LibGuides: Historical Primary Sources Databases: Women and gender

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Subjects: English, Ethnic Studies, History, Information Literacy, Languages & Cultures, Library Instruction, Literature, Philosophy & Religion, Women's & Gender Studies

Introduction to women and gender page

Many of the databases on this guide may be useful for researching questions relating to women and gender in various time periods and locations. This page serves to pull together ones that have a focus on these topics. A number of them are especially relevant to the history of women's movements and suffrage.

Broad collections

Defining Gender This link opens in a new window
Original British source material from a gendered perspective in history, literature, sociology and education.
(Adam Matthew)
Everyday Life and Women in America, 1800-1920 This link opens in a new window
Primary source material for the study of American social, cultural, and popular history in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
(Adam Matthew)
Gender: Identity and Social Change This link opens in a new window
Primary sources documenting the changing representations and lived experiences of gender roles and relations in the US and UK from the nineteenth century to the present covering women's suffrage, the feminist movement, the men’s movement, employment, education, the body, the family, and government and politics.
Gerritsen Collection of Aletta H. Jacobs This link opens in a new window
A definitive cross-cultural resource for information on women's history spanning more than four centuries & 15 languages with over two million pages in full image. Users can trace the evolution of feminism within a single country, as well as the impact of that country's feminist movement on other countries and their movements. Materials are from Europe, the UK, the US, Canada, and New Zealand.
Perdita Manuscripts This link opens in a new window
Collection of manuscripts from early modern women authors (1500-1700) who were “lost” because their writing exists only in manuscript form.
Women and Social Movements International, 1840 - present This link opens in a new window
Primary materials including the writings of women activists, their personal letters and diaries, and the proceedings of conferences at which pivotal decisions were made.
(Alexander Street Press)
Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1600-2000 This link opens in a new window
Documents & images centered on the history of women in United States social movements. Includes a dictionary of social movements & organizations, a chronology of U.S. Women's History and teaching tools with lesson ideas and document-based questions.
(Alexander Street Press)

Individual newspapers and magazines

A small selection of 19th century newspapers and magazines.

Godey's Lady's Book This link opens in a new window
Magazine specifically for American women with fashion plates, biographical sketches, articles about dance, health and hygiene, recipes, book reviews and literary works, as well as sheet music for the pianoforte from 1830-1898.
(Accessible Archives)
Lily, The This link opens in a new window
The first U.S. women's newspaper, 1849-1853.
(Accessible Archives)
National Citizen and Ballot Box This link opens in a new window
A monthly journal promoting American women's rights and suffrage, owned and edited by Matilda Joslyn Gage.
Search or browse issues from 1876-1881.
(Accessible Archives)
Revolution, The This link opens in a new window
The official weekly newspaper of the National Woman Suffrage Association.
Search or browse issues from 1868-1872. Additional details
(Accessible Archives)