Treaties

Marion S. Trikosko, photographer. *[Assistant Secretary of State Averell Harriman (right) shaking hands with a man during the signing of the Limited Test Ban Treaty at the State Department. Washington, D.C.]* 1963. U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.

A Treaty is an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation; a contract in writing between two or more political authorities such as sovereign states, formally signed by authorized representatives, and usually approved by the legislature of the state.

Learn more about Treaties at The Department of State

Subscription Databases for Finding Treaties

The subscription resources marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.

HeinOnline U.S. Treaties and Agreements Library This link opens in a new window
Includes both official and unofficial primary treaty resources in addition to helpful guides. Official primary sources include: United States Treaties and Other International Agreements (UST) Vols. 1-35 (1950-1984); Treaties and International Act Series (TIAS) TIAS 11060 to TIAS 12734. Unofficial sources include: International Legal Materials, vols. 1-42 (1962-2003); and agreements and treaties compiled by Bevans, Kavass, Malloy, and Miller. Treaty guides and indexes include: U.S. Dept. of State Treaties in Force (1955-2003) and Kavass’ Guide to Treaties in Force (1982-2003). Provides search and browse options and PDF and Hprint printing or downloading options.
Coverage: varies
ProQuest Congressional External This link opens in a new window
Coverage: 15th Congress, 1817 to present
ProQuest Legislative Insight External This link opens in a new window
Coverage: 1st Congress, 1789 to present

Free Resources for Finding Treaties

Congress.gov: Treaty Documents

Congress.gov is the official website for U.S. federal legislative information. The site provides access to accurate, timely, and complete legislative information for Members of Congress, legislative agencies, and the public. It is presented by the Library of Congress (LOC) using data from the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, the Government Publishing Office, Congressional Budget Office, and the LOC's Congressional Research Service.
Coverage: 81st Congress, 1949 to present
Govinfo: U.S. Government Publishing Office

govinfo is a service of the United States Government Publishing Office (GPO), which is a Federal agency in the legislative branch. It provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.
Search by title of treaty or keywords.
Coverage: varies
United States Treaties (Law Library of Congress)

This site includes:
* United States Treaty Series (1795-1945), compiled by Charles I. Bevans
* United States Treaties and Other International Agreements (TIAS)
Coverage: 1776-1984
Texts of International Agreements to which the US is a Party (TIAS): U.S. Dept. of State

The Office of Treaty Affairs provides advice and support on matters involving U.S. and international treaty law and practice.
Coverage: 97th Congress, 1981 to present (selective)
Treaties in Force: US Department of State

"Lists treaties and other international agreements of the United States on record in the Department of State, which, as of January 1, 2020, had not expired by their own terms or which had not been denounced by the parties, replaced or superseded by other agreements, or otherwise definitely terminated."
Coverage: current
United States Statutes at Large

"The United States Statutes at Large is the collection of every law, public and private, ever enacted by the Congress, published in order of the date of its passage"
Coverage: 1789-1951
American Indian Treaties Portal: University of Nebraska - Lincoln External

Coverage: varies
Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties : Oklahoma State University External

Coverage: 1778-1970
HathiTrust External

Treaties and other international agreements of the United States of America, 1776-1949. Bevans
Coverage: 1776-1949
HathiTrust External

Treaties and other international acts series. (TIAS)
Coverage: 1945-2006

Finding Treaties in Paper

The following resource links to fuller bibliographic information about the item in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. This resource may also be available at other public and academic libraries.

Treaties and other international agreements of the United States of America, 1776-1949 by Bevins, Charles
Call Number: KZ236 1968
Published/Created: 1968-1976
Available in the Law Library and the Main Reading Room
United States treaties and other international agreements.
Call Number: KZ235.3 .U55
Published/Created: 1952-1996
Available in: the Law Library, the Main Reading Room and the Newspaper & Current Periodical Room

Supplemental Resources

U.S. Treaties: A Beginner's Guide

This excellent guide, created by the reference staff of the Law Library of Congress, compiles resources for researchers trying to find copies of treaties to which the United States is or was a party.
FInding Agreements:: US Department of State

Useful resources from the Office of Treaty Affairs.
Treaties: US Senate

Historical Overview, Historical Highlights, Rejected Treaties, Resources
How to find Treaties: National Indian Law Library: External

"The National Indian Law Library (NILL) of the "Native American Rights Fund is a law library devoted to federal Indian and tribal law. NILL maintains a unique and valuable collection of Indian law resources and assists people with their Indian law-related research needs."

Finding Government Documents

Treaties

Subscription Databases for Finding Treaties

Free Resources for Finding Treaties

Finding Treaties in Paper

Supplemental Resources