collections into Uclid.
OhioLINK Library Catalog
     Conduct author, title, keyword, or subject searches in OhioLINK, the combined online catalogs of Ohio’s colleges and universities, to locate books about African American studies topics in statewide library collections.  Books that are not available in UC Libraries may be borrowed directly from an OhioLINK library but you will first need to establish your PIN  
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
     Conduct author, title, keyword, or subject searches in PLCH’s online catalog to locate books about African American studies topics in the public library’s collections.
Cincinnati Historical Society Library Star Online Catalog
     The Cincinnati Historical Society Library maintains the most complete collection of information about the African American experience in Cincinnati.  See especially their online Guide to 20th Century African American Resources at the Cincinnati Historical Society Library
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
http://www.nypl.org/research/sc/sc.html
     The Schomburg Center is part of the New York Public Library.  This site includes the center’s online catalog as well as access to its digitized collections.
     Other library catalogs are listed under the Library Catalogs link on the library’s home page http://www.libraries.uc.edu/
 

JOURNAL ARTICLES, DATABASES, AND INDEXES

  The process for locating journal articles about African American studies topics differs from using library catalogs to find books.  Journal articles must first be identified. 

     Use the databases and indexes to periodical literature like the ones listed in this section to identify articles in journals about African American studies topics.  Some of these databases will also provide the full text of the article.  Others will provide only a citation.  In that case you will have to find out if the article you have identified is available full text in another database, or if it is in a print journal that the library owns.
 

DATABASES AND INDEXES THAT  ARE UNIQUELY AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
      Unless otherwise noted, these databases are located in the Find Articles & Journals section of the library’s home page.  Print indexes are shelved as indicated by given call number and location.

African American Newspapers of the 19th Century (parts 1-5 only) Connect

Antislavery Newspapers and Periodicals.  Edited by John W. Blassingame and Mae G. Henderson
Langsam Stacks AI3.A57 [5v.]
     This multi-volume resource provides annotated indexes of letters in a number of antislavery newspapers and periodicals.
EBlackStudies Journals, Newsletters & Newspapers http://www.eblackstudies.org/journals.html
This web resource offers access to the current contents and in some cases the back issues of selected African American journals. 

Index to Black Periodicals 
Langsam Ref Z1361.N39I5
     Published since 1950 under several different titles, this is a paper index devoted exclusively to indexing articles published in African American periodicals.

JSTOR Connect
     This database provides full text access to the back issues of the most important journals in a number of disciplinary areas, including African American studies.
Oxford African American Studies Center Connect to resource online
Rose Bibliography Project
This project produced the following analytical guides during its brief existence:   
  • Analytical Guide and Indexes to “Alexander’s Magazine” 1905-1909
    Langsam Stacks LC2701.A42 1974
    Use in conjunction with “Alexander’s Magazine”
    Langsam Stacks LC2701.A4
  • Analytical Guide and Indexes to the “Colored American Magazine” 1900-1909
    Langsam Stacks AP2.C59R67 1974 2 vols.
    Use in conjunction with “Colored American Magazine”
    Langsam Microfilm 270
  • Analytical Guide and Indexes to “The Crisis” 1910-1960
    Langsam Stacks E185.5.C68R67
    Use in conjunction with “The Crisis; A Record of the Darker Races”
    Langsam Microfilm 5017 [1910-1964] and Langsam Stacks E185.5.C68 v.67-
  • Analytical Guide and Indexes to the “Voice of the Negro” 1904-1907
    Langsam Stacks E185.5.V882
    Use in conjunction with “Voice of the Negro”
    Langsam Microfilm 271, reel 1
Schomburg Studies on the Black Experience Connect
     Use the subject heading African Americans Periodicals Indexes in Uclid to identify other indexes that the library may own.  Use the subject heading African Americans Periodicals in Uclid to identify some of the library’s holdings of specific African American magazines and journals.
     These bibliographies and directories will also assist with identifying specific journals, but will not provide indexing to their contents:
Danky, James P.  African-American Newspapers and Periodicals: A National Bibliography 
Langsam Ref Z6944.N39A37 1998

Levi, Doris J.  Directory of Black Literary Magazines
Langsam Stacks Z1361.N39L4y [1970]

Potter, Vilma R.  A Reference Guide to Afro-American Publications and Editors, 1827-1946 
Langsam Ref Z6944.N39P63 1993

     This book provides a history of the African American newspaper:

Washburn, Patrick Scott.  The African American Newspaper: Voice of Freedom  
Langsam Stacks  PN4882.5.W37 2006

 

GENERAL DATABASES AND INDEXES THAT INCLUDE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES RELATED ARTICLES
Academic Search Complete 1984-
     Most but not all articles included in this database are provided as full text items. The database covers nearly every academic area in the humanities and social sciences.

Expanded Academic ASAP

     This multidisciplinary database is partially full text.  Indexing begins in the 1980s.
Google Scholar  Connect
     Google access to scholarly literature from a variety of sources
Humanities and Social Sciences Retrospective 1907-1984 Connect
Ingenta Connect
Includes some 20,000 journals covering a wide range of disciplinary areas.  Full Text access to some journals and selective journal new issue information through Reveal Research Alerts.
Periodicals Archive Online Connect and Periodicals Index Online Connect
     This continually growing database provides full text images of periodicals in the humanities and social sciences.
Project Muse 1995- Connect
     Indexes and provides articles as full text documents in some 40 journals in the humanities.
Reader’s Guide Retrospective 1890-1982 Connect
     Long the standard periodical index, the Reader’s Guide Retrospective provides comprehensive indexing for the most popular general interest periodicals published in the United States throughout most of the 20th century.
Research Library 1971-
     This is a full text multidisciplinary database.

SIRS Researcher on the Web Connect

This is a full text multidisciplinary resource produced by SIRS Knowledge Source that pulls together articles from a variety of sources.
Wilson OmniFile                                                                                                                                  
This database combines indexing, abstracting, and full text access to Education Full Text, General Science Full Text, Humanities Full Text, Readers' Guide Full Text, Social Sciences Full Text, and Wilson Business Full Text.
 

SELECTED DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC DATABASES AND INDEXES RELEVANT TO AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology Plus  1800- Connect
     This extensive database indexes worldwide journal literature relating to social, cultural, physical, biological, and linguistic anthropology.
ART
Art Full Text 1929- Connect
     This database indexes and abstracts leading international art publications covering a wide-range of art-related areas.                                                                                                       
 
BIOLOGY AND HEALTH

Biological Abstracts and Previews 1980- Connect
     Covers worldwide biological and medical literature and provides some articles as full text documents. 

Alt-Health Watch 1990- Connect
     Covers the literature in the field of alternative medicine.

American Health Line1992-  Connect
     Offers a daily synthesis of health care issues in the news.

Health Source Consumer Edition Connect
     Provides indexing and abstracts from journals related to general health issues.
Medline with Full Text Connect
Medical literature from the National Library of Medicine.
 
BUSINESS

ABI Inform Complete 1971- Connect
     This is a full text database to business literature.

Business Source Complete 1886-  Connect
     Full text coverage of business articles from thousands of business journals.
 
COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Communication and Mass Media Complete 1915- Connect
      Covers communication studies with some provision of full text.

Communication Studies: A Sage Full-Text Collection 1982- Connect
        Defines communication studies broadly to include journalism, cultural matters, and entertainment, as well as interpersonal communication in journals published by Sage.

 
CRIMINIAL JUSTICE

Criminal Justice Abstracts 1968- Connect
     This index cites and provides abstracts to journal literature relating to delinquency and crime.

Criminal Justice Periodical Index 1986- Connect
     This index offers abstracts and some full text of the periodical literature relating to all aspects of criminal justice, including social work. For articles published before 1986 use the print indexes shelved in the Langsam Library’s reference collection (Reference Z5118.C9C74). 

Criminology: A Sage Full-Text Collection 1982- Connect
     Provides full text of the criminology journals published by Sage.
 
ECONOMICS

EconLit 1969- Connect
     This index provides comprehensive indexing in the field of economics. 

PAIS International 1972- Connect  and PAIS Archive 1915-1976 Connect
     This database indexes articles related to economic and public policy issues.

 
EDUCATION

Education Abstracts 1983- Connect
     This database indexes and provides abstracts to journal articles about education related topics.  For articles written between 1929 and 1982 use the print volumes of Education Index (Reference Z5811.E25) shelved in the Langsam Library’s reference collection.

Education Research Complete Connect
     Comprehensive full text coverage of education-related topics.

Education: A Sage Full-Text Collection 1968- Connect
     Full text of articles in education journals published by Sage.

ERIC 1966- Connect  and Eric Online 1966-2004 Connect
     Comprehensive coverage of documents and journal articles from the Educational Resource Information Center.
 
ETHNIC STUDIES
Ethnic NewsWatch  1990- Connect
     This database provides full text articles from newspapers and periodicals published by the ethnic, minority, and Native American press in the United States
 
GEOGRAPHY
GeoRef  1785- Connect
     This database indexes and abstracts literature in the geographical sciences including demographic data, and other topics related to women in this broad field.
 
HISTORY

America: History and Life 1964- Connect
     Indexes and abstracts journal articles about the United States and Canada.

Historical Abstracts 1955- Connect
     Indexes and abstracts journal articles about the history of every place in the world except the United States and Canada for the historical period 1450 to the present.
 
LITERATURE

African American Poetry Database 1760-1900 Connect
     Full text of poetry written by African Americans including those poets listed in Afro-American Poetry and Drama, 1760-1975

MLA International Bibliography 1963- Connect
     This database indexes articles related to modern languages and literatures. 

 
MUSIC
Music Index 1976- Connect
    This database indexes an international listing of journals in the field of music, both classical and popular.
 
PHILOSOPHY
Philosopher’s Index 1940- Connect
     This database is an international index to philosophical periodicals. 
 
POLITICAL SCIENCE

CIAO 1991-  Connect
     CIAO: Columbia International Affairs Online is a comprehensive full text source for theory and research in the field of international affairs.

International Political Science Abstracts  1989- Connect
     Some of the articles indexed in this database are linked to full text.  Use the print volumes of this title to research journal articles published between 1951 and 1988.  The print volumes are shelved in the Langsam Library’s reference area under the call number Ref JA26.I6

Worldwide Political Science Abstracts 1975-June 30, 2006 Connect
     This database offers international coverage of political science literature
 
PSYCHOLOGY
PsychInfo 1967- Connect  and PsychInfo Historic 1872-1966 Connect
     This database indexes and abstracts articles in the field of psychology.  Use in conjunction with Historical PsychInfo for articles published between 1872-1966. 
 
PUBLIC OPIONION

Gallup Brain  1935- Connect
     Full text of Gallup polls

Polling the Nations Connect
     Full text of public opinion polls from a variety of sources

 
RELIGION

ATLA Religion Database with ATLA Serials 1949- Connect
     This database indexes articles from international journals relating to religious and theological topics.

Catholic Periodical and Literature Index 1930/33- 
Langsam Ref AI3.C32
     Formerly, Catholic Periodical Index, this resource indexes Catholic periodicals.  The library’s holdings begin with volume 4, 1946/48 and are shelved in the Langsam Library’s reference area.

 
SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIOLOGY

Child Abuse, Child Welfare, and Adoption Database 1965- Connect
     Extensive coverage of literature relating to child welfare issues and concerns.

Social Work Abstracts  1977- Connect
This database indexes and abstracts the literature of social work and related fields.

SocIndex with Full Text 1895-  Connect
     Comprehensive coverage of the literature of sociology.

Sociological Collection Connect
This database includes some full text documents.

Sociology: A Sage Full-Text Collection 1982- Connect

 
WOMEN'S STUDIES AND GENDER STUDIES

Contemporary Women’s Issues 1992-end of June 2006 Connect
     Full text coverage of global women’s issues 1992-end of June 2006.

Gender Studies Database 1972- Connect
     Includes some full text coverage relating to sexual diversity issues and other gender related matters.

GenderWatch Connect
     Includes full text coverage from a wide variety of publications.

LGBT Life with Full Text Connect
     Indexing and abstracting of literature relating to LGBT issues worldwide.

Women’s Resources International 1972- Connect  and Women’s Studies International 1972- Connect
     Covers feminist research across the disciplines.
 

Contact Subject Librarians for Additional Journal Databases and Indexes

     This listing of databases and indexes to journal literature does not represent all of the many databases and print indexes that relate toAfrican American studies.  Depending on the topic of your research there may be other indexes and databases that you should use.  You may wish to make an appointment with one of the Subject Librarians in the area of your research topic.

Getting Copies of Articles in Journals that the Library Owns

     Articles that are full text in the library’s databases are accessed at the point of identification.
     Articles that are not full text in the database or index you are using must be entered by title of the journal  in the electronic journal finder: Full-Text Journals to find a full text copy of the journal article elsewhere.  See Locate article full text  for complete details.

     If the title of the journal is not listed in the electronic journal finder, you must enter the title of the journal as a  journal search in uclid.

     If you need a copy of an article from a journal that has been sent to the Southwest Ohio Regional Depository, and there is no alternative format available, you may request a photocopy of the article from the depository by following the information given in this link: from Southwest Depository (SWORD)

Getting Copies of Articles in Journals the Library Doesn’t Own

     If the library does not own a copy of the article you need, the library’s Interlibrary Loan services will obtain a photocopy for you.  Follow this link for information on how to request a journal photocopy: by Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
   If you have not already done so, you will be prompted to establish your ILLIAD Account.

Newspaper Articles

Uniquely African American Newspapers

African-American Newspapers: 19th Century Parts 1-5 1827-1876  Connect
     This is a database of African American newspapers published during the 19th century. Articles in these newspapers relate to the cultural life and history of African Americans during this period, including business, politics, religion, and vital statistics, as well as biographical articles about prominent African Americans, essays, editorials, and poetry and prose works written by African Americans and published in the newspapers included in this database.
Antebellum Black Newspapers Langsam Ref E185.5.J33
     Indexes several antebellum Black newspapers.
Black Newspapers Index 1981- (Ref AI3.I46)
     This print resource indexes a number of African American newspapers published in the United States.
                                                      See also NEWSDEX

The University of Cincinnati’s Student Newspaper
News Record   September 1960- July 1970 Connect
     Archives and Rare Books in Blegen Library has a full paper run of the News Record.

The General Press
America’s Newspapers Connect
     This collection of online newspapers includes 17 titles from Ohio.
Factiva Connect
          A joint venture between Dow Jones and Reuters, Factiva provides extensive full text  access to global news sources, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times.
LexisNexis Academic Connect
     This database provides full text coverage of many regional newspapers with varying dates of inclusion.
 
 

                                   

 


 

 

 

New York Times 1851-2003 Connect
     This database provides full text coverage of the New York Times from 1851 through 2003.

NEWSDEX Connect
     Produced by the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County and located on that library’s web site.  NEWSDEX provides indexing to Cincinnati newspapers, including the Cincinnati Herald.

Newspaper Source Connect
     Provides full text from 245 regional U.S. newspapers.

Proquest Newspapers 1989-  Connect
     This database indexes and abstracts 27 of the nation’s leading newspapers.


Encyclopedias, Handbooks, and Historical Dictionaries

     Encyclopedias offer a useful synthesis of the current state of research in African American studies.  Encyclopedias may be located by conducting a subject or a keyword search in Uclid as in these examples:

[Subject Heading]—Encyclopedias (e.g. African Americans--Encyclopedias)

Keywords  (e.g. African Americans and Encyclopedia)                                                                                                            

     Some recent representative encyclopedias and handbooks include:

African American Almanac [Latest edition in Reference]
Langsam Ref E185.5.N34

The African American Encyclopedia [10 vols.] 
Langsam Ref E185.A253 2001

Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience 2nd ed. 5 vols.
Langsam Ref  DT14.A37435 2005

Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History 2nd edition 6 vols.
Langsam Ref E185.E54 2006

Encyclopedia of African-American Heritage
Langsam Ref E185.A455 2000

Collective Biography

African American Biographical Database:AABD Connect
     This database may be found in the Article Resources section of the library’s home page.  AABD offers biographical information about prominent African Americans who lived between 1790 and 1950.  Photographs and illustrations are included in the database.

American National Biography Connect
This database may be found in the Article Resources section of the library’s home page.  The ANB contains lengthy biographical sketches of the most important deceased Americans.

Dictionary of American Negro Biography
Langsam Ref E185.96.L6 1982

Dictionary of Literary Biography
See Literature Resources Center Connect
  Biographical sketches of important African American literary figures.

     Use these keywords to find biographical works about African Americans in Uclid:

African American(s) and Biography
African American(s) and Biographical
Black(s) and Biography  
Black(s) and Biographical  

Bibliographies

The African American Experience: An Historiographical and Bibliographical Guide
Langsam Stacks E184.65.A37 2001

Black History and Black Identity: A Call for a New Historiography
Langsam Stacks E184.65W75 2002

Harvard Guide to African-American History
Langsam Ref E185.H326 2001

Dictionaries of Black English

Black Talk: Words and Phrases from the Hood to the Amen Corner
Langsam Stacks PE3102.N4S65 1994

Juba to Jive: The Dictionary of African-American Slang
Langsam Stacks PE3727.N4M34 1994

Research Methodologies

Foundations for Research: Methods of Inquiry in Education and the Social Sciences
CRC Prof Ed. LB1028.F64 2004

How to Conduct Behavioral Research Over the Internet
Langsam Stacks BF76.6.I57F73 2004

How to Do a Research Project: A Guide for Undergraduate Students
Langsam Stacks LB2369.R575 2007

Sage Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods
Langsam Ref H62.S34 2004

Student’s Guide to Methodology: Justifying Enquiry  
CRC Prof Ed H62.C56 2002

Statistical Sources

African American Experience on File
Langsam Ref E185.A2533 1999                                                                                                             

Black Demographic Data 1790-1860
Langsam Ref E185.18.C73 1997

The Demography of Black Americans 1930-1990
Langsam Stacks E185.86.D45 2003

Statistical Record of Black America 4th ed.
Langsam Ref E185.5.S73 4th ed

Historical Statistics of Black America 
Langsam Ref E185.H543 1995

     Use subject headings (e.g. African Americans—Statistics) and keywords in Uclid to find similar material.  

     These databases also give statistical information about African Americans

Historical Statistics of the United States Colonial Times to 2000 Connect

Statistical Abstract Connect

       These web sites offer census information relating to African Americans:

United States Historical Census Data Browser
http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/

United States Bureau of the Census
http://www.census.gov/

How to Cite Sources

     Follow these suggestions for How to cite sources in a paper
                                                                                    (tips from OhioLINK)                                                                                  

                       EndNote & Refworks — Personal Bibliographic Management (PBM) tools at UC

Selected Web Sites

African American Mosaic: A Library of Congress Resource Guide for the Study of Black History and Culture
www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/intro.html

Digital Librarian: A Librarian’s Choice of the Best of the Web
http://www.digital-librarian.com/

eBlack Studies http://www.eblackstudies.org
                                                                                                                             
Research and Homework Section, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Online Catalog
http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/resources/
     This section of the Public Library’s online catalog includes access to their research databases and a section of carefully selected web sites.

Resources in Black Studies
http://www.library.ucsb.edu/subjects/blackstudies/black.html

Subject Resources: African American Studies
http://www.libraries.uc.edu/research/subject_resources/african_american/index.html

Voice of the Shuttle: Minority Studies-African American
http://vos.ucsb.edu/browse.asp?id=2721#id154
     This site links to many African American sites on all topics for research and is a good starting point for web-based browsing.

Print Guide to Web Sites

The African American Experience in Cyberspace: A Resource Guide to the Best Websites on Black Culture and History.
Sterling, Va .: Pluto, 2004.
Langsam Ref E185.M49 2004

Guide to African American Associations and Organizations

Associations Unlimited Connect


Web site content: Sally Moffitt, Bibliographer
African American Studies
Office Hours By Appointment (Sally.Moffitt@uc.edu) 401 Langsam

October 2007