Scope

This Research Guide focuses on the history, cultural and societal aspects, and health issues of tattoos and body piercings.

Overview

Encyclopedia of World Cultures
College Library Reference Collection: GN 307 E53 1991
Look up the following terms in the index: "body branding," "body painting," "body piercing," and "body scarification, tattooing"

Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
College Library Reference Collection: RC 41 G35 2002
Refer to "Piercing and Tattoos" in Volume 4, pages 2598-2600

Tattoo History: A Source Book: An Anthology of Historical Records of Tattooing Throughout the World
College Library Main Book Collection: GN419.3 G56 2000

Body Piercing [electronic resource]: A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References
Available through netLibrary

Finding Journal and News Articles

Below are links to databases that cover this subject area. The truncation symbol for all of them is an asterisk (*) unless otherwise noted.

Sample searches for databases:

tattooing
"body piercing"
"body marking"
"body art"
(tattoo* or body piercing) and culture
(tattoo* or body piercing) and identity
(tattoo* or body piercing) and health
(tattoo* or body piercing) and youth

Recommended Databases:

Academic Search 1984 - to date (updated daily)
This library database indexes approximately 3,100 popular magazines and academic journals and provides the full-text articles from approximately 1,000 journals. Basic instructions for Academic Search

Ethnic NewsWatch 1960 - to date (updated monthly)
A full-text collection of more than 200 newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority and native press. Basic instructions for Ethnic Newswatch

Health and Wellness Resource Center 1994 - to date (updated daily)
Provides health information for nursing and allied health students, as well as consumer health research. It offers full text for more than 150 periodicals, six reference books, and over 500 pamphlets.

Humanities Full Text 1984 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 400 scholarly journals on archaeology, classical studies, art, film, folklore, history, journalism, linguistics, literature, music, performing arts, philosophy and religion. Basic instructions for Humanities Full Text

ProQuest Research Library 1988 - to date (updated daily)
Indexes over 2,000 general-interest and academic journals. Nearly 1,000 periodicals are full-text. Dates vary, but many full-text journals go back to 1988. Basic instructions for ProQuest Research Library

PsycINFO 1872 - to date (updated weekly)
Indexes 1,300 scholarly journals along with books and book chapters in psychology, educational psychology, and behavioral sciences. Basic instructions for PsycINFO

Readers' Guide Full Text and Retrospective 1890 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 240 popular magazines in a wide range of subject areas. Full-text coverage of 131 titles begins with 1994. Basic instructions for Readers' Guide Full Text

Social Sciences Full Text 1983 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes more than 415 scholarly journals in economics, politics, public administration, public health, sociology, criminology, environmental and urban studies, psychology and anthropology. Basic instructions for Social Sciences Full Text

Finding Books

MadCat
Books on Tattoos & Body Piercings can be found in MadCat, the UW-Madison library catalog.

Sample keyword searches:

"body art"
"body marking"
"body piercing"
tattooing
"body modification"

Internet Sites

Tattoos, Temporary Tattoos and Henna Products (FDA)
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tattoos.html
Includes information on FDA regulations of the inks and pigments used in tattoos, possible reactions and health risks.

Tattoos / Body Piercings
http://tattoo.about.com/
Guide from About.com includes news, articles, resources, links, photo gallery, and a glossary.

The Henna Page
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/index.html
Includes information on the history and traditions of Henna, articles, patterns and an encyclopedia.

Alliance of Professional Tattooists
http://www.safe-tattoos.com/
Includes information on issues relating to both tattoos and body piercing, as well as information for professional tattoo artists.

Association of Professional Piercers
http://www.safepiercing.org/
Includes information for those receiving piercings and for professional piercers.

Organizations

Association of Professional Piercers
http://www.safepiercing.org/
PMB 286
5456 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Chamblee, GA 30341
Phone: 1-888-888-1APP or (505) 242-2144

Alliance of Professional Tattooists, Inc.
http://www.safe-tattoos.com/
2108 S. Alvernon Way
Tucson, AZ 85711
Phone: (520) 514-5549