History
African History
Table of Contents
Use LEO to search for books and media in the JMU libraries; use WorldCat (online in Research Databases & Resources) to extend your search beyond JMU, to find books, media, and other sources that you may be able to borrow through Interlibrary Loan.
The following subject headings are examples useful in searching LEO, or any catalog that uses Library of Congress classification. When you do a keyword search and find a book that looks appropriate to your research, look at the subject words on the catalog record to find other subject words and headings to use in continuing your search.
| Africa |
Africa, Eastern |
| Africa - Antiquities |
Africa, French-speaking Equatorial |
| Africa, Central |
Africa, French-speaking West |
| Africa - Civilization |
Africa - History |
| Africa - Colonization |
Africa, Southern |
| Africa - Description and travel |
Africa, Sub-Saharan |
| Africa - Discovery and exploration |
Africa, West |
| Africa, East |
|
Bibliographies may be useful in locating additional information
on your topic.
- Besterman, Theodore. A World Bibliography of African Bibliographies. Revised by J. D. Pearson. Totowa, NJ: Rowman and Littlefield, 1975.
(Ref DT 3 B47 1975).
- This bibliography of bibliographies is for the advanced researcher. It contains all languages and
time periods. It includes entries from the author's 4th ed (1965-66) plus additional bibliographies
published up to 1975.
- Kalley, Jacqueline A. South Africa Under Apartheid: A Select and Annotated Bibliography. Westport, CO: Meckler, 1989.
(Ref DT 763 K35 1989).
- Over 1100 books and journal articles are listed. Extensive index and annotations.
- McIlwaine, John. Africa: A Guide to Reference Material. New York: Hans Zell, 1993.
(Ref DT 3 M3 1993).
- A guide to sub-Saharan Africa. Reference works, other than bibliographies, are listed. European
languages. Some annotations. Broad subject coverage.
- Witherall, Julian W., comp. The United States and Africa: Guide to U.S. Official
Documents and Government-Sponsored Publications on Africa, 1785-1975. Washington, DC:
Library of Congress, 1978.
(US Gov Docs LC 1.12/2:AF8/2/785-975).
- Comprehensive coverage of United States/African relations. Arrangement is in five chronological
sections subdivided by region or country. A supplement for the years 1976-1980 is in US Government Documents at
LC 41.12:Un3. Beginning in 1985, the African Section in the Library of Congress's African and Middle East Division began publishing the annual U.S. Imprints on Sub-Saharan Africa: A Guide to Publications Cataloged at the Library of Congress.
- Work, Monroe N. A Bibliography of the Negro in Africa and America. New York:
H. W. Wilson, 1928.
(Ref E 185 W67 1928).
- About 250 pages are devoted to Africa. Although dated (it reflects the attitudes/scholarship of
the 1920's) it remains useful for locating information unavailable elsewhere. Topical arrangement.
- Zell, Hans M., ed. The African Studies Companion: A Guide to Information Sources. 4th ed. Lochcarron: Hans Zell, 2006.
(Ref DT 19.8 Z45 2006)
- An excellent guide to a variety of sources, both in print and online, historical and contemporary.
Encyclopedias and dictionaries are useful early in the research process to assist in defining
the research topic. Many encyclopedias include bibliographies at the end of each article.
-
- Historical Dictionaries of Africa (series).
- Carrier Library has a number of these dictionaries.
Do a title search in LEO to see if Carrier has a volume on your country of interest. Titles follow the pattern, Historical Dictionary of [Country], e.g., Historical Dictionary of Ghana. Chronologies, maps, lists of rulers,
and a bibliography are included in most volumes. NOTE: Call numbers vary.
- Appiah, Kwame Anthony, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., eds. Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African & African American Experience. 2nd ed. 5 vols. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
(Ref DT 14 .A37435 2005)
- Use the Table of Contents or Index to find entries. Entries include countries (with separate sections on "Ready Reference"), ethnic groups, individuals, movements, publications. Illustrated. General bibliography in v. 5.
- Oliver, Roland, and Crowder, Michael, eds. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Africa. New
York: Cambridge University Press, 1981.
(Ref DT 3 C35 1981).
- This illustrated encyclopedia also contains maps and bibliographies. Arrangement is by the
physical continent, historical past, contemporary Africa, and Africa- world relations.
- Shillington, Kevin, ed. Encyclopedia of African History. 3 vols. New York : Fitzroy Dearborn, 2005.
(Ref DT 20 .E53 2005).
- Scholarly, comprehensive and up-to-date.
- Stewart, John. African States and Rulers. 2nd ed. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 1999.
(Ref DT 31 S7859 1999).
- This book offers an extensive look both current and historical at African countries. The main
portion of the book is arranged alphabetically and lists briefly the name, location, history, and
kings and rulers of the country or kingdom. Additional sections include a chronology of events, modern
countries with their historical names and locations, holdings of earlier colonial powers, dates of
admission into the United Nations, a bibliography, index of places and persons, and an index of
rulers.
- Vogel, Joseph O., ed. Encyclopedia of Precolonial Africa: Archaeology, History, Languages,
Cultures, and Environments. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira, 1997.
(Ref DT 2 E53 1997).
- This encyclopedia uses figures and tables in its scholarly presentation of aspects of African
culture and history prior to colonization.
- Curtin, Phillip D., ed. Africa Remembered, Narratives by West Africans from the Era of
the Slave Trade. Madison, Wisc.: University of Wisconsin, 1967.
(DT 471 C8).
- Freeman-Grenville, G. S. P., comp. The East African Coast; Select Documents from the
First to the Earlier Nineteenth Century. Oxford: Clarendon, 1962.
(DT 365 F7).
- Hargreaves, John D. France and West Africa: an Anthology of Historical Documents
. New York: St. Martin's [1969].
(DT 534 H3).
- Lynch, Hollis, ed. Black Africa. New York: New York Times, 1973.
(DT 352.5 B55).
- Reprint of the major New York Times articles on Africa from the 1870's to the early
1970's. Illustrated.
- Newbury, Colin W. British Policy Towards West Africa; Select Documents, 1786-1874
. Oxford: Clarendon, 1965.
(DT 494 N4).
- Oliver, Roland, and Oliver, Caroline. Africa in the Days of Exploration.
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, [1965].
(DT 7 04).
- Speke, John H. Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile. New York: Greenwood, [1969].
(DT 117 S74 1969).
- Stanley, Henry M. Stanley's Despatches to the New York Herald, 1871-1872, 1874-1877
. [Boston]: Boston University, 1970.
(DT 351 S8).
- Worger, William H. Africa and the West: A Documentary History from the Slave Trade to
Independence. Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press, 2001.
(Ref DT 353.5 E9 A34 2001).
Originally compiled by Gordon Miller.
Maintained by Patricia Hardesty, Liaison Librarian for History and Political Science.
