For Us the Living
A series of five primary source based learning modules that encourage high school students to explore American history through the stories found in Alexandria National Cemetery.
Open Parks Network
View over 1 million images from U.S. national parks and historic sites.
Digital Public Library of America
Search more than 4,500,000 primary sources from across the country from one website!
The History of Vaccines
Do you remember when everyone got chickenpox as a kid? Your students might not! Learn about how vaccination has changed lives.
After Slavery
Does your textbook make Reconstruction sound simple? Explore the real pain and complexity of Reconstruction with primary sources focusing on the Carolinas.
The March on Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project
Wisconsin teachers, bring the Civil Rights Movement home to your students with this archive of primary sources.
Homicide in Chicago 1870-1930
Covering urbanization and industrialization? This homicide index can help students understand social changes and tensions associated with both.
Maryland Historical Society Collections Online
Whether you’re bolstering your teaching of local history or the War of 1812, the MHS has artifacts to help.
Memoirs v. Tapes: President Nixon and the December Bombings
Was Nixon as reluctant to initiate the Christmas bombing as his memoirs suggest, or was he as eager as he claimed Kissinger to be?
Creating the United States
Even the Founding Fathers wrote rough drafts! Interact with early versions of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
Recipe for Victory: Food and Cooking in Wartime
Winning a war using…food? Explore sources concerning World War I and gastronomical homefront movements.
Bill of Rights Institute
What would life be like without freedoms we take for granted—of the press, right to assembly, and more?
Digital Resource Guide for the Labor Archives of Washington State
Making labor history access less of a chore.
Shays' Rebellion and the Making of a Nation
Engage your students in historical thinking with this interactive site on the rebellion led by Daniel Shays.
September 11th Sourcebooks
Looking for official documents concerning the U.S. stance on terrorism?
National Constitution Center: Explore the Constitution
Looking for resources on the Constitution? What better place to look than a center dedicated to its legacy?
Sewall-Belmont House Museum Collections
Allow the National Woman’s Party to show you their collection on women’s progress to equality.
Gilded Age Plains City
Delve into Great Plains urban development c. 1900 by way of a compelling, unsolved murder mystery.
Joe Hill
Union strikes. Murder. Itinerant songwriting. The life of martyr Joe Hill could hardly have been more dramatic or mysterious.
Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project
What role have women played in war and the military?
Creating a More Perfect Union: 1861-1865
Interested in teaching about the Civil War from a maritime perspective?
DocsTeach
Team up with the National Archives and Records Administration to bring primary sources into your classroom!
From Slavery to Freedom: The African-American Pamphlet Collection, 1822-1909
Peruse an extensive collection of pamphlets related to African-American life leading up to, during, and following the Civil War.
Diary of a Civil War Nurse
What was life like for Amanda Akin, Civil War nurse in Washington, DC?
National Park Service History E-Library
Look into how historical sites are researched, prepared, and made public.
New York Philharmonic Digital Archives
Sift through the music and entertainment of the past.
Shaping the Constitution
What role did Virginia play in defining the U.S. and upholding rights we now consider basic and essential?
Taking the Mystery out of Copyright
If you need a succinct copyright overview for your students, this is a place to start.
Children and Youth in History
Bring history home to young students with sources they can relate to—and prompt older students to think about the construction of concepts like “child” and “teenager.”
Laura Jernegan: Girl on a Whaleship
Make whaling, a rich part of New England history, relevant to young students with the diary of a six-year-old at sea.
Union or Secession: Virginians Decide
Trace Virginia’s route to secession in the Civil War with more than 200 primary sources.
Virginia Memory
Are you a Virginia educator teaching VA state history? My your task easy! Explore the Library of Virginia’s 70 collections of digitized primary sources.
Presidential Timeline of the Twentieth Century
Teaching 20th century presidential history or political events? Explore this site for interactive timelines, exhibits, and over 1,500 primary sources.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library
Teaching modern presidencies and politics? Take advantage of the virtual resources of the Foundation and Library.
Coming of the American Revolution, 1764-1776
Teaching the American Revolution and its politics? Check out 15 topical essays and a database of more than 150 primary sources.
Nixtontapes.org
Teaching Watergate? Introduce students to the Nixon tapes with more than 2,000 hours of recordings.
Politics of a Massacre: Discovering Wilmington 1898
This site contains sources covering and reacting to the deplorable 1898 massacre in Wilmington, NC.
Mass Moments
MA educators—explore a historical moment (and accompanying primary source) for every day of the year.
Lincoln Archives Digital Project
Surf an animated timeline of Abraham Lincoln’s life and times.
Washington State Digital Archives
Attention Washington State educators! Looking for primary sources? With more than 84.5 million documents, this archive has what you need.
Ulysses S. Grant Digital Archive
Deepen your coverage of the late 19th century with the letters of Ulysses S. Grant, war-hero-turned-president.
Bubbles, Panics, and Crashes: A Century of Financial Crises, 1830s-1930s
Do your students think the Great Depression was the only previous slump in the U.S. economy?
Duluth Lynchings Online Resource: The Tragic Events of June 15, 1920
Leading up to the civil rights movement in a high school class? Explore 700 primary sources that examine one 1920 case of fatal racism.
Missouri Digital Heritage
Missouri teachers looking for primary sources, look no further. Explore this portal for resources from libraries, universities, archives, and heritage sites throughout the state.
Land of (Unequal) Opportunity
460 documents and images on civil rights in Arkansas, from before, during, and after the civil rights movement.
U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1994
More than 355,000 items produced by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, from 1817-1994.
Platte River Basin in Nebraska
Forty diverse documents about the history, geology, and hydrology of the Platte River, from 1843 to the present.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
This presidential library presents sources from the 35th President’s life and times.
The Dramas of Haymarket
Written in the form of a drama, this website takes visitors through the Haymarket Affair.
Famous American Trials: "The Scottsboro Boys" Trials 1931-1937
Explore the infamous Scottboro case through a variety of primary source documents and images.
Trial of The Chicago Seven
Explore radical activism and 1960s culture through the trial of the Chicago Seven.
Museum of the City of San Francisco: The Great 1906 Earthquake and Fire
Learn about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, how it destroyed the city, and how the city was subsequently rebuilt by its inhabitants.
Mr. Lincoln's Virtual Library
A keyword-searchable archive containing over 2,000 of Abraham Lincoln’s papers.
Impeachment Trial of Andrew Johnson
Learn about Andrew Johnson’s impeachment through contemporary accounts and resources.
U.S. Electoral College
Uncover the inner workings and history of the US Electoral College. Click here to explore!
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
Visit the Gerald Ford Presidential Library for a wealth of resources regarding Ford’s presidency.
The Vietnam War Declassification Project
An extensive collection of primary documents pertaining to the American withdrawal from Vietnam.
U.S. Senate Historical Office
How much do you know about the history of the American Senate? Click here for background information on this component of our legislative branch.
The Last Days of a President: Films of McKinley, 1901
Learn about the 1901 assassination of President William McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY.
The American Colonist's Library
This extensive database contains influential documents and literature spanning from 500BC to the 1800s.
For European Recovery: The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Marshall Plan
This website gives a broad introduction to the Marshall Plan and is home to over 30 primary sources.
Vietnam Online
A companion site to a PBS series, this website contains a wealth of resources relating to Vietnam.
Today in History
A daily exhibit which showcases a particular event in American History each day.
Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS), 1945-1972
Peruse this collection of recently declassified foreign policy documents.
CIA and the Vietnam Policy Makers: Three Episodes 1962-1968
A recently declassified study on the CIA’s intelligence assessments concerning Vietnam.
Early American Imprints, Series I: Evans, 1639-1800
Looking for a one-stop spot for all your quick 1639-1800 research needs?
September 11, 2001: Attack on America
How does a nation react, legally and politically, to international terrorism?
The Crisis of the Union
An impressive array of tracts (and more) brought together for your convenience.
The Annexation of Hawaii: A Collection of Documents
Compare U.S. and Hawaiian opinion on Hawaiian annexation.
United States Early Radio History
How did radio move from major technological advance to mass popular culture?
Philip S. Hench Walter Reed Yellow Fever Collection
Discover the men, ideas, and process behind discovering that mosquitoes transfer yellow fever.
Colonial Williamsburg
Experience life in Colonial Williamsburg without visiting Virginia.
Bob Hope and American Variety
“When Vaudeville died, television was the box they put it in,” according to Bob Hope. Read essays on his life and career.
Urban Planning, 1794-1918: An International Anthology
How did WWI affect urban development? How did it impact housing and business in the cities?
African Americans in Massachusetts
Compare perspectives on educational desegregation. How did it affect the community?
Nineteenth-Century Texas Law Online: Gammel's The Laws of Texas
Delve into Texas law from early colonization through 1897.
U.S. Intelligence Policy Documentation Project
Read up on the NRO, NSA, and the use of satellite imaging for intelligence collection.
China and the United States: From Hostility to Engagement, 1960-1998
Trace U.S.-China relations from the 60s through present day.
Black Wings: African American Pioneer Aviators
What was life like for the African American pilots of World War II?
The Joshua Lederberg Papers
What contributions has bacterial geneticist Joshua Lederberg made to science and healthcare?
RFK in the Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope
Examine the impact of Robert F. Kennedy’s anti-apartheid trip to South Africa.
Afro-Louisiana History and Genealogy, 1718-1820
Consider assigning contextual reports on the lives of individual slaves.
The Hartford Black History Project
Follow the formation of the African American community in the city of Hartford, CT
AMDOCS: Documents for the Study of American History
One convenient source for major historical U.S. documents.
Science, Technology, and the CIA
Project “Acoustic Kitty,” anyone? With different code names for missions, the CIA has shielded some vital information from the public.
Department of Transportation: Digital Special Collections
Read up on early 20th-century train and airplane accidents, among other transportation topics.
Brooklyn's Eighteenth-Century Lott House
Conduct your own “virtual dig” of a Dutch farmhouse.
Phillip Morris Advertising Archive
What tactics has the tobacco industry used to sell smoking to the populace?
Korea + 50: No Longer Forgotten
Explore one of the country’s least discussed major military conflicts, the Korean War.
American Originals Part II
Introduce students to 25 documents selected by the National Archives for their historical importance.
The Irving Fine Collection, Ca. 1914-1962
Experience the life and works of lesser known American classical composer Irving Fine.
Free Speech Movement: Student Protest, U.C. Berkeley, 1964-65
Explore primary documents concerning the Berkeley Free Speech Movement.
Hannah Arendt Papers
Do you read German? Not to worry. Select documents are available in English.
Documents Relating to American Foreign Policy during the Cuban Missile Crisis
From telegrams to meeting notes, this site catalogs Cuban Missile Crisis documents.
Korean American Digital Archive
Meet singer Florence Ahn, minister Soon Hyun, and others.
Florida Heritage Collection
Explore Florida state, regional, and local history.
New Perspectives on the West
Peruse lesson plans about the West on this companion site to a Ken Burns documentary.
The American Experience
Discover briefs on more than 60 iconic points in U.S. history.
National Security Archive
Read official documents on U.S. intelligence and positions from the Cold War through present day.
Great Lakes Maritime History Project
Delve into Wisconsin’s maritime history. Discover the multiple ways in which water shaped the history of the state.
Across the Generations: Exploring U.S. History through Family Papers
Experience Caucasian, middle-class Northeastern life through the collections of four families.
Access to Archival Databases
Delve into more than 85 million records related to U.S. history.
St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project
Explore the largest collection of freedom suits available to U.S. researchers.
WTO History Project
Take a peek at Seattle protest history through the WTO Ministerial Week.
Belgian-American Research Collection
What would your life have been like as a Belgian immigrant in Wisconsin?
The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden
Unsure how to teach presidential history in an engaging manner? Try these activities and lessons.
Reston Collection Images
Explore the planned community of Reston, VA. Gain a better sense of the town that has become a burgeoning suburb.
Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America
How much do you know about the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury?
Washington History
Make this your first stop for topics related to Washington state history!
Woman's Legal History Biography Project
How many female lawyers can you think of in U.S. history?
University of California History Digital Archives
Discover the history of the University of California through primary sources.
The Vietnam Project
A highly comprehensive look at the Vietnam War.
What Exit? New Jersey and Its Turnpike
Travel through history with the New Jersey Turnpike.
Maine Memory Network
Explore the history of Maine, and create your own digital album.
African Americans in the Spanish Civil War
Why would you volunteer to fight in another country’s war? Was it a display of patriotism?
Women of Valor
Meet international anarchist and women’s rights activist Emma Goldman.
New France, New Horizons: On French Soil in America
Explore French Louisiana, Canada, and the Great Lakes region.
Rediscovering George Washington
Take in the latest scholarship on the life of the first U.S. president.
George Mason University Electronic Documentary History
How does a university grow into its own?
Connecticut History Online
Take a look at the “Constitution State,” with approximately 14,000 images depicting Connecticut’s history from the 19th through the 20th century.
Bethlehem Digital History Project
Imagine life as a Moravian in Bethlehem, PA.
Democracy in America: Alexis de Tocqueville
Visit this website to learn more about the United States during the time of Tocqueville’s landmark tour and book.
Coal Mining in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era
Visit this unique site to learn about the history of coal mining during the Gilded Age.
A Curriculum of United States Labor History for Teachers
Learn about labor politics and economics throughout American history.
Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture
Learn about the history of the United States up to 1815 with this website dedicated exclusively to early American history.
The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection
Explore the federal government’s extensive collection of resources pertaining to the JFK assassination.
Cold War: Postwar Estrangement
A collection of Soviet archival documents which take visitors inside the highest levels of the Soviet Government.
Seneca Village
One of the few resources dedicated to Seneca Village and the creation of Central Park.
American Treasures of the Library of Congress
A collection of special documents and artifacts held within the Library of Congress.
Crisis at Fort Sumter
Work through the Fort Sumter crises alongside our nation’s leaders.
Chickasaw Historical Research Page
Learn about the Chickasaw Indians, originally from the American South, with this website.
Third Person, First Person: Slave Voices
Explore American slavery through this website’s 33 primary source documents.
Freedmen and Southern Society Project
Follow the emancipation process through the eyes of its participants.
Words and Deeds in American History
View primary documents that helped to shape America’s history.
America Votes: Presidential Campaign Memorabilia
Follow presidential campaigns through the years with this collection of campaign materials.
A People at War
A collection of primary sources detailing the American war effort in World War II.
When Nixon Met Elvis
Learn about Elvis’ bizarre visit with Richard Nixon through this collection of primary sources.
American Originals
Explore 14 significant and compelling documents from the National Archive Holdings.
A Cybrary of the Holocaust
Visit this website for a firsthand view into the horror of the holocaust.
Japanese-American Internment
Use this site as a gateway to primary sources and online resources detailing Japanese Internment
Archiving Early America
Explore the early history of America with reproductions of important documents and newspapers.
The Wars for Vietnam: 1945-1975
Visit this website for a comprehensive introduction to the Vietnam War.
National Women's History Project
Start your research into Women’s history with the National Women’s History Project.
The Japanese American Exhibit and Access Project
Go back in time and witness the harsh conditions at Japanese Internment Camps during World War II.
New Jersery History Partnership Project
Use New Jersey during the American Revolution as a national microcosm.
From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America
Peruse this online exhibit on the history of Jewish life in the United States.
A Century of Progress: The 1933-34 Chicago World's Fair
Browse official publications from the 1933-1934 World’s Fair.
Black Past
Begin your exploration of African American history with this web portal, leading out to more than 400 websites.
Slavery and the Making of America
An extensive glimpse into slave life and the history of slavery in the United States.
Freedom Now! An Archival Project of Tougaloo College and Brown University
Immerse yourself in the historical struggle for the African American vote in Mississippi.
Benjamin Franklin: In His Own Words
Get to know Benjamin Franklin through his own writings, cartoons, and letters.
NASA History Division
Ever wonder what lunar surface crew members and mission control said to each other?
A Portion of the People: Three Hundred Years of Southern Jewish Life
Explore Jewish heritage outside of the Mid-Atlantic or the Holocaust.
The Malcolm X Project
Read FBI files on and watch interviews about Malcolm X, human and African American rights activist.
Medicine in the Americas, 1619-1914
Access works on medicine and health by Clara Barton, Benjamin Coleman, Benjamin Rush, and others.
Las Vegas: An Unconventional History
Why is Las Vegas one of the world’s most popular destinations? How has it changed?
Illinois During the Gilded Age
Listen to, read, and sing sources from the Gilded Age canvassing women, religion, and more.
Silicon Valley History Online
Silicone Valley is known as a high-tech industry center, but has it always been?
Turning Points in Wisconsin History
Primary documents, background information, and lesson plans for Wisconsin history.
Encyclopedia of Chicago, Historical Sources
Imagine your life in 19th and 20th-century Chicago with this extensive collection of images.
Perry Visits Japan
Explore the official beginning of U.S.-Japan international relations.
Harlem History
Explore the politics, neighborhoods, culture, and arts of Harlem.
Historic Missouri Newspaper Project
Peruse articles, images, and advertisements drawn from 14 Missouri newspapers, 1835 through 1988.
Frank Lloyd Wright: Designs for an American Landscape 1922-1932
Check out five design schemes created by Frank Lloyd Wright, but never implemented.
Wright on the Web
Follow architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s career with these summaries and images.
Thar's Gold in Them Thar Hills: Gold and Gold Mining in Georgia, 1830s-1940s
Gold mining, though often portrayed as lawless, was, in some cases, big business.
Tennessee Documentary History Collection, 1796-1850
Geared toward K-12 education, this site presents antebellum life in Tennessee through letters and images.
Stephen Foster's Sketchbook
Ever wondered what a composer’s drafts look like? View Foster’s sketchbook.
Automobile in American Life and Society
Enter the world of automotive history through oral histories and scholarly essays.
Oxford African American Studies Center
Access more than 5,000 biographies, maps, and images relevant to African American history.
McKinley Assassination Ink: A Documentary History
Explore the assassination of President McKinley and the social context thereof.
Getting the Message Out! National Political Campaign Materials, 1840-1860
What were common presidential campaign strategies between 1840 and 1860?
The Blues, Black Vaudeville, and the Silver Screen, 1912-1930s
How was the community support for and operation of Southern African American theaters?
Early American Imprints, Series II: Shaw-Shoemaker, 1801-1819
Uncover novels, readers, hymnals, almanacs, diaries, maps, treaties, and more from between 1801 and 1819.
American State Papers, 1789-1838
Access Congressional documents from the first 25 Congresses.
The Dick Thornburgh Papers
Explore the positions and words of a former PA Governor and Attorney General.
Madison: Celebrating 150 Years
Learn about Madison, WI, from early settlement through its time as the “queen of bootleggers.”
The Adoption History Project
Did you know that adoption was only recognized as a legal U.S. operation in 1851?
Fly Girls
Explore the experiences of World War II’s Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) at this companion website to the PBS American Experience documentary.
First Century of the First State University: The Creation of UNC
Primary sources document the history of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the first U.S. public university.
National Security Archive: The Pentagon Papers
In 1971, the “Pentagon Papers” formed the center of a legal debate over freedom of speech. Follow the Supreme Court’s process and decisions.
Papers of Justice Tom C. Clark
Tom C. Clark served as Supreme Court Justice from 1949 to 1967, a time of legal shift and reform. Learn more about cases from these years from his papers.
Supreme Court Historical Society
The U.S. Supreme Court has shaped American ideals into practice since 1789, but how much do you know about this influential institution?
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Intimidated by teaching legal history? Find resources for thinking about and teaching 17 pivotal U.S. Supreme Court cases at this site, designed for educators.
Legal Information Institute: Supreme Court Collection
Decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court change history—explore historical and present-day cases on this website.
National Register of Historic Places Travel Itineraries
Explore the historic sites in more than 50 cities and towns across the U.S.
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
Through oral history interviews, audio files, texts, and other primary sources, learn about life and presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson.
Prosperity and Thrift: Coolidge Era and the Consumer Economy
An array of primary sources follows the rise of the consumer economy under Coolidge.
Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research
Social science data offered to member colleges and universities here covers a range of sociological and political areas.
Indian Peoples of the Northern Great Plains
Artifacts preserve the lifestyles of current and former American Indian tribes of the Northern Great Plains, 1870-1954.
CWIHP: Cold War International History Project
Covering 1945 through the late 1990s, sources from the former Communist bloc provide a different perspective on the Cold War.
The History of Social Security
We all know what the Social Security Administration does, but do you know how it was formed?
Profiles in Science
Explore the profiles of 26 scientists, physicians, and experts in biomedical research and public health.
Eugenics Archive
Traces the history of the eugenics movement in the United States.
African-American Perspectives: Pamphlets from 1818-1907
Pamphlets and documents from 1875 to 1900 highlight African American leaders and organizations.
The Vault
With the Freedom of Information Act, the government declassified thousands of documents, including those available here.
Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection
With over 300,000 pages available for full-text searching, this is one of the richest collections of anti-slavery and Civil War materials in the world.
Native American Documents Project
Four collections of data and documents address Federal Indian policy in the late 19th century.
Multilaterals Project
From environmental agreements to rules of warfare, read the text of international multilateral treaties, agreements, and conventions.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Digital Archives
Photographs, audio clips, documents, and more preserve the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938
Read the accounts of former slaves in oral history interviews collected by the Federal Writers’ Project.
Alcohol, Temperance, and Prohibition
More than 1,800 primary sources provide a window into the Temperance Movement and Prohibition.
The Tax History Project
Follows the history of American taxation through a collection of primary and secondary sources.
Slaves and the Courts, 1740-1860
Delve into the complex history of slavery and the law with this collection of primary sources.
Public Papers of the Presidency
From Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush—discover the public messages, statements, and speeches of the presidents.
Primary Documents in American History
The Library of Congress presents 35 of the most important documents from early American history.
Ohio Memory: An Online Scrapbook of Ohio History
A wealth of primary materials document Ohio life, culture, and history from prehistoric times to the recent past.
Library of Virginia Digital Library Program
Houses more than 1.2 million items on Virginia and life in the South.
In Motion: The African-American Migration Experience
Secondary and primary sources describe 13 African American migration experiences.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Designed for historians and educators, this site provides high-quality primary sources from American history.
France in America
In French and English, explore the history of the French in North America from the 1500s through the 1800s.
Dred Scott Case
Follow the proceedings of the Dred Scott case with facsimiles and transcriptions of 85 legal documents.
Truman Presidential Museum and Library
Government documents, oral histories, photographs, and political cartoons trace Harry S. Truman’s presidency.
Television News of the Civil Rights Era
View contemporary coverage of the Civil Rights Movement from two Roanoke, VA television stations.
CQ Historic Documents Series: Online Edition
From scientific findings to speeches, 100 documents represent each year since 1972.
Business Plan Archive
Through this collection of business plans and planning information, track the beginning of the “Dot Com Era.”
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Follow historical trends in national, international, and regional economic activity using the Bureau’s data.
World War I Document Archive
Learn more about military, diplomatic, and political resources by browsing this archive of World War I documents and images.
Votes for Women: Selections from the NAWSA, 1848-1921
10,000 pages of records on the struggle for votes for women, including papers by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
A variety of primary sources and background essays explore the 1911 fire, a hallmark tragedy of the industrial age.
Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers Project
Presents the life and work of black activist Marcus Garvey, leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).
Digital Archive Collections at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Library
Covering topics ranging from the annexation of Hawaii to World War II, 29 collections document the history of Hawaii and Micronesia.
Chicago Anarchists on Trial: Evidence from the Haymarket Affair, 1886-1887
The court proceedings surrounding the Haymarket Affair look at the event that led to the first “Red Scare” in America.
Union Army Project
Presents medical and mortality statistics and records on 35,747 white males who served in the Union Army.
Territorial Kansas Online
Primary and secondary sources examine the growing divisions in Kansas and the nation prior to the Civil War.
Slavery in New York
Nine galleries explore the history of slavery in New York City.
Making of America
Provides more than 1.5 million pages of text in an effort to digitize more than 11,000 volumes and 100,000 19th-century journal articles.
First American West: The Ohio River Valley, 1750-1820
Explore sources from the mid-18th-to-early-19th-century European migration into the Ohio River Valley.
Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920
Documents the birth of the conservation movement through published works, manuscripts, images, and motion picture footage.
Envisaging the West: Thomas Jefferson and the Roots of Lewis and Clark
Follows Jefferson’s life, political participation, and accumulation of scientific geographical knowledge from 1735 to 1804.
Century of Lawmaking: Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1873
Covers Congressional documents from the nation’s founding through early Reconstruction.
Abraham Lincoln Papers
Approximately 20,000 documents provide a window into President Abraham Lincoln’s life.
Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project
This site examines Illinois history and the life of Abraham Lincoln in the years 1831 through 1860.
USC Archival Research Center
With over 126,000 photographs, maps, and other documents, this site offers a comprehensive look at the history of Los Angeles and southern California.
Readex Digital Collections
This site offers a cornucopia of documents spanning four centuries of American history.
Naval History and Heritage Command
Teach U.S. Navy history using photographs, paintings, documents, oral histories, historical overviews, and more.
Hypertext on American History from the Colonial Period until Modern Times
Collects more than 375 documents related to United States history from the colonial period to the present.
Core Historical Literature of Agriculture
Searchable facsimiles of 1,850 monographs and 288 journal volumes related to agriculture in the U.S. between 1806 and 1989.
Colonial Connecticut Records, 1636-1776
Explore the 15-volume Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, from April 1636 to October 1776.
American President: An Online Reference Resource
Presents detailed information on all 43 of the nation’s presidents.
American Journeys
Firsthand accounts of exploration range from Viking stories to early 19th-century trappers’ journals.
Africans in America
Trace the history of Africans in America through Reconstruction, with 245 images, maps, and documents.
Digital History
Multimedia resources for teaching slavery, private life, technology, and film.
Digital Vaults
Presents over 1,200 of the items in the National Archives and Records Administration’s collection.
Diary, Correspondence, and Papers of Robert "King" Carter, 1701-1732
Offers letters and diary entries by Robert “King” Carter (1663–1732), wealthy Virginian landowner and public figure.
Teach Women's History Project
Provides teaching and reference materials on the women’s rights movement of the past 50 years.
Northwestern European Military Situation Maps from World War II
Displays 416 situation maps from World War II.
Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1600-2000
Offers 45 mini-monographs on U.S. women’s history, each organized around an analytical question concerning a social movement.
The Presidents
Profiles all 42 of the nation’s completed presidencies.
Tangled Roots
Primary sources point out cultural connections between the experiences of African and Irish Americans.
Florida State Archives Photographic Collection
Presents more than 137,000 photographs of Florida on specific localities from the mid-19th century to the present.
Vietnam Center and Archive
Browse through a multitude of resources on Vietnam and the Vietnam War, including oral histories, video interviews, and primary source documents.
Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, 1992-2001
Digitized versions of 20 volumes of Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, from 1992 to 2004.
Legacy Tobacco Documents Library
Houses more than 40 million pages from more than seven million tobacco industry documents.
CIA Electronic Reading Room
Digitally serves thousands of formerly secret documents in compliance with Freedom of Information Act requests.
Presidential Recording Program
Offers over 2,500 hours of White House recordings by six American presidents between 1940 and 1973.
Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943
Showcases more than 900 Work Projects Administration (WPA) posters produced as part of the New Deal.
Parallel History Project on Cooperative Security
More than 350 recently declassified documents reveal previously hidden aspects of Cold War military strategy.
NSA and the Cuban Missile Crisis
Provides access to facsimiles of 100 declassified documents relating to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
History and Politics Out Loud
Captures significant events and personalities of the 20th century through 107 audio items, including speeches, addresses, and private telephone conversations.
Historical Thinking Matters
Presents four guided investigations—on the Spanish-American War, the Scopes Trial, Social Security, and Rosa Parks—designed to teach students to read primary sources and construct historical narratives.
Historic Government Publications from World War II: A Digital Library
Includes more than 300 U.S. government pamphlets and books on home front issues from World War II.
Experiencing War: Stories from the Veterans History Project
Presents video and audio oral histories and additional material from American veterans of 20th-century wars.
Disability History Museum
Explore the experiences of those with disabilities through documents and images dating from the 18th century to the present.
The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War
A wonderful collection of chronologies, images, maps, and other materials on the Spanish-American War.
Medicine and Madison Avenue
Provides more than 600 health-related newspaper and magazine advertisements from 1910 to 1960.
First World War: The War to End All Wars
Provides an overview of World War I through essays, diaries, posters, audio files, and other primary and secondary sources.
Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
Explore this archive of over 110 video interviews on Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Chinese in California, 1850-1925
Browse more than 8,000 objects related to Chinese immigrant life in California.
Amateur Athletic Foundation Digital Archive
Official documents and articles from periodicals record the history of the Olympics and sport.
Margaret Sanger Papers Project
Selected materials by and about the “birth control pioneer” Margaret Sanger.
Thomas A. Edison Papers
A vast database of Thomas Edison’s papers, including correspondence, technical drawings, and clippings about the inventor.
Kate and Sue McBeth, Missionary Teachers to the Nez Perce
Presents the letters and diaries of Kate and Sue McBeth, late 19th-century missionaries and teachers among the Nez Perce Indians.
American Leaders Speak: Recordings from World War I and the 1920 Election
Access 59 sound recordings of 1918-1920 speeches by American leaders.
American Family Immigration History Center
Records of more than 25 million passengers and crew who passed through Ellis Island 1892-1924.
Freedmen's Bureau Online
Read about crimes committed in the former Confederate states between 1865 to 1868.
Virtual Jamestown
Experience firsthand accounts of Jamestown and colonial history, dating from 1570 through 1720.
Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
Explore the significance of religion in early American history and its influence on republican institutions.
Plymouth Colony Archive Project
Documents and analytical essays emphasize the social history of Plymouth Colony from 1620 to 1691.
James Madison Papers
Explore James Madison’s life through his correspondence, personal notes, drafts of letters and legislation, and legal and financial documents.
George Washington Papers, 1741-1799
Presents the largest set of original Washington documents in the world.
Documents from the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention
274 sources focusing on the work of the Continental Congress and the drafting and ratification of the Constitution.
Online Archive of California
Explore California from Japanese American internment or the Free Speech Movement to oral histories.
Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS), 1861-1960
Presents digitized selections from the official record of major declassified U.S. foreign policy decisions and diplomatic activity.
Famous Trials
Presents balanced treatments of over 50 prominent court trials, including the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui
Digital Library of Georgia
Examines the history and culture of the state of Georgia, presenting an extensive range of primary sources.
Watergate Revisited
The Washington Post looks back at the Watergate scandal in this exhibit of primary sources.
September 11 Digital Archive
Records the user-contributed histories of people affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
National Park Service: Links to the Past
Roughly 200 National Park Service locations preserve locations designated important to U.S. history and prehistory; explore their resources online here.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Peruse 11 exhibits, from the Gold Rush of 1849 to Japanese American internment during WWII.
Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties
Digitizes Indian Affairs, a seven-volume compendium of treaties, laws, and executive orders relating to U.S.-Indian affairs from 1778 to 1970.
Brown v. Board of Education
Examine segregation and desegregation through summaries and the court’s opinions for two major cases.
American Memory: Historical Collections for the National Digital Library
The Library of Congress offers an archive of more than 9 million primary sources dating from 1490 to the present.
Reclaiming the Everglades: South Florida's Natural History, 1884-1934
Contains 10,000 pages and images on Everglades reclamation efforts and the history of south Florida.
American Indians of the Pacific Northwest
Documents the lives of Native Americans in the Northwest Coast and Plateau regions of the Pacific Northwest in text and photographs.
Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War
Take a closer look at the Civil War with this extensive database that offers a comparison of two Shenandoah Valley counties—Augusta County, VA and Franklin County, PA.
Thomas Jefferson Digital Archive
Peruse more than 1,700 texts written by or to Thomas Jefferson—from correspondence to books and papers.
Salem Witch Trials: Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Examine the verbatim transcripts of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.
Geography of Slavery in America
Provides transcriptions and images of more than 4,000 newspaper advertisements for runaway slaves and indentured servants between 1736 and 1803.
Do History: Martha Ballard's Diary Online
Explore the diary of midwife Martha Ballard and the creation of two modern historical studies based on the diary.
Our Documents
Presents 100 milestone documents in American history, from the Richard Henry Lee Resolution of June 7, 1776, to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Documents in Law, History, and Government
Houses more than 3,500 full-text documents addressing the legal, economic, and political history of the U.S.
Archival Research Catalog (ARC)
Access over than 78,000 digital government resources—from textual records to sound recordings and everything in between!
Oyez: U.S. Supreme Court Multimedia
Showcases primary sources from more than 3,300 Supreme Court cases since 1955.