The Oxford Companion to American Literature.
James D. Hart. 5th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1983. 896 p. This handbook serves as a comprehensive guide to American literature, including historical aspects, writer’s biographies, awards, societies and trends.
The Statesman’s Year Book.
Edited by John Paxton. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1864-. Annual. A section on international organizations, then a listing for individual countries containing statistical information and facts about political and economic aspects of the country (like welfare and education systems, financial institutions, diplomatic missions and so on).
The World Almanac and Book of Facts.
New York: Funk & Wagnall’s, World Almanac, 1868-1976, 1886-. Annual. Similar to Information Please Almanac but presented in a more formal style – facts, tables of statistics, information about popular culture and events, with detailed table of contents and index. May also be on CD-ROM in your library.
2. Biographical sources
Reference sources with biographical information may provide a brief summary of data about a person, fairly detailed information about a person, or references (citations) to other short or full-length biographies written about the person. Brief summaries are usually found in biographical dictionaries, while other biographical sources and some encyclopedias may have more detailed information. Some cover living people and some dead people, a few cover both.
Biography and Genealogy Master Index.
2d ed. Detroit: Gale, 1980- . Annual. [Also on CD-ROM] There are no actual biographies here but citations telling where to find biographies, whether short summaries or full-length books.
MaGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Biography.
12 vols. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1973.
Specifically designed to meet the needs of high school and college students by choosing to cover people who are frequently featured in the curriculum. Features people who are living as well as dead, and the biographical information in quite detailed. Study guides in the last volume identify important people who were associated with particular historical events or issues.
Webster’s New Biographical Dictionary.
Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1988. 1130 p.
Summarized biographies of important people of the past, source for quick facts.
Who’s Who.
London: Adam and Charles Black, 1894- . Annual.
International version with brief biographical information for living people.
Who’s Who in America.
Chicago: Marquis Who’s Who, 1899/1900- . Annual.
One of many “Who’s Who” and “Who’s Was Who” sources offered by several different publishing houses. Some focus on ethnic groups, some on historical figures, some on groups such as artists or politicians. Check your library to see which sources are available.