Getting started on your search

• Search for Native American, Amerindian, Indian, First Peoples or indigenous as keywords
• Search by the name of a particular tribe or cultural group (e.g., Hopi or Shoshoni)
• Combine a tribal name with a topical word (e.g., Hopi mythology)
• Browse the subject Indians of North America in the library catalog

Before you start your search, try to compile a list of potential keywords. This is always a good idea, but it is especially useful for conducting searches in a new and interdisciplinary field, such as Native American Studies. A good first place to start is to identify possible culture group names for your search, using an ethnonym index.

Indians of North America Religion

• To limit your search to a specific tribe, replace the phrase "Indians of North America" with the tribe or groups name, plus Indians. For example, Cherokee Indians Religion and Hopi Indians Religion are subject headings in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign library catalog.

Indians of North America [State or Region] Religion

• If you are looking for a specific event or ceremony, use the name of that event. For example, you can search for Native American Church under subject.
• For best results, try an advanced keyword search using the terms Religion or Mythology or Ceremony (as appropriate) combined with any or all of the following keywords, : Native American, Amerindian, Indian, First Peoples, Indigenous.

Since the University Library is split into several departmental libraries, the items you may be looking for could be held in different places. Use the different tabs in this guide for help finding different types of material; if you need further help, please do not hesitate to contact us via email, instant messenger, or in person. 

This page shows a few of the libraries that may have the resources you are looking for. A complete list of the departmental libraries is available online.

History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library

• 246 Library, (217) 333-1509; hours
• Primary holdings for religious studies and for Native American history

Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library

• 100 Library, (217) 333-2305; hours
• Strong collections in anthropological and sociological aspects of Native Americans and religion.
• See especially their guide to Resources in American Indian Studies.

Government Information Services, Access, and Collections

• 450F Library, (217) 244-4621; hours
• Government Documents Library -- Native American Resources is a great starting place for finding resources provided by various levels of government, including treaties, legislation, census information and more general resources. Links are provided to tribal government home pages and organizations. NOTE: Most government documents holdings are kept in the Main Stacks, Government Documents section.

Law Library

• 142 Law Building, (217) 333-2915; hours
• Law Reviews, books, and journals relating to United States law and legal issues surrounding indigenous religion and spirituality.

University Archives

• 146 Library, (217) 333-0798; hours
• Useful collections in the Archives include the: Doris Duke Indian Oral History Program Archives, the Julian H. Steward Papers, 1842-1976 and the Joseph B. Casagrande Papers 1938-82.