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ECONOMIC HISTORY: AMERICAN


This guide is concerned with an overview of American economic history, which includes business history and labor history. This guide is highly selective in its approach to topic-specific sites. Additional resources for American economic history are available from government sources, academia and professional associations/organizations, as well as comprehensive sites for American history.


Ad*Access

•  Created and maintained by the Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History, located in the Rare Book, Manuscript and Special Collections Library, Duke University
•  Based on the J. Walter Thompson Company Competitive Advertisements Collection
•  “Over 7,000 advertisements printed in U.S. and Canadian newspapers and magazines between 1911 and 1955”
•  Browsable within the following categories: beauty/hygiene, radio, television, transportation, World War II; the following information accompanies each image: product/company, date, publication, target audience”
•  “Timeline” traces events/milestones in American history from 1911-1955
•  Searchable by keyword, “Illustration/Special Feature”
•  “Includes historical materials that may contain negative stereotypes or language reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place … as part of the historical record”
•  “Additional Resources” links to “Advertising Bibliography” and “Selected Repositories with Advertising Collections”
•  Includes technical information about the site, “FAQ” feature
•  Complements “Emergence of Advertising in America: 1850-1920” (see below)
•  Outstanding; the best Internet resource for American advertising images from the first half of the 20th century


American Experience

•  Companion site to the Public Broadcasting Service’s award-winning “American Experience” series, which examines a wide variety of American historical issues and prominent individuals
•  Online content for each program includes the following: “Special Features” (program transcript, “further readings”), a timeline, gallery of images (mostly photographs) which touch upon the program’s topic
•  Many programs focus on topics/issues related to American economic history: prominent individuals (and, in some cases, families), development of specific industries, noteworthy inventions, specific issues/topics
•  Browsable archive; also searchable
•  Outstanding; this superb site has well-researched, entertaining insights into many aspects of American history, including American economic history


American Labor History

•  Maintained by Natalie Borisovets, Rutgers University Libraries
•  Discusses print, database and Internet sites for a variety of labor-related resources in the Rutgers University Libraries
•  Print resources include encyclopedias/handbooks, indexes; these may be available in academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Databases are restricted to the Rutgers academic community; they may be available in academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Internet resources include chronologies, bibliographies, laws/legislation, “source collections,” “gateways”
•  Includes tips on conducting productive subject searches in online library catalogs
•  Last updated October 2004
•  Excellent; not extensive but discusses many of the best resources in this field


Business History (Research Guide #23)

•   Maintained by the Thomas J. Long Business & Economics Library, University of California at Berkeley
•   A directory to print, database and Internet resources for business history research, this guide provides citations and links to the following: bibliographic guides, corporate and industry histories journals, biographical resources, chronologies, guides to archives
•   Although international in scope, the overwhelming preponderance of resources are for American economic history
•   Primary concentration is on print resources; many may be found in academic libraries or large public libraries
•   Databases are restricted to the Berkeley academic community; many may be found at academic libraries or large public libraries
•   Internet links are not extensive but are very well-chosen
•   Includes tips on conducting productive subject searches in online library catalogs
•   Site’s best feature is its company and industry print resources; they are extensive and superb
•   Links to other Long Library webguides
•   Outstanding; one of the best academic sites for this topic; comprehensive in scope, well-structured in its organization, and inclusive of many of the best websites and print resources; a “must” for anyone doing research in the field


Digital History

•  “This site is being developed through collaborative partnerships with the University of Houston, Chicago Historical Society, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, National Park Service, PATH: Project for the Active Teaching of American History, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH)”
•   This guide, which offers a variety of resource formats for the study of American history, includes “primary sources,” an online textbook and an interactive timeline
•  “History Reference Room” links to the following resources: biographies, “book talks,” encyclopedia, glossaries, “history profession,” images, maps, museums/archives, music, speeches, websites, writing guides
•  “Resource Guides by Period” contains 35 guides arranged chronologically, from colonial times to the present; each contains an “historical overview,” “primary sources,” teaching resources, A-V resources
•  “Online Textbook” offers a survey of American history; includes extensive commentary on many aspects of social, political and economic development
•   This textbook examines economic aspects of American development (“Roots of American Economic Growth,” “Industrialization and the Working Class,” “Rise of Big Business,” et al)
•   Outstanding; a great “gateway” to American history for a variety of multimedia sources; does a masterful job of integrating America’s economic development in the general course of its history


Directory of Corporate Archives in the United States and Canada

•   Sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, Business Archives Section; edited and maintained by Gregory S. Hunter
•   Provides access to contact information for over 300 corporate archives in the U.S. and Canada; also links to professional associations/organizations
•   Each entry includes contact information, access conditions, holdings note and physical description of the archive’s resources
•   Archives listed alphabetically; indexed by archivist’s name and location
•   Excellent resource for anyone conducting in-depth research on select companies


Economic and Business History: United States

•   This section of the World Wide Web Virtual Library, maintained by the Netherlands Economic History Archive (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), links to over 250 sites on numerous aspects of American business/economic history
•   Links to websites for the following resources: associations/societies, research institutions, archives/libraries, museums, “reference,” data archives, “web resources” (includes many corporate/industry, regional resources)
•   Excellent annotations accompany each link
•   Outstanding; this is one of the most extensive – and certainly one of the best – sites for this topic, especially for “primary resources”; invaluable to serious researchers, but also useful for anyone beginning research


Economic History

•   Maintained by the Department of History, Tennessee Technological University
•   This extensive directory of sites (over 230) links to the following economic history categories: professional associations, scholarly journals, historical price calculators, specific topics, conferences, archives
•   Although international in scope, this site includes significant content relating to American economic history
•   No annotations
•   Excellent site for browsing; categories are not organized alphabetically, so be prepared to spend some time; best feature is links to professional resources


EH.Net Encyclopedia

•  “EH.Net Encyclopedia of Economic and Business History is designed to provide students and laymen with high quality reference articles in the field”
•  Archive consists of over 140 articles, arranged alphabetically by business/economic history topics; over 60% are concerned with American topics
•  These topics include the development of specific industries (banking, coal mining, gas), government regulation, government economic incentives, law, labor/management issues, taxation
•  Each article consists of a well-written essay by an academic historian; also includes “References” and information on how to cite the article
•  Members of the “Advisory Board” and “Consulting Editors” are mostly (but not exclusively) from American colleges and universities
•  “You may print or download materials on the site for your personal, non-commercial use, provided you keep intact all copyright and other proprietary notices”
•  Searchable
•  Outstanding; with its well-written articles and breadth of coverage, this is an excellent resource for anyone interested in this important aspect of American history


Emergence of Advertising in America: 1850-1920

•  Created and maintained by the Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History, located in the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University
•  “Ranks as one of the most extensive resources for studying advertising history in the U.S.”
•  Currently contains over 9,000 images in 11 browsable categories; the following information accompanies each image: product/company, year, author (if available), contents note
•  “Timeline” traces the development of advertising milestones from 1850-1920
•  “Searchable across the site or within individual categories”
•  “Includes historical material that may contain negative stereotypes or language reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place … as part of the historical record”
•  Includes copyright/citation/reproduction/technical information
•  Complements “Ad*Access” (see above)
•  Outstanding; the best online resource for American advertising images from the last half of the 19th century and early 20th century


Enterprising Women: 250 Years of American Business

•  “Organized by the Schlesinger Library of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Mass.”
•  “The exhibit is made possible by generous support from the Ford Motor Company and AT&T; additional support is provided by the Cabot Family Charitable Trust”
•  “Brings to life the stories of some 40 intriguing women who helped shape the landscape of American business”
•  Profiles the achievements of these women, from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, who were pioneers in the business/entrepreneurial world, from the colonial era through the 20th century
•  Each profile includes biographical information, images and suggested “Further Resources”
•  Includes “… artifacts and costumes, diaries and letters, business and legal documents, photographs and paper ephemera, audio recordings and interactive technology”
•  Includes information for utilizing the exhibition as an educational resource (“Teacher Guide”)
•  Photos from 45 sources; over 50 “Lenders to the Exhibition”
•  Outstanding; this very well-designed site offers a multitude of resources about many of America’s most prominent women in the development of the nation’s economy for the past two-and-one-half centuries”


Guide to Business History Resources

•  Compiled by Richard Sharp, Business Reference Services, Science, Technology, & Business Division, Library of Congress
•  Discusses print resources (general works, directories, “securities” handbooks, journals) in LC’s collection; many of these may be found in academic libraries and large public libraries
•  Although international in scope, resources are almost exclusively for the U.S.
•  Also links to Internet resources; excellent annotations accompany each link
•  Includes tips on conducting productive subject searches in online library catalogs
•  Commentary on corporate directories is especially useful
•  Links to “Special Collections in the Library of Congress: Business, Economic and Labor History”
•  Excellent; while not extensive, this guide provides a very useful starting point for researching American economic history, especially for corporate resources


HBS Working Knowledge: Business History

•  Maintained by the Harvard Business School (HBS)
•  This section of HBS’s acclaimed “Working Knowledge” website offers over 60 articles on a wide variety of business history topics, including the following: advertising/marketing, biography, development of specific industries, entrepreneurship, ethical concerns, gender issues, product development
•  Articles are primarily about American business history, with a limited content on international issues
•  Archived from 1999 to the present
•  Free newsletter
•  Excellent; well-written, informative stories about many little-known but interesting facets of America’s economic development


Labour History: United States

•  This section of the World Wide Web Virtual Library, maintained by the International Institute of Social History (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), links to over 200 sites on numerous aspects of American labor history
•  Links to websites for the following resources: archives/libraries, data archives, research institutions, museums, associations/societies, “special topics” (includes many biographical and regional resources)
•  Excellent annotations accompany each link
•  Outstanding; this is one of the most extensive – and certainly one of the best – sites for this topic, especially for “primary sources”; invaluable to serious researchers, but also useful for anyone beginning research


United States History Internet Resources

•  Maintained by Marcella Ruland, Glenelg High School (Maryland)
•  Extensive directory of links to American history sites by chronological era; also links to population-specific sites (African-Americans, Native- Americans, women)
•  Includes the following resources: biographical profiles, “primary source” documents, associations/organizations, timelines, museums, development of specific industries, specific topics/”momentous events”
•  Most (but not all) sites are not accompanied by annotations
•  Contains links to American economic history; especially useful for early industrial development, labor, westward expansion/growth, “Gilded Age” (post-Civil War industrial development)
•  “Some of the sites have been included because they offer views which differ from the mainstream”
•  Outstanding; this one of the best website for an overview of many aspects of American history; easy-to-navigate


Women, Enterprise & Society

•  “A Guide to Resources in the Business Manuscripts Collection at the Baker Library”
•  This page sponsored by the Harvard Business School’s Library “… is not intended to be a comprehensive study of the larger topic of women in business”
•  Includes “hundreds of individual items such as account books, day books, letters, legal documents, and payroll registers”
•  Scope is from the 18th century through the 20th century
•  “Collections” include “Women at Work: Manual Labor,” “Women at Work: Professional Labor,” “Women, Finance and Investment,” “Women and the Law,” “Women at Home and Abroad”
•  Indexed by date, location, subject, collection name
•  Outstanding; does an excellent job of providing access to many primary sources of value for researching women’s history and economic history in the U.S.


Women Working, 1800-1930

•  Maintained by Harvard University Library’s “Open Collections Program”
•  “Provides access to digitized historical, manuscript, and image resources selected from Harvard’s library and museum collections"
•  Browsable by “genre” (photographs, manuscripts, trade catalogs), or by subject (topics, people, organizations, dates/events)
•  “7,500 pages of manuscript, 3,500 and pamphlets, 1,200 photographs”
•  FAQ feature
•  Links to related sites for American women’s history
•  Outstanding; this is an excellent resource for primary source materials which highlight this crucial period in America’s industrial development


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content, or stability of any websites linked to this page. When in need of legal, medical or nutritional advice, consult a professional.

Compiled by Rick Keogh 2/06; links last checked 12/07

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