ISP 605

The American Revolution

To understand the United States as a nation today, it is essential to know how and why the founders of the country chose to pursue a path of independence from the ruling British Empire. The ideals and beliefs of the founders that were so instrumental in declaring America to be an independent nation in 1776 still have a great deal of influence over the actions of today's government. The recent terrorist events that occurred in the United States have renewed discussion of Americans' basic rights, patriotism, and the ideals that created the foundations of this country. Because of this renewed interest, it is very important that people understand how and why we function the way we do as a country. In order to fully understand today's modern issues of basic rights and patriotism, we must first understand the foundations from which our country was born.

This pathfinder is intended as a guide to help researchers find basic information that will serve as a starting place to better understand the American Revolution. The literature listed in this pathfinder includes information regarding the causes of the revolutionary movement, main battles, key characters, and the conclusion of the conflict that established our country as an independent nation. This information comes from several different types of sources, including reference materials, journals, online databases and indexes, as well as internet resources. The pathfinder is intended for students and other researchers attending the University at Albany. Thus, most of the resources listed are located in the University's library collections. Users of public libraries will also find this pathfinder very relevant and useful.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

The following subject headings may be used when searching for books and other materials related to the American Revolution. They are most useful for searching online catalogs, but they can also be used in searching indexes and abstracts as well as the World Wide Web.

Revolutionary Period 1775-1783
Revolutionary Literature
United States--History--Revolution

Browsing Areas

Sometimes it is difficult to find relevant information through the online catalog. So, you may opt to browse the shelves that contain materials on the American Revolution. The following range of call numbers represent the areas where these materials are located:

E201- E298

Key to Abreviations and Locations

REF = Reference
ULIB = University Library
UALB = University at Albany
ARBA = American Reference Book Annual
GTRB = Guide to Reference Books

Bibliographies

Bibliographies are an excellent starting point when trying to find good books and prominent authors in a certain field. The following sources provide such information on American History literature with an emphasis on the writing of and about the American Revolution.

Blackey, Robert. Revolutions and Revolutionists: A Comprehensive Guide to the Literature. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, Inc., 1982. (UALB DEWEY HM283 Z999 B64X)

Coakley, Robert W., and Stetson Conn. The War of the American Revolution. Washington: US Army Center of Military History, 1975. (UALB ULIB J85D 114.2:AM3)

A brief narrative, a chronology, and a select bibliography (GTRB).

Freidel, Frank, ed. Harvard Guide to American History. Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1974. (UALB ULIB REF E178 Z999 H37)

Gephart, R.M. Revolutionary American 1763-1789: A Bibliography. 2 vols. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, 2v. 1984. (UALB ULIB Gov Doc J85 LC 1.12/2:R 32/4/763-789)

Contains 14,110 annotated entries, encompassing over 20,000 titles arranged in twelve chronological and thematic chapters followed by an extensive essay (Walford's Guide to Reference Material).

Prucha, Francis Paul. Handbook for Research in America History: A Guide to Bibliographies and Other Reference Works. 2nd ed. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1994. (UALB ULIB REF E 178 Z999 P78X 1994)

Contains 1,000 items, many of which are either discussed in the test or annotated, and all are arranged in twenty chapters covering both traditional library reference materials and more specialized tools such as oral history and legal materials and picture sources (ARBA).

Shy, John. The American Revolution. Northbrook, IL: AHM Publishing Corp., 1973. (UALB ULIB Z1238 S45)

Smith, Dwight L. The Era of the American Revolution. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1975. (UALB ULIB E208 Z999 E73X)

A classified listing of 1,400 entries from America: History and Life.

Biographical Sources

These sources contain biographies of some prominent and some not-so-prominent figures of the American Revolution. In addition to the biographies that the following sources give, there are bibliographies that direct you where to for further information.

Barthelmas, Della Gray. The Signers of the Declaration of Independence: A Biographical and Genealogical Reference. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1997. (UALB ULIB REF E221 B37 1997)

Provides biographical and genealogical information on the lives of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. For each signer, information is divided into three parts. First a brief look at their lives, second supplementary information, such as physical appearance, anecdotes, and present-day markers or memorials that commemorate his life; and the third section traces the signer's lineage back several generations (ARBA).

Crary, Catherine S. The Price of Loyality: Tory Writings from the Revolutionary Era. NY: McGraw-Hill, 1973. (UALB ULIB E 277C72)

This work contains the stories told in their own words by the Loyalists themselves. A sampling of assorted Loyalists experiences, both propitious and tragic, in various colonies from the time of the Tea Act through the period of the Loyalists exodus and dispersal at the close of the war (Book Review Digest).

Ellet, E.F. Revolutionary Women in the War for American Independence: A One-Volume Revised Edition of Elizabeth Ellet's 1884 Landmark Series. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1989. (UALB ULIB E 276 E45 1998)

Contains biographical sketches of American women in the American revolution, also includes bibliographical references.

Ferling, John E. Setting the World Ablaze: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and the American Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. (UALB ULIB E 302.5 F46 2000)

Contains a joint biography of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson that dwells upon the negotiations in congress throughout the 1770's, the battles, strategy, and politics of the War for Independence, and the diplomacy of the American Revolution (New England Quarterly).

Fredriksen, John C. American Military Leaders: From Colonial Times to the Present. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1999. 2v. (UALB ULIB REF E181 F84 1999 v.1, UALB ULIB REF E181 F84 1999 v.2)

Includes sketches of the men and women who have made up the leadership of the US military experience. Notes for further reading are added after each biography. A fifteen-page index provides ample access to individuals, battles, and events throughout the text of all the sketches (ARBA).

Humphreys, David. David Humphreys' "Life of General Washington": with George Washington's "Remarks". Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 1991. (UALB ULIB E 312 H94 1991)

Lieutenant Colonel Humphreys was a poet and an aide-de-camp to George Washington during the Revolution. For 18 months in 1787-88 he lived with the Washington's at Mount Vernon. During that time he began an authorized biography, which the general himself corrected and annotated. This book contains new material about George Washington, one of the most researched figures in all American history (Book Review Digest).

Kaplan, Sidney. The Black Presence in the Era of the American Revolution. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 1989. (UALB ULIB E 269 N3 K36 1989)

With over 100 reproductions of portraits and facsimiles of diaries, letter and other documents Kaplan presents a record of the role blacks played throughout the Revolution (Book Review Digest).

Palmer, Gregory. Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution. London: Meckler Publishing, 1984. (UALB ULIB REF E277 P24 1984)

Gives a brief description of each individual, why they were considered loyalists, what role they played during the revolution to support the British and their claims for property lost to the US government

Massey, Gregory D. John Laurens and the American Revolution. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2000. (UALB ULIB E 207 L37 M38 2000)

This is a biography of a Southern Revolutionary war officer who "convinced his reluctant father to agree to using the family slaves as the basis of a regiment to fight for South Carolina in exchange for their freedom" (Journal of American History).

Walmsley, Andrew S. Thomas Hutchinson and the Origins of the American Revolution. New York: New York University Press, 1999. (UALB ULIB F 67 H982 W35 1999)

This is a biography of Thomas Hutchinson, the last civilian governor of colonial Massachusetts (American Historical Review).

Dictionaries

The following sources provide useful background information for the study of the American Revolution. They also provide bibliographies and reading lists that allow users to begin further research. These sources should primarily be used as reference works or as an introduction to research topics.

Adams, James Truslow, ed. Dictionary of American History. New York: Scribner's 1976. 8v. (UALB ULIB REF E174 D52 1976 v.1-8)

Contains 6,200 written by approximately 800 authors. The dictionary has articles of varying lengths from a short paragraph to several pages. Longer articles are subdivided chronologically and if necessary by specific aspects of a given subject (ARBA).

Mays, Terry M. Historical Dictionary of the American Revolution. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow, 1999. (UALB ULIB E209 M36 1999)

This source provides over 1,000 articles, covering people, places, battles, events, individual countries (France, Spain), and issues related to the Revolutionary period from the mid-1760's to 1783. While the book covers a wide range of topics, thee author favors the military aspect of the Revolution, providing entries for many forts, vessels and minor battles (ARBA).

Encyclopedias

The encyclopedias listed are a good place to begin your research on the American Revolution, especially if you are unsure of your topic or need to find additional information in order to continue your research. These sources should primarily be used as reference works or as an introduction to the research topic.

Boatner, M.M. Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. 3rd ed. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1994. (UALB ULIB REF E208 B68 1994)

Cross-reference entries include summary articles of important and pervasive topics and shorter entries for the leading Revolutionary figures and key issues. Contains fifty-four maps (Walford's Guide to Reference Material).

Faragher, John Mack, gen. ed. The Encyclopedia of Colonial and Revolutionary America. NY: Facts on File, 1990. (UALB ULIB E188 E63 1990)

Contains 1,500 short entries, covers from the Norse exploration to the end of the American Revolution. Emphasis is on the English colonies, with some treatment of the Spanish, French, and Russian colonies. Very useful cross-references (GTRB).

Green, Jack P. and J.R Pole, ed. The Blackwell Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Reference, 1991. (UALB ULIB REF E208 B635 1991)

Articles cover all the major topics relating to the Revolution, including its central events, the context in which it occurred, its causes, its effects, and the principal concepts associated with it. Includes maps (GTRB).

Levy, Leonard W. and Kenneth L. Karst, ed. Encyclopedia of the American Constitution. 2nd ed. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2000. 6v. (UALB ULIB REF KF4548 E53 2000 V.1-6)

Contains essays by leading constitutional scholars, law school professors, judges, historians, and political scientists on practical and theoretical topics dealing with every aspect of constitutional law in the US (Booklist).

Atlases

The atlases listed below are all historical atlases that can be used to study boundary changes, military campaigns, early exploration and similar topics. These sources can be especially useful in researching the American Revolution because they help to put the different events that took place during this time period into a framework that can useful in understanding the factors and conditions the war was fought under.

Barnes, Ian. The Historical atlas of the American Revolution. New York: Routledge, 2000. (UALB ULIB E 208 B36 2000)

Details the entire history of the struggle for independence, from Colonial governments and North American extensions of European wars to the early days of the American Republic, uses full color maps and vivid illustrations in two-page spreads to tell the story of the founding of the USA. The book focuses on the land and sea battles of the Revolutionary War in places like Bunker Hill, Trenton, Saratoga, Guilford Courthouse, Chesapeake Bay, and Yorktown, but attention is also paid to aspects of society at large like the awakening of religious zeal inspired by George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards, the destination of immigrants, the slave trade, and relations with the Native Americans. Also explored is the political dimension of the role of the colonies as a piece of the British Empire and the international impact of the Revolution (Books in Print).

Boatner, Mark M. Landmarks of the American Revolution: A Guide to Locating and Knowing What Happened at the Sites of Independence. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1973. (UALB ULIB REF E 159 B67)

This volume covers all major historic sites of the Revolution in the United States and Canada. The author provides an introduction to each state that recapitulates its Revolutionary War history, and gives sources of current information produced annually by local tourist and historical agencies. Enough historical background is given for each site to indicate its significance (Book Review Digest).

Cappon, Lester J., ed. and Barbara Bartz Petchenik, cartographic ed. Atlas of Early American History: The Revolutionary Era, 1760-1790. Princeton, NJ: Newberry Library and the Institute of Early American History and Culture by Princeton University Press, 1976. (UALB ULIB G1202 S3 A8 1976)

Contains seventy-four pages of colored maps of varying size, followed by extensive explanatory text and a detailed index (GTRB).

Carrington, Henry Beebee. Battle Maps and Charts of the American Revolution, with Explanatory Notes and School History References. NY: Arno Press, 1974. (UALB ULIB E230 C322 1974)

The maps trace the course of the war chronologically. Contains a summary of the battle or siege, giving the date, the names of the American and British commanders, and the development of the action. Included are the number of British and American troops involved and the number of casualties on each side (Book Review Digest).

Harley, J.B. Mapping the American Revolutionary War. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1978. (UALB Storage CCBE 1999 GA 405.5 H 37)

Besides maps this work contains three contempory and two retrospective essays (Walford's Guide to Reference Material)

Kagan, Hilde Heun. The American Heritage Pictorial Atlas of United States History. NY: American Heritage Pub. Co., 1966. (UALB ULIB REF G 1201 S1 A4 1966)

Maps and pictures are reproduced and the narrative is by well known writers (Book Review Digest).

Lord, Clifford L. and Elizabeth H. Lord. Historical Atlas of the United States. New York: Johnson Reprint Corp., 1972. (UALB STORAGE CCBE 1999 G 1202 S1 L6 1972)

This source provides a unique perspective on American history. In addition to hundreds of maps, this atlas incorporates more than 450 photographs, 80 graphs, and 140,000 words of text. It is an interesting volume that interweaves the historical timeline of American history throughout its chapters: "Land", "People", "Boundaries", "Economy", 'Networks", and "Communities" (Bopp and Smith).

Marshall, Douglas W., and Howard H. Peckham. Campaigns of the American Revolution: An Atlas of Manuscript Maps. Maplewood, NJ: Hammond, 1976. (UALB Storage CCBE 1999 G 1201 S3 M37X)

The maps range from crude field sketches to high examples of cartographic art which were produced after the heat of battle as a record of the event. The authors have selected 56 maps that show the scope and progress of our war of independence (ARBA).

Nebrenzahl, Kenneth. Atlas of the American Revolution. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1974. (UALB ULIB G1201 S3 N4 1974)

Reproductions of 18th century maps with commentary and narrative text (GTRB).

Almanacs and Handbooks

The almanacs and handbooks provided serve as a way to quickly answer questions about the American Revolution. Theses sources can be used to find factual information about the events, organizations, people, places and trends that had an effect on the lives of people living during the time period.

Bowman, John S., ed. Facts About the American Wars. NY: New England Publishing Associates, Inc. 1989. pp.68-113. (UALB ULIB REF E181 F28 1998)

The treatment of the Revolutionary War follows a twenty-one-part format, which includes issues as causes of the war, battles and campaigns, home front, results, casualties, military innovations, negotiations, legends, civilian and military biographies, and further readings. At thee heart of each entry is a detailed chronology of events (ARBA).

Coakley, Robert W. The War of the American Revolution: Narrative, Chronology, and Bibliography. Washington,DC: Center of Military History, 1975. (UALB ULIB GOV DOC J85D 114.2:AM3)

The handbook, compiled by the Defense Department for army personnel, discusses the military history of the American Revolution from the initial confrontation and "first shots" to victory in Yorktown. The development of the colonial army is included. International relations among the Americans, English and French are explored in some depth (ARBA).

Franklin, Benjamin. Poor Richard's Almanac. [Boston]: McKay, 1963. (UALB ULIB PS 749 A6 M3)

Poor Richard's Almanac was the almanac written and published by Benjamin Franklin. He issued the almanac from 1733-1758. The almanac grew into one of the most popular and influential works printed in colonial America. The philosophies contained in this work greatly influenced American thought before and after the Revolutionary War (The World Book Encyclopedia).

Schlesinger, Arthur M., ed. The Almanac of American History. New York: Putnam, 1983. (UALB ULIB REF E174.5 A45 1983)

Covers the developments in American history. The almanac is divided into five major sections, each documenting the events of a certain time period. A concise essay about that time period prefaces each section. This is followed by a chronology of significant political, economic, military, cultural, and international events. Also includes brief sketches of major figures and movements from American history (ARBA).

Indexes and Abstracts

Research about the American Revolution is found in the literature of various sources. To find further related information, look in the databases listed below under such topics as the American Revolution, Colonial government, the names of various battles or colonial leaders and the Library of Congress Subject Headings listed at the beginning of this pathfinder. The order the indexes are displayed below reflects which ones are more likely to have a greater number of references to relevant published material. All of the databases and abstracts listed below can be accessed online through the Albany Libraries homepage (http://library.albany.edu/).

America: History and Life. ABC-Clio Inc., 1982-. Updated three times a year.

Covers the history and culture of the United States and Canada from prehistoric times to the present. Over 90% of the articles are from English-language journals. The database also includes citations to dissertations, book reviews, and media reviews (America: History and Life).

Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale Group, 1980-. Updated daily.

General database covering astronomy, religion, law, history, psychology, humanities, current events, sociology, communications and the general sciences (Expanded Academic ASAP).

InfoTrac Onefile. Gale Group,1980-. Updated daily.

General database with access to 6,000 publications including refereed academic journals spanning the disciplines and general interest magazines. There is a particularly strong coverage in business, technology, law, health care and news/newswires. Contains 3,000 publications that are available in full text. Dates covered: 1980+, Updated: daily (InfoTrac Onefile).

Internet Resources

There are a multitude of sites on the web devoted to the history of the American Revolution. The following are some of the best web sources for information about the topic. They represent a wide variety of possible research interests. Many of the sites provide links to other related sites that may be useful to you in your topic development and research.

The American Revolution: The Struggle for Independence

This site relates to the events leading up to, and including, the Revolutionary War. There is a timeline, book reviews, articles, links to other sites on the Web, and important documents from that time, including declarations from the Continental Congress and Thomas Paine's Common Sense (Librarian's Index to the Internet).

Bibliographies of the War of American Independence

This site contains the bibliographies originally compiled for inclusion in US Army Center of Military History publication on the Continental Army. Due to limited space not all entries could be published. This site contains versions of the bibliographies that are considerably longer than the original publications. Authored by the US Army Center of Military History, Historical Resources Branch.

Encyclopedia.com

This site contains various articles relating to most aspects of the American Revolution. Contains useful cross-references.

Intelligence in the War of Independence

A history of the use of intelligence by the United States during the Revolutionary War. Contains information on the committee of secret Correspondence, the Committee on Spies, secret writings, codes and ciphers, George Washington, and Paul Revere and the Mechanics. Includes a bibliography of recommended publications. Authored by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (Librarian's Index to the Internet).

Liberty! The American Revolution

The official online companion to LIBERTY! The six part documentary series about the two and a half decades of debate and rebellion, war and peace. Contains headlines, timelines, resource material and related topics. Authored by Wells Fargo and PBS Online.

NSSAR- Military Actions in the American Revolution

Contains a list of over 400 battles, descriptions of battles. Divides the battles up by the theater that they took place in and gives a brief description. Also provides more than 2.500 references to documents describing the military events of the war. Authored by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The Privateers and the American Revolution

At the outset of the American Revolution, the colonies had no navy. Instead they worked with the resources they had, privateers. The privateers who helped put economic pressure on Britain through piracy proved to be very instrumental in the American victory. This website provides a general summary of the American privateer's accomplishments.

SAR Historical and Genealogical Research Library

The Sons of the American Revolution Library maintains a non-circulation collection for genealogy and American Revolutionary War history and military records. The library includes family genealogies, state and county history and vital statistics, federal census records through 1860 for every state, Revolutionary War Pension Applications and a special George Washington Collection.

Spy Letters of the American Revolution

View scanned images of original spy letters sent during the American Revolution, along with transcriptions and background information for each. Learn the techniques spies used in letter writing, read brief biographies of Benedict Arnold, Ann Bates and Miss Jenny, as well as other famous people, such as the Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington, and Paul Revere. A map shows the routes taken by the letters. Authored by Kate Foster, Cynthia Ghering, Michelle Light, and Melissa McCollum (Librarian's Index to the Internet).

Women and the American Revolution- Female Soldiers

This site gives extensive information on women in the American Revolution. The roles of these women varied from female fighters, spies and nurses, to women protecting the home front during the War.

Created By: Emily Bayzon
Send Comments to: eb7176@albany.edu School Of Information and Policy, University At Albany, SUNY
Last Updated: December 19, 2003