Finding Journal Articles

Basic Procedure

Finding articles on a topic, even when you know the citation, can sometimes be complicated. Please let us know if you need help.

• To find journal articles, use databases or print indexes to search by author, title, or subject. See these helpful tips for creating effective searches to find articles and other materials.
• Some databases may provide the article in full-text, and many of these databases provide options for printing, e-mailing, or saving the full-text article.
• If the full text of the article is not available from the database, look for (more on this button at the Findit@VU FAQ page). Click on the button to get a menu of possibilities for retrieving the article.
• If the database doesn't provide the article in full-text, and you don't see , search the Acorn catalog to see if we get the journal in print form.
  • If you know the title of the journal, you can search for it by typing the journal title and using "PERIODICAL TITLE begins with" from the dropdown.
  • Once you've found an Acorn record for your journal, be sure to check the holdings for the specific issue in which the article is located and note the library location and call number of the journal.
• If the journal is not available in the library, you may be able to obtain the article through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).

Databases

The choice of database should be based upon the range and scope of the topic being researched. Do not hesitate to ask us if you need help in choosing a database. For access to all Divinity Library Databases, go to Divinity Library Databases.

Religion and Theology Databases

Most topics in the field of religion and theology can be searched in the ATLA Religion Database. For instructions on using the ATLA Religion Database, see Guide to Using the ATLA Religion Database.

Other databases providing access to articles specific to the field of religion include:

• Catalogue de l'École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem

  Catalogue of the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem. Searchable database for both monographs and journal articles in biblical and Ancient Near Eastern studies, archaeology, and related disciplines.

• Catholic Periodical and Literature Index

  Searchable database of periodicals articles, books, newspapers, and papal documents dealing expressly with the practice of Catholic faith and lifestyle.

• Ebsco Religion and Philosophy Collection

  Coverage of more than 300 full text journals in religion and philosophy, including more than 250 peer-reviewed titles.

• Elenchus Bibliographicus (Online Version) (part of Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses)

  Online version of the annual bibliography printed in Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses, from 1998 to the latest volume of Ephemerides. Searchable database for articles, dissertations and books in the following areas: History of Theology, History of Religions, Old Testament, New Testament, Fundamental and Dogmatic Theology, Sacramentology and Liturgy, Ascetical and Mystical Theology, Moral and Pastoral Theology, and Canon Law.

• Index Islamicus

  Indexes literature on Islam, the Middle East and the Muslim world. Over 3,000 journals are covered, together with conference proceedings, monographs, multi-authored works and book reviews.

• Index Theologicus (IxTheo)

  Index Theologicus replaces and expands the Zeitschrift Inhaltsdienst Theologie (ZID). Indexes approximately 2000 currently published periodicals in theological and religious studies periodicals, as welll as festschriften and congress publications.

• Index to Jewish Periodicals

  "Index to Jewish Periodicals is the definitive index on Jewish history, activity and thought. This database provides a comprehensive guide to English-language articles, book reviews, and feature stories in more than 160 journals devoted to Jewish affairs. . . . Journal coverage dates back as far as 1988" (from Help pages).

• Infotrac Religion & Philosophy Database

  This subset of the InfoTrac database covers more than 250 magazines and academic journals covering religion, philosophy, and the related areas of archaeology and anthropology. Coverage begins as early as 1980 for indexing and 1988 for full-text of some of the periodicals.

• New Testament Abstracts

  Periodical abstracts and book notices of primarily European and American works dealing with the New Testament. NTA typically abstracts around 2,000 articles chosen from more than 500 periodicals in numerous languages. Around 800 current books are also summarized annually. The database contains more than 40,000 article abstracts, 1,200 review abstracts, 14,900 book abstracts, and 50 software abstracts. Article coverage in the database dates back to 1985. Some articles available full-text.

• Old Testament Abstracts

  Old Testament Abstracts features indexing and abstracts for journal articles, monographs, multi-author works, and software related to Old Testament studies. Topics covered include antiquities, archaeology, biblical theology, philology and much more.

• RAMBI: Index of Articles on Jewish Studies

  From the Jewish National and University Library, RAMBI allows users to search for scholarly articles in the field of Jewish studies by author, title, or subject.

Databases for Other Research Areas

If the topic crosses over into another discipline you may want to search in one of the other electronic databases. For example, if the topic or area covers both religion and philosophy, you could also search in the Philosophers Index. The following is a list of subject specific databases that may be relevant for your research:

• AfricaBib.org: African Women's Bibliography

  This database contains over 35,000 citations from 1986 onward. The database indexes six types of materials: books and government documents; articles appearing in edited books; periodical and journal articles; Masters theses and Ph.D dissertations as well as a few B.A. theses and honors papers; conference papers; and videocassettes.

• African American Newspapers: The 19th Century

  This database of seven African-American newspapers provides information about cultural life and history during the 1800s and reports on major events and issues of the day.

• America: History and Life

  Extensive coverage of English-language journal articles and book titles dealing with American and Canadian history and culture. Abstracts relevant articles from about 1,700 journals and provides citations to book reviews and to dissertations.

• American Periodicals Series Online 1740-1900

  Searchable digitized images of the pages of over 1,000 American magazines and journals published between 1740 and 1900.These periodicals include popular titles, such as Ladies' Home Journal and Harper's, and professional journals. You can use this database to search for trends in politics, literature, cultural ideas, or religion.

• Annee Philologique / L'Annee Philologique

  An indispensible index for research in Classics. Entries cover articles, books, book reviews, Festschrifte, and other collections dealing with the ancient Greek and Roman world, from the second millennium BCE to approximately 800 CE.

• Anthropological Literature

  The principal index to articles, essays and other publications in anthropology, archaeology and related subjects, it is derived from the periodicals and books owned by the Tozzer Library of Harvard University. Includes works published in English and other European languages from the late 19th century to the present. Selective coverage of art history, demography, economics, psychology, and religious studies.

• Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals

  Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals is a comprehensive listing of journal articles on architecture and design, including bibliographic descriptions and indexes on subjects such as the history and practice of architecture, landscape architecture, city planning, historic preservation, and interior design and decoration. The Avery covers the international scholarly and popular periodical literature, including the publications of professional associations. The Avery is also an excellent source of biographical information.

• Bibliography of Asian Studies Online (BAS)

  The BAS Online contains references on all subjects (especially the Humanities and Social Sciences) pertaining to East, Southeast, and South Asia published worldwide from 1971 to the present. The database includes references to books, journal articles, chapters in edited volumes, and conference proceedings.

• eHRAF Archaeology

  eHRAF Archaeology (formerly, eHARF Collection of Archaeology) is a Web-based, full-text database with information on the prehistory of the world. This database, updated annually and modeled after eHRAF Ethnography, is unique in that every paragraph of the full-text source (book, article, dissertation) is subject-indexed for precise retrieval of information. Each file on an archaeological tradition consists of a general summary and full-text sources including books, journal articles, dissertations, and manuscripts. eHRAF Archaeology provides researchers and students with easy access to archaeological materials for comparative studies within and across regions. eHRAF provides convenient Web-based access to the HRAF files, once available only in paper or microfiche.

• eHRAF World Cultures

  eHRAF World Cultures (formerly, eHRAF Collection of Ethnography) is a Web-based, multi-cultural database for disciplines with an interest in cultural diversity. For each culture included, eHRAF contains ethnographic information on all aspects of cultural and social life with diverse topics ranging from religious beliefs, bringing up children, causes and cures of diseases, to economic and political behavior. Updated annually, the eHRAF database is unique in that every paragraph of the full-text source (book, article, dissertation) is subject-indexed for precise retrieval of information. Cultures range from ethnic groups in Africa, Asia, and Oceania, to indigenous and immigrant groups in North and South America. eHRAF provides convenient, Web-based access to the HRAF files, once available only in paper or microfiche.

• Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

  Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index covers journal articles, book reviews, and essays in books about women, sexuality, and gender during the Middle Ages. The database also includes records and abstracts for dissertations written between 1992 and 2002.

• Historical Abstracts

  Extensive coverage of English-language journal articles and book titles about historical and related social science literature for all areas of the world except the United States and Canada. Abstracts relevant articles from about 1,700 journals and provides citations to book reviews and to dissertations.

• LexisNexis Academic (News)

  LexisNexis is a powerful research tool featuring a rich variety of full text sources. It provides up-to-date information on current events, business, law, and medicine. Formerly known as Academic Universe (Lexis Nexis).

• Literature Online

  Coverage includes full text of 225 literature journals that can be accessed through the renowned literary index, Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature (ABELL), which contains over 880,000 records of literary criticism from 1920 to the present.

• National Newspaper Index

  Article references or abstracts from The New York Times (late and national editions), The Wall Street Journal (eastern and western editions), The Christian Science Monitor (national edition), The Washington Post (final edition), and The Los Angeles Times (home edition), and USA Today.

• Nineteenth Century Masterfile (Poole's Plus)

  19th Century Masterfile brings together over 60 subject indexes to periodicals, newspapers, books, US Congressional Record, US and UK Government Documents, and US Patents from the 19th century.

• Online Egyptological Bibliography

  Includes the volumes of the previous Annual Egyptological Bibliography (AEB) combined with the Bibliographie Altägypten (BA), providing coverage of Egyptological literature from 1822 to 2002 (roughly 70,000 items), as well as partial coverage of 2003-2011.

• Philosophers Index

  The Philosopher's Index provides citations to articles, books, and dissertations in the areas of aesthetics, epistemology, ethics, logic, and metaphysics. It is also a rich source of material on the philosophy of various disciplines, such as education, history, law, religion, and science.

• PsycARTICLES

  Provides fulltext articles from 46 journals published by the American Psychological Association (APA), along with 9 Canadian and European titles. Topics include basic, applied, and clinical psychology. Note: all articles in PsycArticles are also indexed and linked from the PsycINFO database, which provides broader subject coverage.

• PsycINFO

  Indexes articles and provides descriptive, nonevaluative abstracts. Since 1987, PsycINFO also provides content summaries and tables of contents for book chapters and books. Subject coverage includes basic and applied psychology, abnormal and clinical psychology, experimental psychology, human and animal development, social psychology, professional psychology and educational psychology.

• Sociological Abstracts

  Provides abstracts of journal articles, books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference papers and citations to book reviews in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences.

Multidisciplinary Databases

There are also a number of databases that cover several disciplines. The list of multidisciplinary databases available in the Divinity Library includes:

• Article First

  An index of articles, taken from the table of contents of approximately 12,600 journals. You can search by keyword, author, or title. For many journals, a list of libraries that hold the journal is available. This database is produced by OCLC (Online Computer Library Center).

• Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

  DOAJ provides access to free, full text, quality controlled scientific and scholarly journals. There are more than 3500 journals in the directory. Currently more than 1300 journals are searchable at article level.

• Electronic Collections Online

  This electronic journals resource provides access to abstracts and full-text articles from over 2,000 academic and professional journals in many disciplines. Part of the OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) database system.

• Expanded Academic ASAP

Indexes academic journals from a broad range of disciplines. Also indexes articles from the New York Times, selected national newsmagazines and interdisciplinary journals.

• IBZ: Internationale Bibliographie der Zeitschriftenliteratur

  Subject index to periodical literature from around the world, includes many languages. Subject headings are in German with cross-references in French and English. Provides citations only; abstracts are searchable but not viewable.

• IngentaConnect

  Ingenta indexes over 28,000 journals in a wide array of subjects, and provides many full text articles. If no full text is available, it offers articles for purchase, via download or fax.

• JSTOR

  The JSTOR project assists academic libraries in archiving and preserving major scholarly journals. It provides complete electronic backfiles of core journals in a variety of subjects. Full text coverage begins at the first issue of each journal and usually ends within five years of the present. Recently published issues are not available. You may search the entire database, search selected journals, or browse journal tables-of -contents.

• Periodicals Index Online

  Periodicals Index Online, formerly Periodicals Contents Index (PCI), provides an index to the contents of thousands of periodicals in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, from their first issues through 1995. The database includes bibliographic citations, but no abstracts.

• Project MUSE

  Search journals in the humanities, sciences and social sciences published by Johns Hopkins University Press (most available in full text).

• ProQuest

  ProQuest Research Library provides indexing, abstracts and selected full text or full images of articles in a wide range of magazines and journals. It includes general interest and news publications as well as selected scholarly journals.

Print Indexes

Print indexes can be extremely helpful, especially if you have a very specific topic in mind or if you are looking for more historical material not covered by the electronic databases. The following is a selected list of some of the print indexes available in the Divinity Library:

• Abstracts of Research in Pastoral Care and Counseling (1979-1998)
  Location / holdings information

  Continues Pastoral Care and Counseling Abstracts (1972-1978). Provides abstracts of research in various areas of pastoral care. Covers journal articles, theses and dissertations, unpublished manuscripts, and research in progress. An author index is provided.

• Actualidad Bibliográfica de Filosofía y Teología
  Location / holdings information

  Provides book reviews of current European publications, with an Iberian emphasis. Covers all areas of religion and philosophy. Organization is by topic. Coverage is from 1990 onwards. In Spanish.

• An Alphabetical Subject Index and Index Encyclopaedia to Periodical Articles on Religion, 1890-1899
  Location / holdings information

  Important resource for historical materials. 58,000 articles from over 600 journals are listed. Arrangement is by subject heading. Articles indexed are in French, German, Italian as well as English. Each subject heading in Volume 1 also provides for each subject a brief definition of the subject term or (for personal names as subject) brief biographical information. References to encyclopedia articles on the topic are also provided. Companion volume is Periodical Articles on Religion, 1890-1899 (see below.)

• Archiv für Reformationsgeschichte
  Location / holdings information

  Focus is on the history of the Reformation and its role in world affairs. Provides summary notes for current books, often in English. Organization is by topic, with an author index located at the back of each volume. In German.

• Bibliografia Teologica Comentada del Área Iberoamericana
  Location / holdings information

  Coverage of Latin American, Spanish language journals in theology. Organized topically, with four indexes (by subject, biblical passage, ecumenical organization, and author). Covers Bible, theology, history and culture. Runs several years behind. In Spanish. Publication ceased in 1996.

• Bulletin de Bibliographie Biblique
  Subject Study 2: Z 7753 .B844

  Periodicals and monographs in the fields of biblical studies and the ancient world. Organized topically. Coverage is from 1991 onwards. In French.

• Bulletin de Théologie Ancienne et Médiévale (Bulletin of Ancient and Medieval Christian Literature)
  Reference Room: BR 3 .R21

  Brief reviews of works on ancient and medieval theology. Covers both books and articles. Includes author and subject indexes at the end of each volume. Coverage is from 1929 to 1995.

• Bulletin Signalétique 527, Histoire et Science des Religions (1979-1990) and Francis Bulletin Signalétique 527, Histoire et Science des Religions (1991-1994)
  Reference Room: Z 7751 .B85

  Index for articles in religious studies and world religions. Organized topically (i.e., Studies in Religion, Ancient Religions, Christianity, Islam, etc.) In French and English.

• Canon Law Abstracts
  Reference Room: Z 7776 .C3

  Covers periodical literature on canon law. Comes out biannually. Arrangement of entries begins with General Subjects and Historical Subjects, then follows the text of canon law. A list of abbreviations for periodicals and contributors is provided. Whether the entry is an article, book, document, etc. is indicated in parenthesis, and a short abstract of the work is provided.

• Catholic Periodical Index (1930-1966) and Catholic Periodical and Literature Index (1967 onwards)
  Reference Room and Annex: AI 3 .C32

  Index of Catholic periodicals deemed to be of permanent value. Print equivalent to the electronic resource Catholic Periodical and Literature Index (see above under Electronic Databases). The electronic version goes back to 1981, while the print goes back to 1930. Includes subject, author/editor, and title entries. Also includes a book review index. Published quarterly.

• Centre Protestant d'Études et de Documentation (1969-1978) and Bulletin du Centre Protestant d'Études et de Documentation (1978-1991)
  Reference Room: Z 7753 .C4

  Selective bibliographies, with abstracts, covering various topics in religion including theology, biblical studies, ethics, and the history of religions. Organization is by topic. In French.

• Christian Periodical Index
  Reference Room: Z 7753 .C5

  Covers approximately 80 popular and scholarly publications of a primarily evangelical and fundamentalist nature. Prepared by the librarians of the Association of Christian Librarians, a predominantly evangelical group. Comes out three times per year and is cumulated annually. Entries for authors and specific subjects are provided in a single alphabetic sequence. Book reviews are listed in a separate section at the back.

• Critical Review of Books in Religion
  Reference Room: Z 7753 .C758

  AAR/SBL annual collection of selective book reviews across all areas of religion. Includes review articles as well as shorter book reviews. Organized topically, with three indexes: authors and editors; reviewers; publishers. From 1988-1996.

• Elenchus Bibliographicus Biblicus (1968-1978), Elenchus Bibliographicus Biblicus of Biblica (1979-1984) and Elenchus of Biblica (1985 onwards)
  Reference Room: Z 7770 .E55 and Z 7770 .E553

  Comprehensive index for Biblical studies. Indexes almost every journal / serial / book / dissertation world-wide. Runs 3 years behind.

• Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses
  Reference Room: BR 3 .E63

  Extensive current coverage of American, European, and extra-Western World journals, serials, monographs, polygraphs, and dissertations. Topics covered include church history, world religions, Bible, theology, and canon law. Organization is by topic. Coverage begins in 1924.

• Guide to Social Science and Religion in Periodical Literature
  Reference Room: Z 7753 .G83

  Covers about 100 semi-scholarly and popular English language periodicals in the fields of the social sciences and religion. Arrangement is by subject category only.

• Index Islamicus
  Annex: Z 7835 .M6 L63

  Current periodical abstracts and book notices on Islam and the Muslim world. Includes a subject and name index. Coverage is from 1906 onwards. Also available as an electronic database (see above, under Electronic Databases.)

• Index of Articles on Jewish Studies
  Divinity Annex: Z 7835 .M6 L63

  Index of articles in the various fields of Jewish studies. Arrangement is topical; author and subject index provided. Print equivalent to RAMBI database (see above). Print coverage is from 1966-2000 (RAMBI database coverage is from 1966 onwards).

• Index to Jewish Periodicals
  Room 224: Z 6367 .I38

  Covers current Jewish topics that appear in periodicals published in the U.S., Canada, England, Israel, South Africa, and Australia. Author and subject entries are listed in a single alphabetical arrangement. A list of titles indexed is provided. Book reviews are also included and are listed by author of the review in the main sequence. Journal coverage from 1988 on also available through the Index to Jewish Periodicals database (see above).

• Index to Periodical Literature on Christ and the Gospels
  Subject Study 2: BT 202 .I534 1998

  Arrangement is by topic, with each major category further subdividing; a detailed listing of the contents is provided. Entries are in chronological order, with oldest entries listed first (the index covers articles as far back as the 1800s). Articles covered are drawn from approximately 160 periodicals, in several languages. Includes an author index.

• Internationale Zeitschriftenschau für Bibelwissenschaft und Grenzgebiete (IZBG) (also known as International review of Biblical studies or Revue internationale des études bibliques
  Subject Study 2 and Annex: Z 7770 .I57

  Abstracts of periodicals and books in Biblical studies. Organized topically; table of contents and author index provided in back. Coverage is from 1951 onwards. In German and English.

• Kiryat Sefer: Bibliographical Quarterly of the Jewish National and University Library, Jerusalem
  Room 224: Z 6367 .K57

  Extensive bibliography of all the publications in Israel and of Judaica from abroad. In Hebrew and English. No longer published in print; online available online at http://ram1.huji.ac.il/ALEPH/HEB/TST/QSF/QSF/START.

• New Testament Abstracts
  Through 1984 (v. 28) -- Subject Study 2: BS 410 .N42
  1985 (v. 29) onwards -- Annex: BS 410 .N42

  Periodical abstracts and book notices of primarily European and American works dealing with the New Testament. Earlier volumes abstracted only periodical articles; currently, books are also included in each volume. NTA typically abstracts around 2,000 articles chosen from more than 500 periodicals in numerous languages. Nearly 850 current books are also summarized annually. Also available electronically (see above, under Electronic Databases).

• Old Testament Abstracts
  Annex and Subject Study 2: BS 410 .O44

  Periodical abstracts and book notices of primarily European and American works dealing with the Old Testament. Organized topically, with author and scripture reference indexes. Also available electronically (see above, under Electronic Databases).

• Pastoral Care and Counseling Abstracts (1972-1978) and Abstracts of Research in Pastoral Care and Counseling (1979-1998)
  Subject Study 4: BV 4012.2 .A26

  Provides abstracts of research in various areas of pastoral care. Covers journal articles, theses and dissertations, unpublished manuscripts, and research in progress. An author index is provided. Ceased publication in 1998.

• Periodical Articles on Religion, 1890-1899
  Reference Room: BR 11 .R5

  Companion volume to An Alphabetical Subject Index and Index Encyclopaedia to Periodical Articles on Religion, 1890-1899 (see above). The same works that are covered in An Alphabetical Subject Index are here indexed by author. The user must consult An Alphabetical Subject Index in order to get the abbreviations used.

• Religion Index One: Periodicals
  Annex: Z 7753 .A5

  Print counterpart to ATLA Religion Database. Major resource for indexing of periodical articles on religion. Coverage goes back to 1949.

• Religion Index Two: Multi-Author Works
  Annex: Z 7751 .R35

  Coverage of essays on religious topics included in multi-authored works. Electronic coverage of the same material is provided through ATLA Religion Database. Coverage goes back to 1970.

• Religious and Theological Abstracts
  Annex: Z 7753 .R3

  Provides abstracts of periodical articles in religion. Titles indexed are similar to Religion Index One (periodicals only), but fewer. Coverage is from 1958 - 2008.

• Revue d'Histoire Ecclesiastique
  Periodicals (2nd Floor) and Subject Study 5: BX 802 .R4

  Exhaustive European-American periodical and book coverage of church history from early church to contemporary times. Organization is topical. The Table of Contents is located in the back of each volume. An author index ("Table Onomastique") is also provided. In French.

• Science of Religion Bulletin: Abstracts and Indexes of Recent Articles (1976-1979) and Science of Religion: Abstracts and Indexes of Recent Articles (1980-1991)
  Reference Room: Z 7753 .S354

  Abstracts of periodical articles in religion. Excludes Biblical studies. Arrangement is topical, with author and subject indexes provided. Coverage is from 1976-1991.

• Theological Book Review
  Periodicals (2nd Floor): BL 1 .T546

  Brief book reviews of current British (and some American) works in theology. Comes out three times per year. Organization is by Dewey decimal classification number, but there is both an alphabetical listing of topics and the corresponding Dewey number as well as an author index in the back to aid the user in locating the desired review.