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Arts & Humanities Library
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.
This guide lists a few collections and indexes for locating government documents produced by the United States federal government and its predecessors.
Pre-1800s
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
America's Historical Imprints
includes books, pamphlets, sermons and some state and federal government documents printed in the US before 1820. For government publications search or browse by author/organization (e.g. United States. Army or Pennsylvania. General Assembly). Searches the databases American Broadsides and Ephemera and Early American Imprints I (Evans): 1639-1800.
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation, 1774-1873
Laws and debates in Congress
Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 (find in the CAT)
Collection of documents including correspondence, minutes, and committee and agency reports
Published American Colonial Records (find in the CAT)
A collection of the most important published colonial and state records for the original thirteen colonies plus Maine and Vermont to about 1800
Serial Set (United States)
Full-text of government publications, including congressional reports, executive and department reports and other documents ordered printed by Congress
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 Early Pennsylvania Records Online:
Pennsylvania Archives. Massive collection of early Pennsylvania government records that include Revolutionary War records, minutes of the General Assembly minutes, early Boundary disputes, and other documents.
Pennsylvania Laws. Contain public and private laws of the Province and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1682.
Congressional Debates can be found in a series of publications:
Foreign Relations of the United States,1861-
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)
Contains reports by Union and Confederate officers on the war efforts
American Presidency Project [University of California, Santa Barbara] -- the most comprehensive of the online resources of presidential papers, it includes the Public Papers of the President, the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Papers, signing statements, radio addresses, and more.
U.S. Executive Branch Documents, 1789-1909.
A collection of reports issued by federal agencies (State Dept, Navy, Commerce). These documents are listed in The CAT but are sometimes more easily located through the printed indexes.1789-1909 (find in the CAT)
Serial Set (United States)
Full-text of government publications, including congressional reports, executive and department reports and other documents ordered printed by Congress
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.
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.
The Social Sciences Library has created guides for locating more contemporary U.S. Government documents.
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
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 States 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.
