Research Guides

A SELECTED LIST OF SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON CORPORATIONS AND INDUSTRIES.

Please note that in all cases, the electronic indexes ABI/INFORM and Business Source Elite and the print indexes F&S Index United States and Business Periodicals Index are helpful.

Guides to the Literature and Research

Table of Contents

• Business Information: How to Find It, How to Use It. 2nd ed. (Ready Ref. HF 5356.L36 1992)
  
• Business Information Sources. 3rd ed. (Ready Ref. HF 5351.D36 1993)
  
• Business Research Sources: A Reference Navigator. (Ref. HF 54.52.U5B88 1999)
  
• Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources. 12th ed. (Ref. HF 5353.E9 1998)
  
• How to Find Information About Companies. 3 vols., 1999 ed. (Ref. HD 2771.H68 1999)
  
• International Business Information: How to Find It, How to Use It. 2nd ed. (Ref. HF 54.5.P33 1999)
  
• Strauss’s Handbook of Business Information: A Guide for Librarians, Students, and Researchers. 2nd ed. (Ready Ref. HF 1010.M68 2004)
  

Information About Specific Companies

Reference Works

Table of Contents

Publicly Held/Trade Companies:

Mergent Online – See Lovejoy Library’s Business Reference Sources at: http://www.library.siue.edu/lib/research_tools/business_reference_sources.htm Includes information and financial data on U.S and International Companies, with archival information back to 1996. Company annual reports also available in pdf.

For older Mergent/Moody information, consult the print/microfiche sources:

Mergent Complete Corporate Index (Ready Ref. HG 4961.M665)
(Located at the Information Desk. Published annually)

If the company in question is listed in Mergent Complete Corporate Index then refer initially to the following sources:

Mergent Manuals (formerly Moody's Financial Information Services)

• Mergent Bank and Finance Manual. (Ref. HG 4961.M65)
  
• Mergent Industrial Manual. (Ref. HG 4961.M67)
  
• Mergent International Manual. (Ref. HG 4009.M66)
  
• Mergent OTC Industrial Manual. (Ref. HG 4961.M723)
  
• Mergent Public Utility Manual. (Ref. HG 4961.M7245)
  
• Mergent Transportation Manual. (Ref. HG 4971.M74)
  
• Mergent OTC Unlisted Manual. (Ref. HG 4907.M68)

All Moody's/Mergent manuals held in microfiche format from early 1900's up to 2002.

Standard & Poor's Corporation

Nine of the S&P publications previously held by the Library in print are now available through S&P's Net Advantage internet service. This electronic subscription includes such long-standing publications as:

• Corporation Records
• Industry Surveys [also still received in print]
• Register of Corporations
• Directors and Executives
• Bond Guide
• Stock Guide
• Dividend Record
• Earnings Guide
• The OUTLOOK
• Stock Reports

Value Line Investment Survey.
(Ready Ref. HG 4501.V26)

Note: If the company is not listed in Mergent Complete Corporate Index then it is likely to be:

• Be privately owned
• Be a subsidiary, division or other affiliate
• The name has changed, possibly because of a merger.
• The name given is incorrect. It may be a brand name or a trade name.
• Company may not exist if it is given in a case study

If one of these situations is the case, then refer to the following sources:

• Advertising Red Books. Advertiser, Business Classifications, and Advertiser, Indexes. (Ref. HF 5805.S71, and Ref. HF 5805.S712) [formerly, Standard Directory of Advertisers]
  
• The American Big Businesses Directory. (Ref. HF 5035.A49)
  [Holding this directory in both print and CD-ROM formats, this directory/database provides information on 194,000 businesses that have 100 or more employees or are publicly traded, and including subsidiary and branch location information]
  (Ref. CD-ROM—accessible as local database only on Library Reference terminal)
  
• D&B Million Dollar Directory: America's Leading Public & Private Companies. (Ref. HC 102.D8)
  
• EDGAR Database (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) http://edgar.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
  For 10-K and other reports that corporations are required to file with the SEC
  
• Illinois Manufacturers Directory. (Ref. HD 9720.I51)
  
• Illinois Services Directory. (Ref. HC 107.I3 I62)
  
• LexisNexis Academic Universe [on Library’s web page—online portal containing many business directories]
  
• LexisNexis Corporate Affiliations. (Ref. HG 4057.A217)
  • vols. 1-2 - Master Index, vol. 3 - U.S. Public Companies, vol. 4 - U.S. Private Companies,
    vol. 5 - International--Public & Private Companies.
    [Best all-around source for tracing corporate ownership, e.g., subsidiaries, joint ventures, etc.]
    
• Missouri Directory of Manufacturers. (Ref. T 12.M59)
  
• Mergent Manuals (formerly Moody's Manuals) (Bound volumes, 2nd floor)
  The index section in each volume contains the section "Additional Companies Formerly Included." A check of a few years might reveal the company's fate.
  
• Sorkins [Online version of Sorkin’s Directory of Business & Government, available via Library webpage---on-campus acess only]
  [covers St. Louis, Chicago, and Kansas City regions]
  
• St. Louis Commerce … RCGA Roster & Membership Services Directory. (St. Louis Regional Commerce & Growth Association)
  (Ref. HC 108.S2S31)
  
• Telephone Directories (Some local directories in the Library; many good Web sources)
  
• Thomas' Register of American Manufacturers and Thomas Register Catalog File. (Ref. T 12 .T6 2003)
  Much of Register is available free on Web at Thomas Register Online at http://www.thomasregister.com

Newspaper Indexes

Table of Contents

• National Newspapers from ProQuest.
  An index/abstract services accessible from Lovejoy Library’s “Online Databases by Subject” web page, it indexes nine national newspapers, with full-text on eight. Best service for indexing and topical searching of Wall Street Journal, with full-text back to 1986.
  
• New York Times Index. (Ref. Index Table AI 21.N451913-1998)
  
• Newspaper Source from EBSCO (General Journal and Newspaper Databases Web page.) Index and abstract service.
  
• LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe (General Journal and Newspaper Databases Web page.)
  Provides indexing and some full-text content to over 100 newspapers.
  
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch Index. (Ref. Index Table AI 21.S79 B45 1988-1997)
  
• Wall Street Journal Index. (Ref. Index Table HG 1.W26 1958-1999)

Periodical Indexes

Table of Contents

• ABI/INFORM database--accessible via Lovejoy Library's "Online Information" web page--
  this preeminent business index is provided by ProQuest.
  (Business Journal and Newspaper Databases Web page.) .
  
• Business Periodicals Index. [1958-1993] (Ref. Z 7164.C81 B983). [useful for older research]
  
• Business Source Elite—part of the EBSCOhost service, this database is accessible via Lovejoy Library's "Online Information" web page.
  
• F&S Index United States. [1963- 2002] (Ref. Index Table HG 4961.F83).
  
• Academic Universe from Lexis-Nexis—online service available from Library web page. This source also includes a great deal of general and specialized business directory information.

Additional sources of information for both public and private companies.

Table of Contents

• Advertising Age - 100 Leading Advertisers (A September issue annually).
  
• Best's Key Rating Guide: Life-Health (Ref. HG 8943.B272)
  
• Best's Key Rating Guide: Property-Casualty. (Ref. HG 9765.B4)
  
• Companies and their Brands. 23rd ed. (Ref. T 223.V4A253 2002)
  
• Hoover’s Company Records [online database from Library’s web page—includes capsules & profiles]
  
• Hoover's Guide to Computer Companies. 2nd ed. (Ref. HD 9696.C63 U51835 1996)
  
• Hoover's Handbook of American Business. (Ref. HF 5030.H8)
  
• Hoover's Handbook of Emerging Companies. (Ref. HF 4057.A28618)
  
• Hoover's Handbook of Private Companies. (Ref. HG 4057.A28616)
  
• International Directory of Company Histories. (Ref. HD 2721.I63 1988- ) Ongoing--about 40 volumes to date.
  
• Organization Charts: Structures of 230 Businesses, Government Agencies, and Non-profit Organizations. 3rd ed. (Ref. HD 38.O738 2000)
  
• Thomson Bank Directory. (Ref. HG 1536.R242 2003 )
  
• United States Corporation Histories: A Bibliography 1965-1990. 2nd ed. (Ref. HD 2785 .N37 1991)
  

Foreign Corporations

Table of Contents

• Directory of American Firms Operating in Foreign Countries. (Ref. HG 4538.AI D5 17th ed. 2003)
  
• Directory of Foreign Firms Operating in the United States. 10th ed. (Ref. HG 4057.A1 D51 2000)
  
• Directory of Foreign Manufacturers in the United States. 4th ed. (Ref. HD 9723.A76 1990)
  
• Hoover's Handbook of World Business. (Ref. HF 5030.H7)
  
• Mergent International Manual. (Ref. HG 4009.M66)

Industry Information Sources

Table of Contents

Reference Works

Table of Contents

• American Wholesalers and Distributors Directory. (Ref. HF5421.A615 2004)
  
• Business Rankings Annual. (Ready Ref. HF 5353.B86 2005)
  
• Encyclopedia of American Industries. 4th ed. (Ref. HC 102.E53 2005, vols. 1-2)
  
• Encyclopedia of Global Industries. 3rd ed. (Ref. HD 2324.E53 2003)
  
• Information, Finance, and Services USA. (Ref. HF 9981.4.I53 1st ed. 2001)
  Provides economic and statistical data on financial services, information services, insurance, and service industries.
  
• Infrastructure Industries USA. (Ref. HD 9505.U5I53 2001)
  Provides statistical analyses for agricultural, construction, mining, transportation, and utilities industries.
  
• Inside U.S. Business: A Concise Encyclopedia of Leading Industries. (Ref. HC 106.8.M337 1994)
  
• Handbook of North American Industry. (Ref. HF 1746.H37 1999)
  Provides NAFTA information and statistics in one convenient source; includes country-by-country and industry-by-industry comparisons, with concise text, maps, charts, and statistics.
  
• Manufacturing & Distribution USA. 3rd ed. (Ref. HD 9721.M364 2004)
  Provides statistical analyses for over 500 manufacturing, wholesaling, and retail industries.
  
• Manufacturing Worldwide: Industry Analyses, Statistics, Products, and Leading Companies and Countries. 2nd ed.
  (Ref. HD 9720.4.M36 1998)
  
• Market Share Reporter. (Ready Ref. HF 5410.M35 )
  
• Mergent Industry Review. (Ready Ref. HG 4961.M68)
  
• Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys. (Ref. Index Tables HG 4961.S75--print version)
  [Now available both in print and online through "Standard & Poor's Net Advantage" service—see Library's web pages, “Online Information—Reference Sources—Business Reference Sources.” Provides extensive coverage of 52 major U.S. industries, with sections on current environment, industry profile, how the industry operates, key ratios and statistics, and comparative company analysis]
  
• STAT-USA (Business Reference Sources Web page -- login required. Please ask at the Information Desk.)
  Computer file produced by the U.S. Department of Commerce containing extensive data on U.S. commerce and exports, international market research, etc. Includes the NTDB (National Trade Data Bank file and GLOBIUS (Global Business Opportunities)
  
• Statistical Service (Standard and Poor's Corporation). (Ref. Index Table HG4961.S7513)
  Includes current and basic statistics on stock price indexes and averages, on U.S. economic indicators and conditions, and on specific industries
  
• U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/).
  Click on the section "Economic Census" under Business, and you will be able to find a number of industry profiles, organized by NAICS code.
  
• U.S Industry & Trade Outlook. (Ready Ref. HC 101.U54 2000)
  Co-published by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce and McGraw-Hill, continues, U.S. Industrial Outlook, and constitutes a basic but indispensable compilation of industry analyses, reviews, and forecasts.
  
• U.S Market Trends & Forecasts. 3rd ed. (Ref. HF 5415.1.U7 2002)
  Provides market overview and projection information for over 350 markets within 29 major industry headings.
  
• Value Line Investment Survey. (Ready Ref. HG 4501.V26)
  
• WEFA Industrial Monitor. (Ref. HC 101.W44 1999/2000)
  [Up-to-date analysis of over 130 U.S. industries, providing reviews and forecasts on sales, imports, exports, and other key indicators]

Statistical Annuals - usually published by trade or industry associations but also privately published.

Table of Contents

• Aerospace Facts and Figures. (Ref. TL 501 .A818)
  
• Air Transport Association of America. Economic Report: A Review of the U.S. Airline Industry.
  (Ref. HD9788.5.U5A63 2003- ) [formerly, Annual Report of the ATA]
  
• Annual Statistical Report - American Iron and Steel Institute. (Ref. HD 9514 .A5)
  
• CRB Commodity Yearbook. (Ref. HF 1041.C59)
  
• Ward's Automotive Yearbook. (Ref. HD 9710 .U5 W3)

Ratios of Industry/ Benchmarking

Table of Contents

• Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios. (Ref. HF 5681.R25 T68)
  
• Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios. (Dun and Bradstreet Corporation) (Ref. HF 5681.R25 I525)
  
• RMA Annual Statement Studies. (Robert Morris Associates) (Ref. HF 5681.B2 R6)

Special Issues of Periodicals

Table of Contents

• Directory of Business Periodical Special Issues: the Definitive Guide to Indexed Business, Science, and Technology Periodicals.
  (Ref. HF 5351.D574 1995)
  
• Guide to Special Issues and Indexes of Periodicals. 4th ed. (Ref. HF 5351 .G85 1994)

Other Sources of Information and Statistics

Table of Contents

• Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management. 12 vols. (Ref. HD 30.15 .B463 1997)
  
• Business Statistics of the United States. (Ref. HC 101 .A13123)
  
• Concise International Encyclopedia of Business & Management. (Ref. HF 1001 .I53 1997b)
  
• Demographic Yearbook. Annuaire demographique. United Nations. Statistical Division. (Ready Ref. HA 17 .D45)
  
• Demographics USA. County Edition. (Ref. HF 5415.3 .S99 2000)
  
• Directory of U.S. Labor Organizations. (Ref. HD 6504.D64 1999)
  
• Encyclopedia of Associations. (Ready Ref. HS 17 .E5, HS 17 .E51, HS 17 .E52)
  Has national, international, and regional, state, and local parts. Very useful in identifying trade and professional associations and their publications.
  
• Encyclopedia of Business. (Ref. HF 1001 .E466 1995, vols. 1-2)
  
• Europa World Year Book. (Ready Ref. JN 1 .E86) Excellent 2-vol. annual source on politics and economics worldwide.
  
• Handbook of U.S. Labor Statistics: Employment, Earnings, Prices, Productivity, and other Labor Data. (Ref. HD 8051. H36)
  Annual, a continuation of old BLS publication.
  
• International Encyclopedia of Business and Management. 8 vols. (Ref. HF1001.I53 2002)
  
• International Financial Statistics Yearbook. (Ref. HG 61 .I57) [important annual source of financial data produced by IMF (International Monetary Fund]
  
• International Trade Statistics Yearbook. (Ref. HF 91 .U475)
  
• North American Industry Classification System. (Ref. HF 1042 .N671 2002) Online at: http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html
  [Largely superseding the older SIC-code system as the classification of business activity]
  
• Profiles of American Labor Unions. (Ref. HD6504.P64 1998)
  
• Standard Industrial Classification Manual. (Ref. HF 1042 .A55 1987)
  
• Statistical Abstract of the United States. (Ready Ref. HA 202 .S8)
  [The MOST important and basic statistical reference work for U.S. industrial, social, demographic, political, and economic statistics. Published annually. Available free on Web in pdf at: http://www.census.gov/statab/www/]
  
• Statistical Resources on the Web (University of Michigan). See http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html
  [a great resource for both governmental and other statistical sources]
  
• Statistical Yearbook. United Nations. Statistical Division. (Ready Ref. HA 12.5 .U632)
  
• Statistics Sources. (Ready Ref. HA 1 .S75) Bibliography and index of statistical sources and publications.
  
• United Nations Common Database (UNCDB). [on Library’s home page under Government Reference sources]
  [provides selected series from 30 specialized international data sources for all available countries and areas]
  
• World Factbook. (Ready Ref. G 123 .W62 and online on web) [Annual publication of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency]

Table of Contents

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Phone: 650-3282

Email: panthon@siue.edu

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