Print Resources on the First Amendment & Censorship

Bald, Margaret. Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Religious Grounds. New York: Facts on File, 1998.
Part of a four-book series on books challenged throughout history for their religious content and themes. An excellent reference for students and teachers to explore the scope of book challenge history. Highly effective and easy-t0-use text for students to delve further into the analysis and history of a singular text of their choice.


Foerstel, Herbert N. Banned in the USA: A Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. Westport, CT: Greenwood P, 1994.
A highly approachable text focusing on history, legal precedent, and author perspectives on censorship in the United States.


Gregorian, Vartan. Censorship: 500 Years of Conflict. New York: Oxford UP, 1984.
Strong, basic western history of censorship and intellectual freedom issues. Good visuals. Highly useful to students and teachers, alike.


Harrison, Marueen and Steve Gilbert, eds. Landmark Decisions of the United States Supreme Court I. San Diego, CA: Excellent Books, 1991.
Includes precedent decisions of US Supreme Court on school censorship (Island Trees v. Pico), The Pentagon Papers case (1971), and symbolic speech acts like flag burning (1989).


Harrison, Marueen and Steve Gilbert, eds. Landmark Decisions of the United States Supreme Court II. San Diego, CA: Excellent Books, 1992.
Another handy reference including precedent decisions of US Supreme Court on the banning of Cleland’s Fanny Hill in Boston (1966), Bible readings in public schools (1963), and Larry Flynt’s notorious Hustler (1988) offensive speech case.


Harrison, Maureen and Steve Gilbert, eds. Obscenity and Pornography Decisions of the United States Supreme Court. Carlsbad, CA: Excellent Books, 2000.
Solid reference including US Supreme Court decisions: Reno v. ACLU (1997), Denver Telecommunications v. FCC (1996), and Island Trees v. Pico (1982). Also includes the 1973 Miller test for legally defining obscenity.


Harrison, Maureen and Steve Gilbert, eds. Schoolhouse Decisions of the United States Supreme Court. San Diego: Excellent Books, 1997.
Text focusing specifically on national legal precedents regarding public schools and intellectual freedom. Language of case texts has been altered to allow for readability by the novice instructor and/or students.


Hentoff, Nat. The First Freedom: The Tumultuous History of Free Speech in America. New York: Delacorte, 1988.
A central text for any high school curriculum on First Amendment history. Readable for students at most levels.


Herbert, David L, ed.. Freedom of the Press. The Bill of Rights series. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2005.
Lower-level reading for high school scholars and quick reference for educators on First Amendment applications to journalistic history, from eighteenth-century England to the USA Patriot Act. A must-have text for all school libraries.


Ingelhart, Louis Edward, ed. Press and Speech Freedoms in America, 1619-1995: A Chronology. Westport, CT: Greenwood P, 1997.
An orderly desk reference for scholars of communication history and the rights and responsibilities attached to intellectual freedoms. Contains useful quotes and references. Unfortunately, the text ignores student speech and press rights.


Karolides, Nicholas J., Margaret Bald, and Dawn B. Sova, eds. 100 Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature. New York: Checkmark, 1999.
A top-notch, must-have reference guide for English teachers and librarians on challenges to much of the strongest literature we have on the library shelves. Entries are easily organized by “reason” for challenge. Each includes history of the book, the challenges, and further readings on the cases.


Karolides, Nicholas J. Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Political Grounds. New York: Facts on File, 1998.
Part of a four-book series on books challenged throughout history for their political focus and themes. An excellent reference for students and teachers to explore the scope of book challenge history. Highly effective text for students to delve further into the analysis and history of a singular text of their choice.



Karolides, Nicholas J. Censored Books II: Critical Viewpoints, 1985-2000. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow P, 2002.
Comprehensive collection of book rationales to be used for book challenges. This edition picks up where the original 1993 version leaves off. Highly organized and balanced for teacher and student, alike. This text will help the English and social studies teacher prepare for possible challenges to curriculum changes.


Lindop, Edmund. The Bill of Rights and Landmark Cases. New York: Franklin Watts, 1989.
Basic text for scholar of First Amendment rights. Places the development of the Bill of Rights into historical, political, and practical context. Highly readable for high school students studying intellectual freedom issues.


Marsh, Dave. 50 Ways to Fight Censorship and Important Facts to Know About the Censors. New York: Thunder’s Mouth Pr., 1991.
Basic primer on IF issues for the novice censorship instructor. Quick reference.


Parker, Richard A. Free Speech on Trial: Communication Perspectives on Landmark Supreme Court Decisions. Tuscalossa, AL: U AL P, 2003.
A collection of essays evolving out of the 1999 conference of the National Communication Association on the intersections of First Amendment law and communication practices. The text presents an approachable treatment of legal precedent effects on the evolution of freedom of expression in America. Not a text for students, but an effective resource for instructors.


Shiffrin, Steven H. and Jesse H. Choper. The First Amendment: Cases, Comments, Questions. 4th ed. American Casebook Series. St. Paul: Thomson West, 2006.
Excellent legal reference text for the advanced First Amendment scholar. Includes strong explanations, legal precedent examples, and clear annotations of IF legal language.


Sova, Dawn B. Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Sexual Grounds. New York: Facts on File, 1998.
Part of a four-book series on books challenged throughout history for their sexual and erotic content. An excellent reference for students and teachers to explore the scope of book challenge history. Highly effective text for students to delve further into the analysis and history of a singular text of their choice.


Sova, Dawn B. Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Social Grounds. New York: Facts on File, 1998.
Part of a four-book series on books challenged throughout history for their sociopolitical approach, analysis, and themes. An excellent reference for students and teachers to explore the scope of book challenge history. Highly effective text for students to delve further into the analysis and history of a singular text of their choice. Helps prepare teachers for possible challenges to their own curriculum.


Stone, Geoffrey R. Perilous Times: Free Speech in Wartime, From the Sedition Act of 1798 to the War on Terrorism. New York: Norton, 2004.
A comprehensive, though highly readable, history of First Amendment rights from a prominent legal scholar. Contains extensive and clear citations with strong indexing. A must-have text for the high school social studies and intellectual freedom instructor.