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Primary Source Databases Research Guide

Use this guide to find UNO library resources and other helpful research tools.

ProQuest Congressional

ProQuest Congressional includes PDF copies of Congressional publications spanning 1817-1980.  These include published hearings extending back to the 23rd Congress (1833-1834) and unpublished hearings extending back to the 18th Congress (1823-1824).  In addition, ProQuest Congressional has added PDF copies of Executive department and agency publications which were not included within the Congressional Serial Set from 1817-1932.

U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1980

The U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1980 contains over 300,000 scanned and searchable publications issued by Congress, chiefly committee reports and documents.  During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Serial Set also included many publications issued by the Executive departments, such as annual reports of the War Department.  The Serial Set database also includes the American State Papers, 1789-1838, a compilation of both Congressional and Executive documents.

HeinOnline

HeinOnline provides a fully-searchable, image-based archive of historical United States legal documents, including the Congressional Record (1873- ) and its predecessor series, the Annals of Congress (1789-1824), the Register of Debates (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873).  HeinOnline also includes the United States Statutes at Large, the Federal Register, the Code of Federal Regulations, and decisions of the United States Supreme Court.

Nebraska Public Documents

Nebraska Public Documents provides free public access to digitized historic annual reports of state agencies in Nebraska for the use of students,  scholars, and the general public. This site is made possible through the funding and support of the Nebraska Library Commission, the Nebraska State Historical Society, the Nebraska State Records Board, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United States

When the U.S. Bureau of the Census ceased publishing the annual Statistical Abstract after 2012, ProQuest stepped in to continue the series. The ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United States follows much the same format and achieves similar comprehensiveness. Earlier editions extending back to 1878 remain available from the U.S. Census Bureau.

My Heritage

MyHeritage is an international genealogy database, including the U.S. Census (1790-1940) and over 800 million public records such as naturalization, military service, probate court, and passenger lists.

Hansard Transcripts of the British Parliament

The official report of all Parliamentary debates. Find Members, their contributions, debates, petitions and divisions from published Hansard reports dating back over 200 years. Daily debates from Hansard are published on this website the next working day.

EuroDocs

EuroDocs links to open access sources which are readily available to all -- without fees or subscriptions. Links connect to European primary historical documents that are transcribed, reproduced in facsimile, or translated. In addition you will find video or sound files, maps, photographs or other imagery, databases, and other documentation. The sources cover a broad range of historical happenings (political, economic, social and cultural).