Reference Sources

Reference sources provide general background information on a subject or topic. They can often be a good place to start your research, especially if you have a topic with which you are unfamiliar. Make sure to note the original source of the information, which is usually identified in the form of a bibliography. You can use these references to find more information on the same topic.

Selected Print Reference Resources

Selected Electronic and Web Resources

  • Asian Pacific American history and culture
  • Provides detailed information about the history and culture of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States. Includes documents, image collections, and other resources.
    http://catalog.lib.washington.edu/record=b4590893

  • Asian and Pacific American 2002 Snapshot
  • Census Bureau press release April 2002
    http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p20-540.pdf

  • Britannica Online
    The online version of one of the world's great encyclopedias. (Users must be connected to the UW computer network.)
    http://www-lj.eb.com:180/

  • Statistical Abstract of the United States
  • Access to statistical data from the Census Bureau. Publications listed are displayed in the Portable Document Format (PDF). In order to view these files, you will need the Adobe(R) Acrobat(R) Reader.
    http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/01statab/stat-ab01.html

  • Statistical Universe
  • Provides abstracts and indexes of statistical information from over 100,000 U.S. government publications from 1973, state and private sources from 1980, and approximately 2000 documents from international organizations from 1983. Full-text or web links provided for some citations.
    http://web.lexis-nexis.com/statuniv

  • Ethnic Studies Subject page
    Ethnic Studies Subject Page on the University of Washington libraries Information Gateway.
    http://www.lib.washington.edu/subject/EthnicStudies/

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