Colonial American History
Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered and transmitted from the past. |
Common Place: The
Interactive Journal of Early American Life
Self described as a forum for bringing " together scholars,
activists, journalists, filmmakers, teachers, and history buffs to
discuss everything from politics to parlor manners." The features
include "investigative reporting, primary research, and essays on
methodological dilemmas and disciplinary divides." Reviews of
recent scholarship and films are also included.1
American Journeys
A good place to find primary documents dealing with early North
American explorations. The site has more than 18,000 pages of
eyewitness accounts that range from 1000 CE to 1800s.
The Archive of Early American
Images
Maintained by Brown University, this archive will ultimately have
around 6000 images dating from 1492-1825. Many of these images are
from relatively obscure works and have not been reproduced
until they were housed in this collection. While useful,
keyword searches often require several attempts to find suitable
images.
Spy Letters of the
American Revolution
A project of the Clements Library at the University of Michigan,
this site offers "an amazingly complete look at the everyday
intelligence operations of both the British and American
armies. Many of the letters highlighted in this digital
exhibit were pivotal to the success and failures of sieges,
battles, and surprise attacks." Maps. biographies,
timelines, prints and narratives supplement and compliment the
letters.
Thomas Jefferson
Digital Archive
Created by the Electronic Text Center and the University of
Virginia, this site contains a comprehensive collection of the
views of Jefferson arranged under 9000 titles relating to
government, religious freedom, politics, morals, science, art,
education etc. There is also a comprehensive annotated
bibliography of writings about Jefferson and a collection of his
papers and writings.
Founders Online
178,000 fully annotated searchable documents. You might also
look at Founding
Fathers Info Though geared toward younger students of
the late colonial period and early republic, this site does has
some useful links and information. An online version of the Federalist
Papers is particularly valuable.
Colonial Williamsburg
Online access to the world's largest living history museum. You
might want to first go to the "Explore & Learn" link to
learn about the different social and ethnic groups that lived in
colonial Williamsburg. Make sure to take the interactive tour of the town.
The Public Records
of the Colony of Connecticut 1636-1776
An initiative of the University of Connecticut Libraries and
supported by the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center,
the site holds images of all fifteen volumes of the Public Records
of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776. You may search the site
through the A-Z subject index, by date, or by volume and
page number.
The
Papers
of John Jay
A searchable database of the papers of the first Chief
Justice and two term governor of New York. There is a biographical
essay and four background papers.
Salem
Witchcraft Trials
The Electronic Text Center at the University of Virginia has put
together the most thorough site for researching the Salem
Withcraft Trials. You will find full text transcripts, pamphlets,
contemporary sermons, maps and more than 500 related documents.
You might also look at Seventeenth
Century New England which has a number of useful links
about colonial New England and an emphasis on the Salem Witchcraft
Trials.
Mayflower History
A good introduction to to Pilgrims - their voyage and
settlement. Useful primary documents and genealogical resources.
Colonial
North American Project
A collection of letters, books, official documents, sermons sheet
music and other materials collected by the Harvard Library. The
site says "these documents reveal a great deal about topics such
as social life, education, trade, finance, politics, revolution,
war, women, Native American life, slavery, science, medicine and
religion."
Historic Jamestowne
A number of resources for students and educators with links to
YouTube videos about ongoing archeological research and
other documents.
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