The Making of Modern Law:
A unique perspective on civil liberties through the lens of history
In recent years, decades-long movements in civil liberties have been at the forefront of the news. The struggle for civil rights and liberties defines our past and affects our present. Students and researchers can immerse themselves in civil rights history like never before with our new archive The Making of Modern Law: American Civil Liberties Union Papers, Part I: 1912-1990. Drawing from the records of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), it focuses on civil rights, race, gender, and issues relating to the U.S. Supreme Court— topics intensely relevant to today’s curriculum and debates at both national and local levels.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has throughout its history consistently stood at the center of controversies involving the rights of Americans. Its records offer researchers a unique view of the inner workings of the organization and the hundreds of groups with which the ACLU interacted. Covering the years from before the ACLU’s official founding in 1920 through the 20th century, this archive offers an array of primary source materials on some of the most important issues that affected the United States.
Access quality resources
This easy-to-use digital collection contains more than 2 million pages held at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University.
Make connections like never before
Integrate content from complementary primary source products in one intuitive environment, the Gale Primary Sources Platform—uncovering new connections between history and the issues facing us today.
Explore 80 years of controversies surrounding the rights of Americans
The ACLU’s records span from before its founding in 1920 through the twentieth century. Its records offer researchers a unique view of the inner workings of the organization and the hundreds of groups with which it interacted.
Dive deep into important issues
Contribute to the mainstream narrative through the evolution of topics such as race, identity, gender rights, worker’s rights, popular protest, the role of government, and more.
FEATURED REVIEW
"This excellent collection of primary documents provides first-rate access to unique materials important to the study of modern US history and law. . . the collection will certainly aid scholarship among advanced researchers."
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Additional Details
subjects covered
- Black Studies
- African-American Studies
- Gender & Women's Studies
- LGBTQ
- Humanities & Social Sciences
- Law & Legal Studies
- Government
- Political Science & Diplomatic Studies
- U.S. History
Platform Features & Tools
Term Frequency
Researchers can see the frequency of search terms within sets of content to begin identifying central themes and assessing how individuals, places, events, and ideas interact and develop over time.
Topic Finder
By grouping commonly occurring themes, this tool reveals hidden connections within search terms—helping to shape research by integrating diverse content with relevant information.
Cross-Search Capability
Search across the content of complementary primary source products, including books, in one united, intuitive environment, enabling innovative new research connections.
Reviews & Testimonials
"The American Civil Liberties Union database is an extraordinary resource for exploring primary source documents of an American institution that has shaped American law in more ways than most Americans realize…The researcher will doubtlessly benefit from the breadth and depth of the papers included in the database…The researcher will doubtlessly benefit from the breadth and depth of the papers included in the database…This database is recommended for academic libraries and law libraries."
"An exceptional feature produces highlighted search terms on retrieved documents, making them easy to pinpoint and isolate. Law and humanities libraries serving scholars and students in 20th-century U.S. social history and politics will find this archive of special interest because of its focus on civil rights, civil liberties, race, gender, and issues relating to the U.S. Supreme Court."
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