Tips
Encyclopedias are great for:
- choosing a topic
- quick self-education
- perspective on a topic
- variant spellings, vocabulary, terminology
- bibliography
Wikipedia?
You already know how helpful it is to get some background information on your research topics. Wikipedia is often the default because it's so easy to find an entry and the entries are often helpful.
That said, the quality and reliability of Wikipedia entries is not something you can count on. In addition, most Cornell instructors will tell you that you cannot cite Wikipedia entries.
For this course, you may want to browse or search some of the library's online subject encyclopedias. Admittedly, they are not as easy to search, but the quality of the entries is often worth the effort. In addition, the entries are signed by the author and include the citation.
Wikipedia's events by year entries (for example 1936 in the United States) can be helpful starting points, but remember a list is an interpretation of significance, and your own choices will be richer and more interesting.
Historical Statistics
Historical Statistics of the United States
Statistical Abstract of the United States.
Standard annual summary of statistics on the social, political and economic organization of the United States. A fabulous statistical reference and guide to other statistical publications and sources.
Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970. (Olin Reference HA 202 A385 1976 +) Now online as pdfs: Volume 1, and Volume 2.