How to Locate Speeches

Speeches are published in a variety of sources and can be identified in several ways. Many published collections of speeches are listed in the online catalog under the subject headings SPEECHES, ADDRESSES, ETC. and AMERICAN ORATIONS. The Speech Index, described below, is the best way to find out which speeches are in published collections.
General Sources
Representative American Speeches. v. 1 - . 1937/38 - . New York: Wilson. [PS 668 B3]
Reprints speeches "on current issues and social trends in the United States and other countries." Each volume also contains brief biographical information for the individuals whose speeches are reprinted.

Cumulative author index:

1937-1960 .............................. in the 1959/60 volume
1960-1970 .............................. in the 1969/70 volume
1970-1980 .............................. in the 1979/80 volume
After 1970 each issue contains a cumulative author index.

Sutton, Roberta (Briggs). Speech Index: an Index to 259 Collections of World Famous Orations and Speeches for Various Occasions.. 4th ed., rev. and enl. New York: Scarecrow Press, 1966. --Supplement, 1966-1980. Ed. by Charity Mitchell. Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow Press, 1982. [Ref AI 3 S85 1966]

These indexes to speeches published in 259 collections cover world famous orations and speeches for various occasions.

Vital Speeches of the Day, v. 1 - . 1934 - . Mount Pleasant, SC: City News Publishing Co. [Per PN 6121 V5]

Prints in full the important addresses of contemporary leaders of public opinion in the fields of economics, politics, education, sociology, business and labor. Strong emphasis on government and big business.

Indexed in Vital Speeches of the Day Index. [Ref PN 6121 V5] v.1-50, 1934-1984; Readers Guide to Periodical Literature; EBSCO Academic Search Premier 6/15/84-. Also available full-text from EBSCO Academic Search Premier 5/01/90 through present, Expanded Academic ASAP 1/1/93- and InfoTrac OneFile 1/1/93-.

Speeches Available on the Internet
American Rhetoric.
This site includes over 5000 speeches and other orations on a variety of topics. Many of the speeches are available as audio and/or video files.
Douglass: Archives of American Public Address.
This site provides access to public address dating back to 1625.Links to selected American speeches from pre 1900 up to the 1990s can be found within this site's speech chronology. A section entitled "Ideas for Teachers" also includes several lesson plans pertaining to American history.
The History Place: Great Speeches Collection.
This site covers more than fifty famous speeches from American and World speakers. Select entries include biographies, audio files, photographs, and additional links to more information. Speeches from Napoleon Bonaparte, Susan B. Anthony, Lou Gehrig, John F. Kennedy and others are included. Entries are listed alphabetically by the speaker's last name.
The History Channel: Speeches.
The speech archive on this site lists famous speeches from around the world. Speeches are arranged alphabetically by the speaker's last name. Users may also search for speeches by categories such as "Politics and Government", "Science and Technology", "Arts, Entertainment and Culture", and "War and Diplomacy". A search option allows users to search by speaker's name or by keywords. In some cases, biographical information is included about the orator.
Speeches by Elected Officials
The following list includes some of the specialized sources for locating speeches by elected officials.
Commision on Presidential Debates: Debate Transcripts.

This Internet site provides transcripts of presidential and vice presidential debates dating back to 1960.
Presidents.

This Internet site provides inaugural addresses, State of the Nation (Union) addresses and other speeches by the Presidents of the United States.

United States. Congressional Record. Washington: Government Publishing Office. V.1- 1873-. [GOVDOC J 85 X/a:]

Includes speeches made before Congress. Printed volumes for the most recent three years are in the Government Publications area. Earlier volumes are on microfilm. Recent volumes available online (1995-2002) vols. 141-148.

United States President. Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1932, 1945-. [J 80 A283]
Contains the public messages, speeches and statements of the Present. Includes the papers from President Hoover through President Clinton. Updated by the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, discussed below.

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. August 2, 1965-. Washington: Federal Register. [Per J 80 A284]
Includes "transcripts of the Presidents' news conferences, messages to Congress, public speeches," etc. Annual index. Recent editions are also available as electronic resources in EBSCO Academic Search Premier (1/2/95-), Expanded Academic ASAP (3/2/92-), and InfoTrac OneFile (3/2/92-).

Speeches by Multicultural/Social Issues

Social Justice Speeches Project
This site focuses on speeches about social justice, mostly dealing with multicultural issue and women's rights.

Straub, Deborah Gillian. Voices of Multicultural America. New York: Gale Research, 1996. [Ref PS 663 M55 V64 1996]
Notable speeches delivered by African, Asian, Hispanic and Native Americans from 1790 to 1995.

Speeches by Women
Gifts of Speech.
This Internet site provides access to speeches made by influential contemporary woman.
Speeches on Video
[IMC Vid Cas / PS 668 G74x 1995A pt 1-6] Great American Speeches: 80 years of political oratory. Princeton: NJ, 1997.
This six-part series provides political speeches on film from 1904-1984.

Consult a reference librarian for additional help.

University Library, University at Albany, State University of New York

Compiled in September 1999 by Carol Anne Germain and Revised in January 2006 by Sam Cook
Last reviewed 1/2006
This page is maintained by Carol Anne Germain.
Comments to cgermain@uamail.albany.edu