Reference resources are a great place to begin your research. They can help you define terms as well as find overviews of topics and theories and identify keywords or alternate terms for database searching.
There are many different types of reference sources, which include dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, bibliographies, handbooks, style manuals to name a few.
History of the American Cinema
This seminal 10 volume history covers from 1895 to 1989 and can be found in SL Books PN1993.5 .U6 H55.
Oxford Bibliographies provides peer-reviewed annotated bibliographies on film history, television studies, media studies, critical theory, visual arts, cultural studies, digital culture, game studies, popular culture and the study of the moving image.
Bibliographies are browseable by subject area and keyword searchable.
Take a look at the following subject guide:
♦ Cinema and Media Studies