If you download the Scala archive here, unzip it, and open each .scl file in a text editor (4200 of them), there's a very brief description of the scale. Unfortunately, the file names are cryptic, but you can decipher how a scale is constructed with a basic knowledge of cents, intervals, and octaves.
I've always referenced some very old books which may or may nor be in print anymore.
My 'bible' has been:
Twentieth Century Harmony – Creative Aspects and Practice by Vincent Persichetti
Other references:
Introduction to Contemporary Music by Joseph Machlis
Music Cultures of the Pacific, the Near East, and Asia by William P. Malm
There's more (not in front of my bookshelf at the moment). No one book – that I've found – seems to cover it all. I'll even go back to some sheet music compilation books like John McLaughlin & The Mahavishnu Orchestra. If you find a complete historical reference, I'd be interested in hearing about it. I tend to piece the concepts together from online & print sources.
