How to do research in Celtic Studies
Library resources for researchers working on Celtic languages and literatures
START WITH GOOD KEYWORDS
Topic-specific keywords will help improve your results in a general multidisciplinary database like Google, Google Scholar, HOLLIS, or Academic Search Premier.
Add keywords like these to your search:
- Language terms - Cornish, Irish, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh
- Publication type terms - bibliography, festschriften, gazetteers, manuscripts
- Genre terms - folk music, legends, poetry, storytelling, tales
- Geographic terms - Ireland, Brittany, Galicia, Scotland, Wales
- Subject terms - grammar, hagiography, parenthood, philology
UPGRADE YOUR SEARCH: KEY DATABASES
Multidisciplinary
JSTOR (via HarvardKey) -- A top database for scholarship in Celtic studies.Includes scholarly journals, books and primary sources. Not the best option for recent publications, due to moving wall embargoes. Search tip: Visit the Advanced Search page and check the box(es) to search within a relevant sub-discipline (e.g., “Archaeology,” “Folklore,” “Music”).
Historical
The Bibliography of British and Irish History (via HarvardKey) -- One of the main bibliographical sources on the History of the British Isles and Ireland. Search tip: Use the Advanced Search to specify time “Period covered,” a “Person as subject,” or explore the “Place name” and “Subject trees.”
Linguistic
BrillOnline Dictionaries. Etymological Dictionaries (via HarvardKey) -- For Celtic, select Indo-European Etymological Dictionaries Online. Each entry is accompanied by grammatical info, meaning(s), etymological commentary, reconstructions, cognates and often extensive bibliographical information.
Literary
MLA International Bibliography (via HarvardKey) -- An essential index to scholarly studies since 1926 of worldwide literatures from all time periods. Also covers related fields such as folklore and mythology, linguistics, theory, film, and popular culture.
DIG DEEPER
The Library Research Guide for Celtic Languages and Literatures provides basic resources for research in Celtic studies.
CONNECT WITH US
Ramona Crawford, the library liaison to Celtic Languages and Literatures, is available to support researchers via email or in-person consultation.
CELTIC DEPARTMENT AFFILIATES
The Fred Norris Robinson Celtic Seminar Library holds books and other resources related to all aspects of Celtic Studies. The library is open to current undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Celtic Languages and Literature. Other scholars who wish to access the materials in the collection can request permission to do so. The library is located in Widener Library, Room K.
- Some Harvard Library locations will be closed or have special hours for Commencement, Thursday, May 26. Please check the Library Hours page for specifics. Ask a Librarian and chat hours will remain as usual.
- Most Harvard Library locations will be closed Monday, May 30 and Tuesday, May 31, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Ask a Librarian and chat service will be closed on these dates.
- If you're experiencing an ongoing technical issue when you attempt to access library materials with your HarvardKey during these times, please report it to Library Technology Services.
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Chat is intended for brief inquiries from the Harvard community.
Reach out to librarians and other reference specialists by email using our online form. We usually respond within 24 hours Monday through Friday.
Meet
Talk to a librarian for advice on defining your topic, developing your research strategy, and locating and using sources. Make an appointment now.
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