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Using Wilson Print Indexes

Print Wilson indexes offer references to older articles and also chapters in books. Paper Wilson indexes include Reader's Guide, General Science Index, Humanities Index, and Essay and General Literature Index. They are not particularly difficult to use, though using them for the first time requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to write down references and track down journals on shelves and in microfilm.

1. Successful work with paper indexes needs both physical and mental space. Spread out on a table with several years worth of an index and the white periodicals list. If you are not making a mess with paper indexes, you are not searching them properly.
2. Think about or write down several synonyms for your topic. Wilson print indexes use consistent and accurate subject headings rather than key words scattered through titles and abstracts. Successful searching means finding the heading or headings closest to your topic.
3. Look for a subject heading that is close to your topic. Paper Wilson Indexes list subject headings in bold face type and aligned to the left.
4. A see reference underneath a subject heading means you have made a wrong turn. Use the subject heading the index suggests.
5. Some subject headings have a see also reference followed by one or more alternate headings under them. These headings may suggest more and better places to look.
6. Sometimes Wilson print indexes use phrases for subject headings. For example, "the relationship between Christians and Jews," in Humanities Index has Christianity and other religions as a subject heading.
7. Many subject headings have subheadings beneath them. These are in bold face in the center of the page. For "the relationship between Christians and Jews," Humanities Index uses the subheading Judaism under Christianity and other religions.
8. To obtain actual articles from a Wilson print index, you need to both copy and understand references
9. Here is a typical print Humanities Index reference.
   
   Christianity's break with Judaism. H Macoby.
   Commentary 78:38-42 Ag '84
   
   In this reference:
   
   The article's title is: Christianity's Break with Judaism
   The author is: H. Macoby
   It is in the journal: Commentary
   It is in volume 78
   It is on pages 38-42
   It is in the August 1984 issue
   
   When copying a reference, include the article title, author, journal name, volume, pages, and date.
10. Print Wilson indexes often abbreviate journal titles. You can find full titles in a list on the first few pages of most indexes. Some older indexes are missing the list, but usually next year's or the previous year's volume has it.
11. There is also a list of date abbreviations in the front of most indexes, too.
12. Essay and General Literature Index lists chapters in books rather than articles in journals and magazines or journals. It uses a short form for the book where each reference can be found. To find the full references for indexed books, check the list in the back of each volume.
13. To find articles in most print Wilson Indexes, look for the journal name in the white periodicals lists that are scattered around the reference area. Make sure the library has the year of the journal that is in the reference. Then check the bound periodicals or microfilm for your article.
14. To find book chapters listed in Essay and General Literature Index, write down the call numbers penciled in alongside the titles in the book list in the back of most volumes. If these call numbers are missing, you can look up the books themselves by searching their titles on GIL.

Adapted for web by EHK -- December 2004