Research Resource: Foreign Relations of the United States

Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) is a series that publishes the official documentary history of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activities. It is an invaluable resource for history, political science, and legal researchers. In the legal context, FRUS is considered the number one source for locating “evidence of state practice,” a key element in any discussion of customary international law [see this guide from the Peace Palace Library for more on customary international law.]

FRUS started in 1861 under the Lincoln administration, and has been published ever since. Back then, it was called Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs Accompanying the Annual Message of the President. The name changed to Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States in 1870. Finally, in 1947, the publication took its current name, Foreign Relations of the United States.

FRUS is current through 1969-1976, the Nixon-Ford administrations. HeinOnline provides you with complete coverage of FRUS, from 1861 through 1976, in pdf format. The Office of the Historian of the U.S. Department of State provides free searchable access from 1945 through 1976.