Yale University Libraries and Collections

PRIMARY SOURCES

A. Printed Sources

B. Microformat

C. Personal reminiscences, letters, diaries, etc.

PRINTED SOURCES

BIBLIOGRAPHIES OF PRINTED PRIMARY SOURCES

  • British Museum Department of Printed Books. Subject index of the books relating to the European war, 1914-1918, acquired by the British museum, 1914-1920. London: Printed by order of the Trustees, 1922.
    LSF Xb76 922b

  • Hendricks, Donald D. Pamphlets on the First World War: an annotated bibliography. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1966.
    LSF X228 +I29 79

  • Leland, Waldo Gifford. Introduction to the American official sources for the economic and social history of the World War. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1926.
    LSF Nc66 C33 1, Bi73h 926L

  • Mayer, S. L. The two World Wars: a guide to manuscript collections in the United Kingdom. New York: Bowker, 1976.
    SML Reference Z6207 E8 M39 (LC)

  • Messick, Frederic M. Primary sources in European diplomacy, 1914-1945: a bibliography of published memoirs and diaries. New York: Greenwood Press, 1987.
    Reference Z2000 M395 1987 (LC)

COLLECTIONS OF PRINTED SOURCE DOCUMENTS

Selected Official Documents -- France

  • Ministère des affaires étrangères, Commission de publication des documents français. Documents diplomatiques français. Paris: Impr. nationale, 1915-1966.
    SML Stacks D404 D62 (LC)

  • --------. Documents diplomatiques: La guerre européenne. Paris: Impr. nationale.
    SML Stacks Bi65 0162 (YC)

b. Selected Official Documents -- Germany

  • Official German documents relating to the world war. Translated under the supervision of the Carnegie endowment for international peace, Division of international law. New York: Oxford University Press, 1923.
    SML Stacks Bi65 332 (YC)

c. Selected Official Documents -- Great Britain

  • British documents on foreign affairs--reports and papers from the Foreign Office confidential print. Part II, From the First to the Second World War. Frederick, MD: University Publications of America, 1984- .

  • Series A: The Soviet Union, 1917-1939. 17v.
    SML Stacks DK266 A3 +B68 1984

  • Series B: Turkey, Iran, and the Middle East, 1918-1939. In progress
    SML Stacks DS63.2 G7 +B75 1985

  • Series C: North America, 1919-1939. 25v.
    SML Stacks JX632 +B748 1986 (LC)

  • Series D: Latin America, 1914-1939. In progress
    SML Stacks JX632 +B7485 1989 (LC)

  • Series E: Asia, 1914-1939. In progress
    SML Stacks JX632 +B7486X 1991 (LC)

  • Series F: Europe, 1919-1939. In progress
    SML Stacks JX632 +B7488X 1990 (LC)

  • Series G: Africa, 1914-1939. In progress
    SML Stacks JX632 +B769X 1994 (LC)

  • Series H: The First World War, 1914-1918. 12v.
    SML Stacks D621 G7 B758 1989

  • Series I: The Paris Peace Conference of 1919. 15v.
    SML Stacks D645 +B73 1989

  • Series J: The League of Nations, 1918-1941. 10v.
    SML Stacks JX1975.5 G7 +B75X 1992 (LC)

  • Great Britain. Admiralty. Official naval despatches : the Admiralty’s reports of the Battle of the Bight, destruction of German East Asiastic Squadron, sinking of the Emden, and other work of the Navy in the War. London: The Graphic, 1914.
    LSF Bi72 35

Selected Official Documents -- Italy

  • Andriulli, Giuseppe Antonio. I documenti della grade guerra. Milano: Rava & Co., 1914.
    LSF Bi65 8

  • Bravetta, Ettore. La grande guerra sul mare, fatti, insegnamenti, previsioni. Milano: A. Mondadori, 1925.
    SML Stacks Bi72 2 (YC)

  • I Documenti diplomatici italiani. Roma: Libreria dello Stato, 1953- .
    SML Stacks DG491 A2

  • Series 4, vol. 1-12 (1908/1914)
    Series 5, vol. 1-11 (1914/1918)
    Series 6, vol. 1-2 (1918/1922)
    Series 7, vol. 1-16 (1922/1923-1934/1935)

e. Selected Official Documents -- United States

  • United States. Department of State. Foreign relations of the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1932- .
    Mudd, Govt Documents Reference S 1.1 [Shelved in Seminar Room]
    Library has:
    1914/1918 the World War
    1914/1920 The Lansing Papers
    1918/1919 Russia
    1919:v.1-1919:v.13 The Paris Peace Conference
    1932-1951

OFFICIAL HISTORIES

  • Note: Published works on historical subjects that straddle the fence between primary and secondary sources; works that are commissioned by a government or government agency. In general, official histories address the performance of one of a country's military services (i.e. the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean, 1939-45). Well before the documents are released to the public, the government or agency will make select, confidential documents available to only one historian (i.e. a retired admiral with a history background who now wants to write about his service) and ask him/her to write a history on a specific subject. Usually the government’s agent (i.e. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office) will publish the work when it's finished. Because the government has editorial control, provides the documents and selects the historian, the resulting "history" generally reflects the position of the government or agency that originally commissioned the work. In that respect, it is a primary source. But because the work is written by someone who was often not intimately involved in the events themselves, it may also be considered a secondary source. What is generally most rewarding about reading official histories is that they often publish entire documents that are not yet available in the archives and reveal some biases held by that organization. Official histories can also be very deceiving. Sometimes they are restricted by an overt political agenda that encourages the historian to employ a great deal of poetic license (especially true for the fascist period in Italy). Thus, they are not usually as reliable as a genuine primary source.

  • Alberti, Adriano. L’Italia e la fine della guerra mondiale. Roma: Libreria dello Stato.
    SML Bi66 375e (YC)
  • Les Armées françaises dans la Grande Guerre. Paris: Imprimerie nationale, 1922.
    SML Stacks Bi75 035 I 1b (YC)
  • Geloso, Carlo. La campagna austro-serba del 1914, agosto-dicembra. Roma: Ministero della difesa, esercito, Ufficio storico, 1948.
    SML D561 G38 1948 (LC)
  • Pohlmann, Markus. Kriegsgeschichte und Geschichtspolitik: Der Erste Weltkrieg: Die amtliche deutsche Militärgeschichtsschreibung 1914-1956. Paderborn: F. Schöningh, 2002.
    SML Stacks D522.42 .P64 2002 (LC)
  • Reynolds, Francis Joseph. The story of the great war, history of the European War from official sources; complete historical records of events to date. New York: Collier and Son, 1916-20.
    SML Stacks Bi67 45x (YC)
  • Schwertfeger, Berhard. Amtliche Aktenstücke zur Geschichte der europäischen Politik 1885-1914. Vollständige Ausgabe der vom deutschen Auswärtigen amt herausgegebenen diplomatischen Urkunden aus den belgischen Staatsarchiven. Berlin: Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft für Politik und Geschichte m.b.h., 1925.
    SML Stacks Bi42 57b (YC)
  • Society of the Fifth division, United States army. The official history of the Fifth division, U. S. A., during the period of its organization and of its operations in the European world war, 1917-1919. Washington, DC: Society of the Fifth division, 1920.
    LSF Bi73j +919r

  • Le Truppe italiane in Albania (anni 1914-20 e 1939). Roma: Stato maggiore dell'esercito, Ufficio storico, 1978.
    SML Stacks DR953 I8 T78 1978

NEWSPAPERS

Guides

  • Yale University. Library. Newspaper Holdings. New Haven: 1992.
    Available at the Reference Desk and at the service desk in the Microform Room.
    Volumes for Albania - Zimbabwe, USA, and UK contain lists of all newspapers held by the Yale Libraries, with the exception of those held at the Beinecke, those bound and in the Sterling stacks, and those which may appear as part of microform collections.

Selected Major Newspapers

  • Charpentier, Andre. Feuilles bleu horizon: le livre d’or des journaux du front, 1914-1918. Triel-sur-Seine: Italiques, 2007.
    PN5184.M5 C537 2007 (LC)
  • Daily Telegraph. London. 1856-.
    Microform Film An D1475
  • Le Figaro. Paris. 1826-.
    Microform Film An F467
  • The Guardian. Manchester. 1821-.
    Microform Film An M312
  • Il Mattino. Naples. 1892-1943.
    Microform Film An M434

  • The New York Times. 1851-.
    Microform Film An N43
  • Newspapers of the First World War. Ed. Ian Williams. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1970.
    Facsimile reprints of newspapers, 1914-1919.
    LSF Folio D 136
  • Popular newspapers during World War I. Marlborough: Adam Matthew Publications, 1996.
    Microform Film B15381
    62 reels
    Online guides to part 1, part 2 & part 3.
    Includes complete runs of The Daily Express, The Daily Mirror, The News of the World, The People, and The Sunday Express.

  • Le Temps. Paris: 1861-1945.
    Microform Film An T24
    190 reels
  • The Times. London. 1785-.
    Microform Film An T482
    Online resource

  • Turbergue, Jean-Pierre. Les journaux des tranchées, 1914-1918. Paris: Italiques, 1999.
    SML Stacks D548 .T87 1999+ Oversize

    B. MICROFORMAT

    • 1. Selected Official Documents -- Germany

  • Amtliche urkunden zur vorgeschichte des waffenstillstandes, 1918. Auf grund der akten der Reichskanzlei, des Auswärtigen amtes und des reichsarchivs, hrsg. vom Auswartigen amt und vom Reichsministerium des innern. Berlin: Deutsche verlagsgesellschaft für politik und geschichte m. b. h., 1924.
    SML Microform Film B9174:1
  • German Foreign Ministry Records, 1914-1919 (inclusive). Whaddon Hall, Buckinghamshire. London, England: Public Record Office.
    SML Microform MISC 553, 2 reels
  • The records consist of documents from the archives of the German Foreign Ministry concerning German involvement in Irish affairs during World War I. The papers contain correspondence with Sir Roger Casement, leader of the 1916 Irish Rebellion.

  • A list of archival references and data of documents from the archives of the German Foreign Ministry, 1867-1920, microfilmed at Whaddon Hall for the American Committee for the Study of War Documents. Whaddon Hall, Buckinghamshire, 1954.
    Mudd Stacks Folio X 17

    • 2. Selected Official Documents -- Great Britain

  • The First World War: a documentary record. Series one: European War, 1914-1919, the War Reserve Collection (WRA-WRE) from Cambridge University Library. Calcot, Reading, Berkshire, England: Adam Matthew Publications, 1991-2007.


    Pt. 1-10: D505 F47 1991
    Online guide

  • Great Britain. Cabinet Office. Cabinet minutes (conclusions), 1916-1939 (inclusive). 62 reels.
    Microform Film GB CAB23

  • Index on reels 59-62; unpublished finding aid in Microform Reference.

    -----. -----. Cabinet papers or memoranda, 1915-1939 (inclusive). 199 reels.
    Microform Film BG CAB24
    Index on reels 1-3; unpublished finding aid in Microform Reference.

  • Great Britain. Foreign Office. Confidential British Foreign Office political correspondence: Germany, Series 1, 1906-1925. Bethesda, MD: University Publication of America, 1995.
    Microform Film B16252
    Guide: Microform Reference DD232.5 +S76 1997 (2v.)
    Part 1: 1906-1919 (105 reels); Part 2: 1920-1921 (139 reels); Part 3: 1922-1923 (150 reels); Part 4: 1924-1925 (94 reels).
    The Political Correspondence Files were the repository for information gathered by London and the diplomatic posts as well as by other government ministries.

  • -----. -----. Confidential British Foreign Office political correspondence. Palestine and Transjordon, 1940-1946. Bethesda, MD: University Publications of America, 1995. 35 reels.
    Microform Film B14863

  • -----. -----. Foreign Office records: general correspondence after 1906 (political).
    Microform Film GB FO371

  • Includes correspondence with the United States, Russia, Japan and Mexico during the World War II period. Published finding aids available in Microform Reference. The Foreign Office registers are also available on microfilm; see Film GB FO566 and GB FO802.

  • The Imperial War Museum. The Women at Work Collection. Brighton, Sussex: Harvester Microforms, 1984-1986.
    Microform Film B18416 (pt. 1-5, 91 reels)
    Guide: Microform Reference D639 W7 W65 1984

  • -------------. British war art of the 20th century: the official war artists record of two World Wars. London: Mindata, 1982.
    British Art Center Fiche B13

  • Morgan, J. H. German atrocities: an official investigation. London: T. F. Unwin, 1916.
    SML Microform Film B8471:7

  • Pacifism, disarmament and international relations. Woodbrige, CT: Primary Source Media.

  • Series One: Archives of War Resisters' International, 1921-1974. 103 microfiche.
    Microform Fiche B4083
    Guide: Microform Reference JZ5576 +A73 1977 (LC)
    Series Two: Archives of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, 1915-1960. 9 reels.
    Microform Film B18213
    Series Three: Archives of the Peace Pledge Union, 1936-1986. 27 reels.
    Microform Film B18214
    Guide: Microform Reference JZ5526 P33 P33 1988(LC)

    3. Selected Official Documents - United States

  • Official communications and speeches relating to peace proposals, 1916-1917. Washington, DC: the Carnegie Endownment for International Peace, 1917.
    Mudd Stacks Ozd10 C21p 23

  • Official documents bearing upon the European war. New York: American association for international conciliation, 1914-15.
    SML Film B8390:1

  • United States. Department of State. Confidential U.S. diplomatic post records.
    Yale library holdings include Great Britain: internal affairs, 1910-1929; Russia and the Soviet Union, 1914-1941. For call numbers search Orbis by title (title = confidential u s diplomatic post records).

  • --------. -------------- . Records of the Department of State relating to World War I and its termination, 1914-1929 (inclusive). Washington DC: National Archives and Record Service.
    LSF FILM RG 43 M-367
    2 reels

    C. Personal reminiscences, letters, diaries, etc.

  • 90 jours de campagne: souvenirs de la campagne 1914, d’après le journal écrit par Lucien Guy, musicien-brancardier au 97ème de ligne. L’Argentière La Bessée : Fournel, 2007.
    SML D640 .G893 2007
  • Adam, Frederic. Alain-Fournier et ses compagnons d'arme: une archeologie de la grande guerre. Metz: Serpenoise, 2006.
    SML Stacks D523 A32 2006
  • Bardgett, Frank D. North coast diaries: Strathy at the time of the Great War. Edinburg: Birlinn, 2006.
    SML Stacks DA890 S894 B37X 2006
  • Cati, Italo. Cara mamma ti scrivo: le cartoline dei soldati della grande guerra. Udine: Gaspari, 2006.
    SML Stacks D569.A2 C373 2006
  • Cru, Jean Norton. Lettres du front et d’Amérique: 1914-1919. Ed. Marie-Françoise Attard-Maraninchi and Roland Caty. Aix-en-Provence: Publications de l'universite de Provence, 2007.
    SMl Stacks D640 .C77 2007
  • Delmotte, Maurice. Vie quotidienne en France occupée: journaux de Maurice Delmotte, 1914-1918. Paris: Harmattan, 2007.
    SML Stacks D548 D47 A3X 2007
  • Despeyrières, Henri. C’est si triste de mourir à 20 ans: lettres du soldat Henri Despeyrières 1914-1915. Toulouse: Privat, 2007.
    SML Stacks D640 .D476 2007
  • Duncker, Hermann. "Ich kann nicht durch Morden mein Leben erhalten": Briefwechsel zwischen Käte und Hermann Duncker 1915 bis 1917. Hrsg. Heinz Deutschland. Bonn: Pahl-Rugenstein, 2005.
    LSF D640 D82X 2005
  • The First World War as remembered in the countries of the eastern Mediterranean. Ed. Olaf Farschid, Manfred Kropp, Stephan Dähne. Beirut: Orient-Institut Beirut, 2006.
    SML Stacks D524.7.M44 C66X 2001
  • Fisher, H.A.L. The coalition diaries and letters of H.A.L. Fisher: 1916-1922. Ed. F. Russell Bryant. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 2006.
    SML Stacks DA566.9 F48 A4 2006
  • Gagne, Lucie E. Pounding the enemy: diary of the 13th Battery, C.F.A., 1914-1918. Ottawa, ON: CEF Books, 2006.
    SML Stacks D640 .G145 2007
  • Green, Andrew. Writing the Great War: Sir James Edmonds and the official histories 1915-1948. Portland, OR: Cass, 2003.
    SML Stacks D522.42 G75X 2003
  • Handrich, Emmanuel. La resistance—pourquoi?: souvenirs des deux guerres et de deportation a Buchenwald. Paris: Harmattan, 2006.
    SML Stacks D805.G3 H286 2006
  • Hanna, Martha. Your death would be mine: Paul and Marie Pireaud in the Great War. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2006.
    SML Stacks D544 H36X 2006
  • Julian Grenfell, soldier and poet: letters and diaries, 1910-1915. Caxton Hill: Hertfordshire Record Society, 2004.
    SML Stacks DA574 G8 T46 2004
  • Lecerf, Leon. L'oeil et la plume: carnets du docteur Leon Lecerf, medecin et photographe durant la grande-guerre. Paris: Harmattan, 2006.
    SML Stacks D629 F8 L36X 2006
  • Lucarelli, Giuseppe. Diario della guerra italo-austriaca in Val Raccolana: marzo 1915-luglio 1916. Udine: Saisera, 2006.
    SML Stacks D763.I82 F748 2006
  • Maire, Marcel. Sac au dos: chroniques de guerre 14-18. Sainte-Croix: Presses du belvedere, 2006.
    SML Stacks D640 .M3478 2006
  • Pietsch, Thorsten. "Mein lieber Hans—": Feldbriefe einer Mutter, 1914-1917. Munster: Monsenstein und Vannerdat, 2006.
    SML Stacks D640 .P546 2006
  • Rouviere, Camille Arthur Augustin. Journal de guerre d'un combattant pacifiste. Biarritz: Atlantica, 2007.
    SML Stacks D548.3 .R68 2007
  • Russell, Stuart. Frontsoldat Hitler: der Freiwillige des Ersten Weltkrieges. Kiel: Arndt, 2006.
    SML Stacks DD247.H5 R877 2006 Oversize
  • Smith, Leonard V. The embattled self : French soldiers’ testimony of the Great War. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2007.
    SML Stacks D640 A2 S55X 2007
  • Van Emden, Richard. Britain's last Tommies: Final memories from soldiers of the 1914-18 war in their own words. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books, Ltd., 2005.
    SML Stacks DA640 A2 V364 2005
  • Vennin, Louis. Lettres d’un officier de marine à son épouse: 1912-1919. Paris: Christian, 2007.
    SML Stacks D583 .V55 2008
  • Verly, Felicien. C’est la que j’ai vu la guerre vraie: correspondance et souvenirs des années de guerre, 1914-1918. Parçay-sur-Vienne: Anovi, 2006.
    SML Stacks D761.1 .V45X 2006
  • Memoirs and Diaries

  • World War, 1914-1918--Italy--Personal narratives