SELECTED GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS FOR

History 490 - Historical Research and Writing

instructor: Judith Raftery

 

compiled by Gloria Hylton
Meriam Library, Government Documents
California State Univ., Chico
September 2007

United States
Library Catalogs U.S. Databases & Electronic Indexes Reference / Index Collection U. S. Documents
U.S. Documents on the Internet Congressional Record Serial Set  
California
California Library Catalogs California Databases & Electronic Indexes Reference cal docs Cal docs
California Documents on the Internet      

Class Demonstrations :
4th floor Government Documents :
California : California Blue Book ; Journals of the California Assembly & Senate
U.S. : Congressional Record

2nd floor Index Collection : Congressional Serial Set Index

2nd floor law reference :
United States Statutes at Large ; California Statutes and Amendments to the Codes

2nd floor microform area :
Congressional Serial Set on microcards ; Congressional Record on microfilm
Microfilm scanning demonstration

CLASS HAND OUTS: Government Documents : General Description [pdf] & Map [pdf] : Congressional Record in Meriam Library [pdf] : Congressional Serial Set in Meriam Library [pdf] :

 
U.S. Documents
Library Catalogs

Meriam Library Catalog
--- search Meriam Library's Online Catalog and periodical indexes (many with full text). Most government documents are cataloged in the on-line catalog

Melvyl
--- Catalog of the University of California Libraries, Contains U.S. docs (limit Library: CSL ) most libraries use SuDocs classification systems. Many link to the full text on the internet.

Pharos
--- Catalog of the California State Univerity Libraries. Contains U.S. docs, many with links to the full text on the internet.

Databases / Electronic Indexes

Google
--- Advanced Search : to limit searches to government documents -- in domain box type : .gov
--- Google Scholar : searches for scholarly literature : more on Google Scholar @ CSU, Chico

GPO Access
--- full text databases from the Government Printing Office (GPO)
--- Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (1976 - current )

USA.gov
--- U. S. Government's Official Web Portal : official gateway to all government information [formerly: FirstGov.gov]

Reference / Index Collection (2nd floor) (includes ready ref)

Biographical directory of the United States Congress : 1774 - 2005 (ref JK1010 A5 2005)
available online: http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp

CIS U. S. Serial Set Index 1789-1969 (index Z1223 Z9 C65)
--- subject and numeric access to Serial Set

Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970 (ref HA202 A385 1960)
--- historical population and housing data for U.S., regions, states and counties

Statistical Abstract of the U.S. (HA202 ready ref) & (doc C 3.134:)
--- statistical tables on social, political and economic organization of U.S.

paper: 1920 - date (incomplete)
microfiche : 1878 - 1955
online : 1878 - 2007 - http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html

United States Statutes at Large (law ref KF50 U5) 1789 - current
--- is the permanent collection of all laws and resolutions enacted during each session of Congress
available online: (2003 - date) GPOAccess
available online: (1789 - 1875) American Memory
available online: Lexis/Nexis Congressional (1988 - current)
see also Public and Private Laws : Full-text versions of all signed bills (1995 - date) GPO Access

U.S. documents on the 4th floor (some with internet links)

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (doc GP 3.8:1895 - 1976) (formerly Monthly Catalog)
---government documents index (has SuDoc nos.)
available online: (1976 - current) GPO Access

Cumulative Subject Index to the Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, 1895 - 1899. (doc GP 3.8:895 - 899/v.1-2) and 1900 - 1971. (doc GP 3.8:900 - 971/v.1-15)
---subject access, leads to Monthly Catalog citation

Country Studies (doc D 101.22:550 - nos.)
--- "Country Studies Series presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world and examines the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors."
--- Philippines Country Study ---

Foreign Relations of the United States (doc S 1.1:)
--- official record of U.S. foreign policy with correspondence and papers on major policies and decisions

Chico has:

Microfilm : 1899 -1918 (doc film S 1.1:)
paper : 1914 - date (doc S 1.1:)
microfiche : 1945 - date (doc fiche S 1.1:)

online: 1861 - 1960 [incomplete] (University of Wisconsin-Madison ) http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/FRUS/
1945 - 1972 [incomplete] (State Department) http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/

U.S. Documents on the Internet

Historical Census Browser 1790 - 1960 (every ten years)
---gives data for states and counties : data differs somewhat from decade to decade (University of Virginia Library, Geostat Center)


see also :
Meriam Library -- Country / International Information
see also :
Meriam Library -- U. S. Historical Documents / Information

Congressional Record

---official verbatim record of the proceedings and debates of Congress.

Annals of Congress: 1789 - 1824
Register of Debates: 1824 - 1837
Congressional Globe: 1833 - 1873
Congressional Record: 1873 - current

Chico has:
microfilm: 1789 - 1982 (doc X.)
microfiche: 1977 - 2002 (doc X 1.1:)
paper indexes (bound): 1873 - current (doc X. & X 1.1)
paper issues: no current issues on paper

available online: American Memory Project - A Century of Lawmaking for A New Nation
includes these titles:

Annals of Congress (1789 - 1824)
Register of Debates (1824 - 1837)
Congressional Globe (1833 - 1873)

available online: (1994 - date) GPO Access
available online: (1993 - date) Thomas

Congressional Record in Meriam Library [pdf]

Serial Set

---ongoing series containing reports and documents of House and Senate and miscellaneous reports submitted to Congress by other government agencies and commissions.

 Chico has:

paper:
American State Papers (1789 - 1838) 38 volumes (10 subjects) [doc folio 01-038]

New American State Papers (1789 - 1861) 205 volumes (13 subjects)
(includes original American State Papers) [doc z 8.2: ]

microfiche: 
microfiche: began 96th Congress, (1979 - date) [doc fiche Y 1.1/(nos.)]

Y 1.1/2 : Serial Set
Y 1.1/3 : Senate documents
Y 1.1/4 : Senate Treaty documents
Y 1.1/5 : Senate Reports
Y 1.1/6: Senate Executive Reports
Y 1.1/7 : House Documents
Y 1.1/8 : House Reports

microcard:
Microcard : Serial Set no. 1 (1817) - no. 10285 (1938)

Online:
Library of Congress. American Memory. Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation :
U. S. Congressional Documents and Debates : 1774 - 1875
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lawhome.html

GPO Access : 1995 - date
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/index.html

CIS U. S. Serial Set Index 1789 - 1969 (index Z1223 Z9 C65)
---subject and numeric access to Serial Set

Congressional Serial Set in Meriam Library [pdf]

 

CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS
Califoria Library Catalogs

California State Library Catalog
--- contains California docs, U.S. docs, city/county/special district docs, etc.

Melvyl:
--- Library Catalog of the University of California System (can limit to California State Library's holdings)

Pharos
--- Catalog of the California State Univerity Libraries. Contains California docs, many with links to the full text on the internet.

California Databases & Electronic Indexes

Legislative Document Archives (California State Assembly Chief Clerk)
---contains historical archives of Assembly Journals (1849 - 1997), Histories and Indexes (1881-2001), and Statutes (1850 - 1995)

Reference Cal Docs (2nd floor reference collection) (some with internet links)

California Blue Book, Sesquicentennial edition :1850 - 2000 (law ref KFC721 Z9 C3 2000)
---an official directory of the judicial, executive, and legislative departments of the California State government. (Additional copy held in California Documents (L500 S35 B58)

Statutes and Amendments to the Codes; California (law ref KFC25 A213) (1854 - date)
---laws, amendments to codes, resolutions, constitutional amendments passed by California legislature.
available online: 1993 - date Legislative Counsel of California: Statutes
available online: 1850 - 1995 Legislative Document Archives (California State Assembly Chief Clerk)

cal docs on the 4th floor (some with internet links)

California Blue Book (cal doc G125 M3) (1889 - 1975)
---state government leaders, legislature, judiciary, state agencies/boards/commissions

California Blue Book, Sesquicentennial edition : 1850 - 2000 (cal doc L500 S35 B58)
---an official directory of the judicial, executive, and legislative departments of the California State government. (Additional copy held in law reference collelction (law ref KFC721 Z9 C3 2000)

Journal of the Assembly; California (cal doc L505 J7a) (1851 - date)
---official record of proceedings of Assembly
available online : 1995 - date Assembly Daily Journal
available online: 1849 - 1997 Legislative Document Archives (California State Assembly Chief Clerk)

Journal of the Senate; California (cal doc L505 J7s) (1851 - )
---official record of proceedings of Senate
available online: Oct. 2002 - date Senate Daily Journal

Appendix to the Journal of the Senate & Assembly (cal doc L505 J7 app.) (1851 - 1970?)
---agency & department reports

California Documents on the Internet

California State Capitol Museum

see also : Meriam Library -- California Historical Information

 


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