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Historical Statistics

 

Updated and maintained by Patricia Hardesty

Liaison Librarian for History, Philosophy and Religion, Political Science
Originally compiled by Gordon W. Miller

December 2002

The historical researcher will frequently find statistical data vital for hypothesizing and interpreting facts. This guide is intended to assist in beginning research into statistical sources. The United States is emphasized but international coverage is included. A separate guide to accessing historical census material is available. Click on Historical Census for this handout.

Table of Contents

Guides to Historical Statistical Sources

 
Andriot, John, L. Guide to U.S. Government Statistics. McLean, VA: Documents Index, 1993.
(Ref HA 195 A5)
This guide has a lengthy essay entitled "The Statistical System of the Federal Government" which details how the Government collects its statistics. the main portion of the guide is by agency.

Harvey, Joan M. Sources of Statistics. 2nd ed. revised and enlarged. Hamden, CT: Linnet Books, 1971.
(HA 1136 H37 1971)
Guide to British statistical sources with some listings for United States and United Nations materials. Bibliographical essay format.

Statistics Sources. 25th ed. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001.
(Ref HA 154 S84 2002)
International coverage with an emphasis on United States statistics. Subject entries indicate where the statistical information is located. For countries other than the United States, the arrangement is by name of country first.

Subject Index to Sources of Comparative International Statistics. Beckenham, England: CBD Research, 1978.
(Ref QA 276 P54 1978)
Over 53,000 entries from 358 sources provide international coverage of comparative statistical data. Subject arrangement. For each entry there are notes for its geographic coverage and the primary source. Comprehensive.

United States. Bureau of the Census. Catalog of United States Census Publications, 1790-1972. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Commerce, Social and Economic Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census, 1974.
(Ref HA 205 D82 1974)
Exhaustive listing of all census publication for the noted years. Annotated. Annual catalogs since 1972 are located in Government Documents @ C 3.163/3:(date).

United States. Library of Congress. Census Library Project. General Censuses and Vital Statistics in the Americas; An Annotated Bibliography of the Historical Censuses and Current Vital Statistics of the 21 American Republics, the American Sections of the British Commonwealth of Nations, the American Colonies of Denmark, France, and the Netherlands, and the American Territories and Possessions of the United States. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1943. Reprint. Detroit: Blane Ethridge Books, 1974.
(Ref HA 205 T3 1974)
Brief essays introduce each country. Population and other national censuses are noted.

Historical Statistics

America Votes: A Handbook of Contemporary American Election Statistics. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly for Elections Research Center. Vol. 1- . 1956- . Biennial.
(Ref JK1967 A8)
Statistics for presidential candidates, including presidential primaries, are followed with state analysis. There is some historical vote listing. Presidential, Senatorial, and Congressional votes are recorded. State maps note the Congressional districts.

Andriot, John L., comp. Population Abstract of the United States. 2 volumes. McLean, VA: Andriot Associates, 1983.
(Ref HA202 A686 1983)
Volume I is the tables covering 1790 to 1980. The second volume is an index of cities, townships, and counties. This is followed by a list of counties, county rank by size with each state and in the United States, and city rank by state and for the United States.

Burnham, W. Dean. Presidential Ballots 1836-1892. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1955.
(Ref JK524 B8)
Scholarly study, with essays, that includes the presidential votes, by counties for the noted years. Other statistical sources for votes include:

a) Ref JK524 R6 1947 Robinson, Edgar E. The Presidential Vote, 1896-1932. [1947].
b) 327.73 R65t Robinson, Edgar E. They Voted for Roosevelt; the Presidential Vote, 1932-1944. [1947].
c) Ref JK524 C6 Government Affairs Institute, Washington, D.C. Elections Research Center. America at the Polls; A Handbook of American Presidential Statistics, 1920-1964. [1965]
d) Ref JK1965 C59 Cox, Edward F. State and National Voting in Federal Elections, 1910-1970. [1972]
e) Ref JK524 R83 Runyon, John H. Source Book of American Presidential Campaign and Election Statistics, 1948-1968. [1971]
f) 324.73 p484s Petersen, Svend. A Statistical History of the American Presidential Elections. [1963] Covers elections 1789-1960.

Caplow, Theodore. The First Measured Century: an Illustrated Guide to Trends in America, 1900-2000. Washington, D.C.: American Enterprise Institute, 2001.
(Ref HN 60 C38 2001).
Graphs enhance this study of twentieth-century United States. Fifteen major categories are discussed and presented statistically.

British Parliamentary Election Statistics, 1918-1970. 2nd ed. Chichester, England: Political Reference Publications, 1971.
(JN1037 C72 1971)
By constituency.

Dodd, Donald B., and Dodd, Wynelle S. Historical Statistics of the South, 1790-1970 . University of Alabama: University of Alabama Press, 1973. v.1
(Ref HA218 D63)
State-level statistics of population and economics.

The Europa Yearbook. London: Europa Publications. vol. 1- . 1959- . annual.
(Ref JN1 E85)
The arrangement is by international organizations and countries. An overview of the current situation is followed by the "statistical survey" which furnishes a wide-range of information. A comparable title is Statesman's Yearbook: Statistical and Historical Annual of the States of the World. 1864- . This is located @ RefJA51 S7. Carrier Library has this annual starting in 1932. Some early annuals are not available in the Library.

Kurian, George T. Datapedia of the United States 1790-2005: America Year by Year. 2nd ed. Lanham, Md.: Bernan, 2001.
(Ref HA 202 K87 2001).
This book is based on the Statistical Abstract of the United States and the Historical Statistics of the U.S. from Colonial Times. Kurian has taken these sources and repackaged the most important series into twenty-two subject areas.

Liesner, Thelma, compiler. Economic Statistics, 1900-1983: United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. New York: Facts on File, 1985.
(Ref HC106 L68 1985)
Graphs and charts are included in addition to tables. Commentary on the statistics is furnished.

Mitchell, B.R. Second Abstract of British Historical Statistics. Cambridge: University Press, 1971.
(Ref HA1135 M52)
Coverage from as early as 1199 through 1938. Most tables start in the nineteenth century. Coverage is restricted to economic statistics. A bibliography is included and many tables include footnote sources. In 1971, Cambridge published Second Abstract of British Historical Statistics. This brings most tables up to 1965. This is located at Ref HA1135 M52.

Mitchell, B.R. International Historical Statistics Africa, Asia & Oceania. 3rd ed. New York: Stockton Press, 1998.
(Ref HA 4675 M55 1998)
Subject arrangement. Few statistics before 1850. By country generally with some statistics by major city.

Mitchell, B.R. International Historical Statistics: Europe, 1750-1993. 4rd ed. New York: Stockton, 1998.
(Ref HA 1107 M5 1998).
Subject arranged. List of titles, by country, of the official sources for the statistical compilations.

Mitchell, B.R.International Historical Statistics: The Americas, 1750-1993. 4nd ed. New York: Stockton Press, 1998.
(Ref HA 175 M55 1998)
A revision of the series covering the Americas and Australasia.

The New International Year Book: A Compendium of the World's Progress. New York: Dodd, Mead, and Co., 1907-1966. Place and publisher vary.
(Ref AE5 N5532)
Annuals include statistical information by country and frequently by topic. Other yearbooks in Carrier Library include:

a) Ref AE 5 E364 Britannica Book of the Year. 1941- .
b) Ref AE 5 W564 The World Book Year Book. 1975- .

UNESCO. Statistical Yearbook. Annuaire Statistique. Anuario Estadistico. [Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization]. vol. 1- . 1948- . Title varies. Carrier Library has 1972- .
(Ref HA12.5 U65)
Multilingual coverage of subjects that include education, culture and communication, books,film, broadcasting, etc.

United Nations. Statistical Office. Demographic Yearbook. New York: United Nations. vol 1- 1948- . Place of publication and publisher vary.
(Ref HA17 D45)
World summary and country coverage.

United Nations. Statistical Office. Statistical Yearbook. New York: United Nations. vol 1- 1948- . annual. Place of publication varies.
(Ref HA12.5 U63)
Standard statistical sources for international statistics since World War II. Areas covered include agriculture, manufacturing, trade, finance, housing, etc. The magazine Monthly Bulletin of Statistics received by Carrier Library since September 1971, updates this annual source. From 1926-1942/44 the League of Nations published Statistical Yearbook of the League of Nations. Carrier Library has the volume for 1934/35.

United States. Bureau of the Census. Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970. 2 vol. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1975.
(Ref HA202 A385 1975)
Key source for United States statistics. Each topical section is introduced with an essay and commentary on the subject. Sources for further research are noted.

United States. Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. vol. 1- . 1878- . annual.
(Ref HA202 A35)
Carrier Library has this from 1878-1955 on microfiche in Media Resources. Bound volumes are available (with a few years missing) from 1928 to date. This is the single most important source for United States statistics. Coverage is comprehensive. Footnotes for most tables lead the researcher to the complete statistical information.

United States. Department of Agriculture. Agriculture Statistics. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1936- . Annual.
(Ref HD1751 A43)
Comprehensive coverage of United States agriculture.

The World Almanac and Book of Facts. New York: The New York World-Telegram. Title and publisher vary.
(Ref AY67 N5 W7)
Almanacs include statistical information by both country and subject. Carrier Library has this from 1923 to date (several earlier years are not available). Other almanacs in Carrier Library include:

a) Ref AY64 I55 Information Please Almanac, Atlas, and Yearbook. 1947- .
b) Ref AY64 R4 Reader's Digest Almanac and Yearbook. 1966- . Carrier Library holdings begin in 1971.

Periodical Sources

Economic Indicators. Washington, D.C.: Council of Economic Advisors. Monthly. 1948- .
(Periodical)
Carrier Library has this title from 1961 to date. United States coverage.

International financial Statistics. Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund. Monthly. 1948- .
(Periodical)
Carrier Library has this title from 1971 to date. All countries are included.

Main Economic Indicators. Paris: Organization for Economic cooperation and Development. Monthly. 1960- .
(Periodical)
Carrier Library has this title from 1981 to date. OECD countries are included. French and English text.

Monthly Bulletin of Statistics. (UN) New York: United Nations. Monthly. 1947- .
(Periodical)
Carrier Library has this from September 1971 to date. this is a monthly updating service to the United Nations Statistical Yearbook located at Ref HA12.5 U63.

Electronic Text Sources

The followingWWW sources are examples of data files available on the Internet.

Historical, Social, Economic, and Demographic Data from the U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1860.
(Electronic Text)
This site contains a subset of the census at the state and county level

Integrated Public Use Microdata Series
(Electronic Text)
Twenty-three "high-precision samples" from U.S. decennial population census returns from 1850 - 1990 are available. This is a massive site with the guide alone having ca. 800 pages. The samples would be downloaded to be manipulated.

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research
(Electronic Text)
The ICPSR is the major source of statistical data in the political and social realm. Although much of the data files are recent there are some that go back, and even precede, World War II.

LexisNexis Statistical
Online, accessible from Research Databases.
Statistical material from ca. the past twenty years.

National Election Studies
(Electronic Text)
A series of biennial election studies covering almost 50 years. The data is held by the ICPSR. A CD-ROM entitled American National Election Studies, 1948-1994 is available at the Carrier Library Reference Desk. This has a number of time series data files.

Presidential Elections 1860-1996
(Electronic Text)
A series of presidential election maps with vote percentages noted by state. This site plans to add all presidential elections and update the site with additional presidential information.

This page is maintained by: Patricia Hardesty
Last reviewed: December 2002
© James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA