HSTRY 388: Race, Wars & the US Empire: Primary Sources: Government

Government Documents

For help on finding government reports, check with the staff at Government Publications located on the ground floor of Suzzallo Library.

For additional sources of US government information see the guide for US Federal Government Resources.

U.S. Declassified Documents Online This link opens in a new window
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Post-WWII declassified documents from the CIA, FBI, White House & other federal agencies
Digital National Security Archive This link opens in a new window
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More than 43,000 declassified documents regarding critical postwar U.S. security issues including Vietnam & Latin America

Foreign Relations of the United States I
Compilation of state department documents covering foreign relations from Lincoln through Eisenhower
Foreign Relations of the United States II
Compilation of state department documents from the Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford administrations

Hindu Conspiracy Cases: Activities of the Indian Independence Movement in the U.S., 1908-1933 This link opens in a new window
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Justice Department documents dealing with the Ghadar Party in the US

Information control and propaganda: records of the Office of War Information
Microfilm of WWII OWI records; 27 reels; A11609

MarciveWeb DOCS This link opens in a new window
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Index to US government documents from 1976 through the present; if you see a title you want, useUW Libraries Search to see if we own a copy
Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, 1895-1976 This link opens in a new window
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Index to older government documents; if you see a title you want, use UW Libraries Search to see if we own a copy
Archival Research Catalog This link opens in a new window
The National Archives (NARA) has digitized a hodgepodge of government documents covering all topics
ProQuest Congressional This link opens in a new window
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Index to Congressional hearings, reports & other material; includes fulltext hearings from 1824-1979
U.S. Congressional Serial Set This link opens in a new window
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Collection of full text US Congressional documents (excluding hearings), 1817 - 1980

Presidential Libraries Digital Collections

Presidential Libraries are slowly digitizing selected material on various events that occurred during administrations. If your topic falls into a specific administration you may find material in these collections.

Why Use Government Documents

The Federal Government produces a wide array of publications ranging from Congressional bills, debates, hearings and reports to agency research publications, maps and posters. Plus there is census and statistical data, presidential speeches, scientific studies, propaganda, diplomatic correspondence and more.

As primary sources these official governmental publications provide insight into all aspects of history from social issues to politics, from cultural mores to scientific endeavor.

Help: Unpacking Evidence: Official Documents & Learning to Do Historical Research: Government Documents

Image: Reports of the Taft Philippine Commission. Message from the President of the United States, transmitting a report of the Secretary of War, containing the reports of the Taft Commission, its several acts of legislation, and other important information relating to the conditions ...of the Philippine Islands. January 25, 1901. From the US Congressional Serial Set.