The Cuban Revolution

Professor: Allen Wells ( )
Librarian: Ginny Hopcroft ( )
Fall 2004
 Introduction
Bibliographies
Surveys and News Digests
Indexes and Databases
Encyclopedias, Handbooks
Primary Sources
Web Sites
Citation

Introduction

The Library Catalog is the primary instrument for accessing the collections of the Bowdoin College Libraries. Included are bibliographic records for books, periodical titles, videorecordings, and sound recordings. Also listed are some, but not all, of the government documents, Special Collections and Archives materials

In the Library Catalog, you may search for an item by its Author (including editors, illustrators, translators, and corporate authors); Title (including series titles and alternate titles); or one of several other access points, such as Call number or Words in title.
For best results in Subject searching, use the standardized subject headings found in the Library of Congress Subject Headings books. When searching for information on a country, the technique is simple: type in the country name. This may be further categorized (e.g., CUBA--HISTORY; CUBA--FOREIGN RELATIONS, etc.) You could scroll through the headings to see what subdivisions are used. You may LIMIT your search by such categories as YEAR OF PUBLICATION or MATERIAL TYPE (e.g., videorecording). People's names may also be searched as subject headings: type the last name first (e.g., CASTRO, FIDEL). Always ask a Reference Librarian if you need suggestions or assistance.

Bibliographies

The word "BIBLIOGRAPHY" attached to a subject heading indicates a source that lists books, periodical articles, or other materials related to that subject. Items listed may not be available at Bowdoin's Library, but often may be obtained through Interlibrary Loan. The following list shows samples of some relevant bibliographies.

THE COMPLETE CARIBBEANA, 1900-1975: a Bibliographic Guide to the Scholarly Literature.
Lambros Comitas. Millwood, N.Y.: KTO Press, 1978. 4 vols.
Ref.Z 1595 C63
A comprehensive listing of books, articles, theses, reports, etc., in many European languages. Volume I covers People; Volume II, Institutions (i.e., culture, health, education, political issues); and Volume III, Resources (industry, agriculture, etc.). Use the Table of Contents and introductory matter to get an idea of how the bibliography is set up, and ask for help if you need it, for this is fairly complicated.

CUBA.
Compiled by Jean Stubbs, Lila Haines and Meic F. Haines. Santa Barbara, CA: CLIO Press, 1996.
Ref.Z 1511 S8 1996

CUBA: an Annotated Bibliography.
Compiled by Louis A. Perez, Jr. New York: Greenwood Press, 1988.
Ref. Z1511 .P43 1988

 
Two very focused and fairly recent bibliographies of books and articles on Cuba.

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: a Critical Guide to Research Sources.
Paula H. Covington. New York: Greenwood Press, 1992.
Ref.Z 1601 L3225 1992
A comprehensive, scholarly bibliography focused on the period since 1960. Arranged topically, it covers subjects from the arts to politics and religion. Each section consists of an introductory essay providing an overview of recent trends in scholarship in a given discipline. The essays are followed by bibliographies of works covering that discipline, arranged by country name.

LATINAS OF THE AMERICAS: a Source Book.
K. Lynn Stoner. New York: Garland, 1989.
Ref.Z 7964 L3 S76 1989

WOMEN IN SPANISH AMERICA: an Annotated Bibliography from Pre-Conquest to Contemporary Times.
Meri Knaster. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1977.
Ref.Z 7964 L3 K525

WOMEN IN THE THIRD WORLD: a Historical Bibliography.
Pamela R. Byrne. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio, 1986.
Ref.Z 7964 D44 B96 1986

The above three bibliographies focus on one of the special topics that might be considered for research: the role of women in a country's history. Each is arranged somewhat differently. Among the three are numerous references - in English and Spanish - to books, articles, government documents, audiovisual resources, etc., dealing with women in Cuba.

Surveys and News Digests

ANNUAL REGISTER: a record of world events
1758+ London: Longman, annual.
Ref.D 2 A7
Survey articles on the year's developments in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, other countries of the world, and international organizations; plus essays on defense, economic and social affairs, science, law, religion, etc. Reproduces some public documents; provides a day-by-day "chronicle of events" for the year, and obituaries of important persons. British emphasis.

FACTS ON FILE; World News Digest with Index.
1968+ New York: Facts on File, weekly.
Ref.D 410 F29
Weekly digest of news covering the U.S., Europe, and the world. Includes texts of important speeches, biographical sketches of candidates, etc. Detailed subject index, plus references within the text to past, related news stories.

KEESING'S RECORD OF WORLD EVENTS.
1955+ [formerly Keesing's Contemporary Archives] London: Longman, monthly.
Ref.D 410 K42
A digest of important events in all countries, including texts of speeches and documents, obituaries, statistics, etc. More British/European focus than Facts on File. Includes a section on "The Month in Focus," a chronology of major world events. A weekly publication until 1983.

LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN CONTEMPORARY RECORD.
1981/82+ New York, London: Holmes and Meier Publishers, Inc.
Ref.F 1401 L3253
This annual publication provides excellent introductory essays on current issues in the region, then a country-by-country survey of the year's developments. Slow being produced, it currently covers through the 1980's, but the yearly coverage and analysis of important international and national issues is outstanding.

FBIS: FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE DAILY REPORTS.
FBIS is a U.S. government agency which monitors foreign broadcasts, news agency transmissions, newspapers, periodicals, and government statements. It publishes translations of this material in the FBIS Daily Reports, which we receive on microfiche, shelved in the Microform Room. Regions included in this service are: Africa (Sub-Sahara); China; East Asia; East Europe; Latin America; Near East & South Asia; Central Eurasia (formerly Soviet Union); and Western Europe. Printed indexes are available for the early years of each region. These are divided into three sections: International Relations Index; National Affairs Index; and Name Index. These refer to the appropriate date and page of the microfiche for the story. A CD-ROM index is available for 1978-1996; indexing for future years is under development. The years back to 1990 are available online in the database World News Connection (see below).

Indexes and Databases

Some of these databases are strictly bibliographic indexes; that is, they provide citation only. Others contain the full text of journal articles for their indexed publications. To find whether Bowdoin Library provides access to an individual journal, either use the "Check Availability @ Bowdoin" link in the database or type the journal name into the Library Catalog under "Find Journals."

ACADEMIC SEARCH PREMIER
Premier indexes popular and scholarly journals in social sciences, humanities, and science, as well as general interest magazines.
HANDBOOK OF LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
Online 1935+, Print v.1-2, 1935-36, and v.6, 1940+ Ref.Z 1605 H23
An important, scholarly, annotated bibliography of current publications concerning Latin America. Since 1964, it has been published in two volumes, Humanities and Social Sciences, which are issued in alternate years. Within each volume, references are arranged in numeric order by broad subject category (economics, education, geography, etc.); a detailed subject index refers to the item numbers. Non-English language material is included in this source.

HAPI: HISPANIC AMERICAN PERIODICALS INDEX
Online 1970+
HAPI Online combines current information about Latin America with in-depth coverage spanning more than thirty years, from 1970 to the present. Contains complete bibliographic citations to articles, book reviews, documents, original literary works, and other materials appearing in more than 400 key social science and humanities journals published throughout the world.
HISTORICAL ABSTRACTS
Online, 1967-
A bibliographic database covering the world's scholarly literature in history, excluding the history of the U. S. and Canada, from 1450 to the present. Contains article citations and abstracts from over 2100 journals in over 50 languages, plus citations for book reviews and dissertations. In addition to the coverage of history material, this source includes related interdisciplinary social science and humanities topics, such as anthropology, art, and literature.
LEXIS/NEXIS ACADEMIC
A fulltext database of news and legal information. Under the "General News Topics" section, you can search for articles. Time coverage for the various newspapers, journals, and newswire services varies from publication to publication, generally no earlier than 1980.
PAIS: PUBLIC AFFAIRS INFORMATION SERVICE BULLETIN.
Online 1972+, Print 1915-1972.
Includes "publications on all subjects that bear on contemporary public issues and the making and evaluation of public policy, irrespective of source or traditional disciplinary boundaries." Sources may be periodical articles, books, government documents, or the reports of public and private organizations. An excellent way to connect with Congressional hearings and reports of U.S. agencies.
 
READERS' GUIDE TO PERIODICAL LITERATURE.
Online, 1963-1982 as Readers' Guide Retrospective
Main Index, 1900+
Covers over 200 popular magazines likely to be held in a public library or available at a newsstand: Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, etc. Subject headings and authors are presented in one alphabetical sequence. A standard resource for tracing the popular writings of the 20th Century; years ago, it included some more scholarly publications, too.

WORLD NEWS CONNECTION.
Online, 1990+
This database contains the most recent years of FBIS articles (see above) online in full-text.

Encyclopedias, Handbooks, Yearbooks

These are excellent for background and overview of a topic, a specific country, etc. Many provide detailed statistics, plus bibliographies of relevant readings on the subject.

ATLAS OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.
The Diagram Group. New York: Macmillan, 1985.
Ref.G 1550 D5 1985
Integrates maps, charts, diagrams, tables, and text to provide a unique reference guide to two-thirds of all Western Hemisphere countries. Part One (Regional Profile) summarizes the natural background - land structure, seas, climate, vegetation, wildlife - and the prehistory and history of the region from 12,000 years ago to present. Part Two covers individual Central American countries, and Part Three embraces the Caribbean region.
CAMBRIDGE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.
2d ed. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
Ref.F 1406 C36 1992
 A handsome, one-volume encyclopedia with its articles arranged in topical sections, rather than alphabetically. These sections cover the general topics of the Physical Environment; the Economy; the Peoples; History; Politics and Society; and Culture. Illustrations, maps, and a subject index are also included.
CUBA, A COUNTRY STUDY.
James D. Rudolph, Editor. Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1987
Govt. D 101.22 550-152/ 987
This title is an excellent source of detailed basic information. There are broad sections on the society, the government and political system, and the economy; with individual chapters on "Education", "Political Dynamics", "Trade and Transportation". There is a lengthy bibliography and a detailed index. An earlier edition, entitled Area Handbook for Cuba, was published in 1971.
DICTIONARY OF HISPANIC BIOGRAPHY.
Joseph C. Tardiff & L. Mpho Mabunda, editors. New York : Gale Research, c1996.
Ref.CT1343 .D53 1996
Provides and excellent biographical history on the role of Hispanics in world events. Dozens of Argentine persons are represented from past and present. Entries are in alphabetical order, with indexes for occupation, nationality, and subjects.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE. 5 Vols.
New York : C. Scribner's Sons ; London : Simon & Schuster : Prentice Hall International, c1996
Main Ref F1406 .E53 1996
Extensive coverage of Cuba's history, politics and revolution.
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN POLITICAL LEADERS
Robert J. Alexander. New York: Greenwood Press, 1988.
Ref.F 1414.2 B48 1988
Over 450 biographical sketches of the most important figures in the 19th and 20th centuries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The entries emphasize the political significance of each biographee; detailed information is also presented on his/her political career, family background, education, and nonpolitical activities where relevant. Arranged alphabetically by name; an appendix lists the entries by country or territory. Another appendix presents a chronology of major events in the area from 1804 to the present.

HISTORICAL DICTIONARY OF CUBA. 2nd ed.
Jaime Suchlicki. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2001
Main Ref F1754 .S83 2001
Introductory essays and historical chronology, plus a dictionary of important names, places and events in Cuban history.
INTERNATIONAL HISTORICAL STATISTICS: THE AMERICAS, 1750-1988
B.R. Mitchell. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y. : Stockton Press, c1993.
Ref.HA175 .M55 1993
Historical statistics are a major source of “raw material” for study of economic history and other aspects of a country’s development. This volume compiles statistics from hundreds of sources over more than two hundred years, including Population and Vital Sttistics, Labour Force, Agriculture, Industry, External Trade, Transport and Communications, Finance, Prices, Education, and National Accounts, for countries in North and South America.
SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.
London: Europa Publications, Biennial, 1986+
Ref.F 1414.2 S68
A companion to the classic Europa Yearbook, this volume focuses on the political and economic life of the region comprising South and Central America and the Caribbean, and of the 47 countries and territories within it. Chapters on the major countries include a facts-in-brief page, historical and economic essays written by experts on the countries, a statistical survey, directory and bibliography. Smaller countries are covered in summary accounts, giving facts and figures on political, economic and commercial subjects. The first section of the book, "Background to the Region," consists of six introductory essays, a list of commodities of Latin America, descriptions of research institutes, and a select bibliography of periodicals. The second section covers regional organizations, and part three gives the country surveys.

POLITICAL HANDBOOK OF THE WORLD
Binghamton, N.Y.: CSA Publications, annual, 1926+
Ref.JF 37 P6
Essential political information about every country in the world: heads of state and government, cabinet members, leaders and programs of political parties, composition and activities of major intergovernmental organizations, etc. More focus on politics, less on statistics than the Europa series (above).
POLITICAL PARTIES OF THE AMERICAS, 1980s TO 1990s: CANADA, LATIN AMERICA, AND THE WEST INDIES.
Edited by Charles D. Ameringer. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1992.
Ref.JL 195 .P63 1992
This volume is meant to complement the 1982 edition published in two volumes Ref.JL 195 P64 1982. The books include a chapter on each country, which comprises a general essay that summarizes essential background information, emphasizing political developments; a bibliography; a list and description of active political parties, and historical parties that ceased to exist before 1980.
WOMEN IN THE THIRD WORLD: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CONTEMPORARY ISSUES.
Edited by Nelly P. Stromquist. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1998.
Ref.HQ 1870.9 W6548 1998
In addition to articles on general topics dealing with politics, health, demographics, the environment, and many more, this encyclopedia contains a lengthy essay on "Women in Contemporary Cuba."

Primary Sources

For a definition of primary sources, please see Primary and Secondary Sources on the Library’s Getting Started page.

CONFIDENTIAL U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT CENTRAL FILES. CUBA, 1955-1959.
Project coordinator, Gregory Murphy. Frederick, MD: University Publications of America, 1987. 25 microfilm reels.
Main Micro Film 2620-2644
Printed Guide to the Microfilm Collection: Microform Index F 1787.5 C6 guide

The documents in this microfilm collection were obtained from the Central Files of the General Records of the Department of State. They include telegrams, airgrams, instructions, inquiries, memoranda, special reports, official and unofficial correspondence, plans and translations. These documents illuminate Cuba's political system, government, judiciary, laws, military, customs, economy, finance, agriculture, natural resources, industry, communications, media, and relations with the United States and other nations. The printed guide gives a brief description of the contents of each microfilm reel, plus a subject index.
THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IN CUBA, 1898-1958: the Stoner collection on Cuban feminism.
edited by K. Lynn Stoner. Wilmington, Del. : Scholarly Resources, 1991
13 microfilm reels.
Main Micro Film 3068
Printed guide to the microfilm collection, compiled by Melissa Marisol Prins.
Microform Index HQ1508 W63 1990 guide

The Stoner collection on Cuban women lends itself to research on Cuban women in politics, Cuban feminism, Cuban women's literature, and the legal status of women. The documents are all in Spanish, and focus most heavily on the dates from 1898-1940. The printed guide gives a brief description of the contents of each microfilm reel, plus author and subject indexes.

Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers
U.S. State Department, Washington, D.C.
Govt Doc S1.1
This large series is organized by year(s) and geographic area, so look for the “Cuba” volumes during the 1950’s and early 1960’s. The texts in this series are letters and reports from diplomats to the State Dept, Congress and the President, providing important background for the events of the Cuban Revolution.

Web Sites

LANIC History from the University of Texas
An extensive listing of cuba links including an archive of Castro's speeches.
MARXIST HISTORY: A HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WORKING CLASS.
http://www.marxists.org/history/index.htm
See the section on "The Cuban Republic." This archive hitherto focuses on the first five years of the Cuban revolutionary government, specifically on the Cuban Missile Crisis, through a time line of events and primary source documents by Fidel Castro, Nikita Khrushchev, and recently declassified U.S. government documents

Citation

Attributing sources accurately and in correct format is important. Here are some links and books providing guidelines for proper citation:

Style Manuals
http://library.bowdoin.edu/eref/write.shtml
The Chicago Manual of Style
Main Libr Reserve 130a
MLA handbook for writers of research papers / Joseph Gibaldi
Main Libr Reserve 135