Evolving Status of Blacks in the Twentieth Century : Interdisciplinary Perspectives
AAAS 100

1) Identify and develop your topic

• Look at your syllabus for topical ideas
• Try These First (from the Libraries' "Find Articles and Databases" list)
• Use Bibliographies to locate information in books, journals, magazines, newspapers, etc. on a topic
• Browse subject guide(s) that cover the subject area or discipline of your topic
• Discuss your topic with instructor or librarian

a. Your topic

b. Main concepts or keywords, synonyms, and related terms

2) Use identified keywords, synonyms and related terms in the CAT (Penn State Libraries' online catalog) to find encyclopedias and other reference materials, general books, videos, etc..

Go to "Advanced Search" in the CAT — Enter your keyword(s) — Limit your search to format, year, library, etc. Note: Cite at least two books published by a University Press (required by instructor).

Encyclopedias, Dictionaries and Other Reference Works in print and online (provide background information and overviews of topics — a good starting point for your topic)

• Gale Virtual Reference Library (available through the Libraries' Databases by Title (A-Z List))
• Oxford African American Studies Center (available through the Libraries' Databases by Title (A-Z List)
• American National Biography (available through the Libraries' Databases by Title (A-Z List)
• American Women Civil Rights Activists : Biobibliographies of 68 Leaders, 1825-1992 (print)
• The African American Encyclopedia (print)
• Encyclopedia of African-American Civil Rights : from Emancipation to the Present (print)
• Historical dictionary of the civil rights movement (print)

4) Indexes and Databases (available through the Libraries' Databases by Title (A-Z List)):

• Sociological Abstracts
• America : History and Life
• Sage Race Relations Abstracts
• JSTOR
• American National Biography
• International Index to Black Periodicals (Full-Text)
• Project MUSE

Polling Databases

• Gallup Brain
• iPoll
• National Journal (Poll Track)
• Odum Institute Public Opinion Poll Question Database
• Polling the Nations

5) Statistics

• LexisNexis Statistical (available through the Libraries' Databases by Title (A-Z List)
• Social Sciences Statistics and Data (Social Sciences Library Web page)
• Statitsical Resources : African Americans (Social Sciences Library Web page)

Note: Contact Stephen Woods, Social Sciences Librarian and subject specialist for statistics for additional help.

6) Government Documents

• Lexis/Nexis Congressional (available through the Libraries' Databases by Title (A-Z List)
• Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (available through the Libraries' Databases by Title (A-Z List)

Note: Contact Stephen Woods, Social Sciences Librarian and subject specialist for Government for additional help.

7) Selected Web Resources

• African-American in the Twentieth Century (B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library, Long Island University)
• Civil Rights Organizations
• African American Studies Collection (Social Sciences Library Web pages)
• Ethnic and Race Relations Reference Resources (Social Sciences Library)