Library of Congress Digital Collections

The Library of Congress (LOC) is the largest library in the world and the official national research library of the United States. Its digital collections grant public access to tens of millions of high-resolution historical photographs, original presidential manuscripts, rare cartographic atlases, and early sound recordings.

Core National Archive Collections

• Prints & Photographs Online Catalog: Millions of digitized historic photographs, Civil War images, architectural drawings, and posters.
• Chronicling America: Historic American newspapers from 1770 to 1963, fully searchable by keyword and publication state.
• Rare Book & Manuscript Collections: Original drafts of the Declaration of Independence, Abraham Lincoln’s papers, and rare illuminated manuscripts.
• Cartographic Treasures: Rare historical maps charting early European exploration, colonial borders, and vintage urban panoramas.

Frequently Asked Questions