ENG 3310
Resources for Library Research in Symbolic (Memorial) Architecture
Librarian: Jennifer Boxen (jboxen@fau.edu)
March 2, 2006

A research guide on architecture featuring print and online  resources is available at: http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/ref/rsguide/archgu/Main.htm

 

I. Locating books in the Library:

1. WebLUIS (the Library's catalog): click on Catalog or Books. The following types of basic searches are available:

A. Keywords: This search looks for a word anywhere in the record. Keywords can be truncated with a ? For example, symb.? will search for symbol, symbolic, symbolism etc. Also, you can search for 2 or 3 keywords next to each other this way: symbolism adj in adj architecture (adj stands for adjacent).
B. Author's Name: last name first, you don't need to capitalize.
C. Title: if a title starts with "The," "A," or "An," omit that and skip to the next word.
D. Subject: This search looks for items classified by a subject heading and organizes the results into sub-topics. Subjects must be entered in a specific manner according to the Library of Congress subject headings. You may get a cross-reference to the preferred subject heading.  Some subject heading examples that might be useful:

• Symbolism in architecture
• Monuments--political aspects
• Memorials--political aspects
• War memorials --design
• Public art--history--20th Century
• World War, 1939-1945 -- monuments -- Washington (D.C.) -- exhibitions
• War II Memorial (Washington, D.C.)
• Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing Incident, 1988
• Art and state--history--19th century
• Decoration and ornament, architectural
• Color in architecture
• Organic architecture

 

*If you're not finding anything with a subject search try a keyword search instead*

E. Journal/Magazine Title: be sure to check the "Library Has" link to see which dates the Library owns. (Note: not all electronic journals we have are cataloged in WebLUIS. There is also a link to a list of all electronic journals available at FAU.)

Note the location box, which can be used to limit your search to a particular campus as well as sections of the library such as the Reference, Curriculum, Media Center, or Government Documents Collections.  The advanced search screen allows combination of search terms using AND, OR, NOT as well as ability to limit by format, language, and/or date.

II. Searching for articles in databases

To search for articles click on "Indexes/Databases" or "Articles". There are both alphabetical and subject listings of databases. Remember that many of the strategies that you use to search for material in the catalog can also be used in online databases. Note: when using these databases from off-campus you must log in through the EZ-Proxy link. You will need to enter the number from your Owl Card in order to do this.  The SFX feature allows you to link to external sources such as other databases holding the full text of the article, the Library's catalog, the list of FAU's electronic journals, etc.

Selected Library Databases

1. Academic Search Premier
Academic Search Premier, designed specifically for academic institutions, is the world's largest scholarly, multi-disciplinary full text database containing full text for nearly 4,700 publications, including more than 3, 600 peer-reviewed publications.

2. Art Index with full text/Art Index Retrospective
Subjects include Advertising Art, Antiques, Archaeology, Architecture and Architectural History, Art History, Crafts, Decorative Arts, Folk Art, Graphic Arts, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Motion Pictures, Museology, Non-Western Art, Painting, Photography, Pottery, Sculpture, Television, and Textiles. Full-text coverage for Art Index with Full Text begins in 1997. Art Index Retrospective is a bibliographic database that cumulates citations to Art Index volumes 1-32 of the printed index published between 1929-1984.

3. Arts and Humanities Search (AH SEARCH) (FirstSearch)
Provides complete access to articles from more than 1,300 of the world's leading arts and humanities journals as well as access to relevant articles in over 5,000 social science and science journals. Covers 1980 to present. Available through FAU Electronic Collections.

4.  Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals
This database offers broad listings of journal articles published worldwide on architecture and design, as well as archaeology, city planning, interior design and historic preservation. The scope is international with inclusion of indexes for international scholarly and popular periodical literature, publications of professional associations, US state and regional periodicals, and major serial publications from Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia. Includes obituary citations which serve as an excellent biographical resource on professionals associated with these fields. FYI, this database is the only comprehensive American index to the current periodical literature on architecture and design. Updated weekly. Covers 1930's to present (with some selective coverage dating back to the 1860's). Available through FAU Electronic Collections.

5. ARTstor
ARTstor is a non-profit initiative, founded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with a mission to use digital technology to enhance scholarship, teaching and learning in the arts and associated fields. The ARTstor Digital Library Charter Collection is a repository of hundreds of thousands of digital images and related data and tools to actively use those images

6. Groveart
Most comprehensive online, full text reference resource for all aspects of the visual arts - architecture, decorative arts, graphic arts, painting, photography, sculpture - dating from prehistory to current. Includes more than 45,000 signed articles, over 500,000 bibliographical citations, 30,000 links to color images (plus 130,000 searchable images), over 21,000 biographies and links to 1,000+ relevant web sites. The scope of the database is multicultural. It is updated quarterly. Covers 1996 to present. Available through FAU Electronic Collections

 III. Print Resources

Not every resource available for a project will be available electronically. Many valuable resources on architecture, monuments, memorials, and symbolism are available in print format in the Library's reference collection.  Some these include:

A.  Information about Architecture:

Encyclopedia of architectural and engineering feats	REF NA200 .L32 2001
The elements of style : an practical encyclopedia of interior  architectural details, from 1485 to the present 1996	REF NA2850 .E44 1996
Dictionary of architectural and building technology	REF NA31 .C63 2004
A visual dictionary of architecture	REF NA31 .C44 1995
American architecture : an illustrated encyclopedia	REF NA705 .H36 1998
Encyclopedia of 20th century architecture	REF NA680 .E495 2004

B.  Information about symbolism:

Elsevier's dictionary of symbols and imagery	REF BL600.V74 2004
The Facts on File dictionary of numerical allusions	REF AG5 .U73 1986
Illustrated dictionary of symbols in eastern and western art	REF N7740 .H35 1994

See the research guide link at the top of this page for more print resources.

IV. Citing your References

APA style is the way to format research papers based on the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2001). This book is available in the Reference area and on 3 hour reserve (BF 76.7 P83 2001). Many quick reference guides to APA & other styles are available on the Internet. An example from Purdue University is:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html

V. Need more help?

In -Person: at the Reference Desk

Reference Desk Phone Number: 561-297-3785

Ask A Librarian: assistance by email or instant messaging

Library Hours