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.
Digital Public Library of America
Search more than 4,500,000 primary sources from across the country from one website!
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.
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.
Bill of Rights Institute
What would life be like without freedoms we take for granted—of the press, right to assembly, and more?
National Constitution Center: Explore the Constitution
Looking for resources on the Constitution? What better place to look than a center dedicated to its legacy?
DocsTeach
Team up with the National Archives and Records Administration to bring primary sources into your classroom!
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.
HSI: Historical Scene Investigation
Ever wanted to be Sherlock Holmes? Look at history the way a detective looks into crime.
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.
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.
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.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
This presidential library presents sources from the 35th President’s life and times.
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.
The Papers of George Washington
An excellent introduction to the papers of George Washington, including personal correspondence and maps.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
Visit the Gerald Ford Presidential Library for a wealth of resources regarding Ford’s presidency.
History of Presidential Elections Site
Provides a wealth of information on US presidential elections, with a particular focus on the 2000 election.
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.
Liberty! The American Revolution
The companion site to a PBS documentary, this website is a useful resource for scholars of the American Revolution.
Albert and Vera Weisbord Archives
Learn about American radicalism and the communist movement with this collection of primary sources.
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.
U.S. Women's History Workshop
A collection of primary source material for teaching women’s history and mid-19th century culture.
Nixon and Sports
Explore the relationship between Nixon’s love of sports and his actions as US President.
September 11, 2001: Attack on America
How does a nation react, legally and politically, to international terrorism?
Nixon Tapes
What was the nature of Nixon and Echeverria’s political relationship?
The Crisis of the Union
An impressive array of tracts (and more) brought together for your convenience.
University of Missouri-Columbia: Digital Library Collections
A hodge podge of history: England, Missouri, and the greater U.S.
Colonial Williamsburg
Experience life in Colonial Williamsburg without visiting Virginia.
China and the United States: From Hostility to Engagement, 1960-1998
Trace U.S.-China relations from the 60s through present day.
Thomas Jefferson Papers
What did Thomas Jefferson read?
AMDOCS: Documents for the Study of American History
One convenient source for major historical U.S. documents.
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.
National Security Archives: The Pentagon's Spies
James Bond, anyone? Delve into the States’ history of espionage.
Interpreting the Declaration of Independence by Translation
Is the Declaration of Independence the same document when in a foreign language?
National Security Action Memoranda of John F. Kennedy
Browse a wealth of memos from the Kennedy administration.
Bay of Pigs Reports
What did the U.S. government think of its own attempt to overthrow Castro?
Documents Relating to American Foreign Policy during the Cuban Missile Crisis
From telegrams to meeting notes, this site catalogs Cuban Missile Crisis documents.
The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962: The 40th Anniversary
For your eyes only: photos and previously classified Cold War documents.
Puerto Rico at the Dawn of the Modern Age
Have you ever wondered about the international politics of Puerto Rico?
The Texas Constitutions Digitization Project
When was Texas part of Mexico? The U.S.? Separate?
Presidential Elections and the Electoral College
Look to the Library of Congress for your election and electoral congress needs.
National Security Archive
Read official documents on U.S. intelligence and positions from the Cold War through present day.
Oneida Indian Nation: Culture and History
Meet the Oneida, and discover their role in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.
The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden
Unsure how to teach presidential history in an engaging manner? Try these activities and lessons.
Washington History
Make this your first stop for topics related to Washington state history!
Kennedy and Castro: The Secret History
Did you know that Kennedy considered softening the national platform on Cuba?
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.
Investigating the Vietnam War
A good starting point for student research regarding the Vietnam War and its aftermath.
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.
Cold War: Postwar Estrangement
A collection of Soviet archival documents which take visitors inside the highest levels of the Soviet Government.
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.
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.
By Popular Demand: "Votes for Women" Suffrage Pictures, 1850-1920
View photographs, cartoons, and campaign items from the women’s suffrage movement.
Political Thought Page
Use the links on this website to explore political thought from the ancient past to the present day.
Living the Legacy: The Women's Rights Movement, 1848-1998
Learn about the women’s rights movement through the secondary sources offered by this website.
America Votes: Presidential Campaign Memorabilia
Follow presidential campaigns through the years with this collection of campaign materials.
Documents from the Women's Liberation Movement
Explore over 50 documents which chronicle the history of the Women’s Liberation Movement.
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.
Thomas Jefferson on Politics and Government
Learn about Jefferson’s political views through this collection of quotations from his writings.
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.
Archiving Early America
Explore the early history of America with reproductions of important documents and newspapers.
World War I: Trenches on the Web
Visit Trenches on the Web for all your World War I research needs.
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.
Drafting the Documents of Independence
View documents relating to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
Charters of Freedom
Explore documents that helped to shape the history of our nation.
New Jersery History Partnership Project
Use New Jersey during the American Revolution as a national microcosm.
Rebellion: John Horse and the Black Seminoles
What role did runaway slaves and free African Americans play in the Second Seminole War?
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.
Presidential Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
Fortify your knowledge of Eisenhower’s international and domestic policies.
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.
The Lives and Writings of Antebellum Students at UNC
What did college students think about their lives and larger issues in the 19th-century?
The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II
What alternatives were suggested to dropping nuclear weapons on Japan? What is radiation poisoning?
Virtual Museum and Archive of the SEC and Securities History
If you want to understand big business, it would be wise to examine the SEC’s history.
Encyclopedia of Chicago, Historical Sources
Imagine your life in 19th and 20th-century Chicago with this extensive collection of images.
Walt Whitman Archive
Get to know the life, mind, works, and criticisms of poet Walt Whitman.
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.
Dickinson Electronic Archives
Learn about Dickinson’s family through their own writings and wider critical response to her poetry.
Liberian Letters
What was life like for freed slaves returned to Africa? Read letters to former owners.
Dolley Madison Digital Edition
Read Dolley Madison’s personal correspondence from her youth through her widowhood.
Northern Visions of Race, Region, and Reform in the Press
Investigate racial issues during and after the Civil War through letters, illustrations, and official documents.
McKinley Assassination Ink: A Documentary History
Explore the assassination of President McKinley and the social context thereof.
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.
American Broadsides and Ephemera, Series I, 1760-1900
Explore American life through advertisements, literature, poetry, Civil War envelopes, and more!
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.
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.
Literature and Culture of the American 1950s
Explore the cultural, intellectual, and political trends of the 1950s in a diverse array of primary and secondary sources.
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 Jack London Online Collection
From White Fang to short stories and speeches, read more than 40 works by renown author Jack London.
The History of Social Security
We all know what the Social Security Administration does, but do you know how it was formed?
African-American Perspectives: Pamphlets from 1818-1907
Pamphlets and documents from 1875 to 1900 highlight African American leaders and organizations.
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.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Digital Archives
Photographs, audio clips, documents, and more preserve the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Emma Goldman Papers
Learn more about Emma Goldman, radical and feminist activist, through this collection of primary and secondary sources.
American Radicalism Collection
From the Ku Klux Klan to the IWW, examine 129 historical documents from radical organizations.
African-American Experience in Ohio: From the Ohio Historical Society
Take a look through more than 30,000 items relating to African American life in Ohio between 1850 and 1920.
The Tax History Project
Follows the history of American taxation through a collection of primary and secondary 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.
Library of Virginia Digital Library Program
Houses more than 1.2 million items on Virginia and life in the South.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Designed for historians and educators, this site provides high-quality primary sources from American history.
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.
Martin Luther King Jr. Papers Project
More than 1,400 speeches, sermons, and other writings of Martin Luther King, mostly covering the period from 1929 to 1968
CQ Historic Documents Series: Online Edition
From scientific findings to speeches, 100 documents represent each year since 1972.
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.
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.
Thomas Paine National Historical Association
Explore the life and works of one of the most famous revolutionaries—Thomas Paine.
Territorial Kansas Online
Primary and secondary sources examine the growing divisions in Kansas and the nation prior to the Civil War.
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.
Readex Digital Collections
This site offers a cornucopia of documents spanning four centuries of American history.
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.
American President: An Online Reference Resource
Presents detailed information on all 43 of the nation’s presidents.
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.
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.
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.
Presidential Recording Program
Offers over 2,500 hours of White House recordings by six American presidents between 1940 and 1973.
Parallel History Project on Cooperative Security
More than 350 recently declassified documents reveal previously hidden aspects of Cold War military strategy.
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.
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.
1896: The Presidential Campaign
Follow the contentious election of 1896 with close to 100 political cartoons related to the presidential campaigns.
Margaret Sanger Papers Project
Selected materials by and about the “birth control pioneer” Margaret Sanger.
Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
Explore the significance of religion in early American history and its influence on republican institutions.
James Madison Papers
Explore James Madison’s life through his correspondence, personal notes, drafts of letters and legislation, and legal and financial documents.
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.
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.
Digital Library of Georgia
Examines the history and culture of the state of Georgia, presenting an extensive range of primary sources.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Peruse 11 exhibits, from the Gold Rush of 1849 to Japanese American internment during WWII.
Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials, 1952-2008
More than 250 television commercials trace campaign issues and the selling of American presidential candidates.
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.
HarpWeek: Explore History
With illustrations, articles, editorials, and overviews, 22 exhibits cover a variety of subjects dealing with 19th-century American history.
Civil Rights in Mississippi Digital Archive
150 oral history interviews and 16 collections of documents address the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi.
Thomas Jefferson Digital Archive
Peruse more than 1,700 texts written by or to Thomas Jefferson—from correspondence to books and papers.
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.
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!