American History and Culture

The U.S. Government has a vested interest in promoting culture and history through its publications. Government documents also contain historic reference to items that have become apart of American culture. Many government publications reflect this desire, and in many cases, the publications have become a part of our shared American culture.

United States. Office of the Director of Air Service. 1920 Aviation Medicine in the A. E. F. D629.U6.U6 Multiple copies on campus Text of selected pages Atari Joystick, circa 1985 The term "joystick" is not modern invention. It was coined near the beginning of the 20th century in Europe. This is the first U.S. Government publication that mentions the joystick in its intended use: airplanes.

Atari Joystick Circa 1985

United States. War Department, Office of the Chief of Staff. 1914
Manual of Physical Training: For Use in the United States Army
tU323.A5 Available in MAIN (NRLF)
Exercising and physical fitness has been a part of American culture for years. This pocket sized manual from 1914 instructs soldiers in physical fitness.

United States. Bureau of American Ethnology. Series 1881-1964
Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
E51.U5 Multiple copies on campus
Text of Selected pages
This series of annual reports produced some amazing images documenting Native American culture in the United States. It is a great source of information for research on Native American culture.

Abbott, Shirley 1981
The National Museum of American History
E169.1.A117 Available in MAIN
The National Museum of American History in Washington, DC reopened in the Fall of 2008. It houses a marvelous collection of historic items and Americana. This book highlights many of the collections available for viewing at the museum.

Migrant Mother Lang, Dorathea

United States. Works Project Administration Migrant Mother Perhaps no image is seen to have captured the Great Depression like this image. Dorathea Lang was hired as a photographer by the United States to capture images of the Works Project Administration, one of several agencies intended make the economy grow during the Great Depression. Image from the Library of Congress.