Kim Mims, IInstructor
Nancy Spiegel, Art Librarian
Background and quick lookup
- Grove Art Online A standard, continuously updated reference source, searchable by concepts as well as by artists' names. The bibliographies are current and a worthwhile starting point for further research.
- Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism: One of the standard reference works in the field, this guide offers articles on theorists such as Walter Benjamin and Michel Foucault. Entries on Film Theory, Cultural Studies and Art Theory provide useful overviews.
- See also the library's guide to finding reference books and a long list of online art and architecture dictionaries.
The Library Catalog and LENS
Review of advanced search techniques, LC subject headings, finding journals in the library catalog.
Finding articles in art journals and magazines
- Art Index Retrospective (1929-1984) and Art Abstracts (1984-present): A core resource for art research, indexing over 300 key journals.
- ArtBibliographies Modern (1974 -present). Best place to start for 20th-and 21st-century artists and movements; performance and multi-media art; and emerging trends in contemporary art
- Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals (1934-present). Includes architecture as well as interior design, city planning, archaeology and individual architects.
- Bibliography of the History of Art (1973-present). The largest of the indexes, BHA emphasizes post-classical art and covers a significant number of European journals.
Putting art research into historical context
For more databases, go to the Database Finder page, select the "subject browse" tab, and then a subject area from the list.
- America: History and Life (1954-present). Articles and book reviews in North American history.
- Historical Abstracts (1967-present) Articles and book reviews in European history.
- JSTOR Back issues of scholarly journals in all disciplines, with a moving wall of about five years. View included art titles here.
- Project Muse Full-text collection of recent (usually last five years), scholarly journals in all disciplines.
Finding images
Citing your sources
The library has a quick quide here, plus the full text of the Chicago Manual of Style
Finding resources beyond the University of Chicago
Search millions of book, journal, video and archival records from libraries all over the world at once with WorldCat. Most major museum library collections (Getty, MOMA, National Gallery, etc.) can be found in Worldcat. Use the Find it! button to request a title you need through Interlibrary Loan.
Research Tips
- Use the Find it! button to link from the article citation to the full text.
- Search the library catalogs for a topic using keywords; click on the title of a relevant item to find official subject headings; then search the catalogs for this term using a subject keyword search.
- I am always available to answer your questions:
Nancy Spiegel -- nspiegel@uchicago JRL 463, 702-5193