New Database: Hispanic Life in America

Hispanic Life in America provides comprehensive coverage of the Hispanic American experience from the early 18th century to the present day sourced from more than 17,000 publications, including 700 Spanish-language newspapers and periodicals. An easy-to-use online resource—updated daily with new material—that illuminates centuries of Hispanic history, culture, and daily life.

Overview

Hispanic history and American history are inextricably bound together. From the earliest days of the colonial era through
modern times, people of Spanish-speaking heritage have shaped the geography, arts, culture, and civil discourse of the United
States in immeasurable ways. For decades, these contributions—as well as the challenges and injustices experienced by Hispanic
Americans—were downplayed by many historians. Today, with the Hispanic American population at a record high and interest
in racial and social justice growing, students and researchers are re-examining the story of America through a more diverse lens.
Hispanic Life in America is the single most comprehensive digital archive of primary source documents related to Hispanic
American life. Replete with material unavailable elsewhere, this three-part collection is sourced from more than 17,000 global
news sources, including over 700 Spanish-language or bilingual publications, dating from 1704 to today. Combining deep
historical content with current sources, Hispanic Life in America is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in examining
the full spectrum of American history and culture.

Series 1: 1704-1942: Spanish colonialism through World War II

From early Spanish settlements in Florida, New Mexico, and Texas, to the California missions, to Spanish involvement in
the Revolutionary War, people of Hispanic descent helped found and defi ne the United States. Mainstream U.S. newspapers
and periodicals often reported on Hispanic American issues, but it wasn’t until the publication of the fi rst Spanish-language
newspaper—New Orleans’ El Misisipí, in 1808—that the voices of Hispanic Americans rose to prominence. For the next 150
years, immigrants carried Hispanic American newspapers back to their home countries across the Spanish-speaking world,
bringing not only revolutionary ideas about democracy and freedom but also news about the Mexican-American War, the Battle
of the Alamo, the Spanish-American War, the Mexican Revolution and much more.

Learn more about this database (PDF).

Photo credit: Readex

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