Stephanie Bartz
Reference/Government Publications Librarian
sbartz@rci.rutgers.edu
March 13, 2009

Research Resources: Electronic Reference Sources:
Encyclopedias: Arts and Humanities: Page 3

Page 1	Page 2	Page 3 (This page)
African Studies Art & Art History Cinema, Film & Television Classics East Asian Studies English Language and Literature French Language and Literature General Arts and Humanities German Language and Literature	History History - British Isles History - North America Italian Language and Literature Jazz Jewish Studies Latin America, Caribbean, Spanish & Portuguese Studies Latino Studies	Linguistics Literature in General Medieval Studies Middle Eastern Studies Music Philosophy Religion South Asian Studies Theater and Dance Women's and Gender Studies
See also: Biography Dictionaries Encyclopedias: General and Multidisciplinary Encyclopedias: Business Encyclopedias: Health Sciences Encyclopedias: Law Encyclopedias: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Encyclopedias: Social Sciences

Linguistics

Encyclopedia of Bilingual Education [Rutgers Restricted]
Explores the "subject from multiple perspectives: its history, policy, classroom practice, instructional design, and research bases. Shows connections between bilingual education and related subjects, such as linguistics, education equity issues, socio-cultural diversity, and the nature of demographic change in the United States. Documents the history of bilingual education in the last half of the 20th century and summarizes its roots in earlier periods. Discusses important legislation and litigation documents" Electronic version of the 2 volumes print resource.

Literature in General

Age of Fable: or Beauties of Mythology
The complete text of Bulfinch's 1913 guide to Greek, Roman, Norse and other mythologies, also including tales of King Arthur and legends of Charlemagne.

Encyclopedia Mythica
A searchable or browseable encyclopedia on world mythology, folklore, and legend.

Encyclopedia of Literature [Rutgers Restricted]
Part of Gale's Literature Resource Center, this site offers a searchable encyclopedia of authors; works; literary landmarks; literary and critical terms; mythological and folkloric figures; fictional characters; literary movements; prizes; etc.

Encyclopedia of the Novel [Rutgers Restricted]
Part of the Literature Online database, the Encyclopedia covers classic novels and great novel writers, types of novels, technical and formal aspects of novels, as well as criticism, theory, and influences.

Myth Encyclopedia
Covers myths and legends from around the world, encompassing North and South America, Africa and Asia, and the Pacific islands, with links between related articles. Based on the Thomson Gale print publication, Myths and Legends of the World.

New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics [Rutgers Restricted]
Part of the Literature Online database, the Encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference work dealing with all aspects of its subject: history, types, movements, prosody, and critical terminology.

Reference Guide to Holocaust Literature [Rutgers Restricted]
"Provides biographical and critical essays on 223 writers connected to or concerned with the Holocaust, as well as separate essays on 307 of their works."

Reference Guide to World Literature [Rutgers Restricted]
"Contains biographical and critical essays on authors from throughout the world, as well as essays covering specific work or works of an author, with criticism and analysis of those works." Electronic version of the 2 volume 3rd edition of the print resource.

UXL Graphic Novelists [Rutgers Restricted]
"Introduces researchers to the authors and illustrators behind these works, taking care to define and explore the distinction between comic books and graphic novels." Electronic version of the 3 volume print resource.

Medieval Studies

Ancient Europe - 8000 BC to 1000 AD: An Encyclopedia of the Barbarian World [Rutgers Restricted]
"Explores the many peoples of early European civilizations responsible for such accomplishments as the rise of farming in the Neolithic era and the building of Stonehenge. Coverage expands from prehistoric origins through the early Middle Ages (8000 BC to AD 1000) when tribal movements helped define the end of ancient culture and the rise of the modern European world." An electronic version of the 2 volume print resource.

Encyclopedia of World History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern
Comprehensive chronology of more than 20,000 entries that span the millennia from prehistoric times to the year 2000.

Europa Sacra [Rutgers Restricted]
Part of the BREPOLiS collection of encyclopaedic works, the resource provides a comprehensive directory of Church prelates in the Middle Ages. Select "Enter databases" to begin.

History in Dispute [Rutgers Restricted]
"Addresses heavily debated questions by offering different critical perspectives on major historical events, drawn from all time periods and from all parts of the globe."

Volume 10: The Crusades - 1095-1291

Lexikon des Mittelalters & International Encyclopaedia for the Middle Ages [Rutgers Restricted]
Part of the BREPOLiS collection of encyclopaedic works, the Lexikon is an electronic version of the print resource covering "all aspects of medieval studies within the period 300 to 1500. Its geographical scope covers the whole of Europe, part of the Middle East, and parts of North Africa." . The International Encyclopaedia complements and fills in gaps in the coverage of the Lexikon. Select "Enter databases" to begin.

Middle Ages Reference Library [Rutgers Restricted]
"Explores the complex period of the Middle Ages, covering the different civilizations and peoples of Medieval times. It also includes biographical essays on significant individuals from the period and an insightful collection of full or excerpted texts from the era." Electronic version of the 5 volume print resource.

Middle Eastern Studies

Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film [Rutgers Restricted]
Covers countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa including the former Soviet republics, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, The Maghreb, Palestine, and Turkey. Content includes history and major issues, biographical information on leading directors and actors, filmographies, and related information.

Country Studies: Area Handbook Series
Searchable versions of the Handbooks published by the Library of Congress and sponsored by the Department of the Army. Most books in the series deal with a particular foreign country, describing and analyzing its political; economic; social; and national security systems and institutions, and examining the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they're shaped by cultural factors.

Dictionary of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict [Rutgers Restricted]
"Covers the history of the conflict, going back to the birth of Zionism at the end of the 19th century. The two-volume set covers five Arab-Israeli wars, and provides biographies of political personnel in Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and the occupied territories."

Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa [Rutgers Restricted]
"Covers the modern history of the Middle East and North Africa, with major sections on Colonialism and Imperialism, the World Wars, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the United Nations' involvement in the region. Each country in the region is reviewed, detailing its population, economy, and government." Electronic version of the 4 volume 2nd edition of the print resource.

Garland Encyclopedia of World Music Online [Rutgers Restricted]
Includes regional overviews, with surveys of musical heritage, traditions and themes, as well as descriptions of specific musical genres, practices, and performances. Electronic version of the 10 volume print resource.

LookLex / Encyclopaedia
Formerly the Encyclopaedia of the Orient, the site provides extensive information on North Africa and the Middle East accessible via an alphabetical index or a search interface.

World Factbook
From the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, the Factbook includes maps and detailed information on the geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for countries worldwide.

Music

Baker's Student Encyclopedia of Music
Brief entries on musical terminology, instruments, composers, performers, and related topics.

Grove Music Online [Rutgers Restricted]
Browse alphabetically or search for articles on all aspects of music, including biographies of musicians. Bibliographic citations and related links are also searchable.

Museum of Broadcast Communications Encyclopedia of Radio [Rutgers Restricted]
Electronic version of the 3 volume encyclopedia. International in scope, it spans the history of radio in major countries and regions throughout the world, tracing radio's role in the development of journalism, advertising, entertainment, propaganda, popular music, and much more.

Musicals101.com: The Cyber Encyclopedia of Musical Theatre, TV and Film
Includes histories, bibliographies, chronologies, reviews, photo galleries, brief biographical sketches, script samples, and more, with a search option and a site map.

Musipedia: the Open Music Encyclopedia
A searchable, editable, and expandable collection of tunes, melodies, and musical themes. In order to make the encyclopedia searchable by melody entries may contain a bit of sheet music, a MIDI file, textual information about the work and the composer, and the Parsons Code, a rough description of the melodic contour.

Philosophy

Dictionary of the History of Ideas
Covers "a varied array of selected pivotal topics in intellectual history and of methods of writing about such topics" and "recounts the historical development of such ideas across a range of disciplines, including philosophy, religion, politics, literature, and the biological, physical, and social sciences."

Encyclopedia of Bioethics [Rutgers Restricted]
Electronic version of the 5 volume 3rd edition "covering a wealth of topics on the ethics of health professions, animal research, population control and the environment, the set helps researchers to consider the impact of new scientific knowledge and its potential to harm or benefit present and future generations."

Encyclopedia of Business Ethics and Society [Rutgers Restricted]
"Spans the relationships among business, ethics, and society by including more than 800 entries that feature broad coverage of corporate social responsibility, the obligation of companies to various stakeholder groups, the contribution of business to society and culture, and the relationship between organizations and the quality of the environment."

Encyclopedia of Philosophy [Rutgers Restricted]
An electronic version of the 10 volume 2nd edition covering all aspects of philosophy.

Encyclopedia of Stem Cell Research [Rutgers Restricted]
"Provides a clear understanding of the basic concepts in stem cell biology and addresses the politics, ethics, and challenges currently facing the field."

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
A browseable collection of articles from a scholars and other sources.

Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying [Rutgers Restricted]
Covers all aspects of death and dying -- biological, medical, social, sociological, psychological, religious, and philosophical. A freely accessible version of this 2 volume set is also available.

Medicine - Health - and Bioethics: Essential Primary Sources [Rutgers Restricted]
Covers the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries with "full or excerpted documents---speeches, legislation, magazine and newspaper articles, essays, memoirs, letters, interviews, novels, songs, and works of art---as well as overview information that places each document in context."

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Billed as "the first dynamic encyclopedia," this refereed resource includes a table of contents and is searchable by keyword or phrase. New entries and updates to existing entries are added on a continuing basis by a select group of experts in the field.

Religion

Catholic Encyclopedia
Transcribed versions of the articles from the 1913 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Encyclopaedia Judaica [Rutgers Restricted]
An electronic version of the 2007 edition of the 22 volume work on Judaism. The encyclopedia features more than 21,000 entries on Jewish life, culture, history, and religion, written by Israeli, American and European subject specialists.

Encyclopedia of Buddhism [Rutgers Restricted]
"Describes the Buddhist world view, basic teachings and practices of Buddhism, as well as its different schools and sects. In addition to containing entries on Buddhist scriptures, art, architecture, divinities, monastic orders, festivals, rites and ceremonies, this 2 volume set explores the history of Buddhism, the different forms it has taken in different parts of the world, and how Buddhism has blended with other religions like Shinto, Confucianism, Daoism, Islam, and Christianity."

Encyclopedia of Hinduism [Rutgers Restricted]
Includes short articles on all aspects of Hinduism with suggestions for further reading. Part of the Encyclopedia of Religion series.

Encyclopedia of India [Rutgers Restricted]
"A four volume survey of the history, cultures, geography and religions of India from ancient times to the present day. Includes more than 600 entries, arranged alphabetically."

Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World [Rutgers Restricted]
"Looks at Islam's role in the modern world, doing so in context of the religion's history and development over the last 13 centuries. Contains thematic articles, biographies of key figures, definitions, illustrations, maps and more." Electronic version of the 2 volume print resource.

Encyclopedia of Religion [Rutgers Restricted]
"Presents a cross-cultural approach that emphasizes religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture." An electronic version of the 15 volume 2nd edition.

Encyclopedia of Religion and Society
Attempts to bring together in a single-volume compendium a state-of-the-art summary of the insights gained by the principal social sciences of religion: anthropology, psychology, and sociology. Although more heavily oriented toward North America, the scope is global, and an effort has been made to address the major traditions of world religious experience.

Encyclopedia of Religious and Spiritual Development [Rutgers Restricted]
Focuses "on the developmental process of religion and spirituality across the human life span." Key themes include: leading religious and spiritual figures; traditions; texts; places, religious and spiritual; practices, religious and spiritual concepts; religious and spiritual theory; supports/contexts; nature; health; art; and organizations.

Encyclopedia of Science and Religion [Rutgers Restricted]
"Addresses the interactions, contradictions, and tensions between science and religion, both historically and in contemporary life. The set examines technologies like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and continuing developments in neurophysiology against the backdrop of deeply-held religious beliefs. In addition, phenomena such as the Church of Scientology are also studied, along with more traditional issues, such as the origins of life, the nature of sin, and the philosophy of science and religion." An electronic version of the 2 volume resource.

Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an [Rutgers Restricted]
Articles on qur'anic terms, concepts, personalities, place names, cultural history and related material, with longer essays on the most important themes and subjects within qur'anic studies.

Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America [Rutgers Restricted]
"Contains 8,000 to 12,000 word essays on specific culture groups in the United States, emphasizing religions, holidays, customs, and languages in addition to providing information on historical background and settlement patterns. Also covers ethnoreligious groups such as Jews, Chaldeans, and Amish. Each essay lists organizations and research centers; name, address, and contact information for periodicals, radio, and television stations; and a further readings section." Electronic version of the 6 volume 2nd edition of the print resource.

Jewish Encyclopedia
Electronic version of the 12 volume encyclopedia originally published in the early 1900s.

New Catholic Encyclopedia [Rutgers Restricted]
Articles on persons and subjects related to Catholicism and the humanities, including topics such as abortion, divorce, cloning, and reproductive technologies. Also features biographies of contemporary religious figures, photos, maps, and illustrations. The supplement is the Jubilee Volume focusing "on the pontificate of John Paul II and includes thematic essays that present the man and his work."

South Asian Studies

Encyclopedia of Modern Asia [Rutgers Restricted]
"Historical articles emphasize people, places, events, and developments that have had a lasting influence on Asia. Articles also cover Asian relations with Western nations, the relations between nations within Asia, and also the flow of people, goods, and ideas within Asia and globally." Electronic version of the 6 volume print resource.

Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: a Political, Social, and Military History [Rutgers Restricted]
Articles of varying lengths on all aspects of the Vietnam war, with a chronology, document texts, and related information. Each article includes a list of references and linked cross-references to related topics.

Theater and Dance

Women's and Gender Studies

American Masculinities: A Historical Encyclopedia [Rutgers Restricted]
More than 250 entries on developments in the growing field of men�s studies including topics such as: arts, literature, and popular culture; body, health, and sexuality; class, ethnic, racial, and religious identities; concepts and theories; family and fatherhood; general history; icons and symbols; leisure and work; movements and organizations; people; and political and social issues.

American Women Writers: A Critical Reference Guide from Colonial Times to the Present [Rutgers Restricted]
An electronic version of the 4 volume resource containing "biographical and critical essays on 1,328 American women writers covering all genres and all periods of American history."

Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion [Rutgers Restricted]
" A three volume survey of clothing, costume and fashion, presented through 640 essays, arranged alphabetically. Coverage includes the origins of clothing and body adornment, the development of fabrics and technologies, and the social meanings of dress, as well as representative costumes from a wide range of historical eras."

Encyclopedia of Gender and Information Technology [Rutgers Restricted]
Searchable version of the 2 volume encyclopedia covering key issues, terms, and concepts and including full text articles in PDF format.

Encyclopedia of Immigration and Migration in the American West [Rutgers Restricted]
Examines the settlement of the American West including "coverage of movements of American Indians, African Americans, and the often-forgotten role of women in the West�s development." Electronic version of the 2 volume print resource.

Encyclopedia of Lesbian - Gay - Bisexual and Transgender History in America [Rutgers Restricted]
"Provides a comprehensive survey of lesbian and gay history and culture in the United States. Includes approximately 545 articles ranging from short biographical entries to longer essays surveying topics such as the Stonewall riots, federal law and policy, same sex institutions, and AIDS." Electronic version of the 3 volume print resource.

Encyclopedia of Women in the American West [Rutgers Restricted]
"Captures the lives of more than 150 women who made their mark from the mid-1800s to the present, contextualizing their experiences and contributions to American society." The encyclopedia "covers nine diverse topical categories: agriculture/ranching, arts and letters, education, entrepreneurs, law, pioneers, public performance, religion, and women's organizations."

Encyclopedia of Women Social Reformers [Rutgers Restricted]
Articles on women reformers from the French Revolution to the second wave of feminism in the 1970s, with a few important contemporary figures.

Fashion - Costume - and Culture: Clothing - Headwear - Body Decorations - and Footwear through the Ages [Rutgers Restricted]
Electronic version of the 5 volume print resource providing "a broad overview of costume traditions of diverse cultures from prehistoric times to the present day. Examines more than 430 items of human decoration and adornment, ranging from togas to turbans, necklaces to tennis shoes. Explores how and why items were created, the people who made them, and their uses. This set shows how clothing, headwear, body decorations, and footwear reflect the different cultural, religious, and societal beliefs."

Feminism in Literature: A Gale Critical Companion [Rutgers Restricted]
"This six-volume set explores the history of women and feminism throughout literature, from classical antiquity to modern times. Topics covered include misogyny and women's social roles in ancient civilizations, 16th-century women's devotional literature, 17th- and 18th-century women's captivity narratives, the women's suffrage movement in 19th-century America, women writers of the "Lost Generation," lesbian literature, and much more."

Gender Issues and Sexuality: Essential Primary Sources [Rutgers Restricted]
Covers the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries with "full or excerpted documents---speeches, legislation, magazine and newspaper articles, essays, memoirs, letters, interviews, novels, songs, and works of art---as well as overview information that places each document in context."

glbtq: an encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer culture
Search by keyword, or browse the alphabetical subject guide or popular topics listing in one of the thematic sections.

Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia
"Embraces the whole Jewish world and all of Jewish culture from the Hebrew Bible to the present." Includes the text from the original CD-ROM resource plus some images. Articles will be added and updated over time.