Finding Materials for Ethnicity and Immigration Studies

Hand colored lithograph Homeward bound, 1854. Catalog record

Researchers can find a variety of primary and secondary sources documenting representations and lived experiences of ethnicity and immigration through approximately 1900 in North America. The following research guide is intended to serve as a starting point for your research.

Finding Primary Sources

The General Catalog uses genre/form terms to make findable thousands of works for ethnicity and immigration studies through approximately 1900. Researchers can use the following terms:

See the complete list of language search links to access all non-English texts in the  General Catalog.

 The General Catalog uses Library of Congress subject headings including: 

If you don't find what you are looking for please email our staff at reference [at] mwa.org (reference[at]mwa[dot]org).

Map from The Emigrant's Guide to New Mexico, California, and Oregon Giving the Different Overland and Sea Routes, New York, 1849. Catalog record

Digital Collections and Projects

The following digital collections and project websites are freely available from anywhere.

The following digital collections are available to researchers who are present at AAS and signed on to AAS networks. Publishers provide separate tools for searching their collections.  Some feature materials not held at AAS. 

Fellowship Opportunities

The American Antiquarian Society awards over forty fellowships annually. Fellowships are offered for postdoctoral academics,  advanced graduate students, independent scholars, as well as for creative and performing artists and writers.