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American history comes alive with new online resources

June 29, 2007

What was being printed in America three centuries ago? You can find out by going to some newly acquired online resources of the University Libraries. University faculty, staff and students now have access to Readex's online U.S. Congressional Serial Set and its predecessor, the American State Papers. These online resources allow you to view actual pages of historical documents related to our nation's history, as far back as 1789. These new resources are listed on the library's A-Z list of databases, as well as on the History subject page:

• The U.S. Congressional Serial Set is comprised of publications of all U.S. Executive Branch departments, as well as the journals, reports, and documents of Congressional House and Senate Committees. The online edition is set to be completed in 2008, (1817-1917 now available, with 1918-1980 to be added) with full-text and images from 13,800 volumes.
• The American State Papers covers the first 14 U.S. Congresses (1789-1817) and additional publications from 1817-1838.

For example, you can learn about Nevada's early constitution and laws in The Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the States, Territories, and Colonies (pages 2391-2432), available on the U.S. Congressional Serial Set. This particular document has 40 original pages of text from the 1906 Congressional record about Nevada that you can view, download, or print. If you have related questions, please contact Patrick Ragains, head of the Business and Government Information Center for the University Libraries, at ragains@unr.edu or 682-5593. Ragains is also the subject specialist for Business and Economics, Criminal Justice, Government Documents (Federal, Nevada, International), History, Judicial Studies, and Political Science. Jan Jones, technical communications specialist, Information Technology, can be reached at janicej@unr.edu.