Take such frustrations in stride. Certain finding aids will help. It leads the user directly to specific history titles by topics. Do not overlook using the Family History Library Catalog of the LDS Family History Library as a subject index. This catalog is also available at the many LDS family history centers located across the United States.
American associations compile yearly bibliographies.
History and Life and Writings on American History, also online at university library computer-search centers. Many state bibliographies also exist either in book form or as yearly bibliographies in state historical journals. If you are concentrating on a particular area and have access to the back issues of historical journals devoted to that area, first seek a cumulative index to the periodical and, if there is none, examine the title pages of each issue to see what was published. Also check the titles in the book review sections. This scattershot approach is the way things are done.