University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Nash Library has reference books in print and online that focus on women's contributions to a variety of subject areas and social roles at various points in history. This page includes an assortment of current and historical titles. Both types of books can be relevant to your research; newer titles can provide a long-term retrospective view of a person's life and achievements and relate them to current events. Older titles can show you how a person was perceived during her lifetime or shortly after her death. Older titles also may include information about people who were considered significant at the time of the book's publication but since then have received less scholarly attention.
American Women Fiction Writers, 1900-1960 by 
Black Women in America: A Historical Encyclopedia by 
Encyclopedia of British Women's Writing, 1900-1950 by 
The Encyclopedia of Women's History in America by 
Historical Dictionary of Women's Education in the United States by 
Masterpieces of Women's Literature by 
Mothers and Daughters of Invention by 
Native American Women: A Biographical Dictionary by 
Notable American Women, 1607-1950 by 
Notable American Women: The Modern Period by 
Notable Women in the Life Sciences: A Biographical Dictionary by 
The Oxford Companion to Women's Writing in the United States by 
Petticoats, Politics, and Pirouettes: Oklahoma Women from 1900-1950 by 
Women Educators in the United States, 1820-1993 by 
Women's Suffrage in America by Check the "regular" reference books too for information about notable women in different fields. Many reference books strive to fairly recognize the achievements of all people. General reference books can also help you gain a broad understanding of a subject area or historical period; this is important context that gives you a deeper understanding of the roles and achievements of women in that subject area or at that time.
