since 11-06-01
Library Research in Cultural Anthropology
This guide seeks to introduce students to some of the sources available in the libraries of the University of Alabama for the study of cultural anthropology. The pursuit of information in this discipline will often involve using numerous sources. This guide is not an exhaustive listing of sources, but is intended to be a starting point from which students can begin their research. Some sources helpful for library research projects in biological anthropology, archaeology and linguistics are also included, but see your professors for more details.
NOTE: Three good places to start for bibliographic searching in all four fields of anthropology are:
For online guides similar in spirit to this one (with overlapping content), check out:
Tylor, Edward Burnett (1871) Primitive Culture: Researches into the Development of Mythology, Philosophy, Religion, Art and Custom. London J. Murray. GN400 .T8 1871.
Boas, Franz (1928) Anthropology and Modern Life. New York: Norton. GN 27 .B6.
Kroeber, Alfred L. (1978) [orig. 1923] Anthropology: Race, Language, Culture, Psychology and Prehistory. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World. GN 24 .K7 1978.
Kluckhohn, Clyde (1949) Mirror for Man. New York: Whittlesey House. GN27 .K6.
Linton, Ralph (1955) The Tree of Culture. New York: Knopf. GN27 .L5.
Wolf, Eric (1964) Anthropology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. GN 29 .W6
Harris, Marvin (1975) Culture, People and Nature: An Introduction to General Anthropology. New York: Crowell. GN 24 .H23
Swartz, Marc J. and David K. Jordan (1976) Anthropology:Perspective on Humanity. New York: Wiley. GN24 .S9.
Keesing, Roger M. (1981) Cultural Anthropology: A ContemporaryPerspective. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. GN316 .K43 1981.
General Guides to Research in Cultural Anthropology
Bernard, H. Russell (1988) Research Methods in CulturalAnthropology. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. GN 345 .B371988.
Bernard H. Russell (1998) Handbook of Methods in Cultural Anthropology. Walnut Creek: Altamira Press. GN345 .H37 1998
Ellen, R.F. (1984) Ethnographic Research: A Guide to General Conduct. Orlando: Academic Press. GN 346 .E68 1984.
Emerson, Robert M., Rachel I Fretz, and Linda L. Shaw (1995) Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. GN307.7 .E44 1995
Pelto, Pertti J. and Gretel H. Pelto (1978) Anthropological Research: The Structure of Inquiry. Second Edition. Cambridge: Cambridge Unversity Press. GN 345 .P44 1978.
Poggie, John J., Billie DeWalt, and William Dressler, editors (1992) Anthropological Research: Process and Application. Albany: State University of New York Press. GN 397.5 .A564 1992.
Sanjek, Roger, ed., (1990) Fieldnotes: The Making of Anthropology. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. GN346 .F52 1990
Werner, Oswald and G. Mark Schoepfle (1987) Systematic Fieldwork. 2 volumes. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. GN 346 .W47 1987.
Guides to Library Research in Cultural Anthropology
Bernard, H. Russell (1988) The Literature Search. In Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. pp. 126-144. GN 345 .B37 1988.
Brown, Samuel R. (1987) Finding the Source in Sociology and Anthropology: A Thesaurus-Index to the Reference Collection. New York: Greenwood Press. REF Z 7164 .S68 B75 1987.
Kibbee, Josephine Z. (1991) Cultural Anthropology: A Guide to Reference and Information Sources. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited. REF Z 5111 .K53 1991.
Library-Anthropology Resource Group (LARG) 1999 Anthropological Resources : a Guide to Archival, Library, and Museum Collections / compiled by ; Lee S. Dutton, editor. New York : Garland. GN14 .A77 1999
Weeks, John M. (1991) Introduction to Library Research in Anthropology. Boulder, CO: Westview. REF Z5111.W44 1991.
Westerman, R.C. (1994) Fieldwork in the Library : a Guide to Research in Anthropology and Related Area Studies. Chicago : American Library Association Z5111 .W47 1994.
Fried, Morton (1972) The Study of Anthropology. New York: Crowell. GN 41.8 .F7 1972.
Frantz, Charles (1972) The Student Anthropologist-Handbook. Cambridge, MA: Schenkman Publishing GN 345 .N37.
Mandelbaum, David G. (1963) The Teaching of Anthropology. Washington: AAA. GN 2 .A22 no. 94.
Moses, Yolanda T. and Patricia J. Higgins (1983) Anthropology and Multicultural Education, Classroom Applications. Athens, GA: The University of Georgia. GN 42 .A57 1983.
Narroll, Raoul and Ronald Cohen, eds. (1973) Handbook of Method in Cultural Anthropology. New York: Columbia University Press. GN 345 .N37.
Pelto, Pertti J. (1980) The Study and Teaching of Anthropology. Columbus: C.E. Merrill. EDUC GN 42 .P44 1980.
Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (1951) Notes and Queries on Anthropology. 6th edition. London: Routledge and K. Paul. GN 33 .R63 1951
Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
Barfield, Thomas, ed. (1997) The Dictionary of Anthropology. Oxford: Blackwell. REF GN307 .D485 1997
Barnard, Alan and Jonathan Spencer, eds. (1996) Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology. London: Routledge. REF GN307 .E648 1996x
Davies, David (1972) A Dictionary of Anthropology. London: Muller. GN 11 .D38.
Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory. (1988) New York: Garland. REF GN 281 .E53 1988.
Gonen, Amiram, ed. (1993) The Encyclopedia of the Peoples of the World. New York: H. Holt. GN495.4 .E53 1993.
Hunter, David and Philip Whitten (1976) Encyclopedia of Anthropology New York: Harper & Row. GN 11 .E52.
Ingold, Tim (editor) (1994) Companion Encyclopedia of Anthropology. New York: Harper and Row. GB 11 .E52.
International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences (1968) New York: Macmillan: New York: Free Press. REF H .A2 15.
Kroeber, A.L. (1953) Anthropology Today: An Encyclopedic Inventory. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. GN4 .I52.
The Linguist: Dictionaries, etc.
Levinson, David (editor) (1991) Encyclopedia of World Cultures. Boston: G.K. .Hall. REF GN 307 .E53 1991.
Library-Anthropology Resource Group (LARG) (1991) International Dictionary of Anthropologists. New York: Garland. REF GN20 .I5 1991.
Moss, Joyce and George Wilson (1991) North Americans: The Culture, Geographical Setting and Historical Background of 37 North American Peoples. Detroit: Gale Research. E38 .M67 1991x
Olson, James S. (1991) The Indians of Central and South America: An Ethnohistorical Dictionary. New York: Greenwood Press. F1434 .O45 1991
Olson, James S. (1997) Encyclopedia of American Indian Civil Rights. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. KF8210.C5 E53 1997.
Olson, James S. (1998) An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of China. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. DS730 .O74 1998
Pearson, Roger (1985) Anthropological Glossary. Malabar, FL: Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co. REF GN 11 .P43 1985.
Seymour-Smith, Charlotte (1986) Dictionary of Anthropology. Boston: G.K. Hall. REF GN 11 .D48 1986.
Seymour-Smith, Charlotte (1986) Macmillan Dictionary of Anthropology. London: Macmillan. GN 11 .S49 1986x.
Spencer, Frank, ed. (1997) History of Physical Anthropology: An Encyclopedia. New York: Garland. GN50.3 S64 1997.
Stevenson, Joan C. (1991) Dictionary of Concepts in Physical Anthropology. New York: Greenwood Press. REF GN50.3 .S74 1991.
Winnick, Charles (1968) Dictionary of Anthropology. Totowa, NJ: Littlefield Adams. GN 11 .W5 1968.
Winthrop, Robert H. (1991) Dictionary of Concepts in Cultural Anthropology. New York: Greenwood Press REF GN 307 .W56 1991.
The Atlas of Mankind (1982) Chicago: Rand McNally. REF GN 340 .A8 1982z.
Spencer, Robert F. and Elden Johnson (1960) Atlas for Anthropology. Dubuque, IA: W.C. Brown. G 1046 .E1 S7 1960.
Price, David H. (1989) Atlas of World Cultures: A Geographical Guide to Ethnographic Literature. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
(NOTE: In addition to cultural atlases, there are also many others that can assist you with your research, such as religious, political, and economic atlases for particular regions or nations.)
Anthropology Biographies Brief bio-sketches of notable anthropologists..
Kardiner, Abram (1961) They Studied Man. Cleveland: world Publishing Co. GN 405 .K3.
Gace, Ute (1988) Women Anthropologists: a Biographical Dictionary. New York: Greenwood Press. REF GN 20 .W63 1988.
Library-Anthropology Resource Group (1991) International Dictionary of Anthropologists New York: Garland. REF GN 20 .I5 1991.
International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. (1968) New York: Macmillan. REF H .A2 15.
(NOTE: Also look for obituaries in American Anthropologist and other major journals and check out biographies of individual anthropologists.)
Guides to Anthropological Serials
Library-Anthropology Resource Group (1973) Serial Publications in Anthropology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. REF Z 5112 .L53 1973.
Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory (annual). New York: R.R. Bowker. REF Z 6941 .U5. Now available online from a campus computer
Williams, John T. (1986) Anthropology Journals and Serials: An Analytic Guide. New York: Greenwood Press. REF Z 5112 .W54 1986.
ARD: Anthropology Review Database A neat site that provides reviews of books on anthropological topics (SUNY Buffalo).
Annual Reviews in Anthropology Z 5111 .R47.
Book Review Index to Social Science Periodicals (1906-present) REF Z 7161 .A15 B65.
Book Review Index (1965-present) REF Z 1035 .A1 B6.
Book Review Digest (1905-present) REF Z 1219 .C95.
Book Review Digest: Author/Title Index (1905-1974) REF Z 1219 .C96 Suppl.
International Catalogue of Scientific Literature. Anthropology. (1905-1919) London: Published for the International Council by the Royal Society of London. SEL Z 7401 .I62 pt.1.
National Anthropological Archives (1975) Catalog to Manuscripts at the National Antrhopological Archives. Boston: G. K. Hall. Z 6621 .N38 1975.
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (1971) Catalogue of the Library of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University. Boston: Hall. REF Z 5119 .H35.
Tozzer Library (1975) Catalogue of the Tozzer Library of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University. Boston: Hall. REF Z 5119 .H36.
Annual Reviews in Anthropology . Palo Alto, CA: Annual Reviews, Inc., Vol. 1, 1972 to date. GN 1 .A623.
Anthropological Bibliographies (SUNY-Buffalo)
Biennial Review of Anthropology. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1959-1971. Z 5112 .856.
Erickson, Paul A. (1984) History of Anthropology Bibliography. Halifax, NS: Department of Anthropology, Saint Mary's University. Z 5111 .E72 1984x.
Gravel, Pierre Bettez (1988) Anthropological Fieldwork: An Annotated Bibliography. New York: Garland. Z 5118 .F44 G7 1988.
Kessing, Felix Maxwell (1953) Cultural Change: An Analysis and Bibliography of Anthropological Sources to 1952. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. Ref Z 5111 .K4.
McDonald, David R. (1977) Master's Theses in Anthropology: New Haven,CN: HRAF Press. REF Z 5111 .M26.
Borut Teleban's Bibliography of fieldwork, research methods and ethnography in sociocultural anthropology.
Histories of Anthropology (a modest sample only)
Classic Histories
Evans-Pritchard, E.E. (1981) A History of Anthropological Thought. New York: Basic Books. GN17 .E9 1981.
Hays, H.R. (1958) From Ape to Angel: An Informal History of Social Anthropology. New York: Knopf. GN 405 .H34
Haddon, Alfred C. (1934) History of Anthropology. London: Watts & Co. GN17 .H15 1934.
Harris, Marvin (1968) The Rise of Anthropological Theory: A History of Theories of Culture. New York: Crowell. GN320 .H33.
Hatch, Elvin (1973) Theories of Man and Culture. New York: Columbia University Press. GN315 .H36.
Kuper, Adam (1983) Anthropology and Anthropologists: the Modern British School. London: Routledge. GN308.3 G7 K86 1983.
Leaf, Murray J. (1979) Man, Mind, and Science: A History of Anthropology. New York: Columbia University Press. GN17 .L39.
Lowie, Robert (1937) The History of Ethnological Theory. New York: Farrar & Rinehart. GN17 .L6.
Penniman, T.K. (1965) [1936] A Hundred Years of Anthropology. London: G. Duckworth. GN17 P4 1965.
Stocking, George W. (1968) Race, Culture, and Evolution: Essays in the History of Anthropology. New York: Free Press. GN325 .S75 1968.
Other Histories:
Babcock, Barbara (1988) Daughters of the Desert: Women Anthropologists and the Native American Southwest, 1880-1980. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. REF E78 .S7 B15 1988.
Brew, J. O. (1968) One Hundred Years of Anthropology. Cambridge, MASS: Harvard University Press. GN17 .05.
Broce, Gerald (1973) History of Anthropology. Minneapolis: Burgess. GN 17 .B75.
Caro Baroja, Julio (1985) Los fundamentos del pensamiento antropologico moderno. Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. BD450 .C2845 1985.
Darnell, Regna (1974) Readings in the History of Anthropology. New York: Harper and Row. GN17 .D35.
Erickson, Paul (1984) History of Anthropology Bibliography. Halifax, N.S.: Dept. of Anthropology, Saint Mary's Univesity. Z5111 .E72.
Hinsley, Curtis M. (1981) Savages and Scientists: the Smithsonian Institution and the Development of American Anthropology, 1846-1910. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. GN17.3 .U6 H56.
Hodgen, Margaret (1964) Early Anthropology in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. GN17 .H63.
Hymes, Del (1983) Essays in the History of Linguistic Anthropology. Philadelphia: J. Benjamins. P35 .H95 1983x.
Kemper, Robert V. (1977) The History of Anthropology: A Research Bibliography. New York: Garland Pub. Co. REF Z5111 .K44.
Kuklick, Henrka (1991) The Savage Wtihin: the Social History of British Anthropology, 1885-1945. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. GN308.3 G7 K85 1991.
Mark, Joan (1980) Four Anthropologists: An American Science in its Early Years. New York: Science History Publication. GN17.3 .U6 M37 1980a.
Montagu, Ashley (1974) Frontiers of Anthropology. New York: Putnam. GN17 .M59 1974.
Silverman, Sydel (ed) (1981) Totems and Teachers: Perspectives on the History of Anthropology. New York: Columbia University Press.GN17 .T69.
Slotkin, James (1965) Reading in Early Anthropology. Chicago: Aldine. GN17 .S46.
Stocking, George W. ,editor, (1983) Observers Observed: Essays on Ethnographic Fieldwork. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. GN346 .O27 1983.
Stocking, George W., editor, (1984) Functionalism Historicized: Essays on British Social Anthropology. Madison WI: University of Wisconsin Press. GN363 .F86 1984.
Stocking, George W.,editor, (1985) Objects and Others: Essays on Museums and Material Culture. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. GN35 .O25 1985.
Stocking, George W., editor, (1986) Malinowski, Rivers, Benedict, and Others: Culture and Personality. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. GN504 .M35 1986.
Stocking, George W., editor (1987) Victorian Anthropology. New York: Free Press. GN308.3 .G7 S76 1987.
Stocking, George W., editor (1988) Bones, Bodies, Behavior: Essays on Biological Anthropology. Madison WI: University of Wisconsin Press. GN50.4 .B66 1988.
Stocking, George W., editor, (1989) Romantic Motives: Essays on Anthropological Sensibility. Madison, Wi: University of Wisconsin Press. GN345 .R65 1989.
Stocking, George W. editor (1991) Colonial Situations: Essays on the Contextualization of Ethnographic Knowledge. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. GN308 .C64 1991.
Stocking, George W. (1992) The Etnographer's Magic and Other Essays in the History of Anthropology. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. GN308 .S76 1992.
Indexes, Abstracts, and Bibliographies
Social Science Citation Index. Vol. 1, 1970 to date. REF Z 7161 .S652x.
The Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) is the most exhaustive and useful of all sources for articles published in anthropology. It indexes the contents of 4,600 journals published in 35 languages. Thus, the SSCI covers a broad range of topics in the social sciences. It consists of a six volume set for each year. It is arranged to assist in locating periodical literature by searching key words in titles of an article or book. This means that an article with the title, "Male Initiation Rites of Melanesia" can be found by looking under the key words "Male," "Initiation," "Rites," and "Melanesia" in the subject index. This allows browsing through other articles or books that have the same key words. Because it is a citation index, the bibliographic references to each article are included in an abbreviated fashion in the source index. This can lead you to other articles on the same subject. Finally, the most unique aspect of the index is that a researcher can look up an author's name in the citation index and locate names of other authors who have cited the work of that scholar. For example, if a certain author has written several relevant articles on a topic, by looking under his name in the citation index you can determine who has cited that person's work in their own articles. This feature is based on the premise that one author citing another author suggests that they may both be writing on the same or similar topic.
The SSCI is an excellent source for researchers in cultural anthropology and is not hard to use. However, it needs to be used more than once to fully grasp the concept of citation searching. A reference librarian will be glad to show you how to use it successfully.
See Bernard's (1988) The Literature Search. In Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology, pp. 126-144 for a lengthy description of how to use the SSCI.
Smithsonian Institution's List of Publications of the Bureau of American Ethnology This site contains the publications of the most influential BAE, with excellent ethnographic material on North American societies.
Abstracts in Anthropology. Vol. 1, 1977 to date. REF GN 1 .A15.
Abstracts in Anthropology covers about 130 anthropological journals, providing 150 word abstracts of the contents of each published article. This is a guide to periodical literature that covers cultural anthropology, archaeology, physical anthropology, and linguistics. A brief summary of each article is provided to allow researchers to determine if the subject matter is appropriate for their own topics. For example, if you look under "lunar calendar" in the subject index, you will be directed to an article that discusses ancient Mayan astronomy and the development of a lunar calendar in that society.
Anthropological Literature, Vol. 1, 1978 to date. REF Z 5112 .A57.
The CD-ROM version of this excellent bibliographic resource for the periodical literature in anthropology is available only from several computer terminals in the Information Center located on the first floor of Gorgas Library. The companion CD, Anthropological Bibliography (which lists books and monographs) is also available only from the same, limited number of terminals. Ask a librarian for assistance in locating and using these resources.
Anthropological Literature is an index to journal articles and essays in books concerning cultural and social anthropology, biological and physical anthropology, as well as linguistics and theory. It has a unique culture and archaeological site index. For example, one can look under Australian Aborigines or Stonehenge to find articles on those topics. There is also an ethnic and linguistic group index and a geographic index.
The library now has a CD-Rom version of Anthropological Literature which makes it infinitely easier to use. This CD-ROM version provides all entries from the printed index from 1984 to 1996. This source provides more than 98,000 entries from over 800 journals and 150 monographic serials titles.
To access this valuable resource first get on the terminal and select "Indexes" and then "Social Sciences" and then click on "Anthropolgoical Literature." Kristina Anderson provides the following Guide Sheet:
As you type each letter of your subject the screen will scroll down. Use your arrow keys to move the highlighted bar to the line you want. Press enter to put that entry at the SEARCH> prompt. CRTL-ENTER will allow you to select multiple index lines at once. The highlighted items will not appear on the search screen until you press ENTER.
If you wish to display the citations from older searches press F4 and type the number of the search in the box and ENTER.
Both F7 and F8 have a window with three options. Use the arrow keys to move the white X to the option you wish. The TAB key will put the cursor in the FILE NAME box. Please use the A:\ drive.
International Bibliography of Social and Cultural Anthropology. London: Tavistock Publications, Vol. 1, 1952 to date. REF Z 7161 .1593.
The International Bibliography of Social and Cultural Anthropology (IBSCA) is a UNESCO funded bibliography based on submissions from librarians from throughout the world. It is the best available source for publications from the Third World and Eastern Europe. This annual bibliography indexes journal articles from approximately 600 journals that are concerned with social and cultural anthropological research. These subjects include: research methodologies, ethnographic studies, social organization, religion, magic, art, science, folk traditions, personality and applied anthropology.
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Library. Catalog of the Library of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University. Boston: G.K. Hall. 1963. REF Z 5119 .H35.
Abstracts in German Anthropology (English abstracts of anthropological publications in German) GN 1 .A14X No. 1 (1980) - No. 9 (1984).
Miller, Mamie (1946) An Author, Title, and Subject Check List of Smithsonian Publications in Anthropology. Albuquerque, NM: The University of New Mexico Press. GOV DOCS Z 5111 .M5.
Tennessee Archaeology Net Bibliographies
Rolf Husmann (1992) A Bibliography of Ethnographic Films. Göttingen : Lit Z5118.V58 B53 1992
AAA Guide to the Departments of Anthropology Washington, D.C.: American Anthropological Association. Annual. See Pam Chestnut for departmental copy.
Thomas, William (1953) International Directory of Anthropological Institutions. New York: Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research. REF GN 2 .T45.
Guides to the Funding of Anthropological Research
Cantrell, Karen and Denise Wallen (eds.) (1986) Funding for Anthropological Research. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press. GN42 .C36 1986.
Employment as an Anthropologist
Getting a Job Outside the Academy (1982) Washington: American Anthropological Association. GN 41.8 .G47 1982X
American Anthropological Association's Handbook on Ethical Issues in Anthropology
Fluehr-Lobban, Carolyn (1991) Ethics and the Profession of Anthropology: Dialogue for a New Era. Phildadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. GN33.6 .E84 1991.
Paine, Robert (1985) Advocacy and Anthropology: First Encounters. St. John's Nfld.: Institute of Scoial and Economic Research, Memorial Univcersity of Newfoundland. GN33.6 .A28 985x.
Appell, G.N. and T.N. Madan (1988) Choice and Morality in Anthropological Perspective: Essays in Honor of Derek Freeman. Albany: State University of New York Press. GN33.6 .C48 1988.
Human Relations Area Files (HRAF)
The Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) is a collection of over one million pages of coded ethnographic description on hundreds of different societies from around the world. It has greatly facilitated cross-cultural comparisons.
Human Relations Area Files. Ann Arbor: University Microfilms International, 1968-1991.REF MICRO-FICHE 81-1.
For a straightforward guide to the use of the HRAF consult:
For an overview of work conducted using HRAF consult:
Other important works related to or based on the use of HRAF include:
Our collection holdings of HRAF materials includes:
Ser. 1-4 Ser. 8 Ser. 28-30 Archives AN6 (Senoi)
Archives AW50 (Badaga)
Archives FL17 (Turkana)
Archives N8 (N. A. Rom.)
Archives NN16 (Seminole)
Archives EX8 (Basques)
Archives ND7(Chipewyan)
Archives NN23 (Sea Islanders)
Archives OR15 (Belau) Archives SA12 (Garifuna)
Archives AK6 (Sherpa)
Archives AW69 (Bengali)
Archives N9 (North American Hmong)
Archives N10 (Italian-Americans)
It is a good practice to keep abreast of recent writings in anthropology by cultivating the gentle art of browising. This can be done electronically and by strolling the stacks. Books on Cultural Anthropology can be perused by using some of the following SUBJECT HEADINGS in AMELIA, the electronic card catalog:
ANTHROPOLOGY--look here for very broad general works concerning anthropology.
ETHNOLOGY--look here for works dealing with the general topic of world cultures.
MAN--look here for works concerning Homo sapiens as a biological and cultural animal.
Other Subject headings can be identified by consulting:
Library of Congress Subject Headings, 11th ed. 1988.
3 vols. REF Z 695 .L695 1988
(located on tables near the Card Catalog and in the Reference Department).
Electronically browsing the following CALL NUMBERS may produce helpful titles in the general area of cultural anthropology:GN (1) to GN (9999)
There are many other call numbers that can be browsed when doing research in the broad area of cultural anthropology. Reviewing the Library of Congress Subject Headings can provide many different options for subject searching.
Go to the stacks on floor 2M at the Main Library and walk through the GNs through the HMs in order to familiarize yourself with how anthropology books are classified. Make a habit of periodically browsing through the Unbound Periodicals section of the Main Library on the 2nd floor.
Finally, make a habit of consulting Current Contents: Behavioral and Social Sciences REF Z7163 .C97, located in the Reference Room of Gorgas Library. It provides tables of contents for many of the principal anthropology journals of Europe and North America.
The Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Office is located in Gorgas Library on the second floor. The purpose of this office is to borrow books and/or photocopies of journal and magazine articles which our libraries do not own. Faculty, students and staff are eligible to use this service.
Why and when should you use ILL? As a student at the University of Alabama you actually have borrowing privileges with all of the college, university and public libraries that are part of the national and international interlibrary loan network. This means you can borrow from Harvard, Yale, or The University of California. The ILL office will determine, via computer, which library has the item you need and proceed to borrow from the closest or fastest location.
By using the services offered through ILL, one has the opportunity to use information contained in books and journal articles that will assist in producing a well-researched paper. It is important to give the ILL office at least two weeks to locate and receive your requested item. This is a good reason to begin library research early enough so that you can borrow needed items in time to include their information in your paper.
Once you have first checked to see if the University of Alabama Libraries has the items you wish to consult, you may then request it electronically through the Interlibrary Loan request system.
The university libraries offer a service called online research. Briefly, online research involves using a computer to dial into a database that has stored citations on a given subject. A reference librarian will perform the search for you. There is a fee involved. You must fill out a form and make an appointment. It is best to stop by any one of the libraries on campus and talk to a reference librarian about your topic. They will help you determine if a computer search is desirable. The benefits of online research are that you are given very relevant citations relating to your topic and it can be done in a matter of minutes.