Guides and Publications

Research Guides

ART 600

1. Barzun, J. and H. Graff. The modern researcher (5th ed., 1992)

LB2369.B28 1992 Art reference

Written primarily for history grad students, but much of it is applicable to any scholarly discipline in the humanities. Covers topics like how to take notes effectively, how to use the library, how to deal with manuscript material, how to figure out if documents are authentic, how to develop an instinct for verifying facts. Long final section on how to write up your research so it is informative and coherent.

2 Carrick, N. How to find out about the arts: a guide to sources of information (1965)

Z5931.C3 1965 Art reference

Old but very comprehensive. Contains chapters on types of art reference books—bibliographies, encyclopedias,etc.—then a chapter each on the various art forms and their principal information sources. More than just a bibliography, it explains how reference materials fit into art history research. Illustrated with sample pages from various works.

3. Goldman, B. Reading and writing in the arts: a handbook (rev. ed., 1978)

Z5931.G6 1978 Art reference

First half of the book is a general art bibliography; the rest is a long chapter on how to do research and writing in art history. Contains interesting section on how to judge the quality of the art historical writing of others.

4. Jones, L. Art information: research methods and resources (3rd ed., 1990)

N85.J64 1990 Art reference

Very comprehensive, but badly written. Includes almost everything you'd ever want to know about art/architectural history research problems and how to overcome them, but there is hardly a sentence in the book that does not make you grit your teeth and strain to figure out its meaning.

5. Mann, T. A guide to library research methods (1987)

Z710.M23 1987 c.3 Art stacks

Not specific to any one subject area, but a very well written introduction to many basic research library sources and how to get the most out of them.

6. Muehsam, G. Guide to basic information sources in the visual arts (1978)

N7425.M88 Art reference

Very clearly written, but attempts to cover a great deal of territory in very little space, so it gets a bit superficial in places. But useful for basic definitions and information. First two chapters particularly helpful: "How to get information about artists, "How to research a work of art.

7. Pacey, P., ed. Art library manual: a guide to resources and practice (1977)

Z675.A85A78 Art stacks

Not written for graduate students, but for the novice librarian who suddenly finds him or herself managing an art library. Contains useful chapters on various kinds of art history materials—exhibition catalogs, bibliographies, journal article indexes/abstracts, etc.

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