Anthropology Research Guide: Web Sites
A guide to resources for anthropology
Museums and Library Collections
Local Museums
- Maryland MuseumsQuick guide to local museums, organized by county.
- Pennsylvania Historical Sites and MuseumsPlace to search for historical spots in PA.
National Museums
- American Museum of Natural History - Div. of AnthropologyContains digital images of cultural artifacts from around the world as well as stories about current projects.
- Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and CultureThe only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture.
- Smithsonian Center for FolklifeExplores the Smithsonian Folklife programs.
Recommended web resources
Mythology and Folklore
- Folklore and Mythology Electronic TextsCollection of folklore, legends and fairy tales texts from around the world.
- Project Gutenberg Online CatalogThousands of public domain books including many classic fairy tales and legends.
Professional Associations
- American Anthropological AssociationProfessional association web site. Good source to explore Anthropology as a career.
Evaluating websites
Can't I just use Google?
We aren't going to tell you not to ever use Google -- we use it to answer questions all the time! Just remember that not everything you find will be reliable, unbiased, up-to-date information.
If your professor allows you to use websites for your research paper/project, make sure you critically evaluate them first.
How do I evaluate something on the internet?
Ask yourself some questions about what you're reading:
- Who? Who owns the site—e.g., a company, a government agency, a university, an individual blogger? Who writes articles on the website, and what else do they write about?
- What? What does the site tell you about your topic? Does it back up claims with citations or links to other reliable websites?
- When? When was the site published/last updated? You should not find any broken links.
- Why? Why was the site created—e.g., to inform, to entertain, to sell something? Does the site contain an "About Us" section or mission statement?