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American History


Close up image of handwritten letter by Abraham Lincoln

Delve into the Lilly collections to trace American history from the first printing in Latin of the Columbus letter through the Lincoln Era to recent U.S. political figures.

You’ll find unique holdings related to periods such as the American Revolution, creation of the U.S. Constitution, the War of 1812 and the Civil War.

The collection also focuses on individuals, such as Abraham Lincoln, Charles Fairbanks, Paul McNutt, Wendell Willkie and Charles Halleck.

Collections from Indiana alumni George L. Harding, Robert Spurrier Ellison and William Corr Service include resources for the study of the American West. You’ll find overland narratives and diaries, and materials about the Pacific Northwest and the California Gold Rush.

The resources in this area are vast and varied, so ask a librarian for help for your specific research area.

Text of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, first printing, by John Dunlap

Declaration of Independence

The first printing of the Declaration of Independence is a priceless artifact and an evocative statement of the nation's founding principles. Originally printed on the night of July 4, 1776, only 26 copies are known to exist today. 

View the digitized version
Handwritten notes from folder of notes on the Cheyanne Indian Wars

Walter Mason Camp papers

Walter Mason Camp (1867–1925) was an American author, editor, and researcher best known for interviewing hundreds of both Native American and white participants in the American Indian Wars of the second half of the 19th century. The collection consists largely of Camp’s penciled notes, mostly on small scraps of paper.

View the digitized collection
Scene of men fighting aboard the sailing ship Chesapeake

The War of 1812 in the Collections of the Lilly Library

Explore the history of the War of 1812, the conflict that brought us the national anthem and trained a generation of political leaders. This site was developed for the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the War of 1812.

View the online exhibition
  • Resources
  • Exhibitions

Resources

  • View of a locomotive labeled "Star of Empire."

    Searching for Riches: The California Gold Rush

    The California gold rush was a mass migration of a scale never seen before. A few got rich. Many more were disappointed or ruined. Learn about their journey through personal accounts, guidebooks, and more.

    Type: Exhibition catalogue

  • Map of the United States from 1835

    Globalization of the United States: 1789-1861

    Fully digitized books and an interactive digital map help the user trace American diplomatic, military, commercial, missionary, and other activities in the period between the American Revolution and the U. S. Civil War.

    Type: Online exhibition

Exhibitions

  • American and British soldiers fighting on the deck of the ship Chesapeake

    Online Only

    The War of 1812 in the Collections of the Lilly Library

    Online exhibition exploring the War, outlining the major military conflicts as well as the principal causes and outcomes of the war.

Start your exploration

Find books in
IUCAT
Find manuscripts and archives in
Archives Online
Find digitized images in
Image Collections Online

We have millions of resources. Many are not yet digitized.

If you are having trouble finding what you are looking for, contact us.

Need Help?

Helpful finding aids like our manuscripts index, card catalog, and special card files are not online. We can help you navigate these resources.

Learn more about finding aids that are not online

We can make PDFs, digital images, and other reproductions of Lilly Library materials to meet your needs. Fees help us pay for this service.

Learn more ordering PDFs and digital images

If you plan to use Lilly Library materials in a book, article, or other publication, we ask that you fill out our Permission to Publish form. We do not own reproduction rights to most of the material in the collection, so you may also need to secure permission from copyright holders.

Learn more asking for permission to publish

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The Lilly Library Bloomington

1200 E. Seventh Street
Bloomington, IN
47405-5500
Tel: 812-855-2452
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