Reference books can be helpful to use if you're interested in reading broadly about a subject/topic/theme/architect or if you want to zoom in and learn more about specific topics (like in encyclopedias and dictionaries). They are a recommended first step to research, can be helpful refreshers, and provide nice overviews.
Our print Reference Collection is located on the main floor of Gunnin behind the Materials Connexion Collection.
50 Architects You Should Know. Isabel Kühl, Kristina Lowis, Sabine Thiel-Siling. Munich, New York: Prestel, 2008.
African-American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary, 1865-1945. Dreck Spurlock Wilson, ed. New York: Routledge, 2004.
African-American Architects in Current Practice. Jack Travis, ed. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, [1991].
American Architects: A Survey of Award-Winning Contemporaries and Their Notable Works. Les Krantz. New York: Facts on File, 1989.
Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased). Henry F. Withey & Elsie Rathburn Withey. Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, 1970 [Facsimile ed., c1956] OR Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1996 [Reprint of 1970 facsimile edition].
Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, 4th ed. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008.
Contemporary American Architects. (4 vols.) Philip Jodidio. Koln, Germany: Taschen: 1993-1998.
Contemporary Architects, 3rd ed. Muriel Emanuel, ed. London, Detroit: St. James Press, 1994.
Contemporary Asian Architects. Hasan-Uddin Kahn. Köln [Germany], New York: Taschen, 1995.
Contemporary European Architects. (5 vols.) Wolfgang Amsoneit, Dirk Meyhöfer, Philip Jodidio. Köln [Germany], New York: Taschen, 1991-1998.
Dictionary of Architecture and Building: Biographical, Historical and Descriptive (3 vols.). Russell Sturgis [et al.]. Detroit: Gale Research, 1966, 1902. Reprint of 1902 edition.
Directory, African-American Architects, 2nd ed. Cincinnati, Ohio : Center for the Study of the Practice of Architecture, College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, University of Cincinnati, 1991- (1996). Journal.
Encyclopedia of Architecture: Design, Engineering, and Construction (5 vols.). Joseph A. Wilkes, Robert T. Packard. New York: Wiley, 1988-89.
Encyclopedia of Architecture: Historical, Theoretical, and Practical. Joseph Gwilt, Wyatt Papworth. New York: Bonanza Books. Dist. by Crown Publishers, 1982, 1867. OUT OF PRINT.
Encyclopedia of Modern Architecture. Wolfgang Pehnt. New York: H. N. Abrams, 1964.
Encyclopedia of World Art. Bernard Samuel Myers. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1959-1987.
English Mediaeval Architects: A Biographical Dictionary down to 1550, rev. ed. John Harvey, Arthur Oswald. Gloucester: A. Sutton, 1984.
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Architects and Architecture. Dennis Sharp. New York: Whitney Library of Design, 1991.
International Dictionary of Architects and Architecture, Vol. 1: Architects. Doreen Yarwood, Suhail Butt. Detroit: St. James Press, 1993.
International Directory of Architecture and Design. Senlis, France: DID S.A.R.L., 1992- (Serial, Biennial).
Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects (4 vols.). Adolf A. Placzek. New York: Free Press, 1982.
Master Builders: A Guide to Famous American Architects. Diane Maddex. Washington, D.C.: Preservation Press, 1985.
A Short Dictionary of British Architects. Dora Ware. London: Allen & Unwin, 1967.
Who's Who in Architecture: From 1400 to the Present. J. M. Richards. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1977.
What is Reference?
Reference books are books like encyclopedias and directories that provide background information about various topics. They can be very helpful to use when starting to research a topic or an architect. There are also books that are shelved in the Reference area that are more 'special' than other books in the collection. Our Reference Collection in Gunnn is located on our main floor behind the Materials Connexion Collection.
This is a list of general archtiectural dictionaries. Please see the Biographical tab for a list of biographical dictionaries of architects.