Explore the reactions, experiences, and opinions of everyday American people.
American Historical Periodicals from the American Antiquarian Society provides a history of the American people from the colonial period to the twentieth century. Offering multiple perspectives on North America's thought, culture, and society through the eyes of those who lived it, the collection shows how history affected citizens from all walks of life.
The collection includes unusual and short-lived magazines as well as better-known titles with long runs. Early periodicals in the collection focus on colonial life and the growing tensions between colonists and their oversea rulers leading up to the American Revolution. Common themes depicted in antebellum periodicals reveal a rapidly growing young nation where industrialization, western expansion, and regional political differences were a daily reality for many Americans. The Civil War and Reconstruction eras are well represented, documenting the conflict and its aftermath from a variety of perspectives and allowing readers to bear witness to this pivotal period in American history. Early twentieth-century titles document the second Industrial Revolution, immigration, women's rights, and World War I, as well as fashion and music during the Roaring Twenties.
Eight Parts of American History
Amercan Historical Periodicals is divided into eight parts, the first six of which come in a single complete bundle, including:
- Parts I-V: Part I covers 1681 to 1820; Part II contains some 1,000 titles covering 1821 to 1837; Part III comprises 1,700 titles from 1838 to 1852; the 1,100 titles in Part IV cover 1853 to 1865.
- Part VI: Contains 2,500 titles and covers 1866 to 1877.
- Part VII: Fills gaps in 45 titles from Parts I-V and also adds 150 new titles, bringing coverage up to 1923.
- Part VIII: Comprises 260 periodicals spanning 1810-1926. 148 titles provide new content, and 112 titles fill gaps in previously digitized periodicals.
