Oxford historians will be pleased to know that you now have access to a digital collection of English-language sources relating to early 20th century European colonialism and US foreign relations.

European Colonialism in the Early 20th Century (Archives Unbound) is now on Databases A-Z and SOLO.

The individual collections of U.S. State Department documents are also cross-searchable:

European Colonialism in the Early 20th Century: Colonialism and Nationalism in the Dutch East Indies, 1910-1930The Dutch East Indies experienced the replacement of company rule by Dutch government rule and the complete transformation of Java into a colonial society and the successful extension of colonial rule to Sumatra and the eastern archipelago during the early 20th century. The boundaries of the modern state of Indonesia were defined during this time and the process of generally exploitative political, military, and economic integration began. This collection of over 15,000 images from the National Archives (US) provides access to correspondence, studies and reports, cables, maps, and other kinds of documents related to U.S. consular activities. U.S. Consulates were listening posts reporting on the activities of the Dutch colonial government and the activities of the native peoples.

Source Note: Record Group 59, Records of the U.S. State Department, Central Classified Files, Class 800, Netherlands, 1910-1929. Includes content only for country codes for Netherlands East Indies and associated islands: 856d, 856e, 856f, 856g, 856h, and 856i. Formerly part of National Archives microfilm publication M68, reels 28-54.

European Colonialism in the Early 20th Century: Italian Colonies in North Africa and Aggression in East Africa, 1930-1939

Italian colonial aspirations and policies mimicked those of other European countries during the modern period. Italian colonial policy during the period 1930-1939 was shaped more by Fascism. Fascist tenets related to governance and social policy was used in the administration and treatment of the African population in Libya, Eritrea, Somalia, and Italian East Africa. This collection of over 6,000 images from the National Archives (US) comprises correspondence, studies and reports, cables, maps, and other kinds of documents related to U.S. consular activities. U.S. Consulates were listening posts reporting on the activities of the Italian colonial governments and later the mandate authorities, and the activities of the native peoples.

Source Note: Record Group 59, Records of the U.S. State Department, Central Classified Files, Class 800, Italy, 1930-1939. Includes content only for Italian colonial possessions in Africa, including country codes: 65a, 65b, 65c, 65d. Formerly part of National Archives microfilm publication M1423, reels 29-33

European Colonialism in the Early 20th Century: Political and Economic Consolidation of Portuguese Colonies in Africa, 1910-1929

This collection of over 8,000 images from the National Archives (US) comprises correspondence, studies and reports, cables, maps, and other kinds of documents related to U.S. consular activities. U.S. Consulates were listening posts reporting on the activities of the Portuguese colonial government and the activities of the native peoples. Highlights include the beginning of an anti-colonial movement and the industrialization and economic exploitation of Portugal’s African colonies.

Source Note: Record Group 59, Records of the U.S. State Department, Central Classified Files, Class 800, Portugal, 1910-1929. Includes content only for Portuguese colonial possessions in Africa, including country codes: 53h, 53i, 53k, 53m, 53n, 53p, 53q. Formerly part of National Archives microfilm publication M705, reels 25-34.

European Colonialism in the Early 20th Century: French Colonialism in Africa: From Algeria to Madagascar, 1910-1930

This collection of over 17,000 images from the National Archives (US) comprises correspondence, studies and reports, cables, maps, and other kinds of documents related to U.S. consular activities. U.S. Consulates were listening posts reporting on the activities of the French colonial government and the activities of the native peoples. Highlights include the beginning of an anti-colonial movement and problems along the Moroccan-Algerian border.

Source Note: Record Group 59, Records of the U.S. State Department, Central Classified Files, Class 800, France, 1910-1929. Includes content only for French colonial possessions in Africa, including country codes: 51r, 51s, 51t, 51u, 51v, 51w, 51x. Formerly part of National Archives microfilm publication M560, reels 154-162.

European Colonialism in the Early 20th Century: German Colonies in Asia and the Pacific: From Colonialism to Japanese Mandates, 1910-1929

German Colonial aspirations in Asia and the Pacific ended with the start of the First World War. Japanese Army forces seized German leased territories in China and the Japanese naval forces occupied the German Pacific colonies. The Treaty of Versailles legitimized Japan’s aggression and the territories were officially mandated to the Japanese government. This collection of over 10,000 images from the National Archives (US) comprises correspondence, studies and reports, cables, maps, and other kinds of documents related to U.S. consular activities. U.S. Consulates were listening posts reporting on the activities of the German colonial governments and later the Japanese mandate authorities, and the activities of the native peoples. Source Note: Record Group 59, Records of the U.S. State Department, Central Classified Files, Class 800, Germany, 1910-1929. Includes content only for German colonial possessions in Asia and the Pacific, including country codes: 62a, 62c, 62d, 62e, 62f, 62g, 62h, 621, 62k, 62L, 62m. Formerly part of National Archives microfilm publication M336, reels 156-165.

Related resources:

• LibGuide to US Government Publications
• Foreign relations of the United States (FRUS): 1861-1960 online via the University of Wisconsin

• Documents on British Policy Overseas (Oxford users)
• Confidential Prints at the Bodleian Libraries (LibGuide)
  • Foreign Office Confidential Prints 1928-1914 (Bodleian Libraries catalogue)
  • Colonial Office Confidential Prints 1948-1915 (Bodleian Libraries catalogue)
• Confidential Print: Africa, 1834-1966 (Oxford users)
• Confidential Print: Middle East, 1839-1969 (Oxford users)
• Confidential Print: North America 1824-1961 (Oxford users)
• Confidential Print: Latin America, 1833-1869 (Oxford users)

• Germany. Auswärtiges Amt. Akten zur deutschen auswärtigen Politik, 1918-1945. Var. series (Göttingen: Vandenhoek & Ruprecht, 1982-). Also: Documents on German Foreign Policy 1918-1945 (transl.)
• France. Ministère des affaires étrangères. Documents diplomatiques français (1871-)
• Italy. Commissione per la pubblicazione dei documenti diplomatici. Documenti diplomatici italiani. (1861-)