Primary source databases

America: History and Life is an index of literature covering the history and culture of the United States and Canada, from prehistory to the present. The database includes citations and links to journal articles, dissertations, primary documents, and book and media reviews. Some content is available full-text (PDF and HTML). Allows limiting to peer reviewed articles, those with references, and to historical periods (date ranges). 1863-present.

The Library of Congress provides digitized American historical materials organized into more than 100 thematic collections. Original formats include manuscripts, prints, photographs, posters, maps, sound recordings, motion pictures, books, pamphlets, and sheet music. Each collection includes explanatory features to help users find and understand the materials. Collections can be browsed individually, searched individually (with full-text searching available for many written items), or searched across multiple collections. Coverage spans from the 1400s to the present.

Ancestry Library Edition provides access to genealogical records from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other regions. The resource includes more than 4,000 databases and 1.5 billion names, featuring U.S. federal census images and indexes from 1790 to 1940, historical maps, and collections such as the American Genealogical Biographical Index, Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620–1630, Social Security Death Index, WWI Draft Registration Cards, Federal Slave Narratives, and Civil War records. Additional materials include vital records, immigration records, family histories, military records, court documents, directories, photos, and maps.

The Archives of Sexuality & Gender provides primary sources on social, political, health, and legal issues impacting LGBTQ communities around the world. Includes LGBTQ History and Culture since 1940 and Sex and Sexuality: 16th to 20th Century.

Education Research Complete indexes citations, abstracts, and full text from journals, books, book chapters, case studies, essays, interviews, conference proceedings, product reviews, and experiments in all areas of education. The database includes indexing and abstracts for more than 2,100 journals and full text for nearly 1,300 journals, as well as full text for approximately 550 books and monographs and numerous education-related conference papers. Users can limit searches to peer-reviewed journals. Coverage: 1865–present.

GreenFILE indexes citations, abstracts, and full-text articles, books, case studies, conference papers, speeches and interviews, letters, and reports covering all aspects of human impact to the environment including agricultural, architectural, engineering, education, and the social sciences. Full text is available in HTML and PDF. You can limit to peer-reviewed sources. Free access version is also available. 1913-present.

The HathiTrust Digital Library contains over seven million volumes and over one billion pages of scanned books and other materials. About 20 percent of all content is in the public domain (and accessible to you). You can also browse several public collections. Content is available in several image formats, text, and PDF. 1200s-present.

Political Science Complete indexes citations, abstracts, and full text of journal articles, conference papers, reference books, country reports, interviews and speeches, and book reviews on all aspects of political science. You can do cited reference searches and limit to scholarly sources. 1887-present.