Research Guides: History: United States

United States

American State Papers
Legislative and executive documents, many originating from the important period between 1789 and the beginning of the U.S. Congressional Serial Set in 1817 (See also U.S. Congressional Serial Set)

American Periodicals This link opens in a new window
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Full text of American magazines, journals, and newspapers that began publication between 1740-1940; coverage ends in June 1943; includes page view

Digital Collections (Library of Congress) This link opens in a new window
The Library of Congress's National Digital Library contains more than 100 collections, which feature historical photos, maps, documents, letters, speeches, recordings, videos, prints, etc.

Documenting the American South
This source is a digital publishing initiative of the University Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The texts and materials come mainly from the library's southern holdings.

Eisenhower Papers This link opens in a new window
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Provides access to significant letters, memoranda, cables, and directives written or dictated by Eisenhower from the years prior to World War II through the full term of his presidency; includes documents from private collections and public archives in the U.S. and U.K., as well as papers from the Eisenhower Presidential Library

Excerpts from Slave Narratives
A University of Houston-based website that contains 46 first-person accounts of slavery and African life from 1682 to 1937.

Heritage Quest This link opens in a new window
Largest collection of genealogy material in the country; includes the U.S. Federal Census, 1790-1950, with page images and corresponding indexes

Library of Congress
Legislative information, historical exhibits, primary source material, and more from the Library of Congress.
Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress
Primary source collection from the Library of Congress that celebrates Abraham Lincoln’s life.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
NARA preserves historically valuable archives of the U.S. government, including documents, photographs, images, maps, audio clips, letters, speeches, and films.
New Deal Network
Contains thousands of primary sources relating to the Depression and the New Deal.

Perseus Project
Contains primary sources on 19th-century America.
Smithsonian Institution
Contains primary source material on a variety of topics.
Texas Treasures
Texas State Library and Archives Division
The Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery in the Americas
One thousand, two hundred eighty images, most of which date from the era of slavery.
The Papers of Jefferson Davis
Primary source material on Jefferson Davis.
The South Texas Border, 1900-1920: Photographs from the Robert Runyon Collection
A collection of more than 8,000 items that documents the Lower Rio Grande Valley during the early 1900s.
The Valley of the Shadow
A website on the impact of the Civil War on two counties, Franklin County in Pennsylvania and Augusta County in Virginia. Contains much primary source material.

U.S. Congressional Serial Set This link opens in a new window
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Full text House and Senate publications from the 15th - 96th Congress (1817-1980)

National Historical Geographic Information System
(1790- ) U.S. Census data tables and mapping files

Wall Street Journal (ProQuest Historical Newspapers) This link opens in a new window
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1889-2001; full text of the Eastern edition; includes page view