Tag Archives: electronic databases

America 250: Finding resources on the American Revolutionary War (Part 2: archival sources, maps and state histories)

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2026 marks the Semiquincentennial or 250 year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. You may have seen an increase in discussions about the American Revolutionary War and its impact (on a national and global level). You may be planning to attend one of the many events which are being held to commemorate America250, such as the RAI America 250 events.  

Over this week, we will be releasing brief blogposts aimed at helping researchers find primary sources on the American Revolutionary War, in a variety of different formats, geographic focus and subject areas. It is intended to help those interested in the War, who may already have some general knowledge on the subject, to dig deeper into the different primary sources available and start their own research journey.

This guide is primarily aimed at Oxford students and researchers, and some resources will require subscription access via SSO, but Open Access resources are also included. This is not meant to be a complete guide nor will it be updated with new resources going forward.

This is Part 2: archival documents, maps and state histories.

Painting of the original thirteen colonies.
Map of the first thirteen colonies and the years when they first entered the Union. Beside the motto “Join or Die” is a snake segmented into thirteen parts, each labelled with the abbreviation of a state, copied from a colonial block print, originally published by Benjamin Franklin. Painted in 1994 by Allyn Cox. Architect of the Capital

US archival documents– printed and manuscript

This collection is part of the archives of the United Society Partners in Gospel (USPG) or Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG) related to the activities of the North American branch. The collection includes correspondence and journals from missionaries documenting life during the American Revolution (the B and C series letter books) as well as sermons and responses from the Society. Note: the Weston Library holds the physical collections of the USPG.

The full text of thousands of American periodicals published between 1684 and 1912, digitised from the collections of the American Antiquarian Society. Search full-text, browse by publication date or search by Subject Terms (“American Revolutionary War, 1775-1783”).

This online site contains a range of transcribed primary sources. Although mostly aimed at younger ages, the sources provide a useful glimpse into American military history. Sources can be filtered to the American Revolutionary War.

Digitised images of the pages of American magazines and journals published from colonial days to the dawn of the 20th century. It includes 89 journals published between 1740 and 1800 which offer insights into America’s transition from colonial times to independence. It includes one of the first mass printings of the Declaration of Independence, a letter by George Washington on the crucial Battle of Trenton, and the writings and publications of Benjamin Franklin.

Collection of early printed American imprints (1639-1800). Over 37,000+ imprints embrace every aspect of life in 17th and 18th century America. Includes printed books, pamphlets and broadsides, alongside advertisements, chapbooks, diaries, gazetteers, hymnals, wills and more. Covers the Revolutionary War period – limit your search by date or use terms such as “American Revolutionary War” or “Continental Army.

Maps

Maps provide a useful visual tool to understand the military positions of both sides during the American Revolutionary War, as well as the British, French and American understanding of the country. They were also tools used by both sides to plan their next moves.

The Animated Map Collection helps to bring the story of America’s past to life, while illustrating the important role that these conflicts and battlefields played. Although aimed at younger audiences, this provides useful information about the American Revolutionary War’s battles.

Digitised maps from the collections of the Library of Congress. Includes general mapping of the geography and terrain, as well as military movements and encampments. Maps are sourced from seven different countries, including the United States, Britain and France.

A digital portal that collates digitized maps of North America made between 1750 and 1800 into a single place, sourced from 20 different libraries and archives. Maps can be searched by specific areas, time periods, colonial powers or native tribes, or by map features (such as images of animals).

Histories of the American Revolutionary War by state

Each American state has their own archive and library, which will include digitised collections related to their histories. The National Archives has a webpage which lists all digital state and territorial collections. You might also want to check University collections based in your state of interest.

The below are resources from the original 13 colonies specifically on the American Revolutionary War, or created to mark the Semiquincentennial.

Connecticut

Delaware

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Next time…. finding British and French sources!

For more guidance on finding resources related to American History, contact bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

America 250: Finding resources on the American Revolutionary War (Part 1)

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2026 marks the Semiquincentennial or 250 year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. You may have seen an increase in discussions about the American Revolutionary War and its impact (on a national and global level). You may be planning to attend one of the many events which are being held to commemorate America250, such as the RAI America 250 events.  

Over this week, we will be releasing brief blogposts aimed at helping researchers find primary sources on the American Revolutionary War, in a variety of different formats, geographic focus and subject areas. It is intended to help those interested in the War, who may already have some general knowledge on the subject, to dig deeper into the different primary sources available and start their own research journey.

This guide is primarily aimed at Oxford students and researchers, and some resources will require subscription access via SSO, but Open Access resources are also included. This is not meant to be a complete guide nor will it be updated with new resources going forward.

This is Part 1: Useful Starting Points, Founding Documents and Founding Fathers.

Some good starting points

This is our Bodleian online guide to everything related to US History, Politics and Culture at Oxford, with new subscriptions and resources regularly updated. This specific page relates to the Colonial and Revolutionary era, and includes a range of different primary sources.

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, and includes a range of resources on US and global history. They also produce useful research guides, like the one linked above, which summarise their collections (both digitised and physical), and recommended external resources.

The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. Here you can find a snapshot of the material history of the American Revolutionary War, including portraits, pamphlets and objects.

Part of Society of Cincinnati Historical Society, the collection includes contemporary books, prints, maps and manuscripts from the period. This link is for the digitised collections, but the main website also includes online exhibitions and further information.

Based in Philadelphia, the online pages of the museum includes a catalogue of the key items, online exhibitions, interactive features and wider bibliographies. 

Decorative
Charters of Freedom Hall, National Archives, Washington, D.C. Part of the Photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

Founding Documents and Official Papers

Hosted by the US National Archives, this webpage includes digitisations, transcripts and historic background of three key documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the US Bill of Rights.

Hosted by the Library of Congress, this collection includes 277 documents relating to the work of Congress and the drafting and ratification of the Constitution. Items include extracts of the journals of Congress, resolutions, proclamations, committee reports, treaties, and early printed versions of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

This landmark work in historical and legal scholarship draws upon thousands of sources to trace the Constitution’s progress through each of the thirteen states’ conventions.

Founding Fathers

Detailed Guide from the Library of Congress for each American Founder, including further links and bibliographies. The Library of Congress holds and has digitised the papers of several key political figures and presidents, such as Washington, Hamilton, Franklin and Jefferson

Based on the records of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). Includes correspondence and other papers of seven key figures from the American Revolutionary era.

Overview provided by the Smithsonian of each signer of the Declaration of Independence, with portraits and further bibliographic information.

Artwork
Declaration of Independence (1819), by John Turnbull.

Next time…. archival sources, maps and state histories!

For more guidance on finding resources related to American History, contact bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Trial: Sex and Sexuality[ended 28th February 2026]

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[UPDATE: This trial has now ended 2/3/2026]

I am pleased to report that the Oxford University members now have trial access to the Adam Matthew database Sex and Sexuality (parts I and II). This trial will run until the 28th February 2026.

Researchers may also be interested in our trial access to LGBTQ+ Life in America. Find out more via our previous blogpost.

About Sex and Sexuality

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Please be aware that this resource contains material of a sexually explicit nature. Content includes, but is not limited to, descriptions and imagery of sexual violence; non-consensual sexual activity; sexual activity including minors; surgery and suicide.

From papers of leading sexologists to LGBTQI+ personal histories, Sex & Sexuality allows researchers to explore changing attitudes to human sexuality, gender and sexual behaviour. Geographic coverage is primarily in the United States, but also includes archival material from the UK and Australia.

Module I is sourced solely from the Kinsey Institute Library and Special Collections

Module II is sourced from US, UK and Australian archives, and focus on personal experiences and self-expression.

About the US based collections

Collections sourced from the Kinsey Institute Library and Special Collections include:

  • The personal and professional correspondence of Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey, founder and Director of the Institute (1935-1956)
  • Professional and personal correspondence of the 2nd-3rd Directors of the Institute.
  • Articles and correspondence related to “The Kinsey Report”, a sexual advice column from the 1980s-early 90s.
  • Annual reports from the founding up to the 1980s.
  • Papers of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex (SSSS)
  • Papers of key researchers associated with the Institute or later donated, such as Alice Fields, Harry Benjamin and James W. Edwards.
  • Ephemeral collections of leaflets, pamphlets, newsletters, magazines and “pulp fiction” including discussions of depictions of sexual behaviour, or pornographic material.

Collections sourced from the One Archives at the USC Libraries include:

  • LGBTQ+ activists, such as Adele Starr, founder of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG).
  • LGBTQ+ individuals, providing insights into their personal lives and relationships.
  • Papers of various Community and Activist Groups, many of which are based in Los Angeles but also includes national organisations.
  • Pamphlets such as Little Blue Series, part of the Halderman-Julius Publications.

Oxford University members can access the resource via this link. Note that you will need your Oxford SSO to access.

Please send any feedback about this database to bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk and isabel.holowaty@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

New! Online Resources: Slavery & Anti-Slavery Part IV, Nineteenth Century Stage and more!

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[Partially taken from the History Faculty Library Blogpost: Ten new eresources for early modern England, slavery and anti-slavery, British Empire, decolonisation, 1970s US and environmental history in the 20th century]

In line with the Bodleian Libraries’ strategy (pdf) to enhance our collections, we have committed funding to a set of selected purchases of electronic research resources.  These acquisitions reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting the University of Oxford’s world-class research community by providing access to high-quality, authoritative digital content across a wide range of disciplines.

These resources, and others in our extensive list of source databases, are all accessible via SOLO or Databases A-Z.  University staff and students can access them anytime, anywhere, using their Single Sign-On (SSO) credentials.

Two resources of particular interest to Americanists are:

Nineteenth Century Stage: The Industry, Performance and Celebrity

This resource brings together primary source material from archival collections in the UK, USA and Australia to reveal the shifting and expanding theatre world of the nineteenth century. Featuring material such as prompt books, programmes, company records, photographs and playbills, users can explore the multi-faceted nature of the nineteenth-century theatre industry, the lives and careers of well-known actors and actresses and the production, performance and reception of popular plays of the time.

Resources can be searched by geographic area, allowing researchers to narrow down to American playhouses and theatres, or focus on American actors and actresses involved in transatlantic touring. Researchers may also be interested in the theatrical depictions of race, including African Americans and Native Americans, which is discussed further in one of the thematic guides hosted on the database.

You can access this database here.

Please note that this database includes racist depictions and reference to terminology that some people may find distressing or offensive.

Slavery & Anti-Slavery: Part IV: The Age of Emancipation

Wood engraving by Thomas Nash, entitled "Emancipation". Decorative.
Emancipation / Th. Nast ; King & Baird, [Philadelphia] : Published by S. Bott, Philadelphia, Penna., c1865. (Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004665360/)

Part IV: The Age of Emancipation compliments and expends the Bodleian’s current access to Slavery & Anti-Slavery Part II (Slave Trade in the Atlantic World) and Part III (The Institution of Slavery). You can find out more about both of these resources via our previous blogposts:

The Age of Emancipation includes numerous rare documents related to emancipation in the United States, focusing on the activities of the federal government and charitable religious organisations post-Civil War. Alongside these are personal records of families and individuals directly involved in debates related to abolition and the treatment of formerly enslaved persons. The records below often provide first-person narratives of life the Reconstruction South, as well as biographical information. Alongside this are resources related the establishment of slavery in the early British colonies in the Americas and Caribbean.

Resources from this database include the following:

Records from the Freedman’s Bureau

Established by the War Department post-Civil War, the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was created to support freedmen and refugees, and matters related to lands abandoned of seized during the War. It’s primary focus became supporting formerly enslaved persons to become self-sufficient. Records include:

  1. Field Office reports from Southern states, who were in direct contact with the formerly enslaved. Correspondence records include letters from the formerly enslaved as well as employers and landowners. Other documents include reports, contracts, censuses and first-hand accounts of black life during Reconstruction.
  2. Adjunct General Office Records related to submissions sent by Black soldiers and sailors who fought in the Civil War. Submissions were made for bounty, pension, pay arrears, rations and prize money. Includes valuable genealogical and military information.
  3. Correspondence and official documentation issued and received by the central headquarters of the Bureau in Washington DC.
  4. Records of the Bureau’s Education Division, related to the creation and oversight of educational establishments for both formerly enslaved children and adults, including correspondence and school reports.

Religious charitable societies

Most educational provision for freedmen was provided by religious groups based in the North. Two such charitable organisations were the Records of the Freeman’s Aid Society Records, a Methodist Episcopal Church; and Annual Reports of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of Missions for Freedmen. Both societies were involved in the setting up of educational and religious establishments for freedmen, training of black teachers and preachers. Records also often include reports of daily life for African Americans, and the struggles of black establishments in the Reconstruction South.

Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company

A private savings bank established by Congress in 1865 specifically to collect deposits from formerly enslaved communities, the bank unfortunately failed in 1874, destroying the savings of many African Americans. The documents digitised here provide an index and register of signatures of depositors, which often contain biographical information, such place of birth, former plantation, former enslaver, current employment and relatives.

District of Texas, the 5th Military District

Post Civil-War, the the US Military created separate divisions and later districts across the Southern states to administer military and civilian matters. The correspondence digitised is from the Office of Civil Affairs, based in the District of Texas, the 5th Military District. They demonstrate the turmoil in Reconstruction Texas within the US Military to establish law and order, and expressions of popular feelings about Reconstruction efforts, racial attitudes and problems related to crime and lawlessness, in particular the growth of Klan activity in the area.

Personal papers of key individuals

The records related to the American Civil War and Reconstruction are rounded out by the personal papers of several key figures from the period. The majority of these papers are of abolitionists and anti-slavery campaigners. Providing an alternative viewpoint are the the papers of Alexander Hamilton Stephens, former Congressman and Vice-President of the Confederacy.

  1. Anna E. Dickinson, abolitionist and woman’s rights advocate
  2. Senator James R. Doolittle
  3. Edwin McMasters Stanton, Secretary of War
  4. Charles Follen McKim, famed architect and active abolitionist, whose family were actively involved in the Underground Railroad
  5. Senator Zachariah Chandler, Secretary of the Interior and Underground Railroad supporter
  6. Family papers of the Blackwells, covering 1759 to Reconstruction. Includes abolitionist and women’s rights advocate Lucy Stone, and Elizabeth Blackwell, a doctor who pioneered the role of women in medicine

Colonial Office Records and other resources

The database also includes resources held in the British National Archives related to abolition. Of most interest to Americanists are Colonial Office Records for America and the West Indies, specifically records related to the slave trade. These documents go back to the 17th Century, and provide insight into the establishment of slavery in the British American Colonies and the Caribbean. There are also records related to the West Africa Squadron, a British naval forces created after Britain abolished slavery in 1807, used to intercept slave ships. The Squadron records also include documents related to the establishment of Freetown in Sierra Leone.

You can access this database here.

Due to the nature of the subject and the time period in which the sources were published, Slavery and Anti-Slavery: A Transnational Archive, contains racist and outdated discussions of race, racial stereotypes and offensive imagery.

Find out more about the new History Databases available via the History Faculty Library blogpost.

New! Online Resource: Carter Administration and Foreign Affairs

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I am pleased to report that the Vere Harmsworth Library has committed funding to purchase a new database, Carter Administration and Foreign Affairs, which is now available to Bodleian readers.

Black and white photo of President Jimmy Carter stood at Presidential lectern.
[President Jimmy Carter announces new sanctions against Iran in retaliation for taking U.S. hostages], Trikosko, Marion S., 1980 Apr. 7. Print copy held by the Library of Congress.

This online resource includes official documents from the Carter administration related to Foreign Affairs, housed in the Carter Presidential Library. These include presidential correspondence and memorandums with his cabinet, other Executive departments and agencies and other heads of state; telegrams and cables between foreign missions and the State Department; briefing books for international conferences and official reports.

Historical events and topics covered include Middle East Peace and the Camp David Accords; NATO and the Rapid Deployment Force; Human Rights; relations with the People’s Republic of China; Panama Canal Treaty; Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II); covert intervention in Afghanistan following the Soviet invasion and the Iran Hostage Crisis.

This database continues to build our modern American political history collections, as well as our collections focused on international relations and diplomacy.

You can access this collection here.

Trials: Planning for the Post-World War II World & Revolutionary War and Early America (ended 7th June 2025)

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[UPDATE: This trial has now ended]

I am pleased to report that the Vere Harmsworth Library has organised trial access to two ProQuest History Vault databases for Bodleian Readers: Planning for the Post-World War II World, State Department Records of Harley A. Notter and Revolutionary War and Early America: Collections from the Massachusetts Historical Society. The trial for both databases runs from the 8th May-7th June, 2025.

Find out more about both databases below:

Planning for the Post-World War II World

Planning for the Post World War II World: State Department Records of Harley A. Notter, 1939-1945 chronicles U.S. planning for postwar peace and spans nearly 300,000 pages. Declassified in 1974, the Notter File contains virtually all extant records of the State Department’s intensive wartime planning, as well as those of several bodies (notably the Policy Committee and the Committee on Postwar Programs) where actual policies were developed and implemented.

Many scholars regard the State Department files assembled by Dr. Harley A. Notter-a key State Department official during the war years-as one of the most important primary sources on postwar planning. The documents in the Notter records detail the foundations on which much of post-1945 U.S. foreign policy was built. The Notter collection includes research reports, official policy papers, memoranda, meeting minutes, State Department organization charts, and many other internal documents.

You can access Planning for the Post World War II World: State Department Records of Harley A. Notter, 1939-1945 using your Single Sign On here.

Revolutionary War and Early America

This module on one of the most-studied periods in American history consists of 26 collections from the holdings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the first North American historical society and the first library to devote its primary attention to collecting Americana. The collections digitized by ProQuest from the holdings of the Massachusetts Historical Society focus on the Colonial Era, the Revolutionary War and the Early National Period, with some collections extending into the Civil War era.

The collections include:

  • Papers of key individuals such as Benjamin Lincoln, Artemas Ward and Samuel Cabot.
  • Papers of key families spanning generations, such as the Revere and Hancock Family Papers.
  • Military records such as Orderly Books for French & Indian War and Revolutionary War, recording day to day activities of specific units.
  • 275 individual Pre-Revolutionary Era Diaries (1635-1774), written by more than 109 individuals from a range of working backgrounds and professions.
  • Organisation papers of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society Papers, one of the earliest American philanthropic organisations of it’s type. This includes petitions from those who had lost property from fire, and sometimes included detailed inventories of property and furniture.

You can access Revolutionary War and Early America: Collections from the Massachusetts Historical Society using your Single Sign On here.

You may also be interested in our currently ongoing trial of American History: 1493-1945. Find out more via our blogpost.

Please send any feedback you have regarding this resource to bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

New! Online Resources: Gender and Sexuality, Slavery and Antislavery, and Disability Histories!

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Bodleian Readers now have access to three new databases, which build on and expand our collections in three key areas: gender and sexuality, slavery and disability histories.

These three databases are part of a broader purchase of online resources. In line with the Bodleian Libraries’ strategy (pdf) to enhance our collections, the Bodleian Libraries committed substantial funding to a set of purchases of electronic research resources deemed to be important to researchers in the University. The below three have been highlighted as being of interest to Americanists.

You can find out more about all purchases made on the History Faculty Library blog.

Slavery and Antislavery: A Transnational Archive: Part III: The Institution of Slavery

Decorative image of Dred Scott. Caption of image reads: Portrait of Dred Scott (1795-1858) by an unknown artist. Dred Scott was a slave who sued for his and his family's freedom after having lived with their owner in several free states in the 1830s. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Scott, claiming that as a slave, he was not a citizen of the United States and therefore his case could not be heard before a federal court.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Institution of Slavery module explores, in vivid detail, the inner workings of slavery from 1492 to 1888. This compliments our existing collection Part II: Slave Trade in the Atlantic World. Includes:

  • Papers and diaries of slave owners, traders and pro-slavery advocates.
  • Papers of key political figures and families, such as US Attorney General and governor of Kentucky John J. Crittenden, and Massachusetts state senator, U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, and U.S. attorney Caleb Cushing.
  • Court records related to the case of Dred Scott, and personal papers of the Blair family, who were involved in Scott’s council during the trial.
  • court cases, petitions and legislation related to slavery from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
  • Records related to East Florida (1737-1858) in English and Spanish, including resources related to slavery.
  • Senate Select Committee papers into John Brown’s raid of Harper’s Ferry (1859).
  • Slave narratives from the Federal Writer’s Project, collected and published in the 1930s.
  • …alongside records related to the institution of slavery in British North America and the Caribbean.

History of Disabilities: Disabilities in Society, Seventeenth to Twentieth Century

Decorative image of books. Caption underneath reads: Books from Special Collection S.32.A. (Feeble-minded, Mental Deficiency, et al) of the New York Academy of Medicine Library. Photo by Philip Virta, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disabilities in Society, Seventeenth to Twentieth Century presents monographs (books), manuscripts, and ephemera that provide a historical view of disabilities from the seventeenth to twentieth century. All collections in this database are sourced from the New York Academy of Medicine Library.

  • Papers of the general superintendent of the New York City Asylums from the 19th -early 20th Century, including correspondence, diaries, speeches, and involvement in key legal cases.
  • Case records, patient histories and correspondence of a 19th-early 20th Century nurologist.
  • Douglas C. McMurtrie Cripples Collection – 300 bound volumes containing approximately 3,500 separate books, pamphlets, reports, and articles on disability and the disabled (particuarly children) from the early 20th Century. This collection was established by McMurtrie, who was Directory of the Red Cross Institute for Crippled and Disabled Men. 
  • over 3,000 pamphlets from the 19th/20th Century and historical books from the Library covering disabilities, diagnosis, treatment, memoirs, reports, policy documents, advertisements and more.

Archives of Sexuality and Gender: Sex and Sexuality, Sixteenth to Twentieth Century

The Archives of Sexuality and Gender: Sex and Sexuality, Sixteenth to Twentieth Century is a collection like no other. It is made up of more than five thousand rare and unique books covering sex, sexuality, and gender issues across the sciences and humanities and throughout history. This compliments our existing collections: LGBTQ History and Culture since 1940, Parts I and II.

Two of the three libraries which make up the collections are US-based. They are:

  • New York Academy of Medicine Library – more than 1,500 books covering topics in sex, sexuality, and gender, some dating from the 16th century. Also includes records related to the court case of Mary Ware Dennett, an early 20th Century birth control and sex education advocate.
  • The Kinsey Institute for Sex Research – a collection of materials from 1700 to 1860. This is a portion of Dr. Kinsey’s original library which he used to study human sexual behavior from a variety of academic and literary viewpoints.

New! Online Resource: Black Nationalism and RAM; and Papers of Amiri Baraka 

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I am pleased to report that the Vere Harmsworth Library has purchased the previously trialled databases Black Nationalism and the Revolutionary Action Movement and Papers of Amiri Baraka for Bodleian Readers.

Black Nationalism and the Revolutionary Action Movement: The Papers of Muhammad Ahmad (Max Stanford)

The Revolutionary Action Movement (RAM) came into existence as a result of a year of organizing for student rights and involvement in the civil rights movement among a collective of undergraduate students at Central State College (now University) in late May to early June of 1962.

Originally focused in Philadelphia, RAM, engaged in voter registration/education drives, organized community support for the economic boycotts of the Philadelphia “400” ministers led by Rev. Leon Sullivan and held free African/African-American history classes at its office. RAM participated in support demonstrations of the struggles then being waged in the South to end racial segregation. It was also active in coalitions to eliminate police brutality against the African-American community.

RAM became a national organisation in 1964, organising African American students, raising the demand for Black studies and campaigning for economic, social and political equality. It also sent organisers into Southern states. RAM was the first African-American organization to denounce the US government’s war of aggression against the people of Vietnam and support the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (NLF). RAM was dissolved in 1968, following pressure from US government intelligence agencies (most noticeably the FBI) and local police forces.

This collection of RAM records reproduces the writings and statements of the RAM and its leaders. It also covers organizations that evolved from or were influenced by RAM and persons that had close ties to RAM. The most prominent organization that evolved from RAM was the African People’s Party. Organizations which worked with RAM included the NAACP, SNCC and Deacons of Defense. Organizations influenced by RAM include the Black Panther Party, League of Revolutionary Black Workers, Youth Organization for Black Unity, African Liberation Support Committee, and the Republic of New Africa. Individuals associated with RAM and documented in this collection include Robert F. Williams, Malcolm X, Amiri Baraka, General Gordon Baker Jr., Yuri Kochiyama, Donald Freeman, James and Grace Lee Boggs, Herman Ferguson, Askia Muhammad Toure (Rolland Snellings), and Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael).

You can access Black Nationalism and Revolutionary Action Movement using your Single Sign On here.

Papers of Amiri Baraka, Poet Laureate of the Black Power Movement

The collection consists of materials from the years 1913 through 1998 that document African American author and activist Amiri Baraka and were gathered by Dr. Komozi Woodard in the course of his research. The extensive documentation includes poetry, organizational records, print publications, articles, plays, speeches, personal correspondence, oral histories, as well as some personal records. The materials cover Baraka’s involvement in the politics in Newark, N.J. and in Black Power movement organizations such as the Congress of African People, the National Black Conference movement, the Black Women’s United Front. Later materials document Baraka’s increasing involvement in Marxism.

The collection has been organised into 18 series,

  • Series I: Black Arts Movement, 1961-1998
  • Series II: Black Nationalism,, 1964-1977
  • Series III: Correspondence, 1967-1973
  • Series IV: Newark (New Jersey), 1913-1980
  • Series V: Congress of African People, 1960-1976 – Organisation founded by Baraka in 1970 to advance his own vision of African cultural nationalism.
  • Series VI: National Black Conferences and National Black Assembly, 1968-1975 –Includes the 1972 Convention in Gary, Indiana, where delegates adopted the National Black Political Agenda, also known as the Gary declaration and formed the National Black Assembly (NBA).
  • Series VII: Black Women’s United Front, 1975-1976 -Formed  in 1974 by Amina Baraka (Sylvia Jones), the wife of Amiri Baraka.
  • Series VIII: Student Organization for Black Unity, 1971
  • Series IX: African Liberation Support Committee, 1973-1976
  • Series X: Revolutionary Communist League, 1974-1982 – founded by Bakara when CAP disintegrated in conflict, and reflects Baraka’s move away from nationalism to a Marxist position.
  • Series XI: African Socialism, 1973
  • Series XII: Black Marxists, 1969-1980–  includes materials on black Marxist contemporaries of Baraka, and older black Marxists such as Harry Haywood, C.L.R. James, and Odis Hyde. The series also includes files on the All African Revolutionary Party, the Black Workers Congress, and the Progressive Labor Party.
  • Series XIII: National Black United Front, 1979-1981
  • Series XIV: Miscellaneous Materials, 1978-1988
  • Series XV: Serial Publications, 1968-1984
  • Series XVI: Oral Histories, 1984-1986 –  transcripts from sixteen interviews conducted by Komozi Woodard and his assistants as part of an oral history project entitled, “The Making of Black NewArk: An Oral History of the Impact of the Freedom Movement on Newark Politics.” Most of the people interviewed were primarily local Newark activists, although there are also interviews with Baraka, Maulana Ron Karenga, and scholar John Henrik Clarke. This series of oral histories is one of the most unique and valuable parts of this collection.
  • Series XVII: Komozi Woodard’s Office Files, 1956-1986

You can access the Papers of Amari Baraka using your Single Sign On here.

New! Online Resource: Archives of Sexuality and Gender: LGBTQ History and Culture Since 1940, Part II

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Decorative poster from Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives. Full citation: You Are Not Alone! n.d. TS Posters from the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives 1134;1992-077/11 N. Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives. Archives of Sexuality and Gender, Gale Document Number ITJQWI002629288

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am pleased to report that Bodleian readers now have access to Archives of Sexuality and Gender: LGBTQ History and Culture Since 1940, Part II. This database was kindly funded by Bloomsbury Publishing.

The Archives of Sexuality and Gender: LGBTQ History and Culture Since 1940, Part II provides coverage of the development, culture, and society of LGBTQ groups in the latter half of the twentieth century. It provides new perspectives on a diverse community and the wealth of resources available in the archive allow for creating connections amongst disparate materials. Oxford researchers now have access to both Part I and II of the Archives of Sexuality and Gender (see our previous blogpost for more information about Part I).

Materials were selected from the following US archives:

  • ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, University of Southern California, Los Angeles – the world’s largest repository of LGBTQ materials, primarily focused on activities in California
  • GLBT Historical Society, San Francisco, California
  • Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
  • Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
  • Lambda Archives, San Diego, California

Collections of interest to Americanists include:

Alongside the above are materials from Canadian and British based collections, alongside ephemera and publications from Mexico, giving researchers a broader geographic context.

You can access Archives of Sexuality and Gender: LGBTQ History and Culture Since 1940, Part II here, or via the Bodleian Libraries Database A-Z.  Note that you will need to use your Single Sign On to access this resource.

Trials: Black Nationalism and RAM; and Papers of Amiri Baraka (trial ended)

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I am pleased to report that the Vere Harmsworth Library has organised trial access to Black Nationalism and the Revolutionary Action Movement and Papers of Amiri Baraka for Bodleian Readers. The trial ran until 18th February 2024 and is now finished.

Black Nationalism and the Revolutionary Action Movement: The Papers of Muhammad Ahmad (Max Stanford)

The Revolutionary Action Movement (RAM) came into existence as a result of a year of organizing for student rights and involvement in the civil rights movement among a collective of undergraduate students at Central State College (now University) in late May to early June of 1962.

Originally focused in Philadelphia, RAM, engaged in voter registration/education drives, organized community support for the economic boycotts of the Philadelphia “400” ministers led by Rev. Leon Sullivan and held free African/African-American history classes at its office. RAM participated in support demonstrations of the struggles then being waged in the South to end racial segregation. It was also active in coalitions to eliminate police brutality against the African-American community.

RAM became a national organisation in 1964, organising African American students, raising the demand for Black studies and campaigning for economic, social and political equality. It also sent organisers into Southern states. RAM was the first African-American organization to denounce the US government’s war of aggression against the people of Vietnam and support the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (NLF). RAM was dissolved in 1968, following pressure from US government intelligence agencies (most noticeably the FBI) and local police forces.

This collection of RAM records reproduces the writings and statements of the RAM and its leaders. It also covers organizations that evolved from or were influenced by RAM and persons that had close ties to RAM. The most prominent organization that evolved from RAM was the African People’s Party. Organizations which worked with RAM included the NAACP, SNCC and Deacons of Defense. Organizations influenced by RAM include the Black Panther Party, League of Revolutionary Black Workers, Youth Organization for Black Unity, African Liberation Support Committee, and the Republic of New Africa. Individuals associated with RAM and documented in this collection include Robert F. Williams, Malcolm X, Amiri Baraka, General Gordon Baker Jr., Yuri Kochiyama, Donald Freeman, James and Grace Lee Boggs, Herman Ferguson, Askia Muhammad Toure (Rolland Snellings), and Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael).

You can access Black Nationalism and Revolutionary Action Movement using your Single Sign On here.

Papers of Amiri Baraka, Poet Laureate of the Black Power Movement

The collection consists of materials from the years 1913 through 1998 that document African American author and activist Amiri Baraka and were gathered by Dr. Komozi Woodard in the course of his research. The extensive documentation includes poetry, organizational records, print publications, articles, plays, speeches, personal correspondence, oral histories, as well as some personal records. The materials cover Baraka’s involvement in the politics in Newark, N.J. and in Black Power movement organizations such as the Congress of African People, the National Black Conference movement, the Black Women’s United Front. Later materials document Baraka’s increasing involvement in Marxism.

The collection has been organised into 18 series,

  • Series I: Black Arts Movement, 1961-1998
  • Series II: Black Nationalism,, 1964-1977
  • Series III: Correspondence, 1967-1973
  • Series IV: Newark (New Jersey), 1913-1980
  • Series V: Congress of African People, 1960-1976 – Organisation founded by Baraka in 1970 to advance his own vision of African cultural nationalism.
  • Series VI: National Black Conferences and National Black Assembly, 1968-1975 –Includes the 1972 Convention in Gary, Indiana, where delegates adopted the National Black Political Agenda, also known as the Gary declaration and formed the National Black Assembly (NBA).
  • Series VII: Black Women’s United Front, 1975-1976 -Formed  in 1974 by Amina Baraka (Sylvia Jones), the wife of Amiri Baraka.
  • Series VIII: Student Organization for Black Unity, 1971
  • Series IX: African Liberation Support Committee, 1973-1976
  • Series X: Revolutionary Communist League, 1974-1982 – founded by Bakara when CAP disintegrated in conflict, and reflects Baraka’s move away from nationalism to a Marxist position.
  • Series XI: African Socialism, 1973
  • Series XII: Black Marxists, 1969-1980–  includes materials on black Marxist contemporaries of Baraka, and older black Marxists such as Harry Haywood, C.L.R. James, and Odis Hyde. The series also includes files on the All African Revolutionary Party, the Black Workers Congress, and the Progressive Labor Party.
  • Series XIII: National Black United Front, 1979-1981
  • Series XIV: Miscellaneous Materials, 1978-1988
  • Series XV: Serial Publications, 1968-1984
  • Series XVI: Oral Histories, 1984-1986 –  transcripts from sixteen interviews conducted by Komozi Woodard and his assistants as part of an oral history project entitled, “The Making of Black NewArk: An Oral History of the Impact of the Freedom Movement on Newark Politics.” Most of the people interviewed were primarily local Newark activists, although there are also interviews with Baraka, Maulana Ron Karenga, and scholar John Henrik Clarke. This series of oral histories is one of the most unique and valuable parts of this collection.
  • Series XVII: Komozi Woodard’s Office Files, 1956-1986

You can access the Papers of Amari Baraka using your Single Sign On here.

Please send any feedback you have regarding these resources to bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.