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Primary Sources for Historical Research

Descriptions and links to digitized primary sources, as well as print collections of newspapers, diaries, correspondence and other primary sources

Major Collections

Congressional Record : Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress [1873 - ] (print and microfiche)
US Docs Shelves; US Docs Microfiche Cabinet; X 1.1:
Online access to issues from 1994 to 2018
Congressional Globe : Proceedings and Debates of the U.S. Congress from 1833 to 1873
US Docs Microforms Cabinets X 72 to X 180
Online access from the Library of Congress at Congressional Globe
Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents [1789 - 1921]
On the US Docs Shelves, Y 4.P 93/1:5/
The papers of many presidents in this time range can also be found on microfilm in our Special Collections microform cabinets (see above) or online (see above).
Public Papers of the Presidents
on the US Docs Shelves
GS 4:113 (has Herbert Hoover - Ronald Reagan)
AE 2:114 (has Ronald Reagan to current)
U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817 - present ("The Serial Set")
Reports, Documents and Journals of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Print volumes on US Docs Shelves. Y 1.1/2:SERIAL (some volumes)
Online subscription access to 1817-1980
Online public access to 1957 through 2012
American State Papers, 1789-1838
US Docs Shelves Y 1.1/2:SERIAL
"The legislative and executive documents of Congress during the period 1789 to 1838"
Online subscription access from Readex
Online access from the Library of Congress at American State Papers
Foreign Relations in the United States (print, microfiche, and online)
"The official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity."
US Docs Shelves and US Docs Microforms Cabinets S 1.1
Online from the State Department
Online from the University of Wisconsin

Catalog Searching

Many U.S. documents are included in our online library catalog, while many others are not. On the other hand, all our Texas documents are included in our catalog. To limit your catalog searching to only government documents:

  • Go to Keyword or Author/Title/Subject Search
  • Click on Set Limits button
  • By Location, highlight Government Docs Dept
  • Click on Set Limits button
  • Continue with search