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General Reference Works

 

Best Sources

 

Auty, Robert.   Lexikon des Mittelalters.   9 Vol.   Zurich: Artemis-Verlag.   1977-1999.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)             D101.5 .L49

Note: Library has all of volumes 1-7, and parts of 8 & 9.   Please see catalog record for complete information.

 

 

Bunson, Matthew.   Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages.   New York: Facts on File.   1995.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)            D114 .B86 1995

 

This encyclopedia offers good background information on the Middle Ages.   It is well organized and a nice reference tool.   The encyclopedia is arranged alphabetically with smaller to medium sized entries.   Furthermore, it has good cross-referencing using 'see also' notations within the text.   The only unfortunate feature of this work is that the articles have a very short selected bibliography.

What is superior about this book is the rear matter.   One appendix gives medieval rulers by country and dynasty (including dates of their reigns).   There are separate appendixes for medieval Islam and one for its rulers.   Also, a very nice glossary of terms is included.   Finally, the text offers an excellent index searchable by subject, author, people, etc.   It contains LOTS of cross-references and very good explanations.

 

 

Cantor, Norman ed.   Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages.   New York: Viking (Penguin). 1999.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)                D114 .E53 1999

 

The editor for this work is recognized as a scholar in the field.   What is valuable about this work is that it includes many world cultures (which is useful since many medieval texts concentrate almost exclusively on Europe and its environs): Middle East, North Africa, China, etc.   The text itself has a standard alphabetical arrangement.   What is disappointing about this work is that most of the entries are very short (from ¼ to one page in length according to their importance).   The work may also be disappointing to librarians since it does not contain a table of contents and the rear indexes are of average quality and length.

 

 

Craig, Edward.   Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy.   10 vol.   New York: Routledge.   1998.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)                B51 .R68 1998

 

Other Formats:

 

 

 

The Routledge Encyclopedia is probably the most authoritative and respected philosophy encyclopedia.   The front matter is well arranged and gives a complete listing of all entries as they appear in the text.   It is arranged alphabetically by author, subject, and titles (of philosophical works).   Each volume handles a certain section of the alphabet.   Volume contains the sets index and can be searched by author and subject.   Note that titles of individual philosophical works are listed under the author's name.

 

 

Crosby, Everett. Medieval studies: A Bibliographical Guide. New York: Garland Pub., 1983.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)               Z5579.5 .C76 1983

 

This work is a very thorough and standard reference work in the field. Its only weakness is that it is rather dated now. Many print (both reference works & monographs) have been released since it was written. And, of course, it doesn't contain any electronic resources such as databases or Internet sources.

 

 

Dictionary of Art -- see 'Turner, Jane' below

 

 

Dictionary of Literary Biography.   289+ Vol.   Gale Research Inc.   Multi-volume series.   Detroit: Gale Research Co.   1978-
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)   PS21 .D521

 

Note: This is the general call# for the series, please see my major 'Literature' section to find useful volume #'s.

 

This series is an outstanding introductory resource and should be the first place student's begin for background information on a particular literary topic.   Scholars in the field write the entries for each volume.   They contain a thorough examination of the topic as well as bibliographies for further study.   Be sure to examine the rear matter that also contains a useful list of materials for further reading.   To find if Gale has anything on a topic you are interested in, please consult the rear index of any volume.

 

 

Encyclopaedia Judaica. 22 vol. New York: Macmillan. 2007.
UF
Library West, Judaica Library -- (1st Floor - Northwest Corner)     DS102.8 .E496

 

Online Version Available (see library catalog for details)

Note: For the Encyclopedia Judaica's yearbooks and decennials, see the library catalog.

 

The Encyclopaedia Judaica is an authoritative source with signed scholarly articles and bibliographies.

 

 

Encyclopaedia of Islam. 10 vol. Leiden: Brill, 2002.
UF
LIBRARY WEST: -- Ready Reference (3rd Floor)*   DS35.53 .E53 2002 (Electronic Resource: CD-ROM)

*Ask for assistance at the 3rd floor reference desk.

 

 

Europe 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World. 6 vol. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 2004.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)             D209 .E97 2004

Oline version also available

 

 

Grendler, Paul. Encyclopedia of the Renaissance. 6 vol. New York: Scribner's published in association with the Renaissance Society of America, 1999.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)              CB361 .E52 1999

 

 

 

Hillerbrand HJ. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation. 4 Vol. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)              BR302.8 .O93 1996

An excellent starting point for virually any reformation topic. A great text that you should start with to get background information on people, events, and topics pertaining to the reformation.

 

 

Jordan, William Chester.   Dictionary of the Middle Ages: Supplement 1.

            See below: Strayer, Joseph ed.   Dictionary of the Middle Ages.

 

 

Levillain, Philippe. The Papacy: An Encyclopedia . 3 vol. New York: Routledge, 2002.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)              BX955.2 .D53 2002

 

 

New Cambridge Medieval History.   7 Vol.   New York, NY.   Cambridge University Press.   1995-.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating) D117 .N48 1995.

 

The older edition of this work is available for circulation:

Gwatkin , H.M. and Whitney, J.P. Ed.   Cambridge Medieval History.   Planned by J.B. Bury.   8 vol.   Cambidge: Cambidge UP.   1967.
UF
Library West                 D117 .C3 1964

 

This series is a must have for any medieval history collection.   It is written by specialists and intended for the scholarly audience.   It offers very thorough coverage of its topics and huge bibliographies at the end of each chapter/topic.   This work covers the time period from 717 A.D. to 1453 A.D.   It has a large, well-organized table of contents.   The emphasis of the work is on Christianity (church and Papacy) in regards to Europe.   There is some attention paid to late Roman history (for background) and the 'barbarians'.   The rear matter contains a very good chronological table of important events, lots of color maps, and a large index.

See also:

New Cambridge Medieval History.   7 Vol.   New York, NY.   Cambridge University Press.   1995-.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)              D117 .N48 1995

 

The Cambridge Ancient History. 13 vol. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1982-.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)             D57 .C252 1988

 

 

New Catholic Encyclopedia. 15 vol. Detroit: Thomson/Gale; Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America, 2003-.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)              BX841 .N44 2003

Online Version: Use 'Database Locator' and type in new. Note: You will find this work listed under the Gale Virtual Reference Library heading and not seperately under the works title.
UF

Other formats of this work exist, please see the library catalog under either New catholic encyclopedia or catholic encyclopedia.

 

 

New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians --See 'Sadie, Stanley' below

 

 

Oxford English Dictionary Online (OED)

 

The Oxford English Dictionary is the most well-known and respected authority on the evolution of the English language.   It is a guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past.   It traces the usage of words through 2.5 million quotations from a wide range of international English language sources (including classical literature, Latin, and Anglo-Saxon).   The OED covers words from across the English-speaking world (i.e. North America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Caribbean, etc).   It also offers the best in etymological analysis, listings of variant spellings, and shows pronunciation using the International Phonetic Alphabet.


Online Version: Use 'Database Locator' and type in oed
UF

The electronic database represents an integration of both the original 12-volume set from 1933 and the revised Second Edition, which was published in 1989.

 

Print Version:

Simpson, J.A. and Weiner, E.S.C.   Oxford English Dictionary.   2 nd Ed.   19 vol.   Oxford: Claredon Press.   1989.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)              PE1625 .O87 1989
Note: See record for multiple holdings in different libraries.

 

 

Routledge Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages series.

This series is arranged by countries or by topic. For a complete list of all books in this series & their full descriptions, go to the vendors Web site.

 

 

Sadie, Stanley and John Tyrrell.   The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.   2nd ed.   29 Vol.   London: Macmillan Pub.; New York: distributed by Grove's Dictionaries.   2001.
UF
Music Library , Reference (Non-Circulating)                    ML100 .N48x 2001

 

Available Online: Go to the 'Database Locator' or the UF libraries catalog.

 

1980 Version: Music Library , Reference (Non-Circulating)             ML100 .N48   (20 volumes)

 

 

Simpson, J.A. and Weiner, E.S.C.   See --'Oxford English Dictionary' (above)

 

 

Snodgrass, Mary Ellen.   Who's Who in the Middle Ages.   London: Mcfarland and Co.   2001.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)              CT114 .S56 2001

 

Another volume of the Who's Who series.   The content of this work is arranged alphabetically by a person's name.   The front matter and table of contents is rather brief.   Entries average between 1/3 of a column to a full column.   However, it is the rear matter of this work that is outstanding: there are some truly unique and useful charts found here.   It has a chronology of events, including rulers (kings, emperors, popes, etc.) and their dates.    There is also a very nice chart showing the division of rulers into categories, countries, etc. in chronological order.   This chart is much easier for the average person to follow (compared to the previous one).   What makes this particular volume unique is it contains charts of medieval colleges and universities and their funding.   It also has a listing of the major monasteries, abbeys, and convents with their founding dates.   There is even a listing of individuals by occupations (i.e. artists, biographers, etc.).   Next, the work contains a large bibliography (including web addresses).   Finally, the rear index is good and is searchable by person, subject, battles, literary works, etc.

 

See also: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

 

 

Stephan, Sir Leslie and Sir Sidney Lee. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 24 Vol. London, Oxford University Press, 1937-39.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)        DA28 .D48

 

Online Access: Use the database locator to find and type in oxf

 

Excerpt take from the UF Libraries Catalog: "50,000 specially-written signed biographies of the men and women who shaped all aspects of the British past, from the earliest times to the end of the year 2000."

 

 

Strayer, Joseph ed.   Dictionary of the Middle Ages.   13 vol.   New York: Scribner.   1982.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)                          D114 .D5 1982                   

 

This text is another standard reference tool and should be one of the first works consulted to gain background information regarding all kinds of medieval topics.   It is an excellent source of information on the Middle Ages for both lay person and student alike.   It covers the time period from about 500 A.D. to 1500 A.D., which are the standard dates for the Middle Ages.   It is arranged alphabetically primarily by subject or author.   Articles vary considerably in length from one to ten pages.   Each article is signed by the author and includes a bibliography.   The volume boasts that there are over 100,000 people, places, and concepts in this work!   Volume 13 is a separate index searchable by the standard author, title, and subject categories.   It also offers superior cross-references and blind entries.

 

 

Jordan, William Chester.   Dictionary of the Middle Ages: Supplement 1.   Charles Scribner's Sons.   2004.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)            D114 .D5 1982

 

This supplement expands upon topics that were either not addressed, were not covered in sufficient depth, or are in need of updating in light of new scholarship.   Major subject areas covered include history, literature, the arts, philosophy, law, and religion.   Previous sections on Scandanavia, Byzantium, Islam, Judaism, and the Slavic worlds have been enhanced and expanded.   A total of 320 additional topics have been added in the following areas:

 

•  Women and gender issues (childbirth, gender, gynecology, queenship, sexuality , women, etc.)

•  Social issues (horsemanship, hygiene, pornography, race, rape)

•  Jewish & Islamic hagiography (to complement the Christian hagiography section)

•  New biographies (i.e. Catherine of Siena, William Wallace).

 

100 illustrations and maps have also been added to the text.   The supplement contains updated bibliographies that students will find particularly useful.

 

 

Turner, Jane.   The Dictionary of Art.   34 Vol.   New York: Grove's Dictionaries.   1996.
UF
Architecture & Fine Arts Library Reference (Non-Circulating)                                N31 .D5 1996

Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating)             N31 .D5 1996

 

Also available Online--See the listing for databases in the Art section (listed under the title of Grove Art)

 

The Grove is the best and most comprehensive art resource.   Although this chosen work is focused on the appropriate time period, the complete series is 34 volumes in length.

 

            See also:

Turner, Jane.   The Grove Dictionary of Art.   From Renaissance to Impressionism: Styles and Movements in Western Art 1400-1900.   New York: St. Martin's Press.   2000.
UF
Architecture & Fine Arts Library Reference (Non-Circulating)            N6370 .G76 2000

Turner, Jane.   The Grove Dictionary of Art.   From Rembrandt to Vermeer: 17th-Century Dutch Artists.   New York: St. Martin's Press.   2000.
UF
Architecture & Fine Arts Library Reference (Non-Circulating)            N6946 .G76 2000

 

 

Vauchez, Andre, Dobson, Barrie, and Lapidge, Michael.   Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages.   2 vol.   Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publ.   2000.
UF
Library West, Reference (Non-Circulating), v.1-2                 CB351 .E53 2000 

 

This work is also a pretty standard reference tool for background information on the Middle Ages.   Articles contained within are of average size.   This encyclopedia contains some black and white illustrations throughout the book, as well as a nice color map of medieval countries on the front and back cover.   Volume two contains a good sized and well organized index searchable by person, battle, geographic location (which is a nice bonus), and Latin phrases (a very nice feature for scholars).

 

 

 

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