Information Sources in Geography

Many important information sources in geography are available in paper only. They are listed below with their University of Chicago call numbers and locations.

General Guides

• Internet Resources for Geographers. General guide to Internet resources in geography, maintained at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

• Research by Subject: Geography. List of mostly paper sources, maintained at the University of Texas.

• Bibliography of Geography : part I, Introduction to General Aids / by Chauncy D. Harris. Chicago : University of Chicago, Department of Geography, 1976. (University of Chicago Department of Geography research paper ; no. 179) [Z6001.H303 Regenstein Second-Floor Reading Room]. Classic bibliography.

• International List of Geographical Serials / compiled by Chauncy D. Harris and Jerome D. Fellmann. 3rd ed. Chicago : University of Chicago, Department of Geography, 1980 (University of Chicago Department of Geography research paper ; no. 193) [Z6003.H302 1980 Regenstein Second-Floor Reading Room]. Classic bibliography.

Indexing and Abstracting Tools

• GEOBASE. The major indexing and abstracting service in geography. Indexes periodical literature in geography and related fields back to ca. 1980. For earlier material, you must consult the complicated Geographical abstracts [Z6003.G3 ... Regenstein Second-Floor Reading Room] (see note).

• Geobib. Indexes both serial and monographic literature in geography back to ca. 1985. Essentially, the holdings of the American Geographical Society Library at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. For earlier material you must consult the paper Current Geographical Publications : Additions to the Research Catalogue of the American Geographical Society [Z6009.A5 Regenstein Second-Floor Reading Room]. For still earlier material, back to the 19th century, see Research Catalogue of the American Geographical Society [Z6009.A505 Regenstein Second-Floor Reading Room, plus various supplements at Z6009.A506]. All the American Geographical Society materials use a somewhat quirky indexing system, which is documented in the paper sources.

• FRANCIS. Major French indexing and abstracting service for the humanities and social sciences; indexes material back to 1984. Covers European literature much more thoroughly than either GEOBASE or Geobib. For material from before 1984, consult Bibliographie géographique internationale = International Geographical Bibliography. [Z6001.B53 Regenstein Second-Floor Reading Room], which goes back to 1891 with various title, publisher, and format changes.

Review Journals

• Progress in Human Geography. The major review journal in human geography. Paper issues, back to 1977, can be found at GF1.P9 Regenstein Second-Floor Reading Room. Earlier issues still, Progress in Geography, go back to 1962; call no.: G73.P7.

• Progress in Physical Geography. The major review journal in physical geography. Paper issues, back to 1977, can be found at G1.P91. See also the still earlier Progress in Geography, 1962-1976; call no.: G73.P7.

Factual Sources (Highly Selected List)

• Dictionary of Human Geography / edited by R.J. Johnston ... [et al.]. Oxford : Blackwell, 2000 [GF4.D52 2000 Regenstein Second-Floor Reading Room]. One of several excellent geography dictionaries.

• Geographers : Biobibliographical Studies. London : Mansell, 1977- [G67.G34 Regenstein stacks]. The major biographical dictionary in geography.

• Guide to Graduate Departments of Geography in the United States and Canada. Washington : Association of American Geographers, 1968/1969- [G76.5.U5A8 last v. Regenstein Second-Floor Reading Room/earlier v. Regenstein stacks]. List of graduate departments in North America.

Click here for a list of some sources of information in urban studies. Click here for a list of sources of cartographic/spatial information.