Reference Works on Art and Architecture

Guides

Kleinbauwer, W. Eugene and Thomas G. Slavens. Research Guide to the History of Western Art. Chicago: American Library Association, 1982.

Among general architectural sources, the only citation identified that could be related to the history of department stores is Pevsner’s history of Building types. (Avery shelf location N380.K56 1982)

Bibliography

Darpel, Bernard and Ruth W. Spiegel, eds. Arts in America: A Bibliography. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1979.

This guide includes nothing on department stores, but does cover the Centennial Exhibition. The designs of the Fair’s exhibition halls were forerunners to what we know today at the department store. (Avery shelf location: N6505.Aar79)

Periodical Indexes

ARTbibliographies Modern. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-Clio, c1999- 1974- Available: (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/libraries/indexes/art-bibl-modern.html) August 10, 2000.

Under the subject heading Department stores—History, this index contains the eight mostly interdisciplinary articles on the histories of department stores as architecture and on the retail industry.

Bibliography of the History of Art. [Santa Monica, Calif.] : J. Paul Getty Trust. Available: (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/libraries/indexes/bibl-hist-art.html) August 10,2000.

Under the heading, “Stores,” 313 citations were found and 9 citations under Department Stores. Two of the articles are compare department stores with museums.

Art Index. Bronx, N.Y.: H.W. Wilson, 1928-

Art Abstracts. Bronx, N.Y. : H.W. Wilson Co. (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/libraries/indexes/art-abs.html/) August 10, 2000.

Of all the art indexes, the Art Index offers the most coverage from 1928, into the 1930s. topics range from theories of modern architecture under the heading Architecture to Department Stores—History. Topics also cover new stores, renovations of older stores and new trends in display with electric lighting. A search on Art Abstracts (1984 to present) brought up two citations under Department Stores—History and nine under Stores—History.

Schmidt, Mary Morris. Index to Nineteenth Century American Art Periodicals. Vol. II. Madison, Conn. Sound View Press, 1999.

Does not discuss department store architecture, but does discuss merchandise advertised in The Art Amateur, during the 1890. The regular column, “As Seen in Shops” features items available from department stores, These sources complement Clausen’s discussion of department store as places that attracted social-climbing middle class with luxury and opulence. (Teachers College shelf location Ref. N1.Sch5).

Dictionaries

Clausen, Meredith L. “Department Store.” Dictionary of Art. New York: Grove, 1996.

Lays out the basic criteria for the department store building type—usually an impressive building, multistoried, surrounded with display windows on the ground floor, and located near a city center. Sketches the history of the Bon Marche designed by Jean-Alexandre Laplanche with the help of Gustav Eiffel. Cites other exemplary stores, including the Jourdain’s Samaritaine (Included in this guide), as well as a bibliography of histories of the Department store, Including Welch and Clausen. (Teachers College shelf location N31.D5 1996)

Dissertations

Dissertation Abstracts [Online]. Available: (http://www.columbia.edu./cu/libraries/indexes/dissertation-abstracts.html.) August 6, 2000.

Molesworth, Helen. “At Home with Duchamp: The Readymade and Domesticity.” (Ph.D. Dissertation: Cornell University, 1998) Dissertation Abstract International 58 (1998): 4475A.

About the history of the ready-made in the United States. Considers the social and historical context of Duchamp’s work and characterizes his Ready-mades as non-work, play and laziness. The author also examines the relation of Duchamp’s work to the rise of consumerism in museums and department stores. (Interlibrary Loan)