Military Science

Suggestions for locating books, articles, topical overviews, research tools, and factual information.

Subject librarian for Military Science:

Valery King

phone 737-7318 | email valery.king[at]oregonstate.edu | AIM: ValeryKing

 

 
Quicklinks
 Off-Campus Access | Interlibrary Loan Forms


  
Table of Contents

Introduction
Research Papers: Guides for Research and Writing
Background Information: Specialized Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
Dates and Events: Chronologies and Calendars
Books: Author and Subject Searches in Catalogs
Journals and Journal Articles: Searching Print and Electronic Indexes
Primary Sources: Identifying and Locating Them
Biographical Information: Identifying Print and Online Resources
Government Information
Internet Resources: Web Sites Dedicated to All Aspects of Military Science

 

Introduction

This guide to library research in the field of military science presents a brief selection of resources available to Valley Library users. The guide is arranged by the discipline's subject literature categories (dictionaries, encyclopedia, chronologies, etc.). The names of these categories may be used as keywords or sub-headings for effective searching in OSU Libraries Online Catalog.

united states--history, military--encyclopedia (subject search)
world war I--chronology (title keyword search)

Research Papers: Guides for Research and Writing

Research:

  • American Civil War: A Handbook of Literature and Research E456 .A41 1996
  • American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature REF D20 .A51 1995
  • Guide to the Sources of British Military History DA50 .G81 1971
  • Guide to the Sources of United States Military History E181 .G8 1975
  • Handbook of American Military History: From the Revolutionary War to the Present E181 .G8 1996
  • Historian's Handbook: A Descriptive Guide to Reference Works Z6201 .P65
  • Peace and War: A Guide to Bibliographies JX1952 .C381 1983
  • Reference Guide to United States Military History REF E181 .R34 1991
  • Reference Sources in History: An Introductory Guide D20 .F71 1990
  • Student's Guide to History D16.3 .B4 1983

Writing:

  • Chicago Manual of Style Z253 .U69 1993
  • Complete Guide to Citing Government Information Sources REF J9.5 .G31 1993
  • Electronic Style: A Guide to Citing Electronic Information PN171 .D37 L5 1993
  • MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers LB2369 .G53 2003
  • Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association BF76.7 .P83 1984
  • Ask for copies of these style manuals at the Reference Desk.

Background Information: Specialized Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Encyclopedias: Subject encyclopedias are organized alphabetically and contain authoritative information on various topics. Overviews of current research and short bibliographies on specific topics also are included. Use them to discover, develop, and narrow topics for research papers.

  • Countries and Their Cultures (online)

    Encyclopedia of Colonial and Revolutionary America     E188 .E63 1990
  • Encyclopedia of the North American Colonies REF E45 .E53 1993
  • Encyclopedia of World History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern D21 .L3 1972
  • Encyclopedia of the American Military UA 23 .E56 1994
  • Harper Encyclopedia of Military History from 3500 B.C. to the Present UA23 .E56 1994
  • International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences H40 .A2 I5
  • United States in World War I: an Encyclopedia REF D510 .U65 1995
  • US War Machine: An Encyclopedia of Military Equipment and Strategy UA23 .U79 1983

Dictionaries: Specialized dictionaries define terms, concepts, and jargon used in a particular field or subject, sometimes in extended entries.

  • Dictionary of American History 3rd ed. (online)
  • Dictionary of Battles D25 .A2 H2 1971
  • Dictionary of Concepts in History REF D13 .R49 1986
  • Dictionary of Military Terms: A Guide to the Language of Warfare and Military Institutions REF U24 .D87 1986
  • Dictionary of Wars D25 .A2 K63 1986
  • Handbook of American Military History E181 .H23 1996
  • Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War REF E468 .H57 1986
  • Naval Terms Dictionary V23 .N6 1988

Dates and Events: Chronologies and Calendars

  • American Military History E181 .M18 1973
  • Chronology of the Modern World REF D209 .W59 1994b
  • Chronology of the United States REF 174.5 .C63
  • Civil War Almanac E468.3 .B68 1983
  • Civil War Day by Day Almanac, 1861-1865 E468.3 .L6
  • Chronicle of the First World War D523 .G634 1990

Books: Author and Subject Searches in Catalogs

OSU Libraries Online Catalog is the primary tool for finding books and periodicals owned by the library, as well as for locating and requesting materials from nearby libraries. You may search the database by Subject, Author, and Title. OSU Libraries Online Catalog catalogs its subjects according to the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH Red Books), which means that, when necessary, you must consult the Red Books to determine which headings match your subject. Speak to a reference librarian when you need help subject-searching. Here is a link to the Library of Congress Classification of Military Science and some subject-searching categories:

Library of Congress Classification: Military Science

Heading--Sub-heading

  • Air Warfare
  • Nuclear Ships
  • Ordnance Naval
  • Patton, George, 1885-1945
  • United States--air forces
  • United States Marine Corps
  • United States--history--civil war, 1861-1865
  • United States--history, military--20th century
  • War--economic aspects--Soviet Union
  • War of 1812--United States--history--causes
  • Warships
  • Weapons--dictionaries
  • World War, 1939-1945

Journals: Searching for Articles in Print and Electronic Indexes

Professional journals are an important component of the literature of military science and history. Usually, these periodicals contain articles that present detailed accounts of original research, supported with logical analysis and thorough documentation (charts, graphs, footnotes, bibliographies, etc.). They are essential secondary sources for in-depth research on a particular topic.

Basic Databases and Indexes


  • Academic Search Premier
    The world's largest academic multi-disciplinary database, Academic Search Premier provides full text for nearly 4,600 scholarly publications, including full text for more than 3,500 peer-reviewed journals. Coverage spans virtually every area of academic study and offers information dating as far back as 1975.

Comprehensive Databases and Indexes

  • America: History and Life
    Covers scholarly literature relating to North American history from prehistoric times to the present day. Covers over 2000 journals in 40 languages.
  • Historical Abstracts
    Provides access to scholarly publications on world history (outside of the U.S. and Canada) from 1450 to the present day. Covers 2100 journals in 50 languages.
  • Military and Government Collection
    Designed to offer current news pertaining to all branches of the military and government, this database offers a thorough collection of periodicals, academic journals, and other content pertinent to the increasing needs of those sites. The Military & Government Collection provides cover-to-cover full text for nearly 400 journals and periodicals and indexing and abstracts for more than 500 titles.
  • NTIS (National Technical Information Service)
    Government database indexing government-sponsored research. It contains many abstracts to technical reports not indexed in other databases. NTIS is equivalent to the Government Announcements Index.

Science Citation Index

Indexes over 4500 publications covering all aspects of the sciences. 1989-1996 on CD network (access by folder on library computers). Access 1996-present through Web of Science. Previous to 1989 in paper (Valley Reference Z7401 .S35)

Social Sciences Citation Index

Indexes over 5000 publications covering all aspects of the social sciences. 1996-present online through Web of Science. On CD in Valley Library Online Reference Folder, 1987-2001 (look for icon on library computers). 1969-1996 in paper (Valley Reference H1 .S61).

Electronic journals

OSU Libraries online journals related to military science

These must be searched one journal title at a time, so this is not a very efficient way to search.

Unless you are interested in searching one specific electronic journal, it is recommended that you use a periodical index/database to do your searching. One advantage of electronic journals is that they are full-text online. This list is subject to change, and years of coverage will vary by journal.

Primary Sources: Identifying and Locating Them

Primary sources are the original, first-hand accounts of a subject or event. They include letters, diaries, manuscripts, autobiographies, interviews, opinions, surveys, investigations, court testimony and depositions, and government documents. You will find primary source material in books, bibliographies, newspapers, and periodicals. For a detailed explanation on how to locate and use primary sources, see Library Research Using Primary Sources, from UC-Berkeley, or Primary Sources Research, from Yale University.

Biographical Information: Print and Online Resources

  • Dictionary of American Military Biography U52 .D53 1984
  • Dictionary of National Biography REF DA28 .D5
  • Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography CT103 .I5
  • Between the Years 1851-1900. CT773 .B6
  • Webster's American Military Biographies REF U52 .W4 1984
  • Who's Who in Modern History 1860-1980 CT168 .P34 1981
  • Biography Index REF CT100 .B5 Indexes over 2700 English-language publications from 1946 to the present.

Government Information

Link to The Valley Library's Government Information page for access to a wide range of resources pertaining to government information.

  • CIS Annual: DOCS REF KF49 .C61 1975
    Annual index of House and Senate documents and reports. (Also included in LexisNexis Congressional database)
  • GPO Monthly Catalog (online) 1976-present
    Comprehensive source for locating U.S. government documents published by the Government Printing Office. Citations to agency reports, congressional hearings, special commissions, statistical reports, et. al.
  • Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications:
    DOCS REF Z1223 .A14 no. (historic)
    Precursor to GPO Monthly Catalog (above). Monthly account of government reports and studies from all branches of government.
  • U.S. Congressional Committee Hearings Index: DOCS REF KF40 .C56 1981
    Indexes more recent House and Senate documents.
  • U.S. Serial Set Index, 1857-1969: DOCS REF KF49 .C61 1975
    Indexes House and Senate reports by name, subject, number, etc.

Internet Resources

Return to Table of Contents

Return to the Alphabetical or Subject index of the Subject Research Guides.