U.S. Foreign Relations

a guide to library resources

REFERENCE BOOKS FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• Encyclopedia of U.S. Foreign Relations. (Ref E 183.7.E53 1997) A 4-volume work, with bibliographical notes.
• Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy. (Ref JX 1407.E53) Studies of the principal movements and ideas. Alphabetically arranged essays, with bibliographies. 1978.
• Congressional Quarterly Almanac. (Ref JK 1.C66) 1963-date. A digest of material from CQ Weekly Report. Good coverage of congressional role in policy-making,
• America's Foreign Policy, 1945-1976: its creators and critics. (Ref E 840.6.P37) Mainly biographical essays on key policy-makers, with selected references.
• Chronological History of United States Foreign Relations, 1776 to 1989. (Ref E 183.7.B745 1985). A year-by-year record of events.
• Atlas of United States Foreign Relations. (Ref G 1046.F546 1985)
• Background Notes. (Ref G 59.U5) Leaflets produced by the U.S. Dept. of State on all foreign countries.
• Dictionary of American Diplomatic History. (Ref E 183.7.I5 1989)
• Principal Officers of the Department of State and U.S. Chiefs of Mission, 1778-1990.

BIBLIOGRAPHIES: lists of books and articles

• Guide to American foreign relations since 1700. (Ref E 183.7.A1G84 1983) A chronologically arranged bibliography, with good annotations, of important books and articles. Includes a good subject index.
• Intervention and counterinsurgency: an annotated bibliographjy of the small wars of the United States. (Ref E 745.A1B43 1985)
• Origins, evolution and nature of the cold war: an annotated bibliographic guide. (Ref E 183.8.A1B53 1986) An excellent source for books and articles.
• U.S. Foreign relations: a guide to information sources. (Ref JX 1417.A1P52 1980) Use the detailed table of contents to find appropriate sections.
• Supplement to a bibliography of United States-Latin American relations since 1810. (Ref F 1418.A1T7 1968 Suppl).
• Foreign Affairs Bibliography. (Ref JX 1391.A1F6) Several volumes which annotate and evaluate books, 1919-1972. There are 3 major sections: general international relations; the world since 1914; world regions. And The Foreign affairs 50-year bibliography; new evaluations of significant books on international relations 1920-1970 (Ref JX 1305.A1 F62)
• American Studies: an annotated bibliography. (Ref E 173.A1A436) See vol.II, p.1118 and following for books on U.S. foreign relations, with annotations for each.
• The American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature. (Ref D 20.A1A55). A 2-vol. selective bibliography for the study of history.
• Index to United States Documents Relating to Foreign Affairs: 1828-1861. (Ref Z 1223.Z7 H22)

OTHER REFERENCE TOOLS - examples of other types of reference works for history research

• GPO Catalog . A catalog of U.S. government publications for 1976-date. (on the library web site). A subject index for 1900-1971 is shelved at Ref Z 1223.A182.
• U.S. Serial Set Index. (Ref Z 1223.Z9C65) An index to various publications, mainly of congressional committees, from 1789 to 1969.
• International Relations Dictionary. (Ref JX 1226.P55 1982) Terms are grouped in 12 chapters.
• American National Biography. (Ref CT 213 .A68 1999)
• World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers. (Ref UA 17.U55) annual.
• Guide to Archives and Manuscripts in the United States. (Ref CD 3022.A45)
• Statistical information compiled by the U.S. government in its most condensed form in Historical Statistics of the U.S. (Ref HA 202.B87 1976). The library also has many of the annual Statistical Abstracts of the United States for years since 1902. (HA 202); the latest 3 years are in Reference.

BOOKS - BearCat: the library catalog: and other tools for locating books, pamphlets, etc.

Many search modes are available. Search by Author Keyword for books by a particular author. A Title Keyword search looks for word(s) found anywhere in the book titles (and contents notes, if included on the record.) A Subject Keyword search looks for Library of Congress subject headings having the word(s) you enter.

Some of the Subject Headings for this topic are:

UNITED STATES - FOREIGN RELATIONS	ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE, AMERICAN
UNITED STATES - FOREIGN RELATIONS - [COUNTRY]	TARIFF - UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES - FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS	DIPLOMACY
UNITED STATES - RELATIONS - [COUNTRY	WORLD POLITICS
UNITED STATES- COMMERCIAL POLICY	HISTORY, MODERN - 20TH CENTURY
UNITED STATES - HISTORY- [time period]	......and many more.

The same subject headings used in our library catalog may be used to search the catalogs of other libraries. Especially comprehensive is the set of volumes called Library of Congress Catalog: Subject Catalog (Z 881.A1 U375). This is a printed version of all the cards printed by the Library of Congress. The National Union Catalog: Authors (Z 881.A1U518) and the British National Bibliography are also major research tools.

Of growing importance are connections to other large online library catalogs, such as the Library of Congress, and the combined database of many library catalogs called WorldCat (on the library web site); as well as internet-accessible bookstores.

FINDING JOURNAL ARTICLES - Indexing and abstracting services are the basic tool for finding articles by subject. The subject headings used in these tools are often similar to those used in the online catalog. See the list of suggested indexes for POLITICS on the library web site, which includes the following:

• Expanded Academic ASAP (InfoTrac), ProQuest - PA Research, and Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (all on the "Finding Articles" page on the library web site) index recent years of a very diverse group of periodicals and newspapers. The complete text of articles is sometimes available online.
• International Political Science Abstracts. Good coverage of international scholarly writing in political science. (Ref JA 36 .I5) for 1966 - date.
• Public Affairs Information Service Bulletin. This is an index to selected journals, government documents, pamphlets, and books. Recent years are available through the library web site, older years at (Ref H 1.A1 P82)
• Humanities Index. An index to journals in, among other fields, history. 1973 - 1995 is in paper at Ref AI 3.R49. Earlier years from 1907 are covered by International Index
• Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature. An index to popular and news periodicals for the years 1890-2000, on paper at Ref AI 3 .R48.
• America: History and Life. An index, with abstracts, to journals of U.S. and Canadian history, in paper at Ref E 171.A1 A48 for 1964-1998.

The information obtained from indexes looks like the following. Under UNITED STATES--FOREIGN RELATIONS in Humanities Index:

The light at the end of the tunnel: the United States and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. T.H. Anderson. Dipl Hist 12:443-62 Fall '88.

Abstracts also include a brief summary of the article.

Articles on American history usually appear in professional journals such as Journal of American History, American Historical Review, Journal of Modern History, Foreign Affairs, Past and Present, Journal of Interdisciplinary History - etc. To find articles that have been written on a given topic in these and other journals, one should consult one of the indexes listed above.

For a complete list of periodicals in the libraries at SUNY Potsdam use the "CitationLinker" link on the "Finding Articles" web page. Articles in journals not available in Potsdam may be requested through ILLiad - our interlibrary loan service.

PRIMARY SOURCES

Many primary sources can be found directly through the library catalog. Look especially for the subdivision, "--SOURCES", following a subject heading, as in UNITED STATES--HISTORY--20th CENT--SOURCES. Collections have been made of especially significant primary sources, such as Documents of American History (Ref E 173.C66 1973c)

See the library web page on Primary Sources for U.S. History - which describes some of the major collections and resources for U.S. history in general in SUNY Potsdam library collections.

Newspaper stories and news summaries:

A few newspapers have indexes to their contents.

• The New York Times Index. 1851-date (Ref AI 21.N45). Look under subjects and names, follow cross-references to related entries. Page, date, and column of the stories in the New York Times are given.
• The Times (London) Index. (Ref AI 21.T46) - An index to the London Times.
• ProQuest (on the library web site) indexes recent years of some major U.S. newspapers.

Sources which summarize world new include:

• Facts on File: weekly world news events. (Ref D 410.F32) A looseleaf service which records all vital news of the week. Has cumulated annual indexes.
• Annual Register of World Events 1958-1979. (Ref D 2.A7) A chronicle of events and essays prepared by specialists.
• Yearbook of World Affairs. (JX 21.Y4) 1958-1984.
• Statesman's Year-book. (JA 51.S7) 1933-date. Latest years in Ref.

Primary Sources for Foreign Relations: in paper

Foreign Relations of the United States. Published by the U.S. Dept of State.

• In paper at (JX 233.A3), for 1861-1874; 1932-1976, (St. Lawrence Univ. has some of the years we lack.)
• Online from the Dept. of State, for 1945 - 1968 (incomplete in earlier years)
• Foreign Relations of the U.S - Documents from 1861 - 1960. Facsimile of the official documents, searchable.
• A description of the entire set of printed FRUS volumes. Search Foreign Relations Series.

Other major document sets:

• Many U.S. government documents, including congessional committee hearings, reports, and committee prints, are listed in BearCat, the library catalog, especially for the 1960s - early 1980s. See for example; Committee on International Relations, Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• Other U.S. documents can be located by using an index such as GPO Catalog (1976-date)
• American Foreign Relations: a documentary record - (JX 231.D6) 1938/39-1978. Produced by the Council on Foreign Relations.
• The United States in World Affairs: (E 744.U66) An account of American foreign relations. 1931-1940; 1945-1967; 1970.
• American Foreign Policy: current documents. (JX 1417.A33) 1956-67; 1981-1990. An annual publication of the U.S. Dept of State. Also. basic documents, 1977-1980.
• Department of State Bulletin., (Microfilm JX232.A33) v.1 (1939) - v.89 (1989). Continued by US Department of State Dispatch, 1993-1999. (Microfilm JX232.A33). Now online.
• Annals of Congress, 1789-1824 (J11.A5) continued by Congressional Debates , 1824-1837 (J11.D5), continued by Congressional Globe, 1833-1873 (J11.G5), continued by Congressional Record, 1873-1992 (J11.R5) and 1993-date (USDoc Microfiche X 1.1/A:) The daily record of the proceedings and debates in Congress. Now also online, see below.
• Public Papers of the President. (J 80.A283) We have 1929-1933, 1945-date.
• Historical Series: The Senate Foreign Relations Comm. This set includes the "Executive Sessions of the Senate Foreign Relations Comm.", which are being opened to the public. Coverage begins with 1947. Some are paper, some are microfiche, and they are shelved in the US Docs collection at US Doc Y4.F76/2:Ex 3/2.
• Survey of International Affairs. (D 442.S8) London. Royal Institute of International Affairs. 1924-1962. And Documents on International Affairs (D 442.S82), 1929-31,37,51,58-63.
• Yearbook - United Nations. (Ref JX 1977.A37Y4) 1946-date. Records the activities of the U.N. and its agencies. Composed of essays, to which are appended documentary references and in many cases the text of and vote on resolutions.

Online resources for U.S. foreign relations:

• American Diplomacy: an Electronic Journal of Commentary, Analysis, and Research on American Foreign Policy and Its Practice
• The Department of State Web Site Includes the current major publications of the Dept. of State, and links to archives of publications for 1993 - date.
  Daily Press Briefings The text of each day's press briefing (Questions and Answers).
• Public Diplomacy Query - an open archive of the U.S. Dept. of State: Bureau of International Information publications. Searchable.
• A History of the United States Department of State, 1789-1996
• CIA's Historical Review Program: Analytic reports on the former Soviet Union, produced by CIA’s Directorate of Intelligence during 1951-1991, that were declassified and released for use at a 9-10 March 2001 conference at Princeton University.
• The National Security Archive - at George Washington Univ. An archive of documents obtained through the Freedon of Information Act. Includes Documents Declassified on Chile - from the Pinochet Regime.
• Congressional Record online - 1995 - date. The Congressional Record Index is online for 1983 - date.
• Congressional Committee Web Sites
  • Senate Foreign Relations Committee web site - includes some recent hearings and reports.
  • U.S. House of Representatives: See the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the library catalog and in indexes to government documents to find library holdings of hearings and reports from the 1960s on. This committee web site includes some recent committee hearings and prints.
• Dept. of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN). Some volumes of the Foreign Relations of the U.S. for the late 1950s and 1960s are available online from the State Dept.. This is part of the Electronic Research Collection (ERC) - mainly includes the archived electronic documents from the US State Department website and US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

Other U.S. Government publications relating to foreign relations

• Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Annual (1979-1985 at JC 571 .U48a) (1986-1993 at USDoc microfiche Y4.F76/1-15). Web version: 1993-1999 A review of the status of human rights in various countries, prepared for use with Congress's foreign assistance program. Along with human rights information, a table showing U.S. economic and military assistance to each country is included.
• Congress and Foreign Policy. annual. At KF 4651.A6133 for 1975-79,81,83,90-91; at USDoc microfiche Y4.F76/1-13 for 1984-89,1992. Ceased in 1992?
• Report to Congress on voting practices in the United Nations / United States Department of State. (Ref JX 1977.8.V6 R46) for 1985-1992. Online for 1995 - date
• Electronic Journals of the U.S. Department of State. Office of International Information Programs (IIP)
• Country reports on economic policy and trade practices, online for 1994 - date.

Examples of other types of primary sources:

• Lost chance in China: the World War II despatches of John S. Service. (DS 777.55.S443)
• The Truman administration: a documentary history. (E 813.B45)
• Memoirs. George F. Kennan. (E 748.K374A3)
• Franklin D. Roosevelt and foreign affairs. (E 806.R7427)
• America in a divided world, 1945-1972 (Documentary history of the United States). (E 744.F47 1975)
• American foreign policy, 1950-1955; basic documents. U.S. Dept. of State. Historical Office. (JX 1417.A55)
• Major problems in American foreign policy: documents and essays. (E 183.7.M28)
• Human rights documents. (JC 571.H55 1983)
• Amnesty International report. (JC 571.A44a) 1983-date.

Selected Internet Sites related to U.S. Foreign Policy

• The Brookings Institution: Foreign Policy Studies
• Foreign Policy Association
• Foreign Policy in Focus: Internet Gateway to Foreign Policy
• The Council on Foreign Relations
• Cold War International History Project
• Avalon Project - Yale University Law School : digital documents relevant to the fields of Law, History, Economics, Politics, Diplomacy and Government.

Crumb Library Guide. DT 1/2002 rev 2/2003 (trithadi@potsdam.edu) (x3311)