Reference sources are fantastic places to begin your research, especially if you are exploring a new topic, or a subject area that you know very little about. Reference sources can help you to:

• Define your topic in general terms
• Find background information, including themes and key points
• Identify keywords and alternative terms for conceptualizing your subject, and for database searching   

The titles which appear below are a selection of both print and online material. The online reference sources are all frequently updated, searchable, and contain substantial entries written by world class historians and other experts.