OWHL Guides: History 100: A Guide to Research: Finding Background/Tertiary Sources

Noodle Tools: How to Enter Reference Source

Best Bets for Reference/Background Sources in Ancient History

DID YOU KNOW background, reference, and tertiary sources all mean the same thing? They're sources you use to find out general information about your topic. Examples are encyclopedias, such as Britannica and Wikipedia, and dictionaries. In later History classes and in college, you would not cite these, although in most 100 level classes, your teacher will have you find and cite one or more reference sources.

Find print reference/background sources in the library (Garver Room)

Reference Universe
Reference Universe searches the indices of reference works in the Garver Room
Search Catalog for Reference Sources
This is a pre-filtered catalog search that will narrow results to reference materials in the Garver Room.

Find online reference/background sources through the library

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
This database is like an online Garver Room with articles from nearly 1,000 reference sources covering all disciplines.
Infobase African American History Online This link opens in a new window
This source features thousands of reference articles, covering the entire spectrum of African-American history over the past 500 years. Some primary sources may also be found here.
Infobase American History This link opens in a new window
This source features thousands of reference articles on American political, military, social, and cultural history over the past 500 years. Some primary sources may also be found here.
Infobase American Indian History This link opens in a new window
This source provides reference articles on over 15,000 years of Native American culture and history, and includes biographies, legends, treaties, and more. Some primary sources are included.
Infobase Ancient and Medieval History This link opens in a new window
This database presents reference articles on the full scope of world history from prehistory through the 1500s, with special topic centers on key civilizations and regions.
ABC_CLIO Daily Life Through History (Academic Edition) This link opens in a new window
This comprehensive collection of primary and reference sources provides direct insight into the social history of societies ranging from the Australian Aborigines all the way to 21st-century China.