The U.S. Congressional Serial Set and the American State Papers are two Readex digital resources supporting American Studies now available from the VCU Libraries. Both resources contain in-depth information about the history of the U.S. Congress, with extensive collections of primary source material on the people, issues, and events of American history, law, and politics.
The U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1994, includes every publication from the 15th through the 103rd Congress, comprising over 415,000 individual documents. Designed for legislative and historical research, it features comprehensive search strategies to locate unique information on the cultural, economic, ethnic, military, political, and scientific concerns of American government. Additionally, enhanced digital images of congressional publications, including approximately 56,000 maps of the changing nation and more than 8,000 illustrations in high-resolution color, allow for detailed online research.
American State Papers, cross-searchable with the digital U.S. U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1994, and all other Readex Archive of Americana collections, is a retrospective survey of largely Congressional, but also Executive, materials originating from 1789 through 1838. The collection illuminates key moments in early American history as they occurred and influential decisions as they were made. It covers such important historical events as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Burr's Conspiracy, the Treaty of the Creek Indians negotiated by Andrew Jackson, and much more. American State Papers also includes speeches and messages during the presidencies of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison. Other documents address battles with the Seminole Indians, exploration of the Pacific Ocean, the status of free blacks in North Carolina, granting public land for female academies, protection of the western frontier, trade with China, and other fascinating topics.
The Research and Instructional Services Department at Cabell Library will provide any assistance researchers may need with exploring these crucial digital collections.