OWHL Guides: History 300: A Guide to Research: Reference/Tertiary Sources

Searching for Reference Sources

Reference or Tertiary sources are usually used to find out general information about your topic. They often provide background context and identify secondary and primary sources, which usually means you won't cite them directly unless your assignment requires it.

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

Reference Universe This link opens in a new window
Reference Universe searches the indices of reference works at the Garver Room. It provides researchers with the most reliable introductions to your research topic, simplifying the process of finding just the right book or journal article.

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

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.
Gale in Context: U.S. History This link opens in a new window
This database provides reference and secondary source information on hundreds of the most significant people, events and topics in U.S. History.
Infobase Issues & Controversies in History This link opens in a new window
This database use primary sources to analyze great conflicts in U.S. and World along with in-depth secondary source articles on historical events. It also provides each issue with its background information and its pro/con arguments.
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.
Britannica Academic This link opens in a new window
Reference articles from one of the oldest and most trusted reference sources in the world.
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.
Gale in Context: Biography This link opens in a new window
This database provides biographical reference articles on more than 650,000 international figures from all times periods and areas of study. It will also link you to relevant popular and scholarly press articles.

History 300: A Guide to Research: Reference/Tertiary Sources

Searching for Reference Sources

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Getting Started with Reference Books