Research Guides: Jewish Studies Resources: History

Background Sources

Encyclopaedia Judaica
Articles on Jewish life, culture, history, music, philosophy, and religion covering from the Second Temple period to the contemporary State of Israel, written by Israeli, American and European subject specialists.

American Jewish Desk Reference | American Jewish Historical Society.
One-volume reference book covers all aspects of Jewish life in the United States from 1654 to present including history, religion, family life, law, politics, business, education, music and the arts, sports, entertainment, books, language, and science.
Cambridge Companion to American Judaism.
American Judaism from 1654 to the 21st century.
Encyclopedia of American Jewish History.
Jewish society and culture in America over three and a half centuries. Includes immigration & settlement, demographic & economic profiles, Jews in the South & other communities, American Jewish press, American Jews and sports, Jewish organizations, Social Movements, and more.
Encyclopedia of Jewish American Popular Culture.
Chronicles past and present popular culture in art, film, drama, music, radio, television, comic books, the graphic novel, and more. Includes articles on film, film stars, film producers and directors, television, television stars, Hollywood moguls, Yiddish theater, Yiddish film, and theater.

Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World
Jewish life and culture in Muslim lands particularly in the late medieval, early modern and modern periods. Updated annually.

Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities.
History of every congregation and significant Jewish community in the South (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia).

Oxford Bibliographies
Literary guide to significant sources on a variety of subjects. Works as an annotated bibliography and a high-level encyclopedia.
Oxford Research Encyclopedias
Lengthy overview articles written, peer-reviewed, and edited by leading scholars.

YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe.
Articles on the history and culture of Jews in Eastern Europe from the beginnings of their settlement in the region to the present.