A. Collections and Libraries

Documents and collections maintained in the Office of the Historian are for internal use only.

B. Programs

The Office of the Historian (OH) at the U.S. Department of State publishes the official documentary record of U.S. foreign policy in the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series. The Office also counsels scholars on documentary resources, conducts oral history interviews, and provides historical reference services to U.S. Government officials, scholars, and the general public. In addition, OH historians frequently teach at the Department of State's Foreign Service Institute, including modules on U.S. diplomatic history, area studies, and related subjects.

C. Publications

The Congressionally mandated Foreign Relations of the United States series presents the official documentary record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity. The series, which began in 1861, comprises more than 500 individual volumes. Volumes since 1961 are organized chronologically according to Presidential administration, and geographically and topically within each administration sub-series. FRUS volumes contain documents from the National Archives and Records Administration, Presidential Libraries, Departments of State and Defense, National Security Council, Central Intelligence Agency, and other relevant foreign affairs agencies, as well as private papers of individuals involved in formulating U.S. foreign policy. In general, FRUS historians research, select, and annotate documents that illuminate the formulation of policy and major aspects and repercussions of its execution. Published volumes dating back to 1861 are freely available on OH's website at history.state.gov.

The Office also produces both classified and unclassified historical research studies, with some of the latter available on its website. The website also features extensive, publicly accessible digital archives devoted to various aspects of State Department history and U.S. foreign policy. Contents include Recognition and Relations, an encyclopedia of U.S. diplomatic relations with every country; Principal Officers of the Department and U.S. Chiefs of Mission, a thorough record of key Department of State staff; and searchable chronologies of the foreign travels of the President and the Secretary of State and visits to the United States by foreign leaders.

D. Fellowships and Awards

The Department of State periodically offers internships through the Virtual Student Federal Service program (unpaid) and the Department of State's Student Internship and Pathways Internship programs (paid).