LibGuides: Twentieth-Century U.S. History: Where to start

Subject Specialist Librarians and Archivists

Subject specialist librarians and archivists are eager to assist you with your research, and in most cases can save you a lot of time, especially if you meet with them early in order to plan out your research strategy. Please feel free to contact us directly, via email:

The subject librarian for history is Celestina Savonius-Wroth, cswroth@illinois.edu.
The History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library staff can help with most history-related topics, hpnl@library.illinois.edu.
The subject librarian for Political Science is Cindy Ingold, cingold@illinois.edu.
The subject librarian for Government Information is Sanga Sung, ssung@illinois.edu.

For assistance using the University Archives, contact our archivists at illiarch@illinois.edu.

Please check the list of Subject Specialists to find out who specializes in other areas related to your project.

Background information

Use published reference works like encyclopedias and bibliographies to find background information and suggestions for further reading, offered by acknowledged experts.

In addition to the core reference works listed below, you can find more specific resources in our Online Reference Collection.

Cambridge Histories Online
Over 300 volumes from the Cambridge History of... series. Volumes are full-text searchable. Chapters display as PDF facsimiles of the print originals. Both book level and chapter level citations are easily exportable to Zotero and ten other citation management software tools.

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Provides access to a collection of aggregated and integrated reference books from high-quality publishers.
Oxford Bibliographies Online This link opens in a new window
Offers peer-reviewed annotated bibliographies on specific topics in a growing range of subject areas. There are at least 50 specific topical bibliographies in each subject area. Each of these features an introduction to the topic. Bibliographies are browseable by subject area and keyword searchable. Contains a My OBO function that allows users to create personalized bibliographies of individual citations from different bibliographies.
Oxford Handbooks Online This link opens in a new window
A collection of handbooks across a wide range of subject areas. The series includes articles written by scholars at the top of their fields.
Oxford Reference This link opens in a new window
Oxford Reference Online Premium Collection brings together nearly 200 language and subject reference works in a single cross-searchable resource. Works in the collection include an expanding range of key titles in the acclaimed Oxford Companions series, the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, many English-language and bilingual dictionaries, as well as subject encyclopedias and dictionaries in a wide range of subject areas including: Art & Architecture, Biological Sciences, Classics, Computing, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Economics & Business, Food & Drink, History, Law, Literature, Maps, Medicine, Military History, Mythology & Folklore, Names & Places, Performing Arts, Physical Sciences & Mathematics, Politics & Social Sciences, Quotations, Religion & Philosophy, Science.

Biographical Information

American National Biography This link opens in a new window
Biographical dictionary of notable American men and women from all eras of American history who are no longer alive. Includes illustrations and hypertext links to other web resources.
Biography and Genealogy Master Index This link opens in a new window
Includes over 13.6 million biographical sketches indexed, obtained from approximately 100-150 volumes and editions of 60-90 biographical dictionaries, including new titles as well as new editions of previously indexed sources.
Oxford African American Studies Center This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive collection of scholarship focused on the lives and events which have shaped African American and African history and culture, coupled with precise search and browse capabilities. Features more than 10,000 articles by top scholars in the field, over 1,750 images, more than 300 primary sources with specially written commentaries, nearly 150 maps, 150 charts and tables, and over 6,000 biographies. The core content includes: Africana: the encyclopedia of the African and African American experience, second ed.; Encyclopedia of African American history, 1619-1895; Encyclopedia of African American history, 1896 to the present; Black women in America, second ed.; African American national biography; Dictionary of African biography; The Oxford encyclopedia of African thought.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford DNB) is the national record of men and women who have shaped British history and culture, worldwide, from the Romans to the 21st century. The Dictionary offers concise, up-to-date biographies written by named, specialist authors.
World Biographical Information System This link opens in a new window
Contains biographical profiles of people from all centuries as well as all countries and regions worldwide. Compiles biographical articles from printed reference works published from the 16th to the 20th century, and reproduces these original documents as facsimile images on the screen.