Early United States Government Documents
A BRIEF Guide
The library collects official documents and publications from Pennsylvania, United States, United Nations, League of Nations, and selected international government agencies. The bulk of these materials are located in the Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor, Paterno Library. (link)
This guide lists a few collections and indexes for locating government documents produced by the United States federal government and its predecessors.
Related Guides:
pre-1800 / 19th Century / 20th and 21st Century / Legal Resources / Historical Statistics / General Indexes / Help
A FEW pre-1800 Collections
AMERICAN STATE PAPERS, 1789-1823
Documents from the first 14 Congresses including executive documents. Grouped by subjects such as Foreign Affairs, Indian Affairs, Military Affairs, and Public Lands.
A CENTURY OF LAWMAKING FOR A NEW NATION, 1774-1873
Laws and debates in Congress.
EARLY AMERICAN IMPRINTS, 1639-1800 (Collection Description)
Works published in the American colonies. For government publications search or browse by author/organization (e.g. United States. Army or Pennsylvania. General Assembly).
PAPERS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, 1774-1789 (Collection Description)
Collection of documents including correspondence, minutes, and committee and agency reports.
PENNSYLVANIA ARCHIVES (138 volumes, Dewey Collection, 2nd Floor Pattee)
Collection of early Pennsylvania government records that include papers of the governors, PA General Assembly minutes, military, tax, land, naturalization, marriage, and baptism records.
PUBLISHED AMERICAN COLONIAL RECORDS (Collection Description)
A collection of the most important published colonial and state records for the original thirteen colonies plus Maine and Vermont to about 1800.
United States Serial Set, 1789-1969 (via Congressional Universe on A-Z list)
A massive collection of government publications produced by Congress (hearings, reports, etc...). Also a source for many early Executive Branch documents such as Annual Reports which Congress directed to be printed for its use.
A FEW 19th Century Collections
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATES can be found in a series of publications:
Annals of Congress, 1789-1824, Congressional Debates, 1824-1837, Congressional Globe, 1835-1874, Congressional Record, 1874-Present. Volumes up to 1873 are online.
FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1861- (link to CAT)
The official record of U.S. foreign policy with correspondence and papers on major policies and decisions. Some years are online.
OFFICIAL RECORDS: WAR OF THE REBELLION (U.S. Civil War)
Army
Navy
Contains reports by Union and Confederate officers on the war efforts.
U.S. EXECUTIVE BRANCH DOCUMENTS, 1789-1909
Reports issued by federal agencies (State Dept, Navy, Commerce). Individual titles are in The CAT.
United States Serial Set, 1789-1969 (via Congressional Universe on A-Z list)
A massive collection of government publications produced by Congress (hearings, reports, etc...). Also a source for many early Executive Branch documents such as Annual Reports which Congress directed to be printed for its use.
Legal Resources
LEXIS-NEXIS ACADEMIC
Federal and state court cases and laws in some cases going back to 1789. Select "Legal Research", and then the specific court (e.g Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, etc.)
UNITED STATE STATUTES AT LARGE (Online from 1789 to 1875)
Laws passed by Congress, plus treaties with Indians and foreign nations. Laws are eventually compiled into the UNITED STATES CODE. (link to CAT record)
Historical Statistics
HISTORICAL CENSUS BROWSER, 1790-1960
The U.S. Census Bureaus has some additional data at, http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.htm
HISTORICAL STATISTICS OF THE U.S.: COLONIAL TIMES TO 1970
Data on population, labor, health, income, prices, slavery, migration, communications, national defense, immigration and more.
HISTORICAL STATISTICS OF THE U.S: Millenium Edition
STATISTICAL ABSTRACT OF THE UNITED STATES (online from 1878-present)
An annual compilation of social and economic conditions in the United States.
Many Statistics can be found in the Annual Reports issued by executive agencies, e.g the Annual Report of the Agriculture Dept.
20th and 21st Century
The Social Sciences Library has created guides for locating more contemporary U.S. Government documents,
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/socialsciences/government/index.htm
General Indexes to Historical United States Government Publications
| 1774-1881 | Descriptive Catalogue of the Government Publications of the United States, Sept. 5, 1774 - March 4, 1881. (Poore's) |
| 1789-1909 | Checklist of U.S. Public Documents 1789-1909. Searchable version of the Checklist. |
| 1789-1969 | Congressional Universe Lexis Nexis. (Indexes the U.S. Serial Set, House and Senate Reports, Committee Hearings, and Committee Prints, with some full-text) |
| 1789-1909 | CIS Index to U.S. Executive Branch Documents, 1789-1909. Or search for individual titles in The CAT |
| 1895-present |
Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications. |
Help
For additional assistance ask at the nearest service desk, use the ASK service (link), or contact:
Stephen Woods, Government Documents Librarian, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. 814-865-0665
Eric Novotny, History Librarian, Arts and Humanities Library, 2nd Floor Pattee, 814-865-1014,
IM: HistoryLibrarian