Reference Materials
Why Reference Sources?
Is your research topic too big to cover in a short paper? Is your topic so specific that sources will be hard to find?
Before you even begin your research, start the process with reference sources-- in the Library's Reference Section or online in our databases. Reference books, like subject encyclopedias, can give you a head start and make your research easier in the long run. Use reference sources to:
- find a topic
- narrow your topic
- find keywords
- get background information on your topic
MOST IMPORTANT: Encyclopedia of Political Science
Collections of Many Online Reference Books in one place:
Credo Reference and Gale eBooks / Gale Virtual Reference Library and Salem Press
Oxford Reference and Sage Knowledge Reference also have thousands of scholarly, academic articles, but they are a bit more difficult to use. Click here to find instructions on how to use these collections of reference books.
Allsides Red Blue Dictionary
American Citizenship: Defining Documents. Reference JK 1759 .A 647 2021
American Governance
Church and State: Opinions Throughout History. Reference BR 516 .I 885 2022
Culture Wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices
Dictionary of Alternatives: Utopianism and Organization
Dictionary of Politics and Government
Dissent and Protest: Defining Documents in American History. General HM 881 .D 57 2017
Encyclopaedia Britannica Online
Encyclopedia of American Government and Civics
Encyclopedia of American Religion and Politics
Encyclopedia of Democracy. Reference JC 423 .E 53 1995
Encyclopedia of Federal Agencies and Commissions
Encyclopedia of Governance
Encyclopedia of Libertarianism. Reference JC 585 .E 53 2008
Encyclopedia of Nationalism also Reference JC 311 .E 63 2001
Encyclopedia of Political Communication
Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion. Reference BL 65 .P7 E 53 2007
Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and the Right.
Encyclopedia of Politics, the Media, and Popular Culture
Encyclopedia of Public Choice
Encyclopedia of the United States Congress
Encyclopedia of the U.S. Presidency
A Glossary of Political Economy Terms
Humanitarianism: Keywords
International Encyclopedia of Political Science
Legislating Morality in America : Debating the Morality of Controversial U.S. Laws and Policies.
LGBTQ Americans in the U.S. Political System: An Encyclopedia of Activists, Voters, Candidates, and Officeholders
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in Contemporary Politics, Law, and Social Movements
The Oxford Encyclopedia of LGBT Politics and Policy
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Political Decision Making
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion
The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Politics.
The Oxford Handbook of Freedom. General B 824.4 .O 94 2018
Patriotism: Critical Insights to Literature. General PN 56 .P 34 P 38 2021
Polling America: An Encyclopedia of Public Opinion
Politics and Politicians: Working Americans, 1880-2018. General HD 8066 .D 47 vol.15
The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History
Religion and Contemporary Politics: A Global Encyclopedia
SAGE Encyclopedia of Political Behavior.
Statistical Abstract of the United States. Latest print editions at Ready Reference. Older editions at General HA 202 .U 5 S 93.
Talking Conflict : The Loaded Language of Genocide, Political Violence, Terrorism, and Warfare.
Working Americans: Politics and Politicians, 1880 - 2018. General HD 8066 .D 47 vol.15
