Medieval Studies Subject Guide


Christine de Pisan presenting her work to
Isabeau of Bavaria, British Library,
Harley ms 4431, Probably around 1420
 

Finding Books  |  Major Reference Works  |  Major Databases  |  Web Resources 

Finding Books

  • Use CLIO to find books, journals, links to online journals, and other materials, in the Columbia or Barnard libraries.
  • Barnard Library has a significant collection of books and videos related to Medieval Studies

Useful subject headings in CLIO:
   chaucer geoffrey
   great britain  history  medieval period
   literature medieval
   medicine medieval
   middle ages
   women england history middle ages
   women europe history middle ages 
 

Major Reference Works
available in Barnard Library Reference Area

Title Call Number
Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism. 80 vol.+ PN681.5 .C57
Classical Myths and Legends in the Middle Ages & Renaissance. PN699. B78 1998
Dictionary of Literary Biography. Vol 186: Old & Middle English Literature. PS129. D5
Dictionary of the Middle Ages. 13 vols. D114 .D5 1982
Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature. PN669.E53 2000
Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages. 2 vols. D114 .E53 2000
Encyclopedia of the Renaissance. 6 vols. CB361 .E52 1999
European Authors:  Middle Ages & Renaissance vol. 1 PN501 .E9 1983
Guide to the Study of Medieval History. Paetow, + Boyce D117 .P25 1980g
Medieval Archaeology: an Encyclopedia. D125 .M42 2001g
Medieval England: an Encyclopedia. DA129. M43 1998
Medieval Folklore: an Encyclopedia of Myths, Legends, Tales. GR35 .M43 2000
Medieval France: an Encyclopedia. DC33.2 .M44 1995
Medieval Germany: an Encyclopedia. DD126 .M43 2001
Medieval Iberia: an Encyclopedia. DP99 .M33 2003
Medieval Islamic Civilization: an Encyclopedia. DS36.85 .M434 2006
Medieval Italy: an Encyclopedia.  DG443. M43 2004
Women in the Middle Ages: an Encyclopedia. HQ1143 .W643 2004

 

Major Databases
available with Columbia ID

Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index
Indexes journal articles, book reviews and essays about women, sexuality and gender in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East from 450 C.E. to 1500 C.E.
Search Tips: Use " " for a phrase; use keywords; Do not use "and"; implicit right-hand truncation.

Humanities Full Text
Citations and abstracts for articles in the humanities, including history, literature and more, 1984-present.
Search Tips: Use "and" between words; Use " " for a phrase; * for truncation; Use keyword option.

Humanities & Social Sciences Retrospective, 1907-1984
Citations and abstracts for articles in the humanities, including history, literature and the social sciences.
Search Tips: Use "and" between words; Use " " for a phrase; * for truncation; Use keyword option.

International Medieval Bibliography
Covers all aspects of Medieval Studies with a date range of 400-1500. Europe, Middle East and North Africa, 1967 to present.
Search Tips: Use keyword searching in "All Index Terms" box; Phrase is assumed - use "and" if not a phrase; * for truncation.

Iter: Gateway to the Middle Ages and Renaissance (1842 -)
Citations for articles, books and other materials on the Middle Ages and Renaissance (1400-1700).
Search Tips: Use keywords, phrase assumed- use "and" if not a phrase, *for truncation.

JSTOR: The Scholarly Journal Archive
A full text database of articles from over 1,000 scholarly journals, from the beginning of the journal but excluding the most recent 3-5 years; includes: history, language and literature, philosophy, classical studies and mor
e.
Includes Speculum and Renaissance Quarterly.
Search Tips: Use the Advanced Search for more precise searching; Use "  " for a phrase; & for plurals.

LION: Literature Online
English and American poetry, drama, prose, biographies, and secondary sources, from the Anglo-Saxon period to the 20th century.
Search Tips: To find critical articles click on "Search criticism and reference." 
Phrase is assumed - use "and" if not a phrase; * for truncation.

MLA Bibliography
Major database for literature, language, linguistics and folklore. Citations for articles, dissertations, books, book chapters, etc. from 1963 to the present.  
Search Tips: Use " " for a phrase; * for truncation.

Project Muse
Full-text articles from more than 100 scholarly journals published by university presses in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Includes: Essays in Medieval Studies, Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies and more.
Search Tips: Use " " for a phrase; * for truncation.

ProQuest Direct
Online journal articles and citations, Indexes: Medium Aevum, Speculum and more.
Search Tips: Select scholarly materials by clicking on "Databases selected" then select "Research Library." 
Two words phrases are assumed to be a phrase;  use " " for phrases of more than two words; Use * for truncation.

Gender Studies
Citations for materials on women's studies, gender studies, feminist theory and criticism, from 1972 to the present. 
Search Tips: Use * for truncation.

Additional Databases:  ATLA Religion Database, Bibliography of the History of Art, History of Science, Technology and Medicine, Historical Abstracts (for late Medieval & Renaissance), Philosopher's Index.

 

Web Resources

 

Return to Subject Guides list

  Updated 2/7/08
Karen Dobrusky, Reference Librarian 
 

 © 2003 Barnard College Library | 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 | 212-854-3846