Encyclopedias provide information on all branches of knowledge or discuss in depth a specific topic, usually in articles arranged alphabetically. They often contain information of great interest for genealogical research. They can include articles about towns and places, prominent people, minorities, and religions. They can give information about diverse topics such as record-keeping practices, laws, customs, commerce, costumes, occupations, and archaic terminology.

The Family History Library has no general encyclopedias in the Portuguese language. The following encyclopedias may be found in other public or university libraries:

Grande Enciclopédia Delta-Larousse (Delta- Larousses’s Great Encyclopedia). Rio de Janeiro: Editora Delta, 1969.

Grande Enciclopédia Portuguesa e Brasileira (Great Portuguese and Brazilian Encyclopedia). Lisboa, Rio de Janeiro: Editorial Enciclopédia, s.d.

For information on language dictionaries, see the “Language and Languages” section of this outline.