Resources of American History
African American Registry, TheThe African American Registry ® has twelve categories, each with its own color (Activist is light Blue, Politics/Law is Gray, etc). The categories show the wide range of American lifestyles through the Black experience.
African Diaspora Studies.comThe African Diaspora refers to the dispersal of African peoples all over the world through voluntary, forced and induced migrations, resulting in the relocation and re-definition of African peoples. This website is dedicated to pursuing African diaspora studies, extending nationally and internationally.
Africans in America [1450-1865] ~ PBSAmerica's journey through slavery is presented in four parts. For each era, you'll find a historical Narrative, a Resource Bank of images, documents, stories, biographies, and commentaries, and a Teacher's Guide for using the content of the Web site and television series in U.S. history courses.
Alabama ~ Birmingham Civil Rights InstituteSearch a collection of records and documents relating to events that occurred during the civil rights struggle of the 1950's and 1960's
American Indians.comAmerican Indians varied greatly from region to region, as did their reactions to European settlement. This website delves into the vast and storied background of most tribes and seeks to supply the visitors with as much knowledge as possible about the history of Native Americans.
American Missionary AssociationImages from the Amistad digital collection entitled "The American Missionary Association and the Promise of a Multicultural America:1839-1954." The archives are on permanent display through the LSU Digital Library via the Internet.
American Revolution.orgThis website features works by some of the world's foremost historians on topics such as Black soldiers of the Revolution, Native American Indians in the Revolution, and hard-to-find information such as that relating to the Royal Deux-Ponts infantry [German soldiers].
American Women's HistoryA research guide that includes links to online photo archives, histories, etc., dealing with women in American history.
Americans.netRead historical documents [e.g., the American Constitution], the history of the American Revolution, historical documents from circa 1000 up to today, and more.
Archealogy.orgA publication of the Archaeological Institute of America which covers such varied topics as: 'Native Americans and Archaeologists'; Buddha's "Golden Period"; and the excavation of the Pisa Wreck off the coast of Crimea.
ArchNetBotany, geology, history, lithics, physical anthropology, textiles and basketry and more, all presented from an archealogical point of view.
Arkansas ~ Indians of ArkansasThis website provides information and educational resources for students, teachers, and others interested in Arkansas Indian history. Topics include Indians Before Europeans, First Encounters, and European Explorers.
Bancroft, Hubert Howe ~ Collective WorksFrom 1st-hand-history.org, the collected works of Hubert Howe Bancroft online include the histories of California, New Mexico, Arizona and other states, as well as the histories of native races.
Beckwourth, James PiersonA history of the life and times of James Pierson Beckwourth, an emancipated slave who went on to become a war chief of the Crow, a mountain man, a trapper, and a businessman.
BlackPast.orgThis site is dedicated to providing reference materials to the general public on six centuries of African American history. It includes an online encyclopedia of hundreds of famous and lesser known figures in African America, full text primary documents and major speeches of black activists and leaders from the 18th Century to the present.
Booker T Washington Papers, TheRead, online, the collective works of Booker T Washington, provided by the University of Illinois Press.
Brown vs Board of Education ~ Petition of Harry BriggsThis petition is the precursor to the Briggs v. Elliott court case, one of five cases consolidated before the United States Supreme Court into Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.
Buffalo Soldier Network, TheA history of the so-called Buffalo Soldiers, from the American Revolution through the Indian Wars. Read about Cathay Williams, a female Buffalo Soldier; Henry O. Flipper, the first black graduate from West Point Military Academy who was also the first black officer, posted to the Tenth U.S. Cavalry; and Colonel Allen Allensworth who was the first black chaplain posted to the Twenty-fourth Infantry, and also founder of the first black established town just outside Bakersfield, California.
California ~ Five ViewsA study of five ethnic groups in California during the 1800's: American Indians, Black Americans, Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, and Mexican Americans.
California ~ Tachi YokutIncludes history of California Indians, text of treaties, and more
Catholic Encyclopedia ~ New AdventResources you can access at this website include the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Summa Theologica [the theological masterpiece of St Thomas of Aquinas], and letters, speeches and books from early Christians.
Cherokee ~ Chief Bowles [Duwa'li] A biography of Cherokee Chief Duwa'li Bowles [1756-1836], who was killed during the last battle fought between the Texas Cavalry and Cherokee [July 16, 1839], known as 'The Battle of the Neches' which was fought in present-day Van Zandt County, Texas.
Cherokee ~ History of the Cherokee Histories, by Ken Martin, of the Arkansas Cherokee, the Keetoowahs, and the Chickamauga], including images and maps, genealogy, books, newspapers, and related links.
Cherokee History TimelineImportant dates in Cherokee history.
Cherokee ~ The Trail of Tears Between the 1830 Indian Removal Act and 1850, the U.S. government used treaties and/or U.S. Army action to move about 100,000 American Indians westward to Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma. Among the relocated tribes were the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole. The Cherokees were among the last to go, and it is the Cherokee's story that is the subject of this lesson plan.
Colonial AmericaDatabases that include information about the original colonies, census records, colonial settlements, and colonial wars.
Cornell University Library Cornell University Library's contributions to Making of America [MOA], a digital library of primary sources in American social history from the antebellum period through reconstruction.
Cultural Readings ~ Colonization & Print In The AmericasFrom the University of Pennsylvania Library, this online exhibition from the collections of the Jay I. Kislak Foundation explores the colonization of the Americas from the viewpoint of the European immigrants and the Native Americans they encountered.
Digital History Search historical newspaper articles, read an online textbook, view primary source materials, visit online exhibits, etc.
Dinsmore Documentation Digitized collections of historical documents can be viewed online.
Documenting the American South [DocSouth] Sponsored by the University Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, DocSouth provides online access to digitized primary materials that offer Southern perspectives on American history and culture.
Eyewitness to History.com"Your ringside seat to history - from the Ancient World to the present. History through the eyes of those who lived it, presented by Ibis Communications, Inc. a digital publisher of educational programming."
Facing History and OurselvesSince 1976, Facing History has been engaging students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry. The site contains a search engine for access to its databases.
Famous Trials Online records of famous trials including The Amistad Trials [1839 - 1840], The Scottsboro Boys Trials [1931 - 1937], The Sweet Trials [1925 - 1926], the Bill Haywood Trial of 1907, and many more.
First Nations HistoriesCompact histories of Native American tribes.
Florida ~ Exploring Florida This website contains educational resources for students and teachers for use in studying Florida history.
Florida ~ PALMM A searchable and browseable database of finding aids to the Publication of Archival, Library & Museum Materials [PALMM] collection, which includes personal papers, organizational records, and other special collections, including The Ringling Collection [comprised of cabinet cards, postcards and photographs of 19th Century American and British actors and actresses].
Florida ~ Slavery on the Southwestern Borderlands A study of slavery in the 'southwestern borderlands' by Andrew McMichael of Vanderbilt University. This is a history of the immigration into, and settlement of, West Florida by Europeans.
Florida ~ State University PALMM Collections Collections include Yiddish children's books, United States Virgin Islands history and culture, and Florida legal documents.
Florida ~ Textual Collections Textual Collections are collections of digitized textual materials including books, journals, newspapers, legal documents and other publications. The collections have been digitized as part of the PALMM [Publication of Archival, Library and Museum Materials] program of the State University System of Florida's public university system.
Four Hundred Years of American Life and Culture A list of titles in the Local History and Genealogy Reading Room to help you locate sources that describe the details of daily living for all Americans or for specific groups, e.g. Irish immigrants, or for a specific place, e.g. New York City, at a particular period in the nation’s history. Researchers may also use the Library of Congress’ online catalog at http://catalog.loc.gov/ and the catalogs of other libraries to locate such books by using Library of Congress subject headings.
Geographic.org A website for students and teachers, parents and children, and anyone else who wants to learn more about geography.
Germ Warfare Against American Indians [1754-1763] This website contains images of microfilmed original letters written between Lord Jeffrey Amherst [commanding general of British forces in North America during the final battles of the so-called French & Indian war of 1754-1763], and his officers, and others in his command, during the summer of 1763, when the British were fighting what became known as Pontiac's Rebellion [1763–1766, an American Indian struggle against the British military occupation of the Great Lakes region following the British victory in the French and Indian War].
History Central.comComplete time lines of major events in American History as well as World History.
History Cooperative These online journals cover such diverse topics as slavery in Latin America and the politics of labor movements. While many of these journals are available for public perusal, the JAH, the AHR, the William and Mary Quarterly, and the Western Historical Quarterly do require membership for electronic access.
History Learning Site This site includes the histories of medieval and Tudor England, the World Wars, Peter the Great, The Thirty Years War, the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, and more.
History MattersAn annotated guide to the most useful websites for teaching U.S. history and social studies.
HistoryNet.com, The The HistoryNet.com is brought to you by the Weider History Group, the publisher of history magazines. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and articles originally published in their various magazines.
History Timelines History and Timelines provide a record of events in the order of their occurrence. The many sections on this website detail the sequence of related historical events and are arranged in chronological order.
History in the USA Readings [e.g., Great Chicago Fire by Alexander Frear, and Pistols in the Senate by William Nisbet Chambers]; the Indian Wars [e.g., Scalp Bounty by Allan W. Eckert]; Nullification 1828-1832 [Civil War era]; and The Revolution [e.g., Rebel Militia by John Shy].
Houghton MifflinOnline study center.
Immigration Ever since its founding in 1776, and even before then, the United States has attracted immigrants from around the world. This website explores how America has become a mosaic of people, culture, and hope.
Indian Affairs ~ Laws & Treaties Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties, compiled and edited by Charles J. Kappler, is an historically significant, seven volume compilation of U.S. treaties, laws and executive orders pertaining to Native American Indian tribes. The volumes cover U.S. Government treaties with Native Americans from 1778-1883 (Volume II) and U.S. laws and executive orders concerning Native Americans from 1871-1970 (Volumes I, III-VII).
Indian Removal Act The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830, authorizing the president to grant unsettled lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders. During the fall and winter of 1838 and 1839, the Cherokees were forcibly moved west by the United States government. Approximately 4,000 Cherokees died on this forced march, which became known as the "Trail of Tears."
In Motion ~ The African American Migration ExperienceThe Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture presents a history of African Americans that focuses on the thirteen defining migrations that formed and transformed African America, of which only the transatlantic slave trade and the domestic slave trades were coerced, the eleven others being voluntary movements. Their journeys changed not only their world and the fabric of the African Diaspora, but also the Western Hemisphere. Know Your RightsOnline compilation of bills of rights, including the Constitution of the United States, the U.S. Bill of Rights, the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights portions of the constitutions of the individual States
Lakota Writings Category: HistoryThis website features history, photographs, writings, short stories, poetry, and more
Lewis & Clark Expedition This website makes available the text of the Nebraska edition of the Lewis and Clark journals, edited by Gary E. Moulton. The site features the full text of the journals, along with a gallery of images, supplemental texts, and audio files of selected passages plus Native American perspectives.
Louisiana ~ A Medley of Cultures The prospect of prosperity brought people to Louisiana, voluntarily or by force. This paper examines the resultant culture.
Making of America BooksAn online digital library of primary sources in American social history primarily from the antebellum period through reconstruction. The collection is particularly strong in the subject areas of education, psychology, American history, sociology, religion, and science and technology.
Maryland ~ St. Mary's City Contents of this website include histories of the early settlement of Maryland, the initial settlement of St. Mary's, life on a small plantation, slavery, effects of political and religious influences, and more.
New Deal Network This educational guide to the Great Depression of the 1930s features articles, speeches, letters, photos, and archives relating to that time period.
Newfoundland and LabradorInformation and analysis of the history, geography, population, culture, and society of Newfoundland and Labrador, the people of which came mostly from the southwest of England and the south and southeast of Ireland.
New Mexico ~ United States vs. Cibola County, New Mexico Copy of the court document filed in the case of the United States vs Cibola County, New Mexico. The United States alleged violations of the Voting Rights Act [VRA] arising from election practices and procedures affecting Native Americans residing in Cibola County.
New York City ~ Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture The Schomberg division of the New York Public Library [NYPL], located in Harlem, New York, holds and provides access to books, serials and microforms containing information by and about people of African descent throughout the world, concentrating on the humanities, social sciences, and the arts.
North Carolina ~ Heritage of Black Highlanders [ca. 1888-1972] History resources relating to African Americans in Asheville, North Carolina, from the D H Ramsey Library of the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
North Carolina ~ Shipwrecks [1730-1800] North Carolina newspaper articles about shipwrecks from 1730 - 1800. Original URL: http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hp/colonial/ newspapers/Subjects/Shipwrecks.htm#1730. When using the original URL, remember to enter it without spaces.
North Carolina ~ The Lost Colony More than four centuries ago, English colonists hoped to carve out a new life—and substantial profits—in the wild and strange land of North America. One group of colonists gave up and returned to England. A second colony, in what is now North Carolina, vanished in the 1580s and became immortalized in history as the "Lost Colony." Begun as The Croatan Group in 1993 with the finding of the capital town of the Croatan Indians, The Lost Colony is using primary sources, archaeology, oral histories and satellite technology to uncover the fate of the first English settlers [The Lost Colonists] of 1587.
Official History of the American Negro in The World War [1919]Now available to be read online, a book written by Emmett J. Scott that discusses such topics as how Colored officers were trained, and how Negro soldiers were treated in camp.
Oklahoma ~ Chronicles of Oklahoma This website, brought to you by the Oklahoma Historical Society, offers a digital collection that includes the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Indian Claims Commission Decisions, Chronicles of Oklahoma, and Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties.
Oklahoma ~ Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture The Encyclopedia, which contains articles about the history of Oklahoma written by leading scholars in the field, is published by the Oklahoma Historical Society. The online edition is presented by the Oklahoma State University Library Electronic Publishing Center.
Oklahoma ~ OSU Digital Library Online digital collection from the Oklahoma State University [OSU] Electronic Publishing Center [EPC] makes available various past publications about Oklahoma history and events.
Primary Source DocumentsInternet sites that can be used in teaching American history.
Rebellion ~ The Black SeminolesExplore the story of John Horse and the Black Seminoles, the first black rebels to beat American slavery, and leaders of the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history—an original history written & designed for the Web.
Reconstruction [1861-1877] This online edition of 'Jensen's Guide to Reconstruction History' includes articles from Harper's Weekly [1857-1874], text of the journal 'Edicts of Freedom' by Nicolay and Hay [1889], and links to other period resources.
Shorey W. Ross's Memories of the Cherokee Nation The recollections of Shorey W. Ross, a descendent of Chief John Ross [chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1828 to 1860].
Slavery in America This site is devoted to the history of slavery in America from the beginning, around 1619, when a Dutch ship brought 20 enslaved Africans to the Virginia colony at Jamestown, to the end of slavery nearly 240 years later when the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution officially ended slavery in 1865.
Slavery In America ~ New York Life From the beginnings of slavery in British North America around 1619, when a Dutch ship brought 20 enslaved Africans to the Virginia colony at Jamestown, nearly 240 years passed until the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution officially ended slavery in 1865. This webite explores slavery in America through its history, geography, literature, and other resources.
South Carolina & Georgia ~ Gullah People This is a history of the Gullah, a distinctive group of Black Americans from South Carolina and Georgia in the southeastern United States, who share Sierra Leonean speech, custom, culture, and cuisine.
TeachingAmericanHistory.orgBrowse letters, speeches, documents, web sites, books, and articles on signifcant people and events in American political thought and history.
Texas ~ The Constitutions of the Republic of Texas Online text of the various Constitutions of the Republic of Texas, including the constitutions enacted upon the Republic joining the union, and the constitutions enacted subsequent to the Republic seceding from the union.
Texas ~ The Handbook of Texas Online A multidisciplinary encyclopedia of Texas history, geography, and culture.
Timeline ~ The United States Chronological history timeline of major events in Unites States history.
Timelines ~ The 50 States Presented by SHG Resources, this site gives a timeline of major events in the states' histories.
Turnbo Manuscripts, The A collection of short tales, stories and vignettes that reflect life along the White River Valley in northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri during the latter half of the 19th century. Written by Silas Claiborne Turnbo [1844-1925], the manuscripts are of interest to genealogists because of sometimes detailed accounts of the experiences of ancestors.
Tybee Island The history of early Tybee Island, information about the Tybee Island Lighthouse, an image catalog, and information about Fort Screven are presented here.
United Band of Cherokee Keetowah Indians [UKB] A brief chronology of the UBK from pre-European contact times to the 1730's. Original URL: http://global.cscc.edu/soc/280/On_Line_Documents/Week_6/ Week_6_Documents/CHEROKEE.htm. When entering the original URL, omit any spaces.
U.S. Constitution Online, The Read the text and view images of the United States Constitution. Also contains the history of, and a list of signers of, the Declaration of Independence.
U.S. Forts Links to the histories of U.S. forts, presented alphabetically by fort name.
U.S. Historical Documents ~ The University of Oklahoma Some historical documents [e.g., The Magna Carta and the U.S. Constitution] presented online by the University of Oklahoma's College Of Law.
U-S-History.comU-S-History.com provides students of American history with an interactive tool with which to locate detailed information about the nation's history.
University of Oklahoma Digital Collections This digitized collection includes the Sooner Magazine, the Western History Collection [rare research materials for scholars in anthropology, Native American studies, Oklahoma history, and the history of the American West], and digitized title pages of books in the History of Science Collections.
WebRoots.org Resources include books, journals, diaries, manuscripts, memoirs, letters, etc. Most are text files.
WWI Draft ~ HistoryHistorical background of the WWI Draft
World War II in the PacificNeither side was defeated in The Great War [World War I]. An armistice was signed, and the fighting ended Nov 11, 1918. "The Follies of the Victors" at the Peace Conferences in Paris were held without German participation. When Germany presented observations, the allies prepared to resume the war and Germany reluctantly signed. This high handedness led to a resumption of war in the next generation. This is a history of those events.
Yale University ~ Slavery & Abolition This essay examines Yale's relationship to slavery, from its abolitionists to its pro-slavery leaders.
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