The historian's toolbox: a student's guide to the theory and craft of history by
"Written in an engaging and entertaining style, and filled with interesting examples, "The Historian's Toolbox" opens up an exciting world of historical research for anyone interested in the past."
Church history : an introduction to research, reference works, and methods by
"This book lays out the guidelines, methods, and basic reference tools needed for the successful researching and writing of papers in the discipline of church history and theology."
The American Historical Association's guide to historical literature. (3rd Edition) by
"This entirely new edition of a keystone reference is the place to start researching any topic in any field of history. Hundreds of historians from around the world have selected and provided commentary on the best and most useful works in their fields--almost 27,000 annotated citations--to provide unprecedented bibliographic guidance of extraordinary breadth, from prehistory to the twentieth century."
Readings in church history (3 vols) by 
The sources of Catholic dogma by
"The collection includes all articles and creeds of the Catholic Faith beginning with that of the twelve apostles, all dogmatic definitions stamped with the Petrine authority of the apostolic See (ex cathedra), decrees of the solemn magisterium, papal bulls, encyclicals and letters, as well as some of the more weighty decisions of the Holy Office prior to 1957. Although not every entry in this 653 page compendium of Church teaching is definitional (i.e. ex cathedra) it still should be considered the "locutus est" for every wayfaring Catholic whose patria, this side of heaven, is Roma. In addition to a general index there is a scriptural index plus an invaluable systematic or topical index making for very easy reference. Note, too, this edition comes with a one page Corrigenda which is a list of sixteen corrections that must be applied to errors (usually omissions) that escaped the eyes of editors in previous editions."
Creeds & confessions of faith in the Christian tradition (4 vols.) by
"This four-volume set seeks to assemble the principal creeds and confessions of the Christian Church, from biblical times to the present and from all over the globe, and place them in their historical and theological context. An introductory volume, Credo, by church historian Jaroslav Pelikan, surveys the history of these creeds, delves into the meaning and purpose of creeds, and probes the issues and controversies that spawn new creeds, as well as the origins of new religious movements within Christianity."
The Coptic encyclopedia (8 vols.) by 
The Oxford dictionary of Byzantium (3 vols.) by
"Major entries treat such topics as agriculture, art, literature, and politics, while shorter entries examine topics that relate to Byzantium such as the history of Kiev and personalities of ancient and biblical history. Each article is followed by a bibliography, and numerous maps, tables, architectural designs, and genealogies reinforce and clarify the text."
Encyclopedia of religion (15 vols) by 
Religion past & present (13 vols.) by 
Encyclopedia of the American religious experience: studies of traditions and movements (3 vols) by
"Aimed at the general, educated public, this comprehensive look at the religious aspects of American history is arranged in nine sections containing over 100 essay-length articles by acknowledged scholars. The average article is 12 pages long and includes an excellent bibliography and cross-references. Subject matter is broad in scope, covering backgrounds, history, and statistics of major denominations and important religious movements; both Christian and non- Christian religions are included. Subjects covered include the influence of religion on literature, art, architecture, and socio-political issues, with an entire section devoted to the dissemination of American religion. An important reference work recommended for most libraries." C. Robert Nixon
Contemporary American religion (2 vols.) by
"Exploring the diversity of American religions, this work examines the vast range of faiths, practices, figures and doctrines. From abortion and school prayer to capital punishment and astrology, these volumes cover culture, politics, legal issues and social movements."
Encyclopedia of monasticism by
"Stands alone in offering broad and deep coverage of Buddhist and Christian monastic places, concerns and controversies, ideas, spirituality, social dynamics, and practices. A superb resource for historical, cross-cultural, sociological, and phenomenological studies."
-"Choice, March 2001
The encyclopedia of Christian civilization (4 vols.) by
"The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization is a comprehensive reference work on the history and impact of Christianity. Over 1,400 entries provide an in-depth and dynamic look at Christianity both through its history and the way it has shaped societies around the world. Through a clear and attractive format, a series of interlocking major themes is explored, including: key theological ideas; global and regional history; worship; society and Christianity; literature; music; art; architecture; education; politics; law, and scholarship. Uniting these themes is an understanding of Christianity as a truly global phenomenon with strong denominational and regional identities.
The entries are written by a team of over 350 scholars and teachers from over 24 countries. Together they present a wealth of current research in a clear, concise, and attractive format. The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization is an essential reference for students, researchers, academics, and practitioners."
Encyclopedia of ancient Christianity by
"2014 Midwest Publishing Association Award of Excellence (Scholarly/Reference) 2014 Readers' Choice Awards Honorable Mention The Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity covers eight centuries of the Christian church and comprises 3,220 entries by a team of 266 scholars from 26 countries representing a variety of Christian traditions. It draws upon such fields as archaeology, art and architecture, biography, cultural studies, ecclesiology, geography, history, philosophy, and theology. This three-volume encyclopedia offers unparalleled, comprehensive coverage of the people, places and ideas of ancient Christianity, "
The Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd. ed. rev.) by
"The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church is the indispensable one-volume reference work on all aspects of the Christian Church. It contains over 6,000 cross-referenced A-Z entries, and offers unrivalled coverage of all aspects of this vast and often complex subject, including theology, churches and denominations, patristic scholarship, the bible, the church calendar and its organization, popes, archbishops, saints, and mystics."
The encyclopedia of Christianity (5 vols.) by
"Written by leading scholars from many countries and cultural backgrounds, the more than 1,700 articles in the complete EC depict Christianity in its global context. Separate articles for every continent and for over 170 countries examine both the history and the current situation of the Christian faith worldwide. The EC also portrays Christianity in its widest ecumenical context. Major articles detail Christianity’s rich spiritual and theological diversity in order to inform readers about religious traditions and perspectives beyond their own ecclesiastical frameworks."
The Oxford companion to Christian thought by
"Here is a comprehensive and authoritative (though not dogmatic) overview of the full spectrum of Christian thinking. Within its 600 alphabetically arranged entries, readers will find lengthy survey articles on the history of Christian thought, on national and regional traditions, and on various denominations, from Anglican to Unitarian. There is ample coverage of Eastern thought as well, examining the Christian tradition in China, Japan, India, and Africa."
The Catholic encyclopedia: an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline, and history of the Catholic Church by
Despite the title, this source contains general church history information. The older edition is completely different from the new ones and often covers topics that had faded into obscurity by the time of the new edition
New Catholic encyclopedia by
"This new edition includes the best of the previous entries - many completely revised and updated - as well as new entries, written by subject experts, covering the latest topics of interest. Many thousands of articles are biographical profiles of the people who make up the history of the Catholic Church."
Encyclopedia of early Christianity (2nd ed.) by
"This single-volume encyclopedia contains 977 articles by 135 qualified scholars of various academic and ecumenical backgrounds, with coverage extending from New Testament times to approximately 600 A.D. Entries cover persons, places, doctrines, and practices and include some articles on modern scholars important to the study of early Christianity. The entries vary in length, but each begins with a brief definition, or identification, followed by chronological or topical development."
Encyclopedia of the early church (2 vols) by
"Tracing the growth of the church from its tiny beginnings in an upper room to its dominance of Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa in the eighth century, scholars from many disciplines produced articles ranging from a few sentences to ten thousand words on all the major and most of the minor people, works, ideas, and issues of the formative period of Christianity."
The Cambridge dictionary of Christianity by
"Key Features of The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity: *Offers a presentation of the Christian beliefs and practices of all major Christian traditions in each continents and each nation *Highlights the different understandings of Christian beliefs and practices in different historical, cultural, religious, denominational, and secular contexts."
The Oxford dictionary of the Middle Ages by
"The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages is a major new reference resource for all key aspects of European history, society, religion, and culture from circa 500 CE to circa 1500 CE.....Over 800 scholars, guided by a five-member international advisory board and an international editorial board of twenty-six, have written the over 5,000 entries that make up this extraordinary four-volume set. These entries have been lavishly supplemented by more than 500 illustrations and 40 maps."
The new Westminster dictionary of church history by
"Jerald Bauer's Westminster Dictionary of Church History was originally published in 1969 and has ably served an entire generation of pastors, students, and scholars over the last decades of the twentieth century. In recognition of both the dictionary's age and the latest developments in patristics and other fields of study, Westminster John Knox Press commissioned this volume to continue in the previous work's tradition by providing up-to-date and immediate, authoritative, and introductory definitions and explanations of the major personalities, events, facts, and movements in the history of Christianity."
The Oxford encyclopedia of the Reformation by
"The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation is the first major reference to cover the immense subject of the Reformation in its entirety. Setting the issues of theology and ecclesiology within the broader context of the social and intellectual history of the time, it is the most authoritative reference available on early modern European society as a whole."
Dictionary of the ecumenical movement (2nd Ed.) by
"The 700 entries in this dictionary have been written by leading figures in the ecumenical movement from all parts of the world. Entries are fully cross-referenced and many of the articles are enhanced by short bibliographies."
The new international dictionary of Pentecostal and charismatic movements (rev. & exp.) by
" Exhaustive coverage of Pentecostal and charismatic movements in 60 countries and regions--individual histories, cultural and theological aspects, and key figures and institutions. Statistical section with a wealth of current information on the growth of classical Pentecostalism as well as charismatic and neocharismatic movements. 1,000 articles. Over 500 photos and illustrations, maps, and timeline. Cross references, bibliographies, and indexes to people, places."
T&T Clark companion to Methodism by
"A comprehensive handbook on Methodist history, theology and practice."
Historical dictionary of Lutheranism (2nd ed.) by
"This historical dictionary examines the development of Lutheranism from its inception in the 16th century to its place as one of the largest and most influential Protestant churches in the modern world. It covers the basic theological convictions of the Lutheran tradition and their interpretation through the centuries; eminent Lutherans from the sixteenth through the twentieth centuries; the broad social and cultural impact of Lutheranism; Lutheran participation in the great religious and intellectual movements of the last four centuries; and portrayals of the members of the world-wide family of Lutheran churches."
Historical dictionary of the Baptists by
"With 110 million members worldwide, Baptists are surpassed only by Roman Catholic and Orthodox groups as the largest segment of Christians. The term "Baptist" has its origins with the Anabaptists, the denomination historically linked to the English Separatist movement of the 16th century. Although Baptist churches are located throughout the world, the largest group of Baptists lives in the Southern United States, and the Baptist faith has historically exerted a powerful influence in that region of the country.
The second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Baptists expands upon the first edition with an updated chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on important events, doctrines, and the church founders, leaders, and other prominent figures who have made notable contributions. This volume commemorates the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Baptist movement in 1609.
Historical dictionary of the Friends (Quakers) [2nd ed.] by
"The expanded second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Friends (Quakers) relates the history of the Friends through a chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and over 700 cross-referenced dictionary entries on concepts, significant figures, places, activities, and periods "
Historical dictionary of Calvinism by
"The Historical Dictionary of Calvinism relates the history of its founder John Calvin, the Reformed Church, and the impact that Calvinism has had in the modern world along with an account of modern and contemporary developments within the religious, political, and social culture it has created. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and over 300 cross-referenced dictionary entries on concepts, significant figures, places, activities, and periods."
Historical dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses. by
"The theme of prophecy, the doctrine of the 144,000, end-time calculations, Armageddon, and the Witnesses' denial of hell are all considered in the Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses, which contains a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and 250 cross-referenced dictionary entries relating to key people and concepts."
An Episcopal dictionary of the church: a user-friendly reference for Episcopalians by 
The A to Z of Catholicism by
"This book is a fine summary of the beliefs, rites, events, movements, memorable popes, saints, and other key persons in Catholic history. A lively introduction summarizes Church history from the time of Christ, through the various schismatic movements, to present- day Catholicism in the U.S. The A to Z entries also focus on theology and doctrine, providing balanced coverage of controversies. An excellent student resource, user-friendly, and the ideal starting place for research assignments."
The Native North American almanac : a reference work on native North Americans in the United States and Canada by
"This 2-vol. reference features a comprehensive range of historical and current information on the life and culture of Native peoples of the United States and Canada. Organized into 24 subject chapters, including major cultural areas, activism and religion, the volumes contain more than 200 black-and-white photographs, maps, charts, a further reading section and a subject index."
A dictionary of Asian Christianity by
"Describing Christianity as it exists in the region from Pakistan to Japan and from Mongolia to Indonesia, this volume's 1,260 signed articles include biographies of important Asian church leaders as well as reliable, up-to-date information on the political, cultural, and religious movements that have shaped the Christian faith in this part of the world. Maps, cross-references, and bibliographies enhance the dictionary's usefulness for teachers, students, and general readers interested in global Christianity."
Encyclopedia of African American religions by
"Preceded by three introductory essays and a chronology of major events in black religious history from 1618 to 1991, this A-Z encyclopedia includes three types of entries:
* Biographical sketches of 773 African American religious leaders
* 341 entries on African American denominations and religious organizations (including white churches with significant black memberships and educational institutions)
* Topical articles on important aspects of African American religious life (e.g., African American Christians during the Colonial Era, Music in the African American Church)"
The Asian-American almanac : a reference work on Asians in the United States by 
Encyclopedia of African-American culture and history : the Black experience in the Americas (6 vols.) by
"This second edition is an expansion of the 1996 classic and its 2000 supplement. Whereas the first edition focused almost exclusively on the United States, this new set identifies and addresses broad themes critical to understanding the texture of the cultures, achievements, challenges, and promise of the 150 million people of African descent who live in North America, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. It is an authoritative and comprehensive information about Black history, figures, and accomplishments throughout the Americas now have a defining and current reference."
African American religious cultures (2 vols.) by
"This encyclopedia offers the most comprehensive presentation available on the diversity and richness of religious practices among African Americans, from traditions predating the era of the transatlantic slave trade to contemporary religious movements.
• Over 80 alphabetically organized entries on religious traditions embraced by African Americans, covering their historical development, doctrines, rituals, and key figures
• Over 50 contributors, each a distinguished scholar familiar with the richness of African American religious life
Encyclopedia of Latin American history and culture (5 vols) by
"This 5-vol. set spans the centuries from the earliest civilizations of the Olmec, Maya, and Chavin to the present day. The region is broadly defined to include South America, Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the historical Spanish borderlands north of the Rio Grande that are now part of the United States. The set emphasizes political, economic, and social history, yet does not overlook those elements of material and popular culture that have affected the history of Latin America."
The dictionary of art / by
"A resource for both art and cultural studies, the Dictionary serves as a unique guide to all the visual arts: painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, drawing, printmaking, as well as the decorative arts. The Dictionary ranges far both geographically and historically; it features unparalleled coverage of Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Mongolia, China, India, the Islamic world, Japan, Korea, Native North America, Pacific and Aboriginal Australia, Pre-Columbian America, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, the Ancient Near East, and Ancient Rome. "
The new Grove dictionary of music and musicians (2nd ed. 29 vols.) by 
Atlas of global Christianity, 1910-2010 by
"The Atlas of Global Christianity is a thorough visual reference of the changing status of global Christianity over the 100 years since the epoch-making 'Edinburgh 1910' World Missionary Conference. It is the first scholarly atlas to depict the 20th century shift of Christianity from the Global North to the Global South. Contextual information on world issues and world religions is included. The atlas is ecumenical in that it covers every Christian tradition including Anglicans, Independents, Marginals, Orthodox, Protestants, and Roman Catholics. This is the first atlas to incorporate historical essays on Christianity 1910-2010 by scholars from each region of the world. Included is a CD that contains all maps and graphs ready for classroom use."
