Six Archives Unbound Digital Collections

Columbia University Libraries has purchased six new Archives Unbound digital collections of primary sources:

  • Afghanistan and the U.S., 1945-1963: Records of the U.S. State Department Central Classified Files (9,674 images from the U.S. National Archives)
    Afghanistan’s history, internal political development, foreign relations, and very existence as an independent state have largely been determined by its geographic location at the crossroads of Central, West, and South Asia. This collection provides an opportunity to peer into the mountains, valleys, villages, and cities that is called Afghanistan.
  • Afghanistan in 1919: the Third Anglo-Afghan War (1898 images from the British Library)
    The Third Anglo-Afghan War began on 6 May 1919 and ended with an armistice on 8 August 1919. While it was essentially a minor tactical victory for the British in so much as they were able to repel the regular Afghan forces, in many ways it was a strategic victory for the Afghans. This collection of confidential correspondence, memoranda, orders, reports and other materials provide a broad spectrum of information on military policy and administration, including the organization, operations and equipment of the army during the war.
  • The Hindu Conspiracy Cases: Activities of the Indian Independence Movement in the U.S., 1908-1933 (2,706 images from the Justice Department Library and U.S. National Archives)
    During World War I, Indian nationalists took advantage of Great Britain’s preoccupation with the European war by attempting to foment revolution in India to overthrow British rule. Their activities were aided politically and financially by the German Government. In the spring of 1918, the “Hindu Conspiracy Case” trial (as it was called in the press and Department of Justice correspondence) was held in San Francisco, at which 29 people were convicted in indictments arising from the arms shipment. Indictments arising from the fraud case were dismissed.
  • Indochina, France, and the Viet Minh War, 1945-1954: Records of the U.S. State Department, Part 1, 1945-1949 (10,715 images from the U.S. National Archives)
    This collection contains records relating to the internal affairs of Indochina, during the period 1945-49. The records include instructions sent to and correspondence received by the State Department; the State Department’s internal documentation, as well as correspondence between the Department and other federal departments and agencies, Congress, and private individuals and organizations; telegrams, airgrams, instructions, inquiries, studies, memoranda, situation reports, translations, special reports, plans, and official and unofficial correspondence.
  • India from Crown Rule to Republic, 1945-1949: Records of the U.S. State Department (53,824 images from the U.S. National Archives)
    This collection identifies the key issues, individuals, and events in the history of the Indian Subcontinent between 1945 and 1949, and places them in the context of the complex and dynamic regional strategic, political, and economic processes that have fashioned India in the postwar period.
  • The Indian Army and Colonial Warfare on the Frontiers of India, 1914-1920 (5,280 images from the British Library)
    For generations of British and Indian Officers and men, the North-West Frontier was the scene of repeated skirmishes and major campaigns against the trans-border Pathan tribes who inhabited the mountainous no-man’s land between India and Afghanistan. This collection contains Army Lists; Orders; Instructions; Regulations; Acts; Manuals; Strength Returns; Orders of Battle; Administration Summaries; organization, commissions, committees, reports, maneuvers; departments of the Indian Army; and regimental narratives.

One thought on “Six Archives Unbound Digital Collections

  1. Archives Unbound digital collection provides an opportunity to peer into the mountains, valleys, villages, and cities. Columbia University, Thank you for such a great article.

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