Standalone Collections

When you explore Gale Primary Sources, you’ll discover original, first-hand content – meticulously cross-referenced to bring the facts into focus and the information to life in remarkable new ways. Covering subjects from fiction to classified government documents, the standalone collections within Gale Primary Sources are valuable additions to your digital resources. As areas of study expand, Gale will continue to create new library resources that support and expand scholarly research.

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Collections

Amateur Newspapers from the American Antiquarian Society

View an extensive collection of amateur publications that were written, edited, and published primarily by young people, aged 12-20, during the second half of the 19th century. This one-of-a-kind archive features tens of thousands of issues, and includes editorials, original short fiction, essays, poetry, and more.

American Fiction, 1774-1920

Explore the development of American literature in a changing culture through novels, short stories, romance, fictitious biographies, travel accounts, and sketches.

Archives of Latin American and Caribbean History Sixteenth to Twentieth Century

This archive consists of over 1.3 million pages of archival material covering Latin American and Caribbean culture and society from the fifteenth century to the twentieth century.

Crime, Punishment, and Popular Culture, 1790-1920

With 2.1 million pages of trial transcripts, police and forensic reports, detective novels, newspaper accounts, true crime literature, and related ephemera, this collection presents the broadest and deepest collection of materials supporting the study of nineteenth-century criminal history, law, literature, and justice.

Decolonization: Politics and Independence in Former Colonial and Commonwealth Territories

The firsthand perspectives in this cross-disciplinary collection illustrate decolonization as a historical process by which over 70 previously colonized nations shifted from imposed structures to independent systems. Chronicling events primarily after World War II, these documents highlight local and Indigenous narratives from non-Western primary sources—and meet urgent needs for less Eurocentric areas of historical and political study.

Political Extremism and Radicalism: Far-Right and Left Political Groups in the U.S., Europe, and Australia in the Twentieth Century

One of the first digital archives on far-right and -left political groups, exploring the development, actions, and ideologies behind extremism and radicalism in the twentieth century. Sourced from various locations, including The Searchlight Archive, UK Home Office and Security Service files on right-wing extremists, suspected communists and terrorists; and the American Radicalism Collection from Michigan State University.

Power to the People Counterculture, Social Movements, and the Alternative Press, Nineteenth to Twenty-first Century

Immerse yourself in the captivating realm of people-powered politics, counterculture, and the vibrant social movements that have shaped modern Western history. Explore a vast treasure trove of knowledge spanning roughly 600,000 pages of alternative-press titles, delving deep into the rich tapestry of ideas and initiatives that have left an unforgettable mark on our society.

Religions of America

Religions of America presents scholars and researchers with more than 660,000 pages of content that follow the development of religions and religious movements born in the U.S. from 1820 to 1990. Derived from numerous collections, most notably the American Religions Collection at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Religions of America traces the history and unique characteristics of movements through manuscripts, pamphlets, newsletters, ephemera, and visuals.

Sabin Americana: History of the Americas, 1500–1926

Based on Joseph Sabin's famed bibliography, this digital archive provides a firsthand account of 450 years of history in the Americas, including discovery and exploration, slavery and European colonization, native peoples, wars of independence, religion and missionary work, social and political reforms, economic development, westward expansion, notable individuals, and much more.

The American Civil War: The International Context

The American Civil War: The International Context demonstrates the involvement of European nations in the American Civil War, including their internal discussions, reactions to approaches from Unionists and Confederates, the challenges and advantages the American conflict brought, and its impact on politics and society.

U.S. Declassified Documents Online

U.S. Declassified Documents Online offers unique insights into the inner workings of the U.S. government. The collection links the most sensitive documents from all the presidential libraries and numerous executive agencies in a single, easily searchable database. This collection provides access to a broad range of declassified federal records spanning the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Product Features & Tools

Term Frequency

Researchers can see the frequency of search terms within sets of content to begin identifying central themes and assessing how individuals, places, events, and ideas interact and develop over time.

Topic Finder

By grouping commonly occurring themes, this tool reveals hidden connections within search terms—helping to shape research by integrating diverse content with relevant information.

Cross-Search Capability

Search across the materials of complementary primary source products, including books, in one united, intuitive environment, enabling innovative new research connections.

Learn more about the Gale Primary Sources Platform »