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June 1988, update of February 2001
Anthony Vaver, Humanities Librarian
An interdisciplinary approach to the myths, values, symbols, institutions, and behavior of the peoples of the United States and to the questions raised by the influence of the United States in shaping the modern world. The American studies major is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the history and major features of American civilization. The department sponsors programs in law, journalism, film studies, and environmental studies.
The American Studies collection supports undergraduate study and faculty research using an interdisciplinary and comparative approach to the United States. Students examine the history of the United States, its politics, social forms, literature, art, popular culture, and thought.
The major areas of interest covered by the Department are:
The interdisciplinary approach emphasized by the Department means that virtually the entire collection will be utilized in research. Much reliance is placed upon materials acquired in the area of history. Materials that use a thematic approach to the history of the United States are emphasized. As such, topics covered range from sports to violence to the American character. Various disciplines are combined to go beyond a chronological view of events.
None Specified
The area of importance is the United States. Selected materials on Canada and other parts of the world are acquired, particularly when comparison with the United States is applicable.
No emphasis is placed on any particular time period of U.S. history-all are treated equally. In general, there is no limitation as to time period.
There is no limitation in regard to date of publication. However, availability and financial constraints place an emphasis on current imprints.
The primary language of the collection is English. No item is excluded from the collection solely because of language.
Monographs are primary to the collection. Biographies and autobiographies are valuable tools and collected as applicable. Oral history is appropriate to the collection. Significant reproductions of photographic collections are acquired. Transactions and proceedings of meetings, conferences, and symposia, as well as institutional and societal publications, are selectively acquired. Textbooks are rarely selected. Juvenile materials are excluded.
Serials are also primary to the collection.
The library buys or subscribes to electronic indexes and full-text databases that offer research value. Links to free websites are not actively collected together on the library's website.
Microforms are selectively purchased and include primary source materials, periodical and newspaper backfiles, and other items unavailable or too expensive in hard copy.
Dissertations are acquired only on a selective basis.
Video and audio materials are regularly acquired.
Materials are located in standard locations throughout the library.
The rare book collection in Special Collections includes books published in the 16th-18th centuries on such subjects as history, English and American literature, philosophy, and Judaica.
Special Collections holds the literary manuscripts of some American authors, music collections, and photographic collections. In addition, it includes collections of materials on left and right wing movements in the United States in the latter half of the twentieth century, anti-semitism, the Holocaust, and anti-alien and anti-radical sentiments prevalent in the 20th-century United States. The department also includes the papers of prominent American political figures such as Justice Louis D. Brandeis and Congressman Stephen Solarz.
Subject Area |
Collecting Levels |
| Sports | Undergraduate Study |
| Violence | Undergraduate Study |
| The American Character | Graduate Study |
| Immigration and Ethnicity | Research |
| Media and journalism | Undergraduate Study |
| Environment | Undergraduate Study |
| Film studies | Undergraduate Study |
