Century Past Blog Posts

African-American History Articles – Issues of the Early 20th Century

African-Americans, Articles, History, Periodicals / african-american history, african-americans, history, magazines

The African-American history articles on this page were selected from magazines published from 1915 to 1918, using the Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, Vol. 4, 1915-18. The articles describe prominent African-American issues in that time frame, when many African-Americans from the rural south were migrating to northern cities, and when the U.S. participated in World […]

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Experimental Communities in 19th Century America

Articles, Books / experimental communities

The Century Past website has a number of books and articles about experimental communities. Most were based on community property rather than private property. Some were religious; some secular. You’ll find the works at the pages shown, listed alphabetically by author. Ohio Social History page Baillie, William, Josiah Warren, The First American Anarchist; A Sociological

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Illinois Genealogy & Local History Resources

Genealogy, Illinois, Local history / bibliography, Digital Resources

We have many free online books, articles and maps, as well as links to online collections; all of which can be useful to anyone investigating family history or local history in Illinois. If you scroll down the The Great Lakes States Past & Present Directory, you will find 15 subject pages with resources for Illinois.

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Indiana Genealogy & Local History Resources

Genealogy, Indiana, Local history / biography, Digital Resources, gazetteers

We have many free online books, articles and maps, as well as links to online collections; all of which can be useful to anyone studying Indiana genealogy, family history or local history in Indiana. Scroll down the History of the Great Lakes States Home page to find buttons leading to 15 subject pages with resources

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County Archives Inventories

Archives, Genealogy, Local history / county records

The Historical Records Survey The Roosevelt administration established the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the depression of the 1930s to create jobs and boost economic growth. One project of the WPA, begun in 1936, was called the “Historical Records Survey”. Its purpose was to inventory public records around the U.S., and to assist local authorities

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Pioneer Life on the Michigan Frontier in Diaries & Memoirs

Books, Memoirs, Michigan, Periodicals / biography, explorers, First-Person Accounts in History of the Great Lakes States, pioneers

Pioneer life; life on the frontier in Michigan, in the words of the pioneers themselves. Diaries and memoirs by explorers, missionaries, and settlers, free online. The page links below, for some of our Michigan pages on the History of the Great Lakes States portion of this website, contain links to the free online works listed.

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Genealogy & Local History Research

Collections, Family History, Genealogy, Local history, Maps / archives, bibliography, gazetteers

We have links on the Great Lakes States portion of this site for numerous online resources that can be useful to anyone doing genealogical research or looking into their local history. Every title on this website is fully available online, free. While the Great Lakes States portion is dedicated to the five Great Lakes states

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Historical Fiction Books PDF Set in American South

Books, Century Past Library, History, Library / historical fiction, Maryland, New Orleans, Novels, Virginia

Historical fiction set in the southern U.S.; vintage novels. The Century Past Library has links to several hundred vintage novels, including the historical fiction books below that are set in the American South. Nearly all these novels were published before 1924, and are copyright free. You can read online or download them, free. All Historical

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The Black Hawk War of 1832 – Free Online Books and Articles

Articles, biographies, Books, Illinois, Native Americans, Wisconsin / black hawk war, native american war, war, wisconsin war

The Black Hawk War of 1832 in Illinois and Wisconsin was the last significant campaign by U.S. Government troops against Indians in the Old Northwest. Following the defeat of Black Hawk’s small force, the Wisconsin territorial government obtained Native American compliance with treaties that opened large parts of Wisconsin for survey and settlement. The Links

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