Primary sources: Statistics

Numerical data that has been gathered to analyze relations between people, events, and their environments.

Suggested resources

This selective list includes some general bibliographies, gateways, and indexes along with some of the more extensive primary source collections available at Lafayette College. For more subject-specific resources or individual titles, consult the library's annotated list of research tools by subject, and follow suggestions for library catalog searches below.

FedStats Gateway: Gateway to statistics gathered and disseminated by U.S. federal agencies.
Gallup Poll Cumulative Index: Public Opinion, 1935-1997 Index: Location: Skillman Ref HN 90 .P8 G29 1999
Topical index of polls conducted by the Gallup Organization.
Gallup Poll Monthly Index, 1965-1999 Index: Location: Skillman Ref HM 261 .A1 G343x Index
Topical index of polls conducted by the Gallup Organization.
Historical Statistics of the United States Full Text: Demographic, economic, and social statistics of the United States from colonial times to the end of the 20th century. Data can be searched, downloaded, and graphed.
Statistical Abstract of the United States Index: Skillman Ref Desk HA 202 .A3x
Standard annual summary of social, political, and economic statistics of the U.S. Source notes at the end of each table can lead to additional, more detailed sources.
Statistics Sources Index: Skillman Ref Desk HA155 .S73
Annotated bibliography of statistical sources.
Sources for Pennsylvania State Data Bibliography: Selective list of online and print resources for locating state data.
Statistics-U.S. Gateway: Selective list of online statistical resources for the United States most often used by Skillman reference staff.
Statistics-World Gateway: Selective list of online statistical resources for the world most often used by Skillman reference staff.

WDI Online Full Text

Country-level, time series data on development from the World Bank. Topics covered include demographics, the economy, and the environment. Data may be saved as Excel or ASCII files.

Library catalog searches

Use the table below to develop search strings for locating primary source bibliographies and collections in library catalogs.

Search by keyword in the Lafayette Library catalog.
Search by subject in WorldCat.
Additional tips.

Searching for . . .	Enter this phrase	+	modifier(s) [see examples]
statistical collections	statistics	and	[ethnic group] [gender] [location] [topic]

Sample searches:

statistics and labor
statistics and african americans

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Last updated: October 9, 2008