Encyclopedias provide a great way to begin an inquiry. They provide an overview of the most important facets of a topic, as well as a concise list of recommended readings.
Reference Universe is a suggested first step, to see if one of our subject encyclopedias has an entry on your topic.
The University of Oregon Libraries have scores of encyclopedias. This guide lists the more important ones, by broad subject area.
Locations used in this guide are:
| AAA REF |
Architecture & Allied Arts Library, 200 Lawrence Hall |
| DOCS REF |
Document Center, 1st floor Knight Library |
| REF KNIGHT |
Reference Department, 1st floor Knight Library |
| LAW REF |
John E. Jaqua Law Library, 2nd floor Knight Law Center |
| MUSIC REF |
Music Services, 3rd floor Knight Library |
| SCI REF |
Science Library, lower level Onyx Bridge |
| PDX REF |
Portland Library, White Stag Building |
| MATH REF |
Mathematics Library, 210 Fenton Hall |
You might also want to consult a research guide for your subject area for more resources that may help you in your search.
General Encyclopedias
Selected Subject Encyclopedias
Subject encyclopedias and dictionaries have been compiled for a number of broad disciplines. Their articles, written by specialists, offer more in-depth information on scholarly topics than those found in general encyclopedias and frequently provide a list of further references on a topic.
African Studies
| Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African ...Experience |
REF KNIGHT DT 14 .A37435 2005 |
| Encyclopedia of African History |
REF KNIGHT DT 20 .E53 2005 |
| Encyclopedia of Africa South of the Sahara |
REF KNIGHT DT 351 .E53 1997 |
|
Europa World Plus |
online |
Anthropology and Archaeology
| Encyclopedia of Archaeology |
REF KNIGHT CC 100 .E54 2001 |
| Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East |
REF KNIGHT DS 56 .O9 1997 |
|
Encyclopedia of Anthropology |
online |
| History of Physical Anthropology: An Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT GN 50.3 .H57 1997 |
| Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology |
REF KNIGHT GN 307 .E52 1996 |
|
Encyclopedia of World Cultures |
online; and in print at REF KNIGHT GN 307 .E53 1991 |
|
Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion |
online; and in print at REF KNIGHT GT 507 .E53 2005 |
| Encyclopedia of Food and Culture |
REF KNIGHT GT 2850 .E53 2003 |
Architecture
| Grove Dictionary of Art |
online; also in print at AAA REF N 31 .D5 1996 |
| Encyclopedia of Architecture, Design, Engineering ... |
AAA REF and UO PDX REF N 31 .E59 1988 |
| Grove Encyclopedia of Classical Art and Archaeology |
AAA REF N 5610 .G76 2007 |
| Encyclopedia of 20th Century Architecture |
AAA REF and UO PDX REF NA 680 .E495 2004 |
| Encyclopedia of Interior Design |
AAA REF NK 1165 .E48 1997 |
Art
| Grove Dictionary of Art |
online; also in print at AAA REF N 31 .D5 1996 |
| Grove Encyclopedia of Classical Art and Archaeology |
AAA REF N 5610 .G76 2007 |
| Encyclopedia of Sculpture |
AAA NB 198 .E33 2004 |
| Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century Photography |
AAA REF TR 642 .E5 2006 |
Asian Studies
|
Encyclopedia of Modern Asia |
online; and in print at REF KNIGHT DS 4 .L48 2002 |
| Encyclopedia of Asian History |
REF KNIGHT, AAA REF DS 31 .E53 1998 |
|
Europa World Plus |
online |
|
Encyclopedia of India |
online |
| Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War |
REF KNIGHT DS 557.7 .E53 1998 |
| Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan |
REF KNIGHT DS 805 .K633 1983 |
| Encyclopedia of the Korean War |
REF KNIGHT DS 918 .E53 2000 |
Biology
| Encyclopedia of Life Sciences |
SCI REF QH 302.5 .E53 2001 |
|
Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry |
online; and in print at SCI REF QD 415 .A25 E53 2004 |
|
Encyclopedia of Evolution |
online; and in print at SCI REF QH 360.2 .083 2002 |
| Encyclopedia of Genetics |
SCI REF QH 427 .E53 2002 |
| Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia |
SCI REF QL 7 .G7813 2003 |
| Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition |
SCI REF QP 141 .E526 2005 |
| Encyclopedia of Environmental Microbiology |
SCI REF QR 100 .B58 2002 |
Business
| Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance |
DOCS REF HF 5381 .E52 2005 |
| Encyclopedia of Career Development |
online |
| Advertising Age Encyclopedia of Advertising |
DOCS REF HF 5803 .A38 2003 |
| International Encyclopedia of the Stock Market |
DOCS REF HG 4551 .I528 1999 |
Canadian Studies
| Canadian Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT F 1006 .C35 1999 |
| Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples |
REF KNIGHT F 1035 .A1 E63 1999 |
| Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada |
REF KNIGHT PR 9180.2 .E53 2002 |
Chemistry
|
Chemistry: Foundations and Applications |
online; and in print at SCI REF QD 4 .C48 2004 |
| Dictionary of Inorganic Compounds |
SCI REF QD 148 .D53 1992 |
| Dictionary of Organic Compounds |
SCI REF QD 246 .D5 1982 |
|
Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry |
online; and in print at SCI REF QD 415 .A25 E53 2004 |
| Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology |
SCI REF TA 402 .E53 2001 |
| Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology |
SCI REF TP 1110 .E53 2003 |
Classics
| Brill's New Pauly: Encyclopedia of the Ancient World |
REF KNIGHT DE 5 .N4813 2002- ; also in German |
| Grove Encyclopedia of Classical Art and Archaeology |
AAA REF N 5610 .G76 2007 |
Communication Disorders
| Gallaudet Encyclopedia of Deaf People and Deafness |
REF KNIGHT HV 2365 .G35 1987 |
| Encyclopedia of Acoustics |
SCI REF QC 221.5 .E53 1997 |
Computer Science
| Encyclopedia of Computer Science |
SCI REF QA 76.15 .E48 2000 |
| Encyclopedia of Software Engineering |
SCI REF QA 76.758 .E53 2002 |
Counseling Psychology and Human Services
| International Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family |
REF KNIGHT HQ 9 .E52 2003 |
|
Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood |
online; and in print at REF KNIGHT HQ 767.84 .E53 2004 |
| Encyclopedia of Social Work |
REF KNIGHT HV 35 .S6 |
|
Encyclopedia of Disability |
online; and in print at REF KNIGHT HV 1568 .E528 2006 |
| Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Behavior |
REF KNIGHT HV 5804 .E53 2001 |
Dance
Economics
Education
| Encyclopedia of Education |
online; also in print at REF KNIGHT LB 15 .E47 2003 |
| Encyclopedia of Educational Research |
REF KNIGHT LB 15 .E48 1992 |
| Encyclopedia of Higher Education |
REF KNIGHT LB 15 .E49 1992 |
| International Encyclopedia of Education |
REF KNIGHT LB 15 .I569 1994 |
| World Education Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT LB 15 .W87 2001 |
| Encyclopedia of American Education |
REF KNIGHT LB 17 .U54 1996 |
| Encyclopedia of Educational Leadership and Administration |
online; and in print at REF KNIGHT LB 2805 .E527 2006 |
| Encyclopedia of Special Education |
REF KNIGHT LC 4007 .E53 2000 |
Environmental Studies
|
Water: science and issues |
online; and in print at SCI REF GB 655 .D37 2003 |
|
Encyclopedia of Hydrological Sciences |
online |
| Encyclopedia of Environmental Analysis and Remediation |
SCI REF GE 10 .E49 1998 |
|
Environmental Encyclopedia |
online; and in print at SCI REF GE 10 .E58 2003 |
| Encyclopedia of Earth |
online |
|
Encyclopedia of Global Change |
online; and in print at SCI REF GE 149 .E47 2002 |
| Encyclopedia of World Environmental History |
REF KNIGHT GF 10 .E63 2004 |
| Encyclopedia of Environmental Microbiology |
SCI REF QR 100 .B58 2002 |
| Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment |
SCI REF S 592 .E53 2004 |
| Encyclopedia of Forest Sciences |
SCI REF SD 126 .E53 2004 |
| Macmillan Encyclopedia of Energy |
SCI REF TJ 163.28 M33 2001 |
Ethnic Studies
European Studies
Folklore
| Folklore: An Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT GR 35 .F63 1997 |
| Greenwood Encyclopedia of World Folklore and Folklife |
REF KNIGHT GR 35 .G75 2006 |
| Medieval Folklore: An Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT GR 35 .M43 2000 |
| Greenwood Encyclopedia of Folktales and Fairy Tales |
REF KNIGHT GR 74 .G73 2008 |
| American Folklore: An Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT GR 101 .A54 1996 |
| South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT GR 302 .S68 2003 |
| African Folklore: An Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT GR 350 .A33 2004 |
Gay and Lesbian Studies
| glbtq |
online |
| Gay Histories and Cultures: an Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT HQ 75.13 .G37 2000 |
| Lesbian Histories and Cultures: an Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT HQ 75.5 .L4395 2000 |
Geography
Geological Sciences
| Encyclopedia of Geology |
SCI REF QE 5 .E516 2005 |
|
Encyclopedia of Hydrological Sciences |
online |
| Encyclopedia of Volcanoes |
SCI REF QE 522 .E33 2000 |
| Encyclopedia of Palaeontology |
SCI REF QE 703 .E58 1999 |
Germanic Languages and Literature
| Brockhaus Enzyklopadie |
KNIGHT AE 27 .G672 1986 |
| Modern Germany: An Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT DD 14 .M64 1998 |
| Encyclopedia of German Literature |
REF KNIGHT PT 41 .E53 2000 |
History
| Global Encyclopedia of Historical Writing |
REF KNIGHT D 13 .G47 1998 |
| Encyclopedia of Historians & Historical Writing |
REF KNIGHT D 14 .E53 1999 |
History - Specific Periods and Places [see also Medieval Studies]
History - United States
| Encyclopedia of the North American Colonies |
REF KNIGHT E 45 .E53 1993 |
| Gale Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes |
REF KNIGHT E 77 .G15 1998 |
| Encyclopedia of American Cultural and Intellectual History |
REF KNIGHT E 169.1 .E624 2001 |
| Encyclopedia of the United States in the Nineteenth Century |
REF KNIGHT E 169.1 .E626 2001 |
|
Dictionary of American History [3rd ed] |
online; and in print at REF KNIGHT E 174 .D52 2003 |
|
Oxford African American Studies Center |
online |
| The American Revolution: an Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT E 208 A433 1993 |
| Encyclopedia of the American Civil War |
REF KNIGHT E 468 .H47 2000 |
| Encyclopedia of War and American Society |
online |
| Encyclopedia of the Confederacy |
REF KNIGHT E 487 .E55 1993 |
| Encyclopedia of the Great Depression and New Deal |
REF KNIGHT E 806 .C543 2001 |
| New Encyclopedia of the American West |
REF KNIGHT F 591 .N46 1998 |
| Encyclopedia of American Social History |
REF KNIGHT HN 57 .E58 1993 |
| Encyclopedia of the American Left |
REF KNIGHT HX 86 .E58 1998 |
| Encyclopedia of American Immigration |
REF KNIGHT JV 6465 .E53 2001 |
|
Encyclopedia of Immigration and Migration in the American West |
online |
| U.S. History Encyclopedias: an annotated list |
online |
Human Physiology
| Encyclopedia of Human Biology |
SCI REF QP 11 .E53 1997 |
| Encyclopedia of Biostatistics |
SCI REF RA 409 .E53 1998 |
International Studies
| Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy |
online; and in print at REF KNIGHT E 183.7 .E52 2002 |
| Encyclopedia of United States Foreign Relations |
REF KNIGHT E 183.7 .E53 1997 |
|
Europa World Plus |
online |
| Greenwood Encyclopedia of International Relations |
REF KNIGHT JZ 1160 .N65 2002 |
| Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements |
DOCS REF KZ 4968 .O84 2003 |
Journalism, Mass Media, and Communication
Judaic Studies
| Dictionary of Judaism in the Biblical Period |
REF KNIGHT BM 50 .D525 1996 |
| Encyclopedia of Judaism |
REF KNIGHT BM 50 .E63 1999 |
| Encyclopedia of Midrash |
REF KNIGHT BM 514 .E53 2005 |
| Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd ed. |
REF KNIGHT DS 102.8 .E496 2007 |
| Jewish Encyclopedia |
online; also in print at REF KNIGHT DS 102.8 .J6 [1901-06] |
Latin American Studies
| Enciclopedia de Mexico [in Spanish] |
REF KNIGHT F 1204 .E5 1996 |
| Encyclopedia of Mexico: History, Society, and Culture |
REF KNIGHT F 1210 .E63 1997 |
| Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures |
REF KNIGHT F 1218.6 .O95 2001 |
| Encyclopedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean |
REF KNIGHT F 1406 .E515 2000 |
| Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture |
REF KNIGHT F 1406 .E53 1996 |
| Encyclopedia of Cuba |
REF KNIGHT F 1754 .E53 2003 |
|
Europa World Plus |
online |
Law
| Legal systems of the world |
REF KNIGHT K 48 .L44 2002 |
| American Jurisprudence, 2nd series |
LAW KF 154 A55 |
| Corpus Juris Secundum |
LAW KF 154 .C69 1936 [with many updates] |
| West's Encyclopedia of American Law |
LAW REF KF 154 .W47 2005 |
| Encyclopedia of the American Constitution |
LAW KF 4548 .E53 2000 |
| Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement |
online |
Linguistics
| Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics |
REF KNIGHT P 29 .E48 1994 |
|
International Encyclopedia of Linguistics |
online; and in print at REF KNIGHT P 29 .I58 2003 |
| Encyclopedia of Language and Education |
REF KNIGHT P 40.8 .E53 1997 |
Literature
Mathematics
| Encyclopedic Dictionary of Mathematics |
MATH REF QA 5 .I8313 1987 |
| Encyclopaedia of Mathematics |
MATH REF QA 5 .M3713 1988 |
| Companion Encyclopedia of the History and Philosophy of the Mathematical Sciences |
SCI REF QA 21 .E57 1994 |
Medicine
Medieval Studies
Music
| Garland Encyclopedia of World Music |
MUSIC REF ML 100 .G16 1998 [with CDs] |
| New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians |
online; also in print at MUSIC REF ML 100 .N48 2001 |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |
MUSIC REF ML 102 .P66 G84 1998 |
Peace Studies
Philosophy
|
Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2nd ed.; Macmillan] |
online |
| Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy |
REF KNIGHT B 51 .R68 1998 |
| American Philosophy: An Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT B 850.A43 2008 |
| Encyclopedia of Aesthetics |
REF KNIGHT BH 56 .E53 1998 |
| Encyclopedia of Ethics |
REF KNIGHT BJ 63 .E45 2001 |
Physics
| Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology |
SCI REF Q 123 .E497 2002 |
|
Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics |
online |
| Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics |
SCI REF QB 14 .E534 2001 |
| Encyclopedia of Applied Physics |
SCIENCE QC 5 .E543 2004 |
| Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology |
SCI REF TA 402 .E53 2001 |
Planning, Public Policy and Administration
Political Science
| Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left & the Right |
online; and in print at REF KNIGHT JA 61 .E54 2005 |
| Encyclopedia of Governance |
online |
| Encyclopedia of Nationalism |
REF KNIGHT JC 311 .E499 2001 |
| Encyclopedia of Democracy |
REF KNIGHT JC 423 .E53 1995 |
| Colonialism: An International ... Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT JV 22 .C65 2003 |
| Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements |
DOCS REF KZ 4968 .O84 2003 |
Political Science - United States
| Encyclopedia of American Political History |
REF KNIGHT E 183 .E5 1984 |
| Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy |
online; also in print at REF KNIGHT E 183.7 .E52 2002 |
| Encyclopedia of United States Foreign Relations |
REF KNIGHT E 183.7 .E53 1997 |
| Civil Rights in the United States |
REF KNIGHT E 184 .A1 C47 2000 |
| Encyclopedia of the American Left |
REF KNIGHT HX 86 .E58 1998 |
| Encyclopedia of the United States Congress |
REF KNIGHT JK 1067 .E63 1995 |
|
Major Acts of Congress |
online |
| Encyclopedia of Third Parties in America |
REF KNIGHT JK 2261 .E474 2000 |
|
Encyclopedia of U. S. National Security |
online |
Psychology
Religious Studies [see also Judaic Studies]
|
Encyclopedia of Religion, 2nd ed. |
online; 1st ed. in print at REF KNIGHT BL 31 .E46 1986 |
| Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America |
REF KNIGHT BL 458 .E52 2006 |
| Encyclopedia of Women and World Religion |
REF KNIGHT BL 458 .E53 1999 |
| Encyclopedia of Monasticism |
REF KNIGHT BL 631 .E63 2000 |
Religious Studies - Christianity
| Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls |
REF KNIGHT BM 487 .E53 2000 |
| Encyclopedia of Christianity |
REF KNIGHT BR 95 .E8913 1999- |
| Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation |
online; also in print at REF KNIGHT BR 302.8 .O93 1996 |
| Anchor Bible Dictionary |
REF KNIGHT BS 440 .A54 1992 |
|
New Catholic Encyclopedia [2nd edition] |
online; first edition in print at REF KNIGHT BX 841 .N44 1967 |
| Encyclopedia of Protestantism |
REF KNIGHT BX 4811.3 .E53 2004 |
Religious Studies - Islam
| Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World |
REF KNIGHT BP 40 .E525 2004 |
| Encyclopaedia of the Quran |
REF KNIGHT BP 133 .E53 2001- |
| Encyclopaedia of Canonical Hadith |
REF KNIGHT BP 135.2 .J89 2007 |
| Islamic World: Past and Present |
REF KNIGHT DS 35.53 .I86 2004 |
| Encyclopaedia of Islam Three |
online |
| Encyclopaedia of Islam, 1960-2005 edition |
online; and in print at REF KNIGHT DS 37 .E523 |
| Encyclopaedia of Iranica |
online |
| Encyclopedia of Women and Islamic Cultures |
REF KNIGHT HQ 1170 .E53 2003- |
Religious Studies - East Asian
| Encyclopedia of Hinduism |
REF KNIGHT BL 1105 .E53 2008 |
| Encyclopedia of Confucianism |
REF KNIGHT BL 1840 .R68 2003 |
| Encyclopedia of Sikhism |
REF KNIGHT BL 2017.3 .E54 1995 |
| Encyclopedia of Buddhism |
REF KNIGHT BQ 128 .E62 2004 |
Romance Languages
| Encyclopaedia Universalis [in French] |
REF KNIGHT AE 25 .E3 1990 |
| Enciclopedia Italiana [in Italian] |
KNIGHT AE 35 .E5 [1939] |
| Gran Enciclopedia Hispanica [in Spanish] |
REF KNIGHT AE 65 G734 2006 |
Russian and East European Studies
Social Sciences
Sociology
Sociology -- Specific Topics
Sports
| Encyclopedia of World Sport |
REF KNIGHT GV 567 .E56 1996 |
| International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports |
REF KNIGHT GV 709 .I58 2001 |
Theater Arts
Women and Gender Studies
| International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports |
REF KNIGHT GV 709 .I58 2001 |
| Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America |
REF KNIGHT BL 458 .E52 2006 |
| Men and Masculinities: An Encyclopedia |
REF KNIGHT HQ 1090.3 .M436 2004 |
| Encyclopedia of Women and Gender |
REF KNIGHT HQ 1115 .E52 2001 |
| Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women |
REF KNIGHT HQ 1115 .R69 2000 |
| Women's Studies Encyclopedia |
online |
| Encyclopedia of Women and Islamic Cultures |
REF KNIGHT HQ 1170 .E53 2003- |
More Encyclopedias
You can also find encyclopedias and subject dictionaries by doing a Subject Headings search in the UO Libraries Catalog. Enter the broad subject area you are interested in, followed by the subheading encyclopedias or dictionaries.
Examples:
Sociology encyclopedias
Finance dictionaries
Maintained by: Paul Frantz, pfrantz@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 09/22/2008
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