Native North America

Introduction to the Collections

The Humanities and Social Sciences Library possesses a broad, outstanding collection of published books, serials, and related materials on Native American culture and history. Responsibility for collecting works on Native North America lies with the General Research Division, accessible from Room 315 and the Rose Main Reading Room. Over the years, this collection has grown to reflect the great increase in publications on the indigenous peoples of North America. Since 1980, there has been a substantial increase in scholarly and commercial publishing on this subject. Many of these more recent works also demonstrate the broader attention now paid to native culture, and in particular, to specific aspects of native life. Additionally, many publications now incorporate a native viewpoint; writings by native authors and scholars have also increased. This bibliography takes note of these and other developments such as the renewed interest in Native American fine and decorative arts, historical analysis of Indian wars and civil rights movements, and the important issue of cultural patrimony, especially in the recent law devised to permit tribes to reclaim sacred artifacts and skeletal remains of ancestors from museums and other cultural institutions (known as repatriation). Terms for locating works on Native North America are described. Basic reference publications are listed, followed by the most up-to-date and key reference publications for relevant subject categories. A section describes how to locate periodical articles on Native North America from electronic and printed resources. Important Internet links appear at the end of this guide.

Materials on aspects of Native American culture may also be found within other areas of the Research Libraries. The Humanities and Social Sciences’ Special Collections also possess remarkable materials – pre-1900 illustrated plate books and prints can be found in the Rare Books Division and the Wallach Division’s Print Collection. The Arents Collection contains materials on natives and tobacco. The Wallach Division’s Photography Collection also possesses original photographs and published monographs related to native life. Materials on American Indians and the performing arts are collected by the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. These collections are included within CATNYP, the online catalog for the Research Libraries.

 

Compiled by Paula A. Baxter, 2002