AUTHORITATIVE Websites
ALMANACS
WEBSITES (GENERAL, FACT BASED)
Shares stories from global media and has a media bias chart and indicator, helping you decipher where and if there is bias.
Facts and information about all countries in the world. The site is run by the CIA.
FactCheck.org A project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, the nonpartisan, nonprofit FactCheck.org says that it “aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.” Its entries cover TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. Science teachers take note: The site includes a feature called SciCheck, which focuses on false and misleading scientific claims used for political influence.
This government website compiles statistical data from many federal agencies.
An extensive video library, this site includes lessons and practice exercises on biology, physics, chemistry, math (arithmetic to calculus), and the humanities.
Maintained daily by librarians, this site includes quality sources arranged by subject and keyword. It also has a variety of special collections.
FreeDocumentaries Many political documentaries, available legally and for free through this non-profit organization. Includes Michael Moore's films.
Library of Congress Digital Collections
Open Secrets A nonpartisan organization that tracks the influence of money in U.S. politics
PBS Learning: US History Collection Curated clips of trusted PBS programs and a diverse array of other media and interactive resources
Politifact From the independent Tampa Bay Times, PolitiFact tracks who’s telling the truth—and who isn’t—in American politics. Updated daily, the site fact-checks statements made by elected officials, candidates, and pundits. Entries are rated on a scale that ranges from “True” to “Pants on Fire” and include links to relevant sources to support each rating.
Snopes The popular online resource Snopes is a one-stop shop to fact-check internet rumors.
Periodicals and Newspapers
Boston Globe
NY Times
Wall Street Journal
Newspapers and Magazines from around the World: The Internet Public Library has compiled links to major newspapers around the world.
Primary Sources
American Folklife Center (Part of the Library of Congress)
Holocaust Museum Collections and Archive
Art, Architecture, and Music
This architecture website can be searched by keyword and features architecture and architects. Information includes history, images, blueprints, commentary, and more.
International Musical Score Library Project (ISMLP) - Petrucci Music Library:
The ISMLP is a collaboritive international music wiki. The Petrucci Music Library has free downloadable PDF copies of musical scores. Browse by compser, time period, genre, or instrument. Recordings are a recent addition to the site.
Digital Images
Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Online Catalog:
This site is home to more than 1 million images ranging from famous American photographers like Ansel Adams, to ancient Japanese works of art, to propaganda posters, and even to baseball cards.
Life Magazine Digital Photo Archive:
Hosted by Google, this freely accessed archive contains Life Magazine archival images going back to 1750.
New York Public Library's Digital Image Gallery:
This free site provides access to the NYPL's more than 700,000 digitalized images, ranging from photographs, historic maps, rare manuscripts and posters.
Significant primary source materials from around the world can be found here. This site is supported by the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. The untranslated content contains digitalized manuscripts, maps, photographs, silent videos, etc.
History
United States History
Library of Congress Digital Collections & Programs:
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world. It has begun the process of digitalizing the collection to preserve and provide worldwide access to these rare items. All collections have images, print, and audio-visual materials and primary sources.
According to their website, the "American Memory provides free and open access through the Internet to written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience." The LOC runs it in collaboration with many other participating institutions.
This site is home to copies of current and historical maps, including maps from military battles, historical explorations, etc.
Information about both Houses of Congress, past and present, with links to the Law Library and U.S. Congressional history can all be found here. It includes legislation, voting records, and much more.
Original historical documents have been scanned and are accessible free online.
World History
A compilation of links to primary sources from this time period. Great site (no longer updated).
The links to Medieval resources at various universities (accessible without passwords) are stored at this site.
Science & Medicine
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Information about health, diseases, and viruses, as tracked by the CDC.
Authoritative information about health, diseases, and medical research is provided by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. The NIH conducts medical research.
PASSING THE TEST?
For tips and tricks on how to determine whether a website is a quality source, check out this guide.