RESOURCES ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN
ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS

ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND SPECIALIZED REFERENCE BOOKS

The Dictionary of Art (Ref N 31 .D5 1996)
Despite its title, this multivolume reference work is really an encyclopedia. Monumental in scope, it is the largest and most comprehensive reference work on the visual arts that has ever been published. Don't start any research on art without checking this source. It is also available online as Oxford Art Online.
Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Ref PS 153 .N5 A24 2003)
The Harlem Renaissance: A Historical Dictionary for the Era (Ref NX 511 .N4 H37 1984)
These reference books contain useful articles about significant people, organizations, publications, and artistic creations of the Harlem Renaissance. They can be very helpful in providing background information on the artists of this period.
Harlem Renaissance; a Gale Critical Companion, Vol. I (Ref PS 153 .N5 H245 2003 v. 1)
Part of a three-volume set devoted to study of the Harlem Renaissance, this first volume contains a large section on "The Visual Arts during the Harlem Renaissance." It provides a good critical overview of the movement, as well as lengthy excerpts from critical writings on many of the major artists of the period.
The Black Artist in America: An Index to Reproductions (Ref N 6538 .N5 T46 1991)
Besides listing many books and periodicals in which one can find reproductions of specific works by black American artists, this book also tells where to find additional information about the artists.

BIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCE BOOKS

St. James Guide to Black Artists (Ref N 40 S78 1997)
This book contains biographical information, as well as brief critical essays, on nearly four hundred prominent black artists, mostly of the twentieth century, though a small number of important nineteenth-century artists are included, too. Although most of the artists are from the United States, artists from Africa and other parts of the world are also included.
African Americans in the Visual Arts (Ref N 6538 .N5 O86 2003)
Twentieth-Century African-American Writers and Artists (Ref NX 512.3 .A35 H43 1991)
Women Artists of Color: A Bio-Critical Sourcebook to 20th Century Artists in the Americas (Ref N 8354 .W656 1999)
Articles in these books provide biographical information and critical assessment of African Americans prominent in the arts. The first book covers African Americans active in the past as well as today in all the visual arts, including photography and film. The second book covers prominent African-American writers, painters, sculptors, and musicians of the twentieth century. The third book provides similar articles about twentieth-century women artists from traditionally underrepresented ethnic groups; a section is devoted to African-American women artists.
Who's Who in American Art (Ref N 6536 .W5)
Who Was Who in American Art, 1564-1975 (Ref N 6536 .W56 1999)
The first book, which is issued every two years, provides directory information for thousands of living American artists, while the second contains brief articles on deceased artists from 400 years of American art.
Black Photographers, 1840-1940: An Illustrated Bio-Bibliography (Ref TR 139 .W55 1985)
Illustrated Bio-Bibliography of Black Photographers, 1940-1988 (Ref TR 139 .W55 1989)
These two books offer brief articles about African American photographers. Particularly noteworthy are the many reproductions of their photographs which are included at the back of each book.
Contemporary Photographers (Ref TR 139 .C664 1995)
This book provides background on the lives and careers of the world's most prominent and influential photographers who are still living or who have died in the recent past. Most articles are illustrated with a representative photo by the artist.
Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century American Folk Art and Artists (Ref NK 808 .R6 1990)
This unique encyclopedia offers extensive coverage of the life and work of American folk artists of the twentieth century. Each article is accompanied by a color photo of one or more of the artist's works.

SCHOLARLY INDEXES

Art Index, 1929-
If you do not already know this source - - get with it! This is the basic index to journal articles published since 1929 in the field of art. Once you are ready to start looking for articles on your subject, you should always look here first.
BHA (Bibliography of the History of Art), 1973-
This database covers the literature of art more broadly than Art Index, including books, exhibition catalogs, conference proceedings, and articles published throughout the world. (You'll find out about lots of publications in foreign languages here, as well as in English.)
Artbibliographies Modern, 1974-
This database indexes and abstracts journal articles, books, exhibition catalogs, and other publications on modern art (since Impressionism in the late 19th century) and on photography (since its invention in 1839).

This page created by Leanna Goodwater, University Library, Santa Clara University.
Last updated August 6, 2008.