Pamphlets in American History

by Cynthia Theusch

“Pamphlets in American History” is a collection of more than 17,000 historical pamphlets reproduced on more than 18,000 microfiche. Throughout the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, people found that writing and publishing pamphlets provided an easy and inexpensive way to express their viewpoints or feelings about major events or social issues of the day. The “Pamphlets in American History” collection was issued in five major groups and organizes individual items into 18 series by subject. A five-volume printed index set lists the microfiche pamphlet titles in a bibliographic citation and includes indexes by author, title, and subject. Descriptions of the individual documents follow.

The first volume encompasses pamphlets related to the Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War biography, biography, women, and Indians. Material in these series include eulogies, sermons, biographical sketches, testimonials, diaries, speeches, legislative remarks, treaties, information on customs, descriptions of battles, and various types of reports and studies. This volume also includes a chronological index.

Volume two covers the subjects civil liberties, labor, and tariffs and free trade. Some pamphlets in these series include reaction to labor issues, legislative issues, convictions of individuals, and “unlawful assembly.” The constitutions and by-laws of businesses and labor unions as well as hazard reports, and information about railroads and the Congress of Industrial Organizations are also featured.

Volume three covers cooperative societies, finance, the Mexican War, socialism, and the War of 1812. Some of the pamphlets in these series include reports, memoranda, economic articles, speeches, survivor rolls, treaties, and articles on different aspects of socialism.

Volume four focuses on Catholicism and Anti-Catholicism and the Spanish-American War, 1898. These series feature letters from archbishops and bishops, tributes to popes, reports on orphan asylums, educational issues, and a host of documents published before, during, and after the Spanish-American War.

The final volume features pamphlets on the Mormons and Mormonism, the Civil War, and the European War, 1914-1918. In this group, you will find legislative speeches, reports, memorials, biographical sketches, letters, battle and regimental information, information on missionaries and the historical background of Mormonism as well as viewpoints on various aspects of Mormonism.

The “Pamphlets in American History” collection provides a rich source of contextual background for your own family history project. It may also provide a hitherto unknown source of information on individual ancestors, and is worth a look on both counts.

Genealogy Gems:[1] News from the Fort Wayne Library
No. 51, May 31, 2008