Subject Research Guides   University of West Florida Libraries

British History

Reference Guides

American and British History Resources on the Internet
http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/rr_gateway/research_guides/history/history.shtml

Arranged by topic, time period, and reference type(bibliography, maps, statistics etc.) this site provides links to internet resources(mainly academic and governmental). Covers American and British history from ancient/medieval period through the 20th century. Also includes links to full text sites.

History: A Reference Handbook. 1977. (Ref. Z 2016 D38)

Descriptive entries on reference tools, journals, libraries, and professional societies dealing with the history of Great Britain, Commonwealth countries, and the United States. A standard' resource for the seasoned researcher is A Bibliography of English History to 1485 (Ref. Z 2017 B5 1975), a thorough revision and expansion of The Sources and Literature of English History (Ref. Z 2016 G87 1970).

Modern British History: A Guide to Study and Research. (Ref. DA4 .M64 1997)

This source outlines effective strategies and tools for researching British history. Contents include chapters on Archives, The Internet for Historians, Political and Diplomatic History, and Gender History.

The St Martin's Guide to Sources in Contemporary British History. 2 vols. (Ref. DA566.2 .C67 1994)

A thorough and scholarly examination of how to research British political history(post 1945) using British archives(governmental and private). Volume one discusses resources and methodology. Volume two describes the "archives(and careers) of more than 1000 individuals involved in British politics and public life after 1945."

Indexes & Abstracts

Databases index journal articles, books, conference proceedings, reports, and other materials. Databases may be searched individually or in categorized groups via Metalib.

Academic Index ASAP. 1980-

Multidisciplinary database of journals and popular magazines, many with full text articles.

British Humanities Index. 1962-1991. (Ref. AI 3 B7)

Indexes hundreds of scholarly British periodicals, including many dealing with local history. See also Humanities Index (Ref AI 3 H85).

Combined Retrospective Index Set to Journals in History, 1838-1974. 11 vols. 1976-78. (Ref. D 1 C73)

Selective indexing of about 1,000 journals in history, political science, and sociology under keyword or subject categories. Volumes 1-4 are devoted exclusively to world history. Author index.

Historical Abstracts. 1954-

Premiere source for scholarly articles, books, and many dissertations on all aspects of world history except the U.S. and Canada.

Humanities Full Text. 1984-

Long regarded as the ideal single reference for periodical information in the diverse subject area of the humanities, Humanities Abstracts is a wonderful complement to the monographic resources accessible via WorldCat (the OCLC Online Union Catalog).

JSTOR.

This full text database offers archival holdings of scholarly journals in several disciplines of interest to History students including African-American Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Political Science, and general History.

Palmer's Index to the Times Newspaper. 1965-66. (Ref. AI 21 T5)

Retrospectively indexes the London Times (Microfilm 505) from 1790-1941. Complements the modern Index to the Times , 1938- (Ref. AI 21 T46).

Project MUSE.

Over 110 scholarly journals in the liberal arts are available in this database. Articles are full text(and image), and the file can searched via keyword or Boolean operators(AND, OR, NOT).

Bibliographies & Catalogs

Annual Bibliography of British and Irish History. Annual. 1975- (Ref. Z2016 A55)

Covers books and articles on political, social, cultural, and intellectual history from Roman times to the present.

Texts and Calendars: an Analytical Guide to Serial Publications. 1958. (Ref. Z 2016 M8)

Lists printed texts and calendars relating to English and Welsh history, issued in general collections or in series up through March, 1957. See also Medieval Libraries of Great Britain: A List of Surviving Books (Ref. Z 723 K47 1964).

Bibliography of British History. 5 vols. 1959-1977. (Ref. Z 2018-2019)

Monumental series, covering all aspects of British history from 1485-1914. Individual volumes include: Tudor Period, 1485-1603 (Ref. Z 2018 R28 1959); Stuart Period, 1603-1714 (Ref. Z 2018 D25 1970); The Eighteenth Century, 1714-1789 (Ref. Z 2019 P3 1977); 1789-1851 (Ref. Z 2019 B76 1977); and 1851-1914 (Ref. Z 2019 H35 1976). For English history prior to 1485, See a Bibliography of English History to 1485 (Ref. Z 2017 B5 1975).

Dictionaries

The Cambridge Illustrated Dictionary of British Heritage. 1986. (Ref. DA 110 C254)

Covers all aspects of British life, past and present, with genealogies, charts, and photographs. See also Dictionary of Britain: An A to Z of the British Way of Life (Ref. DA 110 R69 1986)

A Dictionary of British History. 1983. (Ref. DA 34 D52)

Over 3,000 short articles on political and social events, foreign affairs, cultural and intellectual movements, and eminent individuals are provided. Includes detailed chronology and a family tree of the English monarchy. See also A Dictionary of Scottish History (Ref. DA 757.9 D66 1977) and A Dictionary of Irish History Since 1800 (Ref. DA 949.7 H53 1980).

A Dictionary of English Place Names. 1991. (Ref. DA 645 M55)

Handy reference for common and obscure names in the English landscape. See also The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names (Ref. DA 645 E38 1960), Place-names in The Landscape (Ref. DA 645 G445 1984), London Street Names (Ref. DA 685 A1 B4 1972), and Surnames of the United Kingdom (Ref. CS 2505 H32 1969).

Historical Dictionary of Tudor England, 1485-1603. (Ref.DA315 .H5 1991)

This source contains medium length essays written by scholars and leading authorities in the field of Tudor history. Includes chronology and bibliography. For a dictionary of Stuart England see the Historical Dictionary of Stuart England, 1603-1689 (Ref. DA375 .H57 1996).

The Illustrated Dictionary of British History. 1980. (Ref. DA 34 M37)

This source contains twenty-two major essays on broad topics, ranging from "The Civil Wars" to "The Women's Movement." See also Steinberg's Dictionary of British History (Ref. DA 34 S7 1971).

The Oxford Companion to British History. (Ref. DA34 .O93 1997)

A scholarly dictionary of British history. Includes maps and lineages of monarchy. See also The Columbia Companion to British History (Ref. DA 34 .H64 1997).

Encyclopedias

The Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland. 1985. (Ref. DA 34 C28)

Recounts the historical development of the inhabitants of the British Isles from 55 B.C. through 1975 A.D. See also the Encyclopaedia of Ireland (Ref. DA 979 E5 1968).

Spartacus Internet Encyclopedia: British History 1700-1950

Sponsored by the British government, this site has 2,800 entries on various aspects of British history. An attempt has been made to portray the "history of Britain through the eyes of the people." Subject categories include Prime Ministers(1700-1950), the Textile Industry, Education, Business Leaders, Railroads, and Religion and Society.

Victorian Britain: An Encyclopedia. (Ref. DA 550 .V53 1988)

Designed to serve as an "overview and point of entry to the complex interdisciplinary field of Victorian studies," this source offers medium length, signed articles covering the people, events, institutions, topics and artifacts of the Victorian period(1837-1901). Includes chronology and bibliographies following major entries.

Handbooks & Chronologies

British Historical Facts, 1688-1760. 1988. (Ref. JN 191 C65 1988)

Important political and social data, presented topically and chronologically. See Also British Historical Facts, 1760-1830 (Ref. JN 210 C66 1980), British Historical Facts, 1830-1900 (Ref. JN 216 C65 1975), and British Political Facts, 1900-1985 (Ref. JN 231 B8 1994).

Handbook of British Chronology. 1986. (Ref. DA 34 H34)

Contains detailed chronological lists of the rulers of England, Wales, Scotland, and the Isle of Man from the Anglo-Saxon period up to modern times. Provides chronologies and dates of British and Irish officers of state, nobility, church prelates, and councils. Includes bibliographic guide to lists of monarchs and officials. See also Handbook of Dates for Students of English History (Ref. DA 34 C5 1970).

The Longman Handbook of Modern British History, 1714-1987. 1988. (Ref. DA 470 C65)

This source supplies chronology of major events and movements by topic, including political, social, religious, economic, and diplomatic history. Lists names and dates of important office holders. Provides statistics, brief biographies, topical bibliographies, and glossary of terms.

Timeline of British History

This site features a timeline of British history from 5000 B.C. to 1689 A.D. Includes brief entries.

Almanacs & Yearbooks

Whitaker's Almanack. Annual. 1869- (Ref. AY 754 W5)

Provides background information and statistics on the countries of the world and events of the year, emphasizing British and European affairs.

Annual Register. Annual. 1760- ( D 2 A7) (Earlier volumes in Special Collections.)

Articles survey each year's developments in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and other countries of the world. Divided into chapters on geographic areas, defense, religion, science, law, arts, sport, and economic and social affairs. Includes some text of selected documents.

Atlases

Atlas of the British Empire. 1989. (Ref. Atlases DA 16 A8)

Details the 400-year rise and subsequent decline of British world dominance. See also the Historical Atlas of Britain (Ref. ATLASES G 1812.21 S1 H5 1981), the Longman Atlas of Modern British History (Ref. Atlases G 1812.21 S1 C6 1978), or An Atlas of Irish History (Ref. Atlases G 1831 S1 E3 1981).

Statistical Sources

Annual Abstract of Statistics. Annual. 1935+ (Ref. HA 1122 A33)

Statistics on economic, social, and industrial life in the United Kingdom. See also the Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom...1871-1885. (HA 1122 .A32 1986).

British Historical Statistics. 1988. (Ref. HA 1134 M58)

Covers demographic, economic, industrial, social, and vital statistics of Great Britain.

International Historical Statistics: Europe, 1750-1993. 1998. (Ref. HA 1107 M5 1998)

Contains comparative data for 24 European countries based on official sources. Hundreds of tables arranged in 10 sections: Population and Vital Statistics, Labour Force, Agriculture, Industry, External Trade, Transport and Communications, Finance, Prices, Education, and National Accounts.

Biographical Sources

Britannia: Biography and Profiles

This site offers medium length biographies on important persons in British history.

Dictionary of National Biography. 1917- (Ref. DA 28 D4)

Premiere reference tool for British biography, updated by supplements. Includes "All noteworthy inhabitants of the British Isles and the Colonies, exclusive of living persons." Entries usually include detailed bibliographies. See also Who's Who in History, 4 vols. (Ref. DA 28 W618 1960-69). For 19th century figures, see the 6-volume Modern English Biography (Ref. CT 773 B6 1965). See also A Dictionary of Irish Biography (Ref. CT 862 B69 1988).

Facts about the British Prime Ministers. (Ref. DA 28.4 .E54 1995)

A compilation of the "salient historical, political and personal facts" of Britain's Prime Ministers. Coverage extends from Sir Robert Walpole(1721) to John Major(1990). Also contains comparative data set in chronological and table format for easy viewing.

The History of Monarchy

In the 'History of the Monarchy' section, this official site offers brief biographical entries on historical figures associated with the British Crown. Coverage extends from the Anglo-Saxon Kings to the Windsors.

Spartacus Internet Encyclopedia: British History 1700-1950.

This site has brief biographical entries on British Members of Parliament(1750-1950), Prime Ministers(1780-1950), and the Monarchy(1750-1930).

Who's Who. Annual. 1849- (Ref. DA 28 W6)

Standard British biographical dictionary. The companion series, Who Was Who (Ref. DA 28 W65 1897- ), contains brief biographies of recently deceased persons. Cumulative index, 1897-1990.

Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain. 6 vols. 1849-50. (Spec. Coll. DA 28 L6)

Classic set of engravings and biographical essays on "illustrious personages," from Elizabeth of York (b. 1466) to Catherine of Braganaza (d. 1705).

Guides to Records

British Archives: a Guide to Archive Resources in the United Kingdom. (Ref. CD 1040 F67 1995)

Provides listings and historical background for Public Record Office publications, contact persons, and terms of access. General index to collections and keyword/subject index are provided. See also Sources in British Political History, 1900-1951 (Ref. CD 1042 A2 C66 1975).

Guide to the Contents of the Public Record Office. 2 vols. 1963-68. (Ref. CD 1043 A553)

Contains listings of legal records, state papers, and ministerial records. Other publications of the Agency may be found in the UWF Catalog onWebLUIS by typing great britain public record office in the subject category.

Primary Sources

Acts of The Privy Council of England: Colonial Series. 6 vols. 1912. (DA 25 L3 1908-1912)

A chronological compendium of the acts of the Council during the American colonial period, 1613-1783.

Avalon Project at the Yale Law School: Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy

An exhaustive collection of primary source documents dating from the late Roman period through the twentieth century. Sample entries include the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, Assize of Clarendon, and the English Bill of Rights. Can search by title, keyword, chronologically, or by category.

Basic Documents of English History. 1968. (Ref. DA 26 .B38)

British History Documents

Collection of British History documents at Rutgers University.

The British Inheritance: A Treasury of Historic Documents. 1999. (Oversize DA 32.5 .B69 1999)

British Diaries: An Annotated Bibliography of British Diaries Written Between 1442 and 1942. 1950. (Z 2014 .D5 M3)

An index to diaries illustrative of the social/cultural conditions of Britain. Diaries may be unpublished or published manuscripts( many are extracts included in biographies, histories and genealogies). Entries include the bibliographic citation of the source of the diary and/or library or archive where material can be found. Arranged by date and personality.

Calendar of the Clarendon State Papers. 1970. (CD 1069.O9 O9)

Calendar of State Papers

An annotated chronological index of state papers, notes, manuscripts, decrees and letters relating to English affairs. Detailed prefaces provide historical background for the main entries, which vary in length from one paragraph to several pages.

Colonial Series. 40 vols. 1574-1773. (DA 25 H5)

Domestic Series, of the Reign of Charles I. 2 vols. 1625 -1649. (DA 395 A25)

Domestic Series, of the Reigns of Edward VI, Mary, Elizabeth I. 12 vols. 1547-1580.(DA 310 A2)

Foreign Series, of the Reign of Elizabeth. 16 vols .1558-1603. (DA 350 A25)

Domestic Series. 13 vols. 1649-1660. (DA 420 A25)

Cardinal Documents in British History. 1961. (DA 26 .S3)

A Collection of Historical Documents Illustrative of the Reigns of the Tudor and Stuart Sovereigns. (DA 30 .G6 1886)

Transcribed copies of royal letters, proclamations, directives, bills, and writs are included in this source.

A Documentary History of England. 1965. (DA 26 .D55)

English Historical Documents. 13 vols. 1953-1969. (DA 26 E55)

Provides text and translation of important documents from A.D. 500 to 1914. Good introductory essays and bibliographies. See also a Documentary History of England, 2 vols. (DA 26 D55 1965-1966), and Basic Documents of English History (Ref. DA 26 B38 1968).

History of the United Kingdom--Primary Documents

A clearinghouse of Web sites containing documents relevant to British history. Includes links to charters, land grants, speeches, laws etc. This is a wiki site so be sure to evaluate the information found inside.

Internet Library of Early Journals

Sponsored by the Universities of Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Oxford, this site offers full text access to five British periodicals of the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Digitized titles consist of the Annual Register, Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Gentleman's Magazine, Notes and Queries, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, and The Builder.

League of Nations Statistical and Disarmament Documents

The digital collection at Northwestern University contains the full text of 260 League of Nations documents. The documents in this collection "focus on three areas: the founding of the League, international statistics published by the League, and the League's work toward international disarmament."

Original Letters Illustrative of English History. 11 vols. 1969. (DA 300 .E5

Rerum Britannicarum Medii Aevi Scriptores ("The Rolls Series"). 254 vols. 1858-1899. (Microfiche 635 2^nd Floor)

Chronicles and memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages. See The Sources And Literature of English History (Ref. Z 2016 G87), pp. 704-711, for author/title index.

Sources of British History

This site offers a selection of British charters, chronicles, laws and accounts dating from the fifth century.

Statutes and Constitutional Documents, 1558-1625. 1906. (Ref. DA 350 .P967)

A compilation of historical documents and laws during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I.

Statutes of The Realm. 1225-1713. 11 vols. on microfiche. (Microfiche 636 2^nd Floor)

Original laws and statutes of Great Britain, covering legislation passed from 1225 to 1713.

Stuart Papers From the Royal Archives of Windsor Castle. 1579-1823. Microfilm 1097

Includes letters, folders, printed books, and miscellaneous material.

They Saw it Happen: An Anthology of Eyewitness's Accounts of Events in British History, 1689-1897. 1958. (DA 25 .Z3)

World War II Inter Allied Conferences CD-ROM. (Doc D 5.22:C 76/CD)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill formulated allied grand strategy at a series of high-level conferences held in Washington, D.C., Casablanca, Quebec, Cairo, Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam. This CD-ROM contains minutes of these meetings and offers insights into managing a global coalition war.

Journals & Newspspers

The following is a partial list of journals and newspapers on British history available on the second floor of the UWF library. Call numbers and microfilm numbers are provided. Some titles have electronic links to full text articles.

Internet Sites

Internet Modern History Sourcebook
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html

Northeast Victorian Studies Association Web Site Directory
http://www.stonehill.edu/nvsa/nvsaweb.htm

Royal Genealogies
http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/~saw/royal/royalgen.html

Victorian Web
http://www.victorianweb.org/

Voice of the Shuttle
http://vos.ucsb.edu/

In the Search Box type 'British History'.

WWW-Virtual Library: History of the United Kingdom
http://vlib.iue.it/history/europe/uk/uk.html

Maintained by Melissa Finley Gonzalez, History Librarian
University of West Florida Library
Last Updated: July 2006
Links Maintained by Bryan Reingruber: May 2006