American Revolution
Table of Contents
Introduction
Library Congress Subject Heading
Browsing Areas
Keys to Abbreviations and Locations
Bibliographies
Encyclopedias
Atlas
Biographies
Dictionaries
Books
Indexes, Abstracts, and Catalogs
Internet Sources
Introduction
The American Revolution not created the American political nation, but molded permanent characteristics of the culture that would develop with in it. The Revolution is an event, consequently, whose meaning cannot be confined to the past. Whether we recognize it or not, the sense we make of the history of our national origins helps to define for us, as it has for generations before us, the values purposes, and acceptable characteristics of our political institutions and cultural life.
The purpose of this pathfinder is to assist researchers and others to getting better acquainted with the Revolutionary War. All the sources that are listed in this pathfinder includes, the reasons for the war, the main battles, important people, and how this country ultimately begun. The intended audience for this pathfinder is for a high school or college student that is doing a research paper on this topic.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
These subject headings can be used when searching for the books and other necessary sources dealing with the Revolutionary War. These can be used in online catalogs, indexes, and abstracts.
Revolutionary Period (1775-1783)
Revolutionary Literature
United States-History-Revolution
Browsing Areas
At times it may be hard to locate important information through the online catalog. If you are at the library and need to look through the shelves for the American Revolution. The Dewey call number listed is where books on this topic can be found.
973.3
Keys to Abbreviations and Locations
AFPL- Atlanta-Fulton Public Library
RWL- Robert Woodruff Library
DCPL- Dekalb-County Public Library
Bibliographies
A good starting point in attempting to locate materials in a specific field are bibliographies. The following sources provide information on early American History and it will include information about the American Revolution.
Gephart, Ronald M. Revolutionary America 1763-1789: A Bibliography. 2 vols. Washington: Library of Congress, 1984.
Book call no. 973.3 (DCPL, AFPL)
A brief narrative, a chronology, and a select bibliography
Commager, Henry Steele. Documents of American History. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 9th edition 1973.
Book call no. E173C66 1973 (RWL)
Contains 14,110 annotated entries, encompassing over 20,000 titles arranged in twelve chronological and thematic chapters followed by an extensive essay
American Caravan: A yearbook of American Literature. New York: Literary Guild of America 1927.
Book call no. P5536A55 (RWL)
Freidel, Frank, ed. Harvard Guide to American History. Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1974.
Book call no. 973.0496073 (DCPL, AFPL)
Lists other bibliographies, historiographies documents, reference, articles and books both covering and related to the American Revolution
Encyclopedias
The encyclopedias listed are a good place to begin your research on the American Revolution, especially if you are unsure of your topic or need to find additional information in order to continue your research. These sources should primarily be used as reference works or as an introduction to the research topic.
The American Revolution,
1775-1783: An Encyclopedia, edited by Richard L. Blanco. New York,
Garland Publishing, 1993. 2 vols.
Book call no.: R 973.3 A5123 (DCPL, AFPL)
Blackwell Encyclopedia of the American
Revolution, edited by Jack P. Greene and J. R. Pole. Cambridge, MA,
Blackwell Reference, 1991. 845 p.
Book call no.: 973.303 B632 (DCPL, AFPL)
Articles cover all the major topics relating to the
Revolution, including its central events, the context in which it occurred, its
causes, its effects, and the principal concepts associated with it. Includes
maps
Boatner, Mark M., III. Encyclopedia of
the American Revolution. New York, David McKay, 1966. 1287 p.
Book call no.: R 973.303 B662e (DCPL, AFPL)
Cross-reference entries include summary articles of important and pervasive topics and shorter entries for the leading Revolutionary figures and key issues. Contains fifty-four maps
Faragher, John Mack, gen. ed. The Encyclopedia of Colonial and Revolutionary America. NY: Facts on File, 1990.
Book call no. E188 E63 1990 (RWL)
Contains 1,500 short entries, covers from the Norse exploration to the end of the American Revolution. Emphasis is on the English colonies, with some treatment of the Spanish, French, and Russian colonies. Very useful cross-references
Atlas
The atlases listed below are all historical atlases that can be used to study boundary changes, military campaigns, early exploration and similar topics. These sources can be especially useful in researching the American Revolution because they help to put the different events that took place during this time period into a framework that can useful in understanding the factors and conditions the war was fought under.
Atlas of Early American
History: The Revolutionary Era, 1760-1790. Princeton, NJ, published
for the Institute of Early American History and Culture by the Princeton
University Press, 1976. 157 p.
Book call no.: R 911.73 A881 (AFPL)
Details the entire history of the struggle for independence, from Colonial governments and North American extensions of European wars to the early days of the American Republic, uses full color maps and vivid illustrations in two-page spreads to tell the story of the founding of the USA. The book focuses on the land and sea battles of the Revolutionary War in places like Bunker Hill, Trenton, Saratoga, Guilford Courthouse, Chesapeake Bay, and Yorktown, but attention is also paid to aspects of society at large like the awakening of religious zeal inspired by George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards, the destination of immigrants, the slave trade, and relations with the Native Americans. Also explored is the political dimension of the role of the colonies as a piece of the British Empire and the international impact of the Revolution
Carrington, Henry B. Battle Maps
and Charts of the American Revolution. New York, Arno Press, 1974. 88 p.
Book call no.: 912 C318b (DCPL, AFPL)
The maps range from crude field sketches to high examples of cartographic art which were produced after the heat of battle as a record of the event. The authors have selected 56 maps that show the scope and progress of our war of independence.
Marshall, Douglas W. and Peckham,
Howard H. Campaigns of the American Revolution: An Atlas of Manuscript
Maps. Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press, 1976. 138 p.
Book call no.: 911.73 M367c (DCPL, AFPL)
Lord, Clifford L. and Elizabeth H. Lord. Historical Atlas of the United States. New York: Johnson Reprint Corp., 1972.
Book call no. R911.73 (DCPL, AFPL)
Nebrenzahl, Kenneth. Atlas of the American Revolution. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1974 R.911.73 (DCPL, AFPL)
Biographies
These sources contain biographies of some prominent and some not-so-prominent figures of the American Revolution. In addition to the biographies that the following sources give, there are bibliographies that direct you where to for further information.
Purcell, L. Edward. Who Was Who in the American Revolution. Facts on File, Inc.; (June 1993)
This source contains information on some of the most important figures that were involved in the American Revolution and what role did they play in America's fight for independance.
Claghorn, Charles E. Women Patriots of the American Revolution. Rowman & Littlefield (Non NBN); (April 1, 1994)
Book call no. 973.315042 (DCPL, AFPL)
This book contains some of the most important women
that were behind the scenes in the American Revolution. It includes the roles
that the women played, and how important of a role they played.
Ferling, John E. Setting the World Ablaze: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and the American Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000
Book call no.
Contains a joint biography of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson that dwells upon the negotiations in congress throughout the 1770's, the battles, strategy, and politics of the War for Independence, and the diplomacy of the American Revolution
Fredriksen, John C. American Military Leaders: From Colonial Times to the Present. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1999. 2v.
This source talks about some of the greatest military leaders in the history of the United States. Military leaders of the American Revolution are included in this book.
Dictionaries
The following sources provide useful background information for the study of the American Revolution. They also provide bibliographies and reading lists that allow users to begin further research. These sources should primarily be used as reference works or as an introduction to research topics.
Mays, Terry M. Historical Dictionary of the American Revolution. Scarecrow Press; (January 1999)
Book call no. E209 M36 1999 (RWL)
This source provides over 1,000 articles, covering people, places, battles, events, individual countries (France, Spain), and issues related to the Revolutionary period from the mid-1760's to 1783. While the book covers a wide range of topics, thee author favors the military aspect of the Revolution, providing entries for many forts, vessels and minor battles
Adams, James Truslow, ed. Dictionary of American History. New York: Scribner's 1976. 8v.
Book call no. E174D52 1976 (RWL)
Contains 6,200 written by approximately 800 authors. The dictionary has articles of varying lengths from a short paragraph to several pages. Longer articles are subdivided chronologically and if necessary by specific aspects of a given subject
Books
These books provide an in depth analysis of the American Revolution. The books contain the reason the colonies wanted independence, the major battles of the war, the most important people involved, and the aftermath of the war.
Bonwick, Colin. The
American Revolution. Charlottesville, VA, University Press of
Virginia, 1991. 336 p.
Book call no.: 973.3 B723a (DCPL, AFPL)
Conway, Stephen. The War of
American Independence 1775-1783. New York, St Martin's Press, 1995.
280 p.
Military Operations in America, pp 73-132.
Book call no.: 973.3 C767w (DCPL, AFPL)
Diamant, Lincoln. Chaining the Hudson: The Fight for the River in the
American Revolution. Secaucus, NJ, Lyle Stuart, 1989. 233 p.
Book call no.: 973.33 D537c (DCPL, AFPL)
Alden, John R. The
South in the Revolution, 1763-1789. Baton Rouge, Louisiana State
University, 1957. 442 p.
Book call no.: 975 A358s (DCPL, AFPL)
Hibbert, Christopher. Redcoats
& Rebels: The American Revolution Through British Eyes. New York,
Norton, 1990. 375 p.
Book call no.: 973.33 H624r (DCPL, AFPL)
Higginbotham, Don. The War of American Independence: Military
Attitudes, Policies, and Practice, 1763-1789. New York, Macmillan,
1971. 509 p.
Book call no.: 973.3 H635w (DCPL, AFPL)
Johnson, Curt. Battles of
the American Revolution. New York, Rand McNally, 1975. 126 p.
Book call no.: 973.3 J66b (DCPL, AFPL)
Lumpkin, Henry. From Savannah to Yorktown: The American Revolution in
the South. Columbia, University of South Carolina Press, 1981. 332
p.
Book call no.: 973.3 L958f (DCPL, AFPL)
Miller, Nathan. Sea of Glory:
A Naval History of the American Revolution. Annapolis, MD, Naval
Institute Press, 1992. 558 p.
Book call no.: 973.35 M649s 1992 (DCPL, AFPL)
Dupuy, R. Ernest and Dupuy, Trevor N.
The Compact History of the Revolutionary War. New York, Hawthorn
Books, 1963. 510 p.
Book call no.: 973.3 D945c (DCPL, AFPL)
Indexes, Abstracts, and Catalogs
Research about the American Revolution is found in the literature of various sources. To find further related information, look in the databases listed below under such topics as the American Revolution, Colonial government, the names of various battles or colonial leaders and the Library of Congress Subject Headings listed at the beginning of this pathfinder. The order the indexes are displayed below reflects which ones are more likely to have a greater number of references to relevant published material. All of the databases and abstracts listed below can be accessed online through the Albany Libraries homepage (http://library.albany.edu/).
America: History and Life. ABC-Clio Inc., 1982-. Updated three times a year.
Covers the history and culture of the United States and Canada from prehistoric times to the present. Over 90% of the articles are from English-language journals. The database also includes citations to dissertations, book reviews, and media reviews (America: History and Life).
Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale Group, 1980-. Updated daily.
General database covering astronomy, religion, law, history, psychology, humanities, current events, sociology, communications and the general sciences (Expanded Academic ASAP).
InfoTrac Onefile. Gale Group,1980-. Updated daily.
General database with access to 6,000 publications including refereed academic journals spanning the disciplines and general interest magazines. There is a particularly strong coverage in business, technology, law, health care and news/newswires. Contains 3,000 publications that are available in full text. Dates covered: 1980+, Updated: daily (InfoTrac Onefile).
Internet Sources
There are a multitude of sites on the web devoted to the history of the American Revolution. The following are some of the best web sources for information about the topic. They represent a wide variety of possible research interests. Many of the sites provide links to other related sites that may be useful to you in your topic development and research.
The
American Revolution: The Struggle for Independence
http://www.americasrevolution.com/
This site relates to the events leading up to, and including, the Revolutionary War. There is a timeline, book reviews, articles, links to other sites on the Web, and important documents from that time, including declarations from the Continental Congress and Thomas Paine's Common Sense (Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Bibliographies
of the War of American Independence
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/revbib/revwar.htm
This site contains the bibliographies originally compiled for inclusion in US Army Center of Military History publication on the Continental Army. Due to limited space not all entries could be published. This site contains versions of the bibliographies that are considerably longer than the original publications. Authored by the US Army Center of Military History, Historical Resources Branch.
Encyclopedia.com
http://www.encyclopedia.com/searchpool.asp?tartet=@DOCTITLE%20American%20Revolution
This site contains various articles relating to most aspects of the American Revolution. Contains useful cross-references.
Intelligence
in the War of Independence
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/warindep/frames.html
A history of the use of intelligence by the United States during the Revolutionary War. Contains information on the committee of secret Correspondence, the Committee on Spies, secret writings, codes and ciphers, George Washington, and Paul Revere and the Mechanics. Includes a bibliography of recommended publications. Authored by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (Librarian's Index to the Internet).
Liberty!
The American Revolution
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/
The official online companion to LIBERTY! The six part documentary series about the two and a half decades of debate and rebellion, war and peace. Contains headlines, timelines, resource material and related topics. Authored by Wells Fargo and PBS Online.
NSSAR-
Military Actions in the American Revolution
http://www.sar.org/history/docsbatt.htm
Contains a list of over 400 battles, descriptions of battles. Divides the battles up by the theater that they took place in and gives a brief description. Also provides more than 2.500 references to documents describing the military events of the war. Authored by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
The
Privateers and the American Revolution
http://www.allsands.com/privateersameri_wq_gn.htm
At the outset of the American Revolution, the colonies had no navy. Instead they worked with the resources they had, privateers. The privateers who helped put economic pressure on Britain through piracy proved to be very instrumental in the American victory. This website provides a general summary of the American privateer's accomplishments.
SAR
Historical and Genealogical Research Library
http://www.sar.org/geneal/library.htm
The Sons of the American Revolution Library maintains a non-circulation collection for genealogy and American Revolutionary War history and military records. The library includes family genealogies, state and county history and vital statistics, federal census records through 1860 for every state, Revolutionary War Pension Applications and a special George Washington Collection.
Spy
Letters of the American Revolution
http://www.si.umich.edu/SPIES/
View scanned images of original spy letters sent during the American Revolution, along with transcriptions and background information for each. Learn the techniques spies used in letter writing, read brief biographies of Benedict Arnold, Ann Bates and Miss Jenny, as well as other famous people, such as the Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington, and Paul Revere. A map shows the routes taken by the letters. Authored by Kate Foster, Cynthia Ghering, Michelle Light, and Melissa McCollum (Librarian's Index to the Internet).
Women
and the American Revolution- Female Soldiers
http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/waramrevolution/
This site gives extensive information on women
in the American Revolution. The roles of these women varied from female
fighters, spies and nurses, to women protecting the home front during the
War.