It's not always easy to find ethnography in books or articles. There are some strategies which help, but you'll need to review the book (or article) to see if it uses ethnograpic methods, or otherwise meets your needs. Use LIbrary search to seach for your group or region and "social life and customs", "ethnograph*, "case studies", or "ethnic groups". Library of Congress uses the term "Ethnology" for books about Ethnographies. "Ethnology -- [geographic area]" is commonly used, as is [Group -- ethnology]. Also try "Ethnogroph*" with your specific keywords. Use many synomyms for peoples and places!
Or look for ethnographic journal articles. Early issues contain primary sources. All issues contain book reviews that can lead you to useful titles.
You can also start with sources that include background information on the work or anthropologists, or sources that provide an overview of your cultural group (encyclopedias, handbooks, bibliographies). For example:
eHRAF is the digital version of HRAF (on microfilm): UVic LIbraries has access to both. Contents are organized by culture, using the Outline of World Cultures, each with information organized by the Outline of Cultural Materials. This consistency allows for comparisons between cultures. The site provides a user's guide - check this for a basic 'how-to', and to help problem solve if needed.
HRAF provides sources created over many years - the methods and descriptions used within may not reflect the methods that anthropologists use today, and many use names or phrases that are no longer in use. A lot of human effort goes into indexing this information to make it findable now - including references to older or newer group names. If you're stuck on what to call your group, consult outside sources or ask a Librarian for help documenting these changes.
For each group, there is a description, a summary, a list of sources (these are often primary sources by anthropologists).
There are many subject headings relevant to our myths, including:
However we are using this information for context, background, and ethnographic information, not only to find myth texts.
Use the Advanced Search in eHRAF to search for a Culture + Subject, or find a single culture and review it's summary and sources to find what you're looking for (myths,folklore, or religious beliefs).
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