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Basic Historical Information

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries are good places to look if you want to know what happened when, or if you need brief information on a topic.  The provide overviews of historical topics, refer you to key articles and books, and supply important names, dates, and terms for additional research.

LOOKING FOR MORE???  Try a search in the CAT, using the keywords "dictionary" or "encyclopedia" and your topic words.  For example, "Civil War and encyclopedia",   "Renaissance and encyclopedia",  "dictionary and Russian history".   Most encyclopedia and dictionaries are written on broad topics like wars or historical eras, so try to make your search as broad as possible.  

You might also consult the work Reference Sources in History: An Introductory Guide.  Call # D20.F75 2004,  Arts and Humanities Library, Ready Reference Collection, Pattee 2nd floor

For help or to send comments, email Eric Novotny, Humanities Librarian for History, at ecn1@psu.edu; IM: HistoryLibrarian
last updated: 5/1/08
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