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Primary sources: Nonfiction books and essays

General nonfiction literature and essays originally published in book form.

Suggested resources

This selective list includes some general bibliographies, gateways, and indexes along with some of the more extensive primary source collections available at Lafayette College. For more subject-specific resources or individual titles, consult the library's annotated list of research tools by subject, and follow suggestions for library catalog searches below.

Annals of American Literature 1602-1983    Bibliography 
Location: Skillman Ref PS94 .L83 1986
Chronological listing of the main literary output of authors published in the United States. Titles before the early 18th century include works concerned with North America but published elsewhere.
Annals of English Literature 1475-1950    Bibliography 
Location: Skillman Ref PR83 .A5 1961x
Chronological listing of the main literary output of authors writing in English.
Early English Books Online    Full Text 
Collection of texts printed in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and British North America and works in English printed elsewhere from 1473 to 1700. Includes literary texts, sermons, legal documents, scientific treatises, and many other types of works.
Eighteenth Century Collections Online    Full Text 
Digital collection of 150,000 English language books published from 1701 to 1800. Titles cover history, fine arts, medicine, science, literature, law, philosophy, and religion.
Essay and General Literature Index    Index 
Location: Skillman Ref A13 .E752
Coverage:1900-present
Author and subject index to essays published in collections, with particular emphasis on materials in the humanities and social sciences.

Library catalog searches

Use the table below to develop search strings for locating primary source bibliographies and collections in library catalogs.

Searching for . . . Enter this phrase + modifier(s)
[see examples]
published works
by country and date 1
 [nationality] and literature and bibliography    
case studies case studies and [topic]
travel narratives description and travel and [location]

1 Search the Lafayette Library catalog by subject.

Sample searches:

  • english and literature and bibliography
  • (description and travel) and united states

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Last updated: October 9, 2008