This volume serves as a comprehensive bibliographic reference designed to organize and evaluate the vast body of historical literature produced through the early twentieth century. Edited by Mary Beth Norton, this work provides a structured framework for scholars and students to navigate the historiography of diverse global regions and time periods. It functions as a foundational tool for identifying primary and secondary sources, ensuring that researchers have access to the most significant scholarship available at the time of its compilation.

Scholars and librarians frequently cite this work as a foundational reference tool for historical research. The text is noted for its immense density and its utility in providing a structured overview of global historiography.