Helen Miller Bailey Library

East Los Angeles College

 

 

Art History Research Guide

 

 

This research guide provides a list of resources and strategies to help you do research for suitable materials for Art History. The resources covered in this guide will include some that are available through the ELAC Library, and others that are available freely on the Internet. This is only a starting point; for more detailed information come to the library and ask for a consultation at the Reference Desk.

 

Your research strategy might include some or all of the following:

 

How do I find an overview or general background information about my topic?

Reference sources are a great place to start a research project. You can use reference sources to find definitions of terms that might be unfamiliar to you. You can also find topic summaries, context, and bibliographies for further reading on your topic. Listed below are a few of these sources available through the ELAC Library:

Art: The World of Art, From Aboriginal to American Pop, Renaissance Masters to Postmodernism

     Reference Collection (Ref N 5300 .A693 2002)

History of Art

     Reference Collection (Ref N 5300 .T53 2003)

The Yale Dictionary of Art and Artists

     Reference Collection (Ref N 33 .L353 2000)

The Oxford Dictionary of Art

     Reference Collection (REF 703 Oxf 2004)

 

 

How do I find books about my topic?

The general call number for books on all aspects of art is N1 – NX765. This is good to know if you want to go straight to the book shelves and look around to see what's available. However, if you want to locate specific books, or books on specific topics try using the library's online catalog. From the ELAC Library's web site, click the "Our Library Catalog" link to look for books on your topic. You can try typing your search words in the text box and clicking the "Words or Phrase" button (this is called a keyword search). Sometimes this method will bring back too many results, some of which might be irrelevant. In that case, try doing a "Subject" search. You can do a Subject search by typing your terms in the text box and clicking the "Subject" button. If you don't get any results, try using some of the official Library of Congress Subject Headings listed below:

If you're still finding too much materials, try doing a "Power Search." Type in one of the above terms in the "Subject" box, then type another term that you might be interested in into the "Words or Phrase" box.

 

 

How do I find  journal, magazine, newspaper, and other types of articles on my  topic?

You can find full-text articles and biographical information by using these electronic databases:

For example, you could go into the ProQuest database and do a search for Art History and Religion.

 

Θ Important note: You will need a special username and password in order to access these databases remotely. Please come to the reference desk at the library to pick up the necessary access codes.

 

 

How do I find credible web sources on my topic?

 

In this section, "web pages" means the "free web"--web sites anyone can access--not web-based research tools like the databases that the library provides. The free web has a lot of great things to offer, but not all the sources found there are appropriate for academic research. How can you determine if the sources you've found are credible? Ask yourself the following questions:

You can try looking for relevant web sites on your own using subject directories like InfoMine, Open Directory Project, and the Librarian's Internet Index. As well, you can try some of the web sites listed below:

 

Metropolitan Museum of Art : Timeline of Art History

"The Timeline of Art History is a chronological, geographical, and thematic exploration of the history of art from around the world, as illustrated especially by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection...The basic structure of the Timeline of Art History is both chronological and geographical. Each timeline page includes representative art from the Museum's collection, a chart of time periods, a map of the region, an overview, and a list of key events. The timelines-accompanied by world, and regional maps-provide a linear outline of art history, and allow visitors to compare and contrast art from around the globe at any time in history."

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/splash.htm

 

Art Images for College Teaching (AICT)

This site is "dedicated to the principle of free exchange of image resources." Images are arranged in five broad categories: Ancient Art & Architecture , Medieval Art , Renaissance & Baroque , 18th - 20th Century , and Non-Western Art (pre-Columbian Meso-America and Native American only). Each section is subdivided by geography or cultural identity, style or school, and medium (architecture, sculpture, painting, etc.). The Textbook Concordance lists the source texts cited with each illustration.

http://arthist.cla.umn.edu/aict/html/

 

Art History Resources on the Web

Provides a gateway to resources on art history from ancient times to the present day. There are links to research resources, an extensive list of museums and galleries by country, online journals, exhibits, and university art departments. Time periods are divided into countries, cultures, and styles. Noted individual artists are also included.

http://witcombe.sbc.edu/ARTHLinks.html

 

 

How do I get more help finding sources for my topic?

 

If you feel like you need help getting started, finding more detailed materials, or if you have any questions in general, please feel free to come to the library and ask a reference librarian for help.

 

 

Last uptated 09/25/08 JA
Billy Pashaie: 10/22/06

© Helen Miller Bailey Library

East Los Angeles College