Africana Studies
Africana Studies
One method for beginning research is to obtain journal articles on your topic. This should be considered a two-step process:
- Find article citations using print and electronic indexes and databases, a few of which are listed below. Remember that electronic indexes/databases have limitations on their period of coverage. You may need to refer to print indexes as well.
- Locate a copy of the article(s). You may be fortunate to have access to the full-text of the article directly from the electronic index/database. If this is not the case, you need to search CONSORT for the JOURNAL title and determine if Wooster owns it and, if so, where it is located. Some journals may be available in both print and electronic format.
Indexes and Databases
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African American Biographical Database (1790-1950)
The African American Biographical Database (AABD) provides biographical sketches of African American activists, business people, former slaves, performing artists, educators, lawyers, physicians, writers, church leaders, homemakers, religious workers, government workers, athletes, farmers, scientists, factory workers, and more--both the famous and the everyday person. These biographical sketches have been carefully assembled from biographical dictionaries and other sources. It draws its initial content from Chadwyck-Healeyís Black Biographical Dictionaries 1790-1950. Biographical portraits from newly uncovered dictionaries as well as from other published reference sources, obituary files, slave narrative collections, Internet sites, etc. will be added as the database expands.
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Alternative Press Archive (1969-90)
Indexes over 250 alternative, radical, and left journals, newspapers, and magazines. Covers topics of cultural, economic, political, and social change, including those related to women, women's rights, and other women's issues. Includes selected abstracts from research journals. Updated quarterly.
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Alternative Press Index (1991-present)
Indexes over 250 alternative, radical, and left journals, newspapers, and magazines. Covers topics of cultural, economic, political, and social change, including those related to women, women's rights, and other women's issues. Includes selected abstracts from research journals. Updated quarterly.
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Database of African-American Poetry (1760-1900)
Contains the full text of almost 3,000 poems written between 1760 and 1900. Poets included in the database are among those listed in Afro-American Poetry and Drama, 1760-1975, by W.P. French et al.
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Ethnic NewsWatch (1990-present)
A full-text collection of newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority, and native press.
- G.K. Hall Index to Black Periodicals (1950-Present)[WOO Reference E185.5 .I543]
Indexes African-American periodicals of general and scholarly interest. Provides coverage back to 1950 under its previous titles Index to Black Periodicals, Index to Periodical Articles by and about Blacks, Index to Articles by and about Negroes, and Index to Selected Periodicals Received in the Hallie Q. Brown Memorial Library... (shelved together in the library)
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SocINDEX (EBSCOhost)
Provides access to journal articles in sociology and related disciplines. Coverage goes back to 1895 for core titles which represent about one-fourth of this collection. Coverage is more recent for the remainder of the collection (ca. 1100 titles). Many citations link to the full text of articles.
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Sociological Abstracts (1963-2005)
Indexes and provides abstract summaries of the world's literature in sociology and related disciplines, both theoretical and applied. It covers journal articles selected from over 2600 journals, abstracts of conference papers, relevant dissertation listings from Dissertation Abstracts International, book review, and books.
Reference Sources
These types of resources can be used for a quick overview of a topic. They can also be useful for finding citations to works which can help you further your research.
- African American Almanac, WOO Reference E185 .N385 2000
This resource contains longer articles but no bibliographies. It is organized by broad topics and includes a section on Africa and the black diaspora. It also includes a lengthy chronology, significant documents, and landmarks relevant to African American history.
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The African Studies Companion: A Guide to Information Sources, WOO Reference DT19.8 .Z45 2003
This guide provides an annotated list of resources. It also includes a listing of relevant organizations and associations, bibliographies, guides, and directories. Its focus is on the African continent.
- Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience,WOO Reference DT14 .A37435 2005 v.1-5
This five-volume resource contains primarily brief articles with approximately a dozen longer "feature" articles. It also contains a selective bibliography, maps, charts, and tables.
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Encyclopedia of Africa South of the Sahara, WOO Reference DT351 .E53 1997
This encyclopedia contains lengthy articles with bibliographies.
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Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History WOO Reference E185 .E54 1996
- This 5-volume set includes lengthy, signed articles. Each article includes a brief bibliography.
- G.K. Hall Interdisciplinary Bibliographic Guide to Black Studies, WOO Reference E185 .S37
This single-volume, annual bibliography is organized primarily by Library of Congress Subject Headings. Its predecessor titles Interdisciplinary Bibliographic Guide to Black Studies and Bibliographic Guide to Black Studies (shelved together in the library) provide coverage beginning in 1975.
Electronic Journals
In addition to the electronic journal access listed below, it is beneficial to use the print indexes listed previously in order to access print journals.
Selected Internet Sites
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Elys Kettling Law
Reference and Instruction Librarian