Historical Documents

Book Cover
Super Heroes: A Modern Mythology (Excerpt, page 18)
ERA 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929–1945)
Students Praying in School
Engel v. Vitale
ERA 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754–1820s), ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Treaty of Peace and Amity with Tripoli
ERA 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)
Printed Proclamation
President Jackson's Proclamation Regarding Nullification
ERA 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)
Brazil-U.S. Trade-Mark Agreement
ERA 6: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900)
Picture of the Proclamation
Proclamation 3869
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Photo of the 1921 Supreme Court
Balzac v. Porto Rico
ERA 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890–1930)
South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification
ERA 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)
The document on permanent display in the Rotunda is the enrolled original Joint Resolution passed by Congress on September 25, 1789, proposing 12-not 10-amendments to the Constitution.
U.S. Bill of Rights
ERA 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754–1820s)
Gun Violence
ERA 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754–1820s), ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Franklin Letter
Letter from Benjamin Franklin to the Committee of Secret Correspondence
ERA 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754–1820s)
The acquitted defendants in the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial reunite with their families.
People v. Zamora
ERA 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929–1945)
Corwin Amendment
Joint Resolution Proposing a 13th Amendment to the Constitution
ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)
Dollree Mapp
Mapp v. Ohio
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
C-SPAN’s 2021 Survey of Presidential Leadership
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Molefi Kete Asante
The Real Nat Turner by Dr. Molefi Kete Asante
ERA 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861), ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Latino Students Protesting Proposition 187
California's Proposition 187
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
The Tonkin Gulf Incident
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Picture of Ernesto Miranda
Miranda v. Arizona
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
The Zimmeran File
Zimmerman Telegram
A Plea for Captain John Brown
ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)
Temporary Protection Status (TPS)
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Death Decree
Decree of French National Assembly on the Death of Franklin
ERA 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754–1820s)
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams- Brief Biography
ERA 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)
Decision delivered by Chief Justice Earl Warren
Hernandez v. Texas
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Newspaper documenting the court case
Botiller v. Dominguez
ERA 6: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900), ERA 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890–1930)
The President Dead
The President Dead- September 19, 1881
ERA 6: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900)
Corwin Amendment
H.J. Res. 80, proposing to amend the Constitution of the United States
ERA 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754–1820s), ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)
Statement by Frank E. Gannett
Statement by Frank E. Gannett
ERA 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929–1945)
Lee Letter
Robert E. Lee’s Demand for the Surrender of John Brown and His Party
ERA 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)
Document
Act to Reverse the Attainders of George Burroughs and Others for Witchcraft
ERA 2: Colonialism and Settlement (1585–1763)
Diary of John Barker- Excerpt
ERA 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754–1820s)
Image of Man.
Articles, Laws, and Orders, Divine, Politic, and Martial for the Colony in Virginia, 1610-1611.
ERA 1: Three Worlds Meet (Beginnings to 1620)
Agreement on Measures to Reduce the Risk of Outbreak of Nuclear War Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
ERA 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)
The North Atlantic Treat
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Cover of El Plan de Santa Barbara
El Plan de Santa Barbara (Plan of Santa Barbara)
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's), ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Patsy Murr, first grader at Fulton School in Lancaster, Pa., gets her Salk shot from Dr. Norman E. Snyder as she is held by Mrs. Walter Sourweine, April 25, 1955. Others view the proceedings with mixed emotions
The Dangers of the Antivaccine Movement- Excerpt
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project
ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)
Helen Keller signature
Letter from Helen Keller to Alexander Graham Bell, February 19, 1907
ERA 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890–1930)
Fugitive Slave Bill Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
ERA 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861), ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)
Rail Splitter
“The Last Race of the Rail-Splitter,” Broadside, ca. 1861
ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)
Mexican girls in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio ISD v. Rodriguez
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's), ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Surveying U.S. Coastal Territories
ERA 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)
Historical Marker
Salem Covenant of 1629
ERA 2: Colonialism and Settlement (1585–1763)
Reagan's Farewell Address
Ronald Reagan's Farewell Address
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Amendments Proposed by the Peace Conference, February 8-27, 1861
ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)
Civil Rights Act (1964)
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton (left to right) lie dead after the gunfight.
OK Corral Inquest Transcript Found in Arizona Jailhouse Store Room
ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)