For Local History Collection at Santa Clara County Library, and Links to Selected Online Resources Visit the Local History Resources Portal

Subscription Databases and E-books

General

• ABC-CLIO American History
  This database includes information about the first explorers in the New World and investigates the people, events, and themes of our nation's evolution. It integrates politics, science, the arts, philosophy, and economics while exploring the ongoing development of the United States, its pre-colonial origins, westward expansion, social movements, internal conflicts, and modern-day defining moments.
• ABC-CLIO World at War
  This database provides access to reference content and primary sources while including historical insight and analysis on the important themes and consequences of all major U.S.-involved wars, from the founding of the country to the present.
• ABC-CLIO World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras
  This resource covers human history in all corners of the globe -- from prehistoric times to the beginnings of the Renaissance -- with a collection of online reference entries, primary sources, interactive lessons, study tools, and librarian and teacher support features. It also includes interactive timelines and biographies of important figures such as Alexander the Great.
• ABC-CLIO World History: The Modern Era
  Spanning the globe from 1500 to the present, this database combines primary and secondary historical research sources to cover topics from crises in the Middle East to civil strife across Africa. It also includes biographies of political leaders and country profiles.
• American Decades
  American Decades is a cross-disciplinary source for junior and high school students and teachers, public librarians and general researchers who need a single, consistent reference to document and analyze periods of contemporary American social history.
• American Decades Primary Sources
  Each volume of American Decades Primary Sources includes full or excerpted primary sources in 160-170 entries from the period representing a diversity of views that provide insight into the seminal issues, themes, movements, and events from the decade. Also included are concise contextual information, notes about the author, further resources, and photos and illustrations. Patterned after the popular American Decades series, each American Decades Primary Sources volume includes chapters on the arts, medicine and health, media, education, world events, religion, government and politics, lifestyles and social trends, law and justice, religion, business and the economy, and sports.
• History Reference Center
  History Reference Center is history reference database that features full text for more than 2,500 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books. The database also includes full text for nearly 170 history periodicals. Further, the database contains more than 112,000 historical documents; more than 113,000 biographies of historical figures; more than 112,000 historical photos and maps; and more than 80 hours of historical video.
• New York Times (1851-2008)
  A unique full-image archive that brings you the entire historical run of The New York Times since 1851. This historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time.
• Salem History
  Full-text versions of the following Salem Press titles owned by the library:
  Encyclopedia of American Immigration
  The Decades: 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s
  Great Events from History: 18th Century, 20th Century, 1941-1970
  Great Lives in History: 18th Century
  Weapons and Warfare
• San Jose Mercury News Historical Archive (1886-1922)
  Find full-text articles on local news, issues, events, people and much more from archived issues of San Jose Mercury News.
• San Jose Mercury News (1985 - Current)
  Find full-text articles on local news, issues, events, people and much more from 1985 to current. Updated daily, the San Jose Mercury News includes obituaries, editorials, announcements, sports, real estate and other sections.
• San Jose Mercury News (ProQuest Digital Microfilm) (2009 - 3 months ago)
  An alternative version of the San Jose Mercury News providing a digital page view presented in the original layout from 2009 to present. Browse by date and page number and print full pages including graphics, advertisement and other features.
• U*X*L American Decades
  Covers 20th-century events and social history beginning in 1900 and ending in 1999. Each decade is covered in a single comprehensive volume. Chapters begin with a chronology of world events and a general overview of the decade. Within each topic, alphabetically arranged entries discuss historically important events, issues, definitions of difficult concepts or terms, and other interesting trivia and sideline stories.
  

Specialized

• American Civil War Reference Library
  Covers the events and people of the Civil War period and provides students with all the in-depth information they need for reports an class assignments, including biographical profiles and primary source materials.
• American Revolution Reference Library
  Covers the events and people of the Revolutionary War period in easy-to-understand language. Students will find all the information they need for reports and class assignments on the period, including the biographies and primary source materials in this comprehensive set.
  
• Ancient Civilizations Reference Library
  The ancient civilizations of Iraq, Egypt, India, China, Central America and other regions are the focus of this remarkable contribution to student reference. This convenient 3-volume set compiles wide-ranging essays, biographies, definitions, timeline entries, bibliographies and much more for students looking for background information for reports or independent study. Each of the two titles in the reference library include maps, sidebars and statistics. Other helpful reference sections include "Words to Know" sections, ideas for further reading, report ideas, a general index and a bibliography.
  
• California Missions E-books
  A series of 21 e-books from the Missions of California series. May be downloaded or read online.
  
• Colonial America Reference Library
  The Colonial America Reference Library provides students with the comprehensive information on the Colonial American period they need to write reports and class assignments including biographical profiles and primary source documents.
  
• Dictionary of American Family Names
  The Dictionary of American Family Names contains more than 70,000 of the most commonly occurring surnames in the United States, giving their comparative frequencies, linguistic and historical explanations, selected associated forenames, and occasional genealogical notes.
  
• Dictionary of American History
  The first comprehensive revision of this classic reference source, originally published in 1940, features updated and revised entries from previous editions, as well as more than 800 new entries covering recent events and topics not covered previously. This authoritative work serves students, scholars, and general readers interested in a wide range of topics in American history, from the well studied and familiar to the obscure.
• Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895
  Documents the full range of the African American experience from the arrival of the first slave ship to the death of Frederick Douglass, and shows how all aspects of American culture, history, and national identity have been profoundly influenced by the experience of African Americans. Major topics such as “Abolitionism,” “Black Nationalism,” the “Dred Scott case,” “Reconstruction,” “Slave Rebellions and Insurrections,” the “Underground Railroad,” and “Voting Rights” are given the in-depth treatment. The encyclopedia also contains fascinating entries on less obvious subjects, such as the “Black Seafarers,” “Buffalo Soldiers,” the “Catholic Church and African Americans,” “New York African Free Schools,” the “Secret Six,” and much more.
• Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present
  Traces the transition from the Reconstruction Era to the age of Jim Crow, the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, and the ascendant influence of African Americans on the American cultural landscape. With coverage up to and including the 2008 election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, the Encyclopedia contains fully cross-referenced entries by scholars and experts, offering reliable and extensive treatment to be found on African American history in this era.
  
• Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment
  Covering the “long” Enlightenment, from the rise of Descartes' disciples in 1670 to the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in 1815, these 700 articles by leading scholars range from discussions of mercantilism and democracy to the battlefield to the dissemination of ideas in salons and coffeehouses.
  
• Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages
  A collaborative work of over 600 scholars from more than forty countries, the Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages provides 3,000 concise and detailed articles on all aspects of the period from the fifth to the fifteenth century. It explores art, architecture, religion, law, science, language, philosophy, and theology, as well as cultural, religious, intellectual, social and political history.
  
• Great Depression and the New Deal Reference Library
  Covering both the disastrous failure of the economy and its gradual recovery, U*X*L's Great Depression and New Deal Reference Library examines the causes of the depression; the impact of unemployment and under-employment; the disorder in Germany after World War I that led to the rise of Adolf Hitler; and many other dimensions of this global calamity. Special attention is paid to the New Deal, Franklin D. Roosevelt's domestic reform program.
  
• Industrial Revolution Reference Library
  The Industrial Revolution transformed much of the world from simple agricultural society into a complex industrial society. This reference covers the ideas and social turmoil that marked this transition as well as the machines, manufacturing processes and energy sources that spurred it on. The set includes an almanac, biographical profiles and a collection of primary source documents.
  
• Korean War Reference Library
  Explores major topics and events related to the Korean War. The Almanac and Primary Sources covers the background of and issues related to the conflict as well as provides 12 full or excerpted primary sources from the period. Biographies includes 25 biographical entries on major figures from the war.
  
• Mexican American-War
  Provides information on the issues surrounding the Mexican-American War, from the causes of the war to its ending, and the motivations of various people involved in the conflict. Placed throughout the text are excerpts from primary source documents such as diary entries, letters, and newspaper articles, as well as other sidebar boxes.
  
• Middle Ages Reference Library
  Middle Ages Reference Library explores the complex period of the Middle Ages, covering the different civilizations and peoples of Medieval times. It also includes biographical essays on significant individuals from the period and an insightful collection of full or excerpted texts from the era.
  
• Oxford Companion to World Exploration
  From Antarctica to the North Pole, The Oxford Companion to World Exploration offers information on all topics of exploration worldwide, including advances in navigation, the discovery of the New World, polar expeditions, and the space age.
  
• Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
  With more than 5,000 entries by an international group of eminent historians, this is the standard research tool on 1,100 years of Byzantine history. Exhaustive in its coverage, entries on patriarchy and emperors coexist with entries on surgery, musical instruments, and the baking of bread, bringing to life this vastly important culture and empire, from the 4th century to the 15th.
  
• Oxford Dictionary of the Renaissance
  This dictionary provides rich detail on all aspects of the Renaissance in 14th to 17th century Europe. It includes comprehensive coverage of the art, literature, science, culture, philosophy, religion, economics, history, and conflict of the period.
  
• Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt
  Featuring 600 original articles written by leading scholars, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt goes far beyond the records of archaeology to make available what we know about the full social, political, religious, cultural and artistic legacy of this 5,000-year civilization.
  
• The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History
  This encyclopedia covers the entire history of seafaring, from ancient Egyptian shipbuilders to the nuclear submarines and supertankers of today. Over nine hundred articles written by leading historians examine all aspects of maritime history, including naval history, shipbuilding, biographies of major figures, navigation and scientific instrumentation, maritime art and literature, commerce and economics, and international law.
  
• Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures
  A comprehensive reference source that chronicles Pre-Hispanic, colonial, and modern Mesoamerica, defined as the lands stretching from Mexico to the southern tip of Central America. With more than 600 articles, it is invaluable for those interested in the rich heritage of this land.
  
• Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation
  The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation is the definitive source for information about the entire range of religious and social changes that altered the face of Europe in the sixteenth century, encompassing not only issues of church polity and theology but also developments in politics, economics, demographics, art and literature.
  
• Renaissance and Reformation Reference Library
  Covering everything from Luther's Revolt to the writings of Shakespeare, this set provides comprehensive coverage of this amazing time. Includes extensive background information on the period, approximately 50 biographies of people of the era, and includes full or excerpted speeches, diary entries, newspaper and magazine articles, poems, and documents.
  
• Vietnam War Reference Library
  The Almanac traces the progression of this controversial war from its beginnings in 1941 through its last days in 1975. Biographies contains comprehensive biographical essays on the people involved in the war. Primary Sources provides a variety of perspectives on the war through excerpted screenplays, literature, speeches, and hearing testimonies.
• War of 1812
  Presents information on the issues surrounding the War of 1812, from the causes of the war to its ending, and the motivations of various people involved in the conflict. Placed throughout the text are excerpts from primary source documents such as diary entries, letters, and newspaper articles, as well as other sidebar boxes. The volume contains 50 photographs and maps, timeline, glossary, research and activity ideas, lists of sources for further study, and a subject index.
• Westward Expansion Reference Library
  Documents the chronological events that created a romantic national mythology around the pioneers who blazed trails through the wilderness. Features biographical essays on many colorful characters of the old West, and includes full text or excerpts from diaries, books, letters, and many other primary source documents.
  
• World War I Reference Library
  Presents comprehensive coverage of the World War I period. The Almanac contains 15 chapters covering major topics related to the period, including the root causes of the war and U.S. involvement. Biographies profiles the major players of the period, including Woodrow Wilson, Kaiser Wilhelm II and many others. Primary Sources presents full or excerpted primary source materials, including diaries, letters, speeches, journals, and memoirs related to the period.
  
• World War II Reference Library
  Covers significant events, topics, and people related to the World War II period. Provides the in-depth information that students need to write reports and class assignments, including biographical profiles and primary source materials.

Websites Selected by Librarians

• Best of History Web Sites
  Links to hundreds of quality world "history-related" web sites.
• History on the Web
  From the University Libraries of the University of Washington, this site provides links to world history sites by topic, region, or time period.
• HyperHistory Online
  Presents world history using a combination of lifelines, timelines, and maps. The information progresses from a quick overview to more in-depth, and can be searched by people, history (of civilizations), events, maps, and options.
• PBS History Shows
  Watch favorite PBS history programs, covering various subjects in history, online. Choose from full programs, shorts, or previews.
  
• Digital History
  An interactive, multimedia site for students and teachers on American
  history -- fun and educational.
• History Matters
  This site is a gateway to web resources on U.S. history; first-person primary documents in text, image, and audio; and guides to analyzing historical evidence.
• American Memory (Historical Collections of the National Digital Library)
  This multimedia website contains digitized historical documents, photographs, sound recordings, moving pictures, books, pamphlets, maps and other resources from the collections of the Library of Congress and other institutions.
  
• Primary Documents
  Access to primary documents from throughout American history can be found here. A Chronology of US Historical Documents is from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. The National Archives and Records Administration has its own chronological list of documents, plus background and citation info, at Our Documents-100 Milestone Documents.
  
• H-California
  A listing of sites on California history.
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Local Area Information: History
  An annotated listing of Internet resources on the history of Santa Clara County and the Bay Area.