Portals to Primary Sources
Don't know where to start? Try one of the following database portals. They allow researchers to search across multiple databases produced by the same publisher or archives.
- Archive ExplorerPublisher: Adam Matthew
- ArtemisPublisher: Gale
- Archive ExplorerPublisher: Readex
- DP.LAPublisher: Archives and Libraries across the US
Primary Source Databases
The Library has a number of databases that contain primary source documenting the history of racial violence in America. Here's a list to get you started. It is strongly recommended, however, that you set up an appointment with your subject librarian, Erica Bruchko, for help navigating these databases and to identify additional collections.
Manuscript Materials (Plantation Records, Personal Papers, etc.)
- History Vault This link opens in a new windowAccess historical documents and digital microfilm collections. Contains the Records of Southern Antebellum Plantations and Southern Slavery and the Law.
- Slavery, Abolition and Social Justice, 1490-2007 This link opens in a new window
Contains documents and collections covering the period 1490-2007 on the topics of slavery, the legacy of slavery, the social justice perspective, and the continued existence of slavery today.
- Slavery and Anti-slavery: A Transnational Archive This link opens in a new windowContains archival documents related to slavery in the Atlantic World.
- British Online Archives This link opens in a new windowContains documents related to British and world history across a wide variety of themes and periods.
- Black Abolitionist Papers This link opens in a new windowCollection of documents written by black men and women involved in the movement to end slavery in the United States between 1830-1865.
Printed Materials (Books, Newspapers, and Magazines)
- Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers This link opens in a new windowContains facsimile images of 19th century newspapers from a broad range of urban and rural regions throughout the U.S.
- Chronicling America This link opens in a new windowContains a variety of historical newspapers dating from 1900 to 1963.
- ProQuest News & Newspapers This link opens in a new windowCovers historical and recent U.S. news from major cities.
- America's Historical Newspapers This link opens in a new windowAccess various historical newspapers that span from the seventeenth to the twentieth century.
- American Periodicals Series Online This link opens in a new windowAccess American periodicals from the colonial period through the beginning of the 20th century.
- American Antiquarian Society (AAS) Historical Periodicals Collection: Series 1-5 (1691-1865) This link opens in a new windowInstructions for access: Access American Antiquarian Society (AAS) Historical Periodicals Collection: Series 1-5 through the EBSCOhost databases list.
Contains American magazines and journals from the AAS, documenting the life of America’s people from the Colonial Era through the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Slave Narratives
- North American Slave NarrativesDigital, searchable versions of major slave narratives published in the US.
Municipal, State & Federal Government Records (Selected)