Folklore Resources: Finding Background Information: Reference Materials

Reference books (both in print and electronic versions) include dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, directories, manuals, handbooks, and much more. Reference books can help you to:

• Explore a topic: find out what has been said about this subject, trends, issues, etc.
• Identify unfamiliar terms or people in your reading
• Find references to other books and articles on the subject
• Find specific keywords to use in online searches

• Oxford Reference Online
  Contains online versions of dictionaries and encyclopedias previously published in paper by Oxford University Press. Titles within the Mythology and Folklore unit include: A DICTIONARY OF AFRICAN MYTHOLOGY; A DICTIONARY OF ASIAN MYTHOLOGY; A DICTIONARY OF CELTIC MYTHOLOGY; A DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH FOLKLORE; THE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF PHRASE AND FABLE; A DICTIONARY OF SUPERSTITIONS; A DICTIONARY OF WORLD MYTHOLOGY; and THE OXFORD COMPANION TO WORLD MYTHOLOGY.

• Oxford English Dictionary Online
  The Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past.

• Folklore : an encyclopedia of beliefs, customs, tales, music, and art
  
  
• Motif-index of folk-literature; a classification of narrative elements in folktales, ballads, myths, fables, mediaeval romances, exempla, fabliaux, jest-books, and local legends
  
  The paper version of this is actually in the stacks. There IS an online version, available ONLY ON Reference PC-3, but is not easy to use and often requires use of an accompanying guide book.
  
  
• The Penguin dictionary of American folklore
  
  
• Funk & Wagnalls standard dictionary of folklore, mythology, and legend
  
  
• Encyclopedia of folklore and literature
  
  
• Medieval folklore : an encyclopedia of myths, legends, tales, beliefs, and customs
  
  
• Encyclopedia of American folklife

• Mythology : a visual encyclopedia
  
  
• Larousse world mythology
  
  
• Dictionary of northern mythology
  
  
• The woman's encyclopedia of myths and secrets

• See "Getting Started" page on Religion

• Encyclopedia of religion

            15 volume set.

For quick look-ups, and overviews that contain citations for other resources.

• Encyclopedia of American History (Facts on File)
  A guide to the most important individuals, events, and topics in U.S. history.
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• Encyclopedia of American Cultural and Intellectual History
  Contains thorough entries on all aspects of American thought and expression throughout history.
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• Encyclopedia of American Social History
  This 3-volume set covers all aspects of social history such as family life, work life and labor, education, and more.
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