Art History Research Guide

This guide is the starting point for identifying, locating, using, and evaluating  materials relating to Art History in the Carmichael Library and on the Internet.  If you need additional assistance, please Ask a Librarian or contact Patsy Sears, Reference Librarian, at searsp@montevallo.edu or
665-6103.

Finding Library Materials     
Library Catalog
The Library Catalog is often the best place to begin research. Search by author, title, subject, keyword, or a variety of other specialized searches.

Several examples of standard Art subject headings appropriate for use in the Library Catalog when searching for Art materials are listed below as well as how to identify subject headings.

• Library of Congress Subject Headings:
  Subject headings are listed in a five-volume manual called simply Library of Congress Subject Headings ("the big red books"). Sometimes you can guess the appropriate subject headings, but it's wise to check the manual to be sure.

• Searching the Library Catalog:
  Subject Alphabetical searching may help you find the appropriate subject headings:
       Abstract Art  (leads you to the official subject heading Art,   
       Abstract
       Picasso (will lead you to the various headings for books about
       Picasso)
  Subject Keyword searching  is an option that will, at least, get you started identifying  books on topics, periods, styles, and monographs on artists, even if you are unsure of the official headings.
       Altarpieces and Italy (will retrieve books with those words in the 
       catalog record)  

To obtain an authoritative list of subject headings check the Library of Congress Subject Headings, near the Ask Here desk.

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Call Numbers
Carmichael Library uses the Library of Congress system to organize its materials.  Art library materials, and other related subjects, can be found in these call number ranges:

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Reference Materials
Reference materials include dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and indexes.  They are good starting points in the research process.

Several examples of Art reference materials available for use in the Carmichael Library include the following:

• Contemporary Artists   REF N6490 .C6567

• The Dictionary of Art   REF N31 .D5 1996

• Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art   REF N7560 .H34   

• Dictionary of Women Artists   REF N43 .D53

• Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography: Themes Depicted in Works of Art   REF N7565 .E53

• Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects   REF NA 40 .M25 

• Modern Arts Criticism   REF N40 .M63 

• Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques
  REF N33 .L82 

• Who's Who In American Art   REF N6536 .W5   

Be sure to check the Reference databases for electronic reference materials.

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Print Indexes
Indexes are used to identify published articles in specific journals.  Most of the indexes in the Carmichael Library are electronic and are available from the Databases page.  However, in some instances only print indexes are available:

• Art Index (1935-1984) - Print

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Journals and Periodicals
Journals and periodicals are published at regular intervals in print and electronically.

A selected list of print Art periodicals available in the Carmichael Library include the following:

• Art Bulletin

• Art in America

• Aperture

• Art Journal

• ArtNews

• Artforum

• Ceramics Monthly

• Print

• Graphis

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Electronic Resources
Databases
Electronic access to journal articles is available from the Databases  page.  Most databases can be searched using author, title or subject in either basic or advanced search formats. The results of a search will include either a citation, a citation and abstract, or a citation, abstract and full text of the article depending on the database searched.

Listed below are databases you could use to locate information about Art and Art History.  You can access these, and other databases, from the Databases by name page or the Databases by subject page.

• Academic Search Elite   Full Text 

• ART   Full Text 

• Art Full Text   Full Text 

• Encyclopedia Britannica Online   Full Text 

• Expanded Academic ASAP   Full Text 

• Humanities Full Text  Full Text 

• ProQuest Newspapers   Full Text 

• WorldCat   Index and Abstracts   
  Provides access to the citations for millions of books and other materials in our library and libraries around the world.  Search in this database if the materials you are looking for are not available in this Library and see Interlibrary Loan.

Additional information about specific databases is available at each database site. 

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Internet Links
Several recognized Art sites are listed below:

• Alabama Arts

• ART CYCLOPEDIA

• Art History Research Centre

• Art History Network 

• Art History Resources on the Web

• Art Lex: Dictionary of Visual Art

• Art Museum Network

• LACAMA Collections Online

• Metropolitan Museum of Art

• National Gallery of Art

• Union List of Artist Names Browser

• World Wide Arts Resources

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Additional Resources
Associations
Associations provide a forum for the exchange of ideas within a profession.  Listed below are the names of a few Art associations.

• College Art Association

• Getty Research Institute for the History of Art and the Humanities

• National Endowment for the Arts  

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