Primary Sources - U.S. History Digital Collections

A large collection of digital documents related to law, economics, politics, diplomacy and government from 4000bce to the present.

EMU login required. Search for historical and government documents including treaties, constitutions, foreign relations, U.S. Congressional documents including the Congressional Record and the U.S. Serial Set, presidential papers, U.S. agency reports, and more.

The primary source documents on this page highlight pivotal moments in the course of American history or government.

Documents the debates and acts of Congress from the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention through the 43rd Congress. From the Library of Congress.

A series of 85 essays that explain particular provisions of the Constitution.

Contents include The Messages and Papers of the Presidents (1789-1929), The Public Papers of the Presidents (1929 to present), data related to midterm elections, U.S. party platforms (from 1840), White House Press Briefings, Presidential Debate transcripts, and more.

The official publication of presidential statements, messages, remarks and other materials (1993- ).

A searchable collection of writings and correspondence of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.

EMU login required. Search for historical and government documents including treaties, constitutions, foreign relations, U.S. Congressional documents including the Congressional Record and the U.S. Serial Set, presidential papers, U.S. agency reports, and more.

For each president: overview, fast facts, and in depth essays written by historians. Links to speeches, media, and recommended additional readings for most entries.

This guide provides links to public and private papers of U.S. presidents. These papers include letters, speeches, remarks, and diaries. **For print resources, search the EMU Library via Esearch to see if the material is available at Halle. If not, search MelCat to see if the title is available to borrow from other libraries.

Tapes secretly recorded between 1940 and 1973 by Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon, along with relevant research materials. (The majority of tapes are from the Nixon Administration.)

Presents text, and audio where available, of Presidential speeches and addresses.

Political cartoons from Harper's Weekly, Vanity Fair and other sources. Contextual material is included to provide understanding.

The United States Congressional Serial Set is the official collection of reports, hearings, and other documents requested by or generated by Congress.
Online - HeinOnline | *Print - Government Information - 2nd Level North Y 1.1/2
Use the CIS U.S. Serial Set Index (Government Documents Reference - 2nd Level North - Z1223.Z9 C65 1975) to get this information. The Serial Set is arranged first by Congress, then alphabetically by subject/keywords. Each entry will contain the information you need to locate the document.

A complete listing of all documents published by the U.S. government through 1909.
Online - HathiTrust | Print - Government Information Reference - 2nd Level North Z1223 .A113

A listing of publications produced by the Government Publishing Office from 1895 to 2004.
Online - HeinOnline | Print - Government Information Reference - 2nd Level North- link to catalog record

The FBI's FOIA Library. The site can be searched, or browsed by topic or recent additions.

Explore declassified U.S. government documents, photographs, and more.

Documents the debates and acts of Congress from the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention through the 43rd Congress. From the Library of Congress.

Full-text access to Congress' published debates, proceedings, and speeches. Includes the Annals of Congress (1789-1824), Register of Debates (1824-1837), Congressional Globe (1833-1873), and the Congressional Record (1873 to present).

Interviewees include a variety of House employees: House Officers, Member aides, committee staff, support staff, family of Members, and select former Representatives. Years of service to the House range from 1932-2007.

The United States Congressional Serial Set is the official collection of reports, hearings, and other documents requested by or generated by Congress.
Online - HeinOnline | *Print - Government Information - 2nd Level North Y 1.1/2
Use the CIS U.S. Serial Set Index (Government Documents Reference - 2nd Level North - Z1223.Z9 C65 1975) to get this information. The Serial Set is arranged first by Congress, then alphabetically by subject/keywords. Each entry will contain the information you need to locate the document.

The United States Statues at Large (Stat.) contains the full text of all public and private laws passed by Congress.
Online - HeinOnline | Online - Westlaw Campus Research
Print - Law Reference - 2nd Level North - KF 50 .U5

All U.S. treaties, whether currently in-force, expired, or not-yet officially published. It includes prominent collections such as the United States Treaties and Other International Agreements set.

This series documents major U.S. foreign policy decisions and diplomatic activity.
Online - HeinOnline | Online - Office of the Historian
Print - Government Information - 2nd Level - S 1.1:

A Decade of American Foreign Policy: Basic Documents, 1941-1949
Online - HathiTrust | Print - 2nd Level Government Info - S 1.69:415
American Foreign Policy, 1950-1955
Online - HathiTrust | *Print - 2nd Level Government Information - S 1.71:117/
American Foreign Policy : Basic Documents, 1977-1980
Online - HathiTrust | Print - 2nd Level Government Information - S 1.69:346
American Foreign Policy, Current Documents [1981-1991]
Online - HathiTrust | *Print - 2nd Level Government Information - S 1.71/2:

A list of primary sources materials related to U.S. foreign relations including declassified document collections, Department of State telegrams, and pre-1861 resources.