Links to web-based Historical Sources

Below is an approved set of links for Web research in my classes. Most of these links will take you directly to on-line collections of primary sources that you may use in your research papers. I have tried to make certain the links still function and would appreciate knowing if you run into any dead links. Remember, when doing historical research for your papers it is best to have a plan of action, not simply go trolling for a topic as it will only mean frustration. On the other hand, browsing through sources is a great way to get ideas swirling around in your head.

 

General Collections

The Library of Congress is an especially rich site that contain all sorts of primary source material.  Search the "American Memory" collection for material for this course.  www.loc.gov

Making of American Project (Cornell) http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/moa/index.html
Part of a joint project with University of Michigan (see next entry) to digitize an astoundingly huge collection of primary sources spanning 1800-1925. (Note the Cornell collection can only be browsed, not searched, though they promise searching is on the way.)

Making of American Project (Michigan) http://moa.umdl.umich.edu  An astoundingly huge collection of primary sources spanning 1800-1925 that is fully searchable. If your topic is in the nineteenth century, this may all the further you have to look.

The Avalon Project of Yale Law School http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/avalon.htm  . A large project of mostly legal and political documents. Also contains many documents from European history.

Tennessee Tech Links Page http://www.tntech.edu/history/tech.html  A page of links for U.S. history sites. Some are useful; some are not.

Perry-Castañeda Map Collection http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/map_sites/hist_sites.html An amazing collection of maps from around the world and beyond.

American Radicalism Collection-Michigan State University http://digital.lib.msu.edu/collections/index.cfm?CollectionID=1
A great collection of digital images that chronicle American radicalism in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Topics range from SDS to the Klan to Birth Control. Particularly useful for AMST 417.

Slavery Related Sites-Click here for slavery sites

Early National America
The First Federal Congess Papers located at http://www.gwu.edu/~ffcp/exhibit this exhibit provides and overview of the work and issues facing the First Federal Congress meeting in 1789.

Revolutionary Era
U.S. Historical Documents Archive http://w3.one.net/~mweiler/ushda/list.htm  General collection of famous documents, mostly from colonial and revolutionary periods.

Chronology of U.S. Historical Documents http://www.law.ou.edu/hist  Another general collection of famous documents, mostly from colonial and revolutionary periods.

Colonial Period
An excellent site created by the Library of Congress that looks at Columbus and his impact on the new world. In their own words: "1492: AN ONGOING VOYAGE addresses such questions by examining the rich mixture of societies coexisting in five areas of this hemisphere before European arrival. It then surveys the polyglot Mediterranean world at a dynamic turning point in its development." http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/1492.exhibit/Intro.html

Virtual Jamestown provides the student with the opportunity to witness an archeological dig while learning more about early English colonists in North America. http://www.virtualjamestown.org/

Native Americans
An interesting site that explores the daily lives of the Chumash peoples of coastal California, including customs they practiced and what kinds of food they ate. http://www.sbnature.org/chumash

Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties (Oklahoma State) http://digital.library.okstate.edu/kappler  Good collection of Indian treaties with full or partial text available on-line.

Ancient Architects of the Mississippi
800 years ago the lower Mississippi Delta was home to some of the most highly organized civilizations in the world. There were roads, commerce, and metropolises anchored by awe-inspiring earthen monuments. This National Park Service “virtual tour” allows users to explore the lives of the moundbuilders of the Eastern Woodlands.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/aad/

Cahokia Mounds State Historical Site
This site provides a variety of articles about life in Cahokia, a remarkable urban center that had 20,000-25,000 inhabitants during the first millenia in the Common Era.
http://www.cahokiamounds.com/cahokia.html

First Nations Histories
Histories, currently of 49 tribes, which provide extensive information about the culture, social organization, language, and histories of Native Americans.
http://www.tolatsga.org/Compacts.html

Native American Religion in Early America
This interactive instructional module compares and contrasts Native American and European religions in order to study how they interacted in early America.
http://www.nhc.rtp.nc.us:8080/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/natrel.htm