Skip to Main Content

History

Government Documents as Primary Sources

Governments produce a wide array of documents ranging from Congressional or Parliamentary debates and reports, census data, agency or departmental papers to brochures, maps and posters.  As primary sources these official governmental publications provide insight into all aspects of history from social issues to politics, from cultural mores to scientific endeavor.

Example:

Finding Government Documents: State and International

Most state and international documents in the WSU Libraries' collection can be found in Search It. Additional detailed information on locating state and international documents can be found in the subject guide for Government Documents. See the links below for additional documents access.

Finding Government Documents: Major Databases for US Documents

Most print government information is housed in the Holland and Terrell Libraries and the Owen Science and Engineering Library.  Many government documents are online and searchable in the catalog. Additional detailed information on locating U.S. government documents can be found in the subject guide for Government Documents.

WSU Libraries, PO Box 645610, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-5610, 509-335-9671, Contact Us