Despite recent interest in 17th through 19th century upholstery, the grasses found in upholstery substructure have received comparatively little attention. Identification of the types of grasses used may provide information on shifting vegetation, introduction of non-native plants to the New World, etc. For instance, recent analysis of six grass samples from chairs at Colonial Williamsburg showed that two imported English chairs made 40 years apart contained the same species, while four different grasses were represented in the American made chairs; this finding raises several questions about changes in agricultural practices, regional preferences, and geographic ranges of the species used. A much larger number of samples must be analyzed before meaningful patterns will emerge. This bibliography brings together background material from several areas relevant to the study of grasses in upholstery. The areas covered are: grasses and fibers in historic upholstery; the study and identification of grasses; agricultural history, especially the introduction of English species to America; and eighteenth century treatises on agriculture.