Advice, Conduct and Etiquette Literature: Sources

Database of several hundred digitized works of advice literature for women and men published in the United Kingdom.

Enormous online collection of English Language books published between 1701 and 1800. Because of the enormity of the database and inadequacies of the search interface persistence in trying different terms is necessary.

Van Pelt Microtext Center: Microfilm 4459.
The Schlesinger collection of etiquette and advice books, from the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University

Database of digitized historic publications about social dance and other issues involving dancing. Includes information on appropriate behavior and etiquette for social dances.

Enormous database of works published in the United States prior to 1800. Browse for advice literature by clicking on the Subjects tab and choosing 'Society, Manners and Customs.' Relevant subject headings include: Clothing and Dress, Courtship, Etiquette, Manners and Customs, Masturbation, and Sexual Ethics.

"163 Sunday school books published in America between 1815 and 1865, drawn from the collections of Michigan State University Libraries and the Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University Libraries. They document the culture of religious instruction of youth in America during the Antebellum era."

Online database of about 1,500 books from the 19th century. To browse works of advice literature try clicking on the 'self-help and self-improvement' section or looking in the subject index for some of the headings listed in the first section of this guide.

Call#: Van Pelt Library Microtext Microtext Microfilm cont 703
Large set of works of prescriptive literature, including works on raising children, marriage, diet, health, education, and similar topics. The collection consists of books and periodicals published in the United Kingdom. Some of the works in this set can be found online in the Defining Gender collection listed above.

Database of digitized documents relating to womens' roles in the U.S. economy. It includes etiquette and advice books meant to assist women who are entering the work world. Try using the catalog records section of the search feature to do subject searches for etiquette or conduct of life.