Research Guides: History: Historical U.S. Government Info

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Government Information

For more information/questions about government documents please view these subject guides:

And contact our U.S. Government Librarian, Brian Williams: brianrw@uci.edu.

Key U.S. Government History Sites

ProQuest Congressional *
Includes committee hearings, reports, Congressional Record, CRS, House and Senate Documents, Serials Set Indexing, Laws, Bills, Legislative Histories, Resolutions, and more.
Proquest Supreme Court insight *
Includes full opinions from Supreme Court argued cases, including per decision, dockets, oral arguments, joint appendices and amicus briefs.
U. S. Congressional Serial Set *
Congressional committee prints, documents, treaty documents and other special publications (NO HEARINGS) Coverage: 1817-1980

American State Papers *
Coverage: 1789-1838
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
Finding tool for federal publications that includes descriptive records for historical and current publications and provides direct links to those that are available online.
Congressional Hearings
An ongoing project to digitized Congressional Hearings--currently available are hearings about the Census, Freedom of Information/Privacy, and Immigration.
C-Span Library
Includes video of just about everything that has ever aired on C-SPAN, updated on a daily basis. Historical content includes debates, speeches, rallies, and more.
Congressional Record
The official record of the proceedings and debates of the U.S. Congress. Coverage: 1981 - 2001
US Declassified Documents Online *
Collection of government documents covering the post-WW II period through the 1970’s.
Digital National Security Archive (DNSA) *
The DNSA includes important declassified documents regarding critical U.S. foreign policy.
Foreign Relations of the United States
350+ volumes. Presents the official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions. Some volumes are online. Many are in print: Langson Bound Periodicals JX 233 A3.
Founders Online: Correspondence and Other Writings of Six Major Shapers of the United States
Washington, Franklin, Adams (and family), Jefferson, Hamilton, and Madison.
Historical Statistics of the United States *
Covers Colonial Times to the Present. Most data is at the federal level. Print Volumes: LL Ref Desk HA 202.H57 2006
Statistical Abstracts of the United States *
Statistics on the social, political, and economic conditions of the United States. Coverage: 1790 to present
Historic Census Materials
UCI Libraries Subject Guide
Historical Census Browser
Coverage: 1790-1960
Historical Decennial Census Data (Population & Housing)
1790-2000
Indian Claims Insight *
Claims presented to Congress and/or brought before the Court of Claims or the Indian Claims Commission + important Supreme Court decisions; and maps
Making of Modern Law: ACLU Archive, 1912-1990 *
Making of Modern Law - Primary Sources, 1620-1926 *
Early U.S. state codes, city charters, constitutional conventions and compilations, legal dictionaries, published records of the American Colonies, etc.
Making of Modern Law - Trials, 1600-1926 *
Making of Modern Law - Legal Treatises, 1800-1926 *
Making of Modern Law - US Supreme Court Records and Briefs, 1832-1978 *
State Department DOSFAN Archives
Electronically archived information produced by the State Department from 1990 to 1997. Also links to State Department papers from 1997-2001.
Wilson Center Digital Archive
Includes documents from governments all across the globe. The collections focus on the Cold War, Korea, and Nuclear Proliferation.

Paper Indexes to Historical Documents

CIS Index to U.S. Executive Branch Documents, 1789-1909
Call number: Langson Ref: J83 .U2 1990
Multi-volume index to official government documents. Use the user's guide.
CIS Index to Executive Branch Documents, 1910-1932: guide to documents not printed in the U.S. serial set
Call number: Langson Ref: Z1223 .Z7 C59 1996
Index to U. S. Government Periodicals, 1970-1982
Call number: Langson Bound Periodicals Z1223 .Z7 I6
Directory of Federal Historical Programs and Activities
Excellent guide to locating primary resources and other historical information with the numerous federal agencies. Call number: Langson Reference E 175.4 D57