American Indian History Online

The American Indian History Online database is an excellent resource for students and those interested in American history.  Publisher Facts on File has prepared a comprehensive database on tribes, events, and individuals.  The database has sections on biographies, events & topics, primary sources, timelines, images & videos, and maps & charts.  The topic centers are further divided by time period and North American culture area.

What is attractive about this database is the ability to look up a biography, such as that of famous Chief Sitting Bull, and link to key events such as the 1887 General Allotment Act for an explanation.  Clicking on such a link results in a superimposed text box, so that the reader does not lose their original search.  The Sitting Bull biography, besides citing in MLA and APA format to its encyclopedia source, also listed three authoritative books on the chief.  Alongside the biography are links to other individuals who related to Sitting Bull, such as Buffalo Bill Cody and the Battle of Little Big Horn.  Another useful feature is the set of tabs at the top of the search result, showing the search result in different sections, such as images & video and maps.

For further research, the database user should also consult the library's Gale U.S. History in Context.  That database has additional sources on Sitting Bull, for example, including academic articles and a New York Times retrospective.

--Harry C., Reference