For a more detailed bibliography see United Methodist Studies: Basic Bibliograhies

General Histories

Behney, J. Bruce and Paul H. Eller, Kenneth W. Krueger, ed. The History of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1979.

Bucke, Emory Stevens, ed. The History of American Methodism. 3 vols. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1964.

Heitzenrater, Richard P. Wesley and the People Called Methodists. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995.
     Heitzenrater focuses his study on Methodism in England.

McEllhenney, John G., ed. United Methodism in America: A Compact History. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992.
    This easy to read work is ideal for high school students and confirmation classes. Attention is paid to the United Brethren and Evangelical Church traditions as well as women and racial and ethnic minorities.

Norwood, Frederick A. The Story of American Methodism: A History of the United Methodists and Their Relations. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1974.

Richey, Russell E., Kenneth E. Rowe, & Jean Miller Schmidt. The Methodist Experience in America: A Sourcebook. Nashville: Abingdon, 2000.
     This work is a documentary history of American Methodism and contains official documents and primary sources. It includes references to women, ethnic groups, and antecedent denominations.

Richey, Russell E. Early American Methodism. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1991.

Women and Minorities

Gonzalez, Justo L., ed. Each in Our Own Tongue: A History of Hispanic United Methodism. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991.

Guillermo, Artemio R., ed. Churches Aflame: Asian Americans and United Methodism. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991.

Noley, Homer. First White Frost: Native Americans and United Methodism. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991.

Schmidt, Jean Miller. Grace Sufficient: A History of Women in American Methodism. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999.

Shockley, Grant S., ed. Heritage and Hope: The African-American Presence in United Methodism. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991.

Thomas, Hilah F. and Rosemary Skinner Keller, eds. Women in New Worlds. 2 vols. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1981.
     The articles in this book came from papers presented at the Women in New Worlds Conference held in Cincinnati, Ohio, in February 1980, which was convened by the General Commission on Archives and History.

They Went Out Not Knowing: 100 Women in Mission. New York: General Board of Global Ministries, 1986. Click on link to view an electronic version http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/history/

Reference Works

Eltscher, Susan M., ed. Women in the Wesleyan and United Methodist Traditions: A Bibliography. Madison, New Jersey: General Commission on Archives and History, The United Methodist Church, 1991.

Gray, C. Jarrett, Jr., ed. The Racial and Ethnic Presence in American Methodism: A Bibliography. Madison, New Jersey: General Commission on Archives and History, The United Methodist Church, 1991.

Harmon, Nolan B., ed. Encyclopedia of World Methodism. 2 vols. Nashville: United Methodist Publishing House, 1974.

Rowe, Kenneth E., ed. United Methodist Studies: Basis Bibliographies, 3rd ed. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992.

Waltz, Alan K. A Dictionary for United Methodists. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991.

Societal Issues:

The Methodism and Society four volume work emphasizes the Methodist Church's institutional response to social issues.

    Cameron, Richard M. Methodism and Society. Vol. 1, Methodism and Society in Historical Perspective. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1961.

    Muelder, Walter G. Methodism and Society. Vol. 2, Methodism and Society in the Twentieth Century. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1961.

    Schilling, Paul S. Methodism and Society. Vol. 3, Methodism and Society in Theological Perspective. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1960.

    Stotts, Herbert E. and Paul Deats, Jr. Methodism and Society. Vol. 4, Methodism and Society: Guidelines for Strategy. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962.

    Detailed bibliography on United Methodist attitudes on war and peace.

Missions:

Barclay's History of Methodist Missions is an extremely valuable work on the Methodist Church's involvement with domestic and foreign mission work

    Barclay, Wade Crawford. History of Methodist Missions. Vol. 1, Missionary Motivations and Expansion. New York: The Board of Missions and Church Extension of the Methodist Church, 1949.

    Barlcay, Wade Crawford. History of Methodist Missions. Vol. 2, To Reform the Nation. New York: The Board of Missions and Church Extension of the Methodist Church, 1950.

    Barclay, Wade Crawford. History of Methodist Missions. Vol. 3, Widening Horizons, 1845- 1895. New York: The Board of Missions of the Methodist Church.

    Copplestone, J. Tremayne. History of Methodist Missions. Vol. 4, Twentieth-Century Perspectives. New York: The Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church, 1973.

They Went Out Not Knowing: 100 Women in Mission. New York: General Board of Global Ministries, 1986. Click on link  to view an electronic version http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/history/

Liturgy:

Hickman, Hoyt L., Don E. Saliers, Laurence Hull Stookey, James F. White, eds. The New Hand Book of the Christian Year. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992.
    This work is a valuable resource based on the Revised Common Lectionary that maps out the Christian year and gives a theological definition of each symbol employed in the given ritual.

Dunkle, William F., and Joseph D. Quillian. Companion to the Book of Worship: Edited for the Commission on Worship of The United Methodist Church. Nashville and New York: Abingdon Press, 1970.
    Gives a general history of the use of liturgy in the United Methodist tradition.

Charles Wesley

Tyson, John R. Charles Wesley: A Reader New York & Oxford. Oxford University Press, 1989, 2001.

Kimbrough, S T Jr., ed., Charles Wesley: Poet and Theologian. Nashville: Abingdon/Kingswood, 1992.