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African History

Table of Contents

Research Databases & Resources
Finding Books
Guides/Bibliographies
Dictionaries/Encyclopedias
General History
Primary Sources

Colonialism
Chronologies
Historiography
Biographical Sources
Atlases/Gazetteers
Statistical Sources

Research Databases & Resources

From the Carrier Library homepage Research Box, click on the link to Research Databases & Resources. Under the heading, "Research Resources by Subject," note that there are links to both Africana Studies and History. Check these listings to find the most useful databases for research in African History. Remember, however, that history encompasses many areas of endeavor (e.g., Education, Art, Economics), so you may wish to check other subject areas that might cover your area and time period of interest.

Finding Books

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 use 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

Organizations, such as: African National Congress

Ethnic groups, such as: Masai, Hausa

Guides/Bibliographies

Bibliographies may be useful in locating additional information on your topic, and often accompany articles in reference works (as lists of items for further reading).

The American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature. 3rd ed. 2 vols. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.
(Ref D 20 A55 1995).: Standard bibliography to all time periods and areas. Although dated, still an important bibliography for historical research.
Asamani, J. O. Index Africanus. Stanford, CA: Hoover Institution, [1975]. (Ref DT 3 A73 1975).: Contains journal articles published in Western European languages from 1885-1965. Arrangement by country and general 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.
Bibliographic Index. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1937– present.
(Ref Index/Abstracts Tables).: An excellent source for bibliographies, updated semi-annually with annual cumulations. Indexes substantial bibliographies published in monographs and journal articles, covering all subject areas and time periods.
Bibliographic Index Plus Full Text New York: H. W. Wilson, 1982– present.
(Research Databases & Resources): The online edition of the work listed above. Note that indexing does not begin until 1982 in the online edition.
Evalds, Victoria K., comp. Union List of African Censuses, Development Plans and Statistical Abstracts. New York: Zell, 1985.
(Ref HA 4671.5 U54 1985).: Arrangement by country. Advanced scholarship.
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.
Paden, John N., and Soja, Edward W., eds. The African Experience. 3 vol. in 4. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University, 1970.
(DT 14 A37): Volumes 3A and 3B contain exhaustive bibliographies. Volume 3A is arranged topically and by country. Volume 3B is a "Guide to Resources" which has sections on reference sources, journals and newspapers, audiovisual aids, and concludes with a chapter on computers and African bibliographies.
Scheven, Yvette. Bibliographies for African Studies, 1980-1983. New York: K. G. Saur, 1984.
(DT 351 S32 1984).: Annotated bibliography of bibliographies in English and French. Social sciences and humanities literature is arranged in sections by topics and by geographic areas/countries. Advanced researchers. The 1987-1993 volume is shelved at DT 351 S322 1994.
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.
(Su Doc 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 Government Documents at Su Doc 41.12:UN3.Beginning in 1985 the African Section in the Library of Congress's African and Middle East Division began publication of the annual U.S, Imprints in 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. The African Studies Companion: A Resource Guide and Directory. New York: Hans Zell, 1989.
(Ref DT 19.8 Z45 1989): This guide points directions toward a variety of African sources. Among the topical sections are reference sources, journals, major libraries, organizations, etc.

Dictionaries/Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias and dictionaries are useful early in the research process to assist in defining the parameters of one's investigation. Many encyclopedias include brief bibliographies to their subject.


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.
Collins, Robert O. Historical Dictionary of Pre-Colonial Africa. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2001.
(Ref DT 17 C65 2001).: The dictionary portion of the reference work has brief descriptions. A lengthy, and valuable, bibliography completes the work.
Europa World Year Book. London: Europa Publications, 1989- .
(Ref and Stacks, JN 1 E85; also online in Research Databases & Resources): The previous title, Europa Year Book, was published from 1959 to 1988, and bears the same call number. Arranged by country. Each country's entry includes an overview of its history, economic situation,statistics. Europa is the best single source of current information on a given country.
Morrison, Donald G. Black Africa: A Comparative Handbook. 2nd ed. New York: Paragon House, 1989.
(Ref DT 352.8 M67 1989).: A scholarly study of political, social, and economic issues. This work is equally divided between topics and individual countries. Excellent bibliographies.
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.
Page, Willie F. Encyclopedia of African History and Culture. 3 vols. New York: Facts on File, 2001.
(Ref DT 3 P27 2001): Coverage is the ancient world to 1850. Brief entries. Each volume has its own bibliography and index. Illustrated.
Shillington, Kevin, ed. Encyclopedia of African History. 3 vols. New York : Fitzroy Dearborn, 2005.

(Ref DT 20 .E532005).

Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa. 12 vols. [Cape Town]: NASDU, [1970-1976].
(Ref DT 729 S7).

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.

General History

Gailey, Harry A., Jr. History of Africa. 3 vols. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, [1970-1989].
(DT 20 G3).

General history. Extensive bibliographies.
General History of Africa. 8 vols. Berkeley, CA: University of California, 1981-<1985>.
(DT 20 G45 1981).: Sponsored by UNESCO this authoritative history is written by native historians. Oral tradition is emphasized.
Oliver, Roland. The Cambridge History of Africa. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1975-1984. 8 vol.
(DT 20 C28).: Authoritative history with maps, extensive bibliographies and bibliographic essays. Coverage is earliest historical times to 1975.
Oliver, Roland, ed. History of East Africa. 3 vols. Oxford: Clarendon, 1963-1976. 3 vol. (DT 365 H55).: Comprehensive bibliography in each volume. The last volume has a series of statistical tables.

Primary Sources

Examples of published primary sources are listed in this section. Because of the importance of primary sources this is an area the researcher may wish to pursue. Carrier Library also has the New York Times on microfilm from 1851 to date.

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).: Annotated source material. 18th and 19th centuries.
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).: Although the documents are from a French perspective African history and culture are presented.
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).: Documents the British in Africa during the noted years. Useful for its background on African history, culture, and society.
Oliver, Roland, and Oliver, Caroline. Africa in the Days of Exploration. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, [1965].
(DT 7 04).: Descriptions of Black Africa prior to European influence and colonization.
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).: Explorer's description of his adventures to a metropolitan newspaper.
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).: One hundred twenty documents from the early 15 century to the end of the twentieth-century are presented. Each document has a brief commentary to place it within the historical record.

Colonialism

This section lists several titles describing the European colonization of Africa beginning in the 19th century. The bibliography in volume five of Gann's work is a scholarly presentation.

Boahen, A. Adu. African Perspectives on Colonialism . Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University, 1987.
(JV 246 B63 1987).: Current scholarship. Bibliography.
Gann, Lewis H., and Dunignan, Peter. Colonialism in Africa, 1870-1960 . London: Cambridge University, 1969-1975. 5 vol.
(DT 31 G35).: Scholarly presentation. Volume 5 is a comprehensive annotated bibliography in all western languages. Carrier Library lacks volumes 3 and 4.
Hertslet, Edward. The Map of Africa by Treaty; Revised and Completed to the End of 1908... . 3rd ed. London: Cass, 1967. 3 vol.
(JX 1026 1967 H45).: Treaties dealing with the colonization of Africa are printed. Volume 1 contains a chronological list covering 1778 to 1908.
Johnston, Harry H. A history of the Colonization of Africa by Alien Races . New York: Cooper Square, 1966 reprint of the 1930 ed.
(DT 31 J73 1966).: This work contains maps, a chronology and a bibliography.

Chronologies

Three books of chronology are included in this section. Some dictionaries/handbooks, monographs, and general chronology books in the reference collection also include information on African history. A useful title is Langer's book An Encyclopedia of World History;... (listed above in the encyclopedia section).

Diggs, Ellen I. Black Chronology: from 4000 B.C. to the Abolition of the Slave Trade . Boston: G.K. Hall, 1983.
(DT17 D5 1983).: Although a majority of the entries are for Blacks outside Africa it is useful in African history. The final entry is for 1888. Bibliography.
Freeman-Grenville, G.S.P. Chronology of African History. New York: Oxford University, 1973.
(DT 17 F73).: Coverage is from 1300 BC to 1971 AD. Arrangement is by region. One section involves non-African countries and their interactions with Africa.
Smith, Edwin W. Events in African History. New York: Committee on Africa, the War, and Peace Aims, 1942.
(D 754 A34 C6 1942a).: Bound with the Committee's The Atlantic Charter and Africa from an American Standpoint. Coverage is from 4241 BC to 1942 AD. All of the continent is covered.

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Historiography

For the advanced researcher this section enumerates several titles discussing the state of African history. Useful for understanding where current African history scholarship has been and where it is going.

Fage, J.D. Africa Discovers Her Past. London: Oxford University, 1970.
(DT 19 A33).: Twelve essays including discussions on historians and West Africa and documentary sources for African history.
International African Seminar (4th, 1961, Dakar, Senegal). The Historian in Tropical Africa; Studies Presented and Discussed. London: Published for the International African Institute by the Oxford University Press, 1964.
(DT 19 I55 1961).: Brilliant series of essays with an emphasis on ethnohistory and oral tradition.
Lystand, Robert A., ed. The African World; a Survey of Social Research. New York: Praeger, [1965]. (DT 19.8 L9).: Although becoming dated Lystad's work is till useful in historiographical work. History and prehistory are included in the discussion.
McCall, Daniel F. Africa in Time-Perspective; a Discussion of Historical Reconstruction from Unwritten Sources. New York: Oxford University, [1964].
(D 13 M22 1969).: Scholarly essays. Bibliography.
Miller, Jospeh C., ed. The African Past Speaks: Essays on Oral Tradition and History . Hamden, Conn.: Archon, 1980.
(DT 20 A6195).: Eleven essays. Scholarly.
Neale, Caroline. Writing "Independent" History: African Historiography, 1960-1980 . Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 1985.
(DT 19 N43 1985).: Heavily footnoted discussion.

Biographical Sources

The Lipschutz entry provides the most comprehensive coverage of historical individuals in this section. The Biography Index is useful because it covers all time periods and geographic areas and is continually updated. Newspaper indexes, e.g. New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, and The Times (London) are also useful in biographical research.

An index to biographical material on several million individuals from all time periods. Over 500 biographical sources have been indexed for this database.
Biography Index. New York: H.W. Wilson, 1946- .
July 1984 to present. (In print form, 1946-1984, Ref Index/Abstract Table 4): Useful for its continual updating and because it covers all time periods and geographical areas. Books and journal articles.
Dickie, John. Who's Who in Africa; the Political, Military and Business Leaders of Africa. London: African Development, [1973]. (Ref DT 18 D54).: Arrangement by country.
Dictionary of African Biography. New York: Reference Publications, 1977- .
(Ref DT 18 D55).: Deceased Africans and some Europeans involved in Africa are included. Wide variety of occupations. Only two volumes (of a planned twenty) have been published.
Italiaander, Rolf. The New Leaders of Africa. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, [1961].
(DT 18 I813).: Useful for political leaders of the early 1960's. Illustrated.
Lipschutz, Mark R. Dictionary of African Historical Biography. 2nd ed. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California, 1986.
(Ref DT 352.6 L56 1986).: Coverage begins ca. 11th century. About 850 biographies are included. Entries have citations to an extensive bibliography of sources used.
Melady, Thomas P. Profiles of African Leaders. New York: Macmillan, 1961
(DT 30 M4 1962).: Useful for political leaders flourishing in the early 1960's.
Segal, Robert. Political Africa; a Who's Who of Personalities and Parties. New York: Praeger, [1961].
(Ref DT 18 S4).

Atlases/Gazetteers

Ajayi's atlas offers the best historical coverage of Carrier Library atlases. Both The Harper Atlas of World History and The Times Atlas of world History furnish African coverage in a general world history atlas.

Ajayi, J.F., and Crowder Michael, eds. Historical Atlas of Africa. New York: Cambridge University, 1985.
(Ref G2446 S1 H5 1985).: Thematic atlas with commentary. Prehistoric to the present day. The leading historical atlas of Africa in Carrier Library.
Clark, John D. Atlas of African Prehistory. Chicago: University of Chicago, [1967]. (Ref G 2446 E1 C5 1967).: The format of his atlas is base maps (12) with a series of overlays to denote various ecological information. All are transparencies. A paper supplement introduces the maps and includes a gazetteer to important sites.
France. Institut Geographique National. The Atlas of Africa. New York: Free Press, 1973. (Ref G 2445 F72 1973).: Scholarly atlas offering comprehensive coverage of the continent. An introductory section contains maps and commentary in a topical approach. Historical maps are included. Most of the atlas is arranged by country.
Freemen-Grenville, G.S.P. The New Atlas of African History. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991.
(Ref G 2446 S1 F73 1991).: In 103 maps the African continent is covered from prehistory to 1990. Excellent commentary accompanies each map.
George Philip & Son. Philip's Modern College Atlas for Africa. 9th ed. London: G. Philip, 1968.
(Ref G 1019 P5705 1968).: Designed for students in Africa and countries associated with the British Commonwealth. Although Africa is emphasized it is a world atlas.
Griffiths, Ieuan L. An Atlas of African Affairs. New York: Methuean, 1984.
(G 24455 G7 1984).: Essays with maps. Topical arrangement including historical information. Appendices include a bibliography, statistical tables, chronology of African independence, and a table of states with their capitals, etc.
The Harper Atlas of World History. New York: Harper & Row, 1987.
(Ref G 1030 G68513 1987).: Heavily illustrated atlas, with commentary and chronologies. Contains several sections of African history.
Kasule, Samuel. The History Atlas of Africa. New York: Macmillan, 1998.
(Ref G 2446 S1 K3 1998).: This atlas looks at the full sweep of human history within Africa. A chronology is appended.
Kwamena-Poh, Michael. African History in Maps. New York: Longman, 1982.
(G 2446 S1 A4 1982).: In thirty-six maps, with commentary, this book looks at major events in African history since the 11th century.
McEvedy, Colin. Atlas of African History. New York: Facts on File, 1980.
(Ref G 2446 S1 M3 1980).: Maps with commentary. The initial map represents 175 million years ago.
Murray, Jocelyn, ed. Cultural Atlas of Africa. rev. ed. New York: Checkmark Books, 1998.
(Ref G 2446 E6 C8 1998) .: Heavily illustrated with maps this book has sections by cultural aspects and by nation. Scholarly with bibliographies.
The Times Atlas of World History. 4th ed. Maplewood, N.J.: Distributed by Hammond, 1993. (Ref G 1030 T54 1993).: Currently the best general world history atlas. It attempts to move away from Eurocentrism and present the total world. Illustrated with commentary.

Statistical Sources

An additional source of statistical information for recent years is the Europa Year Book. (See above in the Encyclopedia section).

Mitchell, Brian R. International Historical Statistics: Africa, Asia and Oceana. 2nd rev. ed. New York: Stockton, 1995.
(Ref HA 4675 M55 1995).: Arrangement is topical with individual countries listed under each category. Although tables are as early as 1820 there are few statistics in the earlier years.
Statistics Sources:... Detroit: Gale Research. 1960- . Irregular.
(Ref HA 154 S84).: A reference work listing, by subject, sources of statistical information. Subjects are by country.
United Nations. Statistical Office. Statistical Yearbook. New York: United Nations, 1948- . Annual.
(Ref HA 12.5 U63).: The leading source of statistical information by country since World War II.

Originally compiled by Gordon Miller.
Maintained by Patricia Hardesty, Liaison Librarian for History and Political Science.

Last reviewed: April 2008
© James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA