Research Guide for Film and Media Studies 101A: History of Cinema - Silent Cinema
Fall 2007
Assignment: To produce a individual research paper 9-10 pages due December 4, 2007.
Selected Reference Materials
The following is a selection of some of the reference books from the UCSB Libraries that might help you
further analyze your topic.
- The New York Times encyclopedia of film, 1896-1979
Reference PN1993.45 .N4 1984
- Directors and their films: a comprehensive reference, 1895-1990
Reference PN1998 .B85 1993
- The American Film Institute catalog of motion pictures produced in the United States
Reference PN1998 .A57
- The motion picture guide
ReferencePN1995 .N346 1985
- Silent film necrology : births and deaths of over 9000 performers, directors, producers and other filmmakers of the silent era
Reference PN1998.2 .V38 1995
- Magill’s survey of cinema--silent films
Reference PN1995.75 .M33 1982
- Within our gates: ethnicity in American feature films, 1911-1960
Reference PN1995.9.M56 W58 1997
- Silent Films 1877-1996
Reference PN1995.75.K57 1999
- A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors & Actresses
Reference PN1995.9.W4 K33 2002
- Encyclopedia of Early Cinema
Reference PN1993.45 .E53 2005
- History of the American Cinema
Reference PN1993.5.U6 H55
- The History of the Cinema 1895-1940: Handlist of Titles
Reference PN1993.5.A1 H5542 1989
Finding Journal Articles
From the Library's home page, select RESEARCH then ARTICLE INDEXES &
DATABASES to access the following select databases.
To access these databases from off campus, you must go through the
Off-Campus Log-In.
Tips in searching databases
Selected databases
- American Film Institute (AFI) Catalog
- America History and Life
- Expanded Academic
- Historical Abstracts
- Periodicals Index Online
- JSTOR
- MLA International Bibliography
- Index to Film Periodicals
- MLA International Bibliography
- International Index to the Performing Arts Full Text
- Project Muse
- WorldCat
Newspapers Online
- Historical Newspapers Online
- Los Angeles Times (Current:1985-present)
- Los Angeles Times (historical: 1881-1976)
- New York Times (Current:1999-present)
- New York Times (historical: 1857-1999)
- Wall Street Jounnal historical (1889-1986)
Documents
All of UCSB’s microformat resources are located in the Government Information Center (1st floor North)
These selected periodicals are held for the years listed in microformat:
- Chicago Defender (1909-1999)
Microfilm E185.5 C45
- Dramatic Mirror (1879-1922
Microfilm PN 2001 D73
- Film Daily Yearbook (1918-1969)
Microfilm PN 1993.3 F53
- Motion Picture Classic (1915-1931)
Microfilm PN 1993 M4
- Moving Picture World (1907-1927)
Microfilm PN 1993 M88
- Variety
Microfilm AP1 V35
Search Strategies
When available use the advance search function since this gives you all the
search options available for each
database. You will need to think about the terms you will use, how to combine
them, and more importantly, the time period.
- Use the " " to search a specific phrase as it
appears on the document, (e.g. "silent films",
" motion picture producers","screenwriters".)
- Use OR to combine terms when either one will
do: motion picture or cinema
- Use AND to force the results to have both
terms: politics AND motion pictures
- Most databases let you truncate by using a symbol to get other letters: cultur* gets you cultural , culture, culturalise...
- The truncation symbol can be a *, ?, ! or other symbols depending on the database
Accessing Articles Online
The UC-elinks record will indicate in what format these titles electronic or print copy.
If the article is not available electronically, you will need to get the Call
Number and location in order to find the
particular periodical in the library.
For example:
- Search Type: "Journal Title Begins with ..." Film History
Main Lib PN 1993 F56
- Search Type: "Journal Title Begins with..." Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television
Main Lib PN1993.5 A1 H54
Finding books
Use Pegasus to find books on your topic.
The UCSB catalog will also tell you if the library has a subscription to the journals you need.
More importantly the catalog record contains the call number, location,and availability of the
journals, books and other library materials. You will need these data to track down the items you want in the library
Use the MELYVL catalog if you cannot find the materials you need in the UCSB library.
MELVYL is the union catalog of the UC libraries.
Remember that it takes 1 week to request materials from other UC libraries via inter-library loan (ILL).
Ask for Help!
Remember to ASK FOR HELP when you need it. You can find a reference librarian at the Main Reference Desk during the week,
weekends and even on holidays. For reference help please call the reference desk (805) 893.3133.
Chimene Tucker: ctucker@library.ucsb.edu.