Research > Homework Center > American presidents

American presidents

Megasites

The American President: http://www.americanpresident.org/history/h_home.shtml

Select a president and learn about his life before and after the presidency, his family and his legacy. This is an excellent resource to begin research on any of the American presidents.
The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden: http://americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/home.html

This website explains how the presidency was and is defined and what its job limitations are. Biographies on each president are present and unique objects connectioned with presidents are included. The website explores how the media plays a role in politics for the presidents, from radio, television, and print. The website also explains the election process and campaign trail, what life is life after the presidency, and which presidents died in office.
National Portrait Gallery: Hall of Presidents: http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/hall2/index.htm

Take a virtual tour of the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian Institute and read short biographies of the presidents.
Presidents: http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/

Biographies, speeches, and writings of the presidents of the United States.
Presidents of the United States: http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/

From the Internet Public Library.
Presidents of the United States: http://library.thinkquest.org/J002911/?tqskip=1

This Thinkquest website for younger youth presents short biographies of the presidents.
By Popular Demand: Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/odmdhtml/preshome.html

From the Library of Congress, this website provides biographies of the presidents and links to other sites with information about each president.
Vincent Voice Library: U.S. Presidents of the 20th Century: http://archive.lib.msu.edu/VVL/vincent/presidents/index.htm

Listen to 20th century presidents.

First Ladies

First Ladies megasites
Individual First Ladies

First Ladies megasites

First Ladies of the United States of America: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/

Information about the First Ladies of the United States.
By Popular Demand: Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/odmdhtml/preshome.html

From the Library of Congress, this website provides biographies of the presidents and links to other sites with information about each president.
National First Ladies' Library: http://www.firstladies.org/

This website explores the lives and conributions of the nation's first ladies.

Individual First Ladies

Lou Henry Hoover: A Biographical Sketch: http://hoover.nara.gov/education/louhenrybio.html

A long biography of the First Lady.

Lincoln, Mary Todd

Abraham Lincoln Resource Guide: Mary Todd Lincoln

http://www.multcolib.org/homework/lincoln/#mary

Links to sites about Mary, the wife of Abraham Lincoln.

Madison, Dolley

The Dolley Madison Collection

http://moderntimes.vcdh.virginia.edu/madison/

This website presents Dolley Madison's life through letters, drawings, maps, and essays. Search the archive of Dolley Madison's complete correspondence and discover Dolley's place in pop culture during her time as first lady.

Vice Presidents

The Vice President of the United States (President of the Senate): http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Vice_President.htm

The US Senate has created this website expaling the office of vice president along with in depth biographies.

George Washington

George Washington: http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/gwashington.html

An excellent place to begin. Includes biographical information, elections results, links to historical documents and much more.
George Washington: http://sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/gwash.html

Biography of George Washington.
George Washington: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/gw1.html

From the White House Web site.
George Washington Picture Gallery: http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/wash-pix/gallery.htm

Many illustrations of Washington throughout his life and career.
George Washington Quiz: http://www.osv.org/kids_zone/quiz/

Take this online quiz about Washington.
George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens: Learn: http://www.mountvernon.org/learn/index.cfm/cfid/253889/cftoken/30962483

Biographical information, tour Mt. Vernon, and Washington's view on slavery.
Washington Monument: http://www.nps.gov/wamo/index.htm

Information about the monument.

John Adams

John Adams: http://www.americanpresident.org/history/johnadams/

This website presents Adams' life and his short term as president, including his perspective on domestic and foreign affairs, his family life, and what he did after being president.
John Adams: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ja2.html

Biography of John Adams on the White House Web site.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson: http://www.americanpresident.org/history/thomasjefferson/

This website presents Jefferson's life and his term as president, including his perspective on domestic and foreign affairs, his family life, and what he did after being president.
Thomas Jefferson: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tj3.html

This page from the White House website presents Jefferson's life.
Thomas Jefferson: http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/tjefferson.html

An excellent place to begin. Includes biographical information, elections results, links to historical documents and much more.
Life of Thomas Jefferson: http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/biog/

Biography and details of Jefferson's role in US government and its formation.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial: http://www.nps.gov/thje/index.htm

This website presents information about Jefferson's memorial in Washington DC. Click on Park Planning under the Management tab to find documents related to the memorial's planning.
Monticello: Home of Thomas Jefferson: http://www.monticello.org/

Learn about a day in the life at Monticello.

James Madison

The James Madison Center: http://www.jmu.edu/madison/center/index.htm

This website from James Madison University in Virginia presents an extensive history of James Madison and his family. The website includes information about the Madison homes, a virtual collection of family heirlooms, as well as a history and virtual tour of Montpelier, his lifelong home.
James Madison: http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=4

Facts about Madison and a videos about James, Dolley and Montpelier.
Montpelier: http://www.montpelier.org/

This is the official website for Montpelier, home of James Madison. This website presents short biographies of the Madison family, a history of the architecture and construction of the building and landscape.

James Monroe

James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library: http://www.umw.edu/jamesmonroemuseum/

This website presents a chronology of Monroe's life, his formative years, and time as president, including information about the Monroe Doctrine.
James Monroe: http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=5

Facts and videos about Monroe, as well as links to other Monroe sites.

John Quincy Adams

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson: http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/bio/public/jackson.htm

This website presents the life of Jackson including his early years, political career, and his administration as president.
The Hermitage: http://www.thehermitage.com/

This is the official website for the home of Andrew Jackson. The website includes a detailed biography of Jackson, a history of his home, and more.

Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/mb8.html

Biography of Martin Van Buren on the White House Web site.
Martin Van Buren: National Historic Site: http://www.nps.gov/mava/

This website from the National Park Service presents a look at Martin Van Buren's National Historic website located in Kinderhook, New York.

William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison: http://www.americanpresident.org/history/williamhharrison/

This website presents Harrison's life and his short term as president, including his perspective on domestic and foreign affairs, and his family life.
Grouseland: William Henry Harrison's Home: http://www.grouselandfoundation.org/Grouseland/Home.html

Information about Harrison and the home he built when he was Governor of the Indiana Territory.
William Henry Harrison: http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/battle/harrison.html

This website from the 4th grade class in Battle Ground, Indiana presents details about Harrison's life, from his role in the Battle of Tippecanoe to his death in office.

John Tyler

John Tyler: http://www.americanpresident.org/history/johntyler/

This detailed biography of Tyler explores his life before and after the presidency and his impact and legacy on the US.
Sherwood Forest Plantation: http://www.sherwoodforest.org/

This is the home of John Tyler. With Quicktime plug-in you can take a virtual tour of the Virginia plantation.

James K. Polk

The James K. Polk Ancestoral Home: http://www.jameskpolk.com/

This website provides an illustrated biography of Polk, quotes from his diary and more.
James K. Polk: http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=11

Facts and videos about Polk.

Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/zt12.html

Biography of Zachary Taylor on the White House Web site.
Zachary Taylor: http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=12

Facts and videos about Taylor.
Zachary Taylor Home: http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/travel/presidents/zachary_taylor_springfield.html

Info about Taylor and his home which is a national historic landmark.

Millard Fillmore

Millard Fillmore: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/mf13.html

Biography of Millard Fillmore on the White House Web site.
Millard Fillmore House: http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/presidents/millard_fillmore_house.html

Info about Fillmore and the house he built and lived in for four years.
Millard Fillmore's Obituary: http://starship.python.net/crew/manus/Presidents/mf/mfobit.html

Millard Fillmore's obituary as printed in the New York Times on March 9, 1874.

Franklin Pierce

The Franklin Pierce Pages: http://www.mindspring.com/~dbholzel/pierce/pierce.html

This website presents scholarly information about Pierce, his presidency, and legacy.
The Life of Franklin Pierce by Nathaniel Hawthorne: http://www.eldritchpress.org/nh/lfp.html

This biography is available in full text at this site.
The Franklin Pierce Homestead: http://franklinpierce.ws/homestead/contents.html

This website presents presents the history of Pierce's childhood home.

James Buchanan

James Buchanan Foundation: Wheatland: http://www.wheatland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=275

This website not only explores Wheatland, Buchanan's mansion, but also presents biographies of both James and his niece, the First Lady, Harriet Lane Johnston.
James Buchanon: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamesbuchanan

Biography of James Buchanon on the White House Web site.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln Resource Guide: http://www.multcolib.org/homework/lincoln/

A comprehensive guide to Lincoln, his life, his presidency and his legacy.

Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/andrewjohnson

Biography of Andrew Johnson on the White House Web site.
Andrew Johnson: National Historic Site: http://www.nps.gov/anjo/index.htm

Learn more about Johnson and take a virtual tour of the homestead.
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson: http://www.impeach-andrewjohnson.com/default.htm

This history of Johnson's impeachment comes from this online archive of Harper's Weekly articles which followed the impreachment in 1868. The website provides a detailed biography of Johnson and many images.

Ulysses S. Grant

The Ulysses S. Grant Association: http://library.msstate.edu/USGrant/

This website provides extensive facts, images and memoirs about the life of U.S. Grant. Learn about his genealogy or read his personal memoirs online.
Ulysses S. Grant: http://www.cr.nps.gov/logcabin/html/usg.html

This website from the National Parks Service presents an intersting biography including photos as well as looks at the job of the presidency.
The Ulysses S. Grant Home Page: http://www.mscomm.com/~ulysses/

This website is full of detailed information abou Grant. Explore his life, his legendary drinking, his time at West Point through the Civil War, and his personal life. Did you know Mark Twain was his friend? Find out more at this site.

Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/rutherfordbhayes

Biography of Rutherford B. Hayes on the White House Web site.
Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center: http://www.rbhayes.org/

This website presents a biography of Hayes and his wife, Lucy, and a tour and information about his home.

James Garfield

James Abram Garfield: http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/jagarfield.html

Quick facts about President James Abram Garfield, including a fun "points of interest" section.
Lawnfield: James A. Garfield National Historic Site: http://www.nps.gov/jaga/

This website by the National Park Service provides brief information about Garfield's home and his life there.

Chester Arthur

Chester A. Arthur: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ca21.html

Biography of Chester A. Arthur on the White House Web site.
Chester A. Arthur: http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=21

Facts about Arthur plus a video biography.
President Chester A. Arthur State Historic Site: http://www.historicvermont.org/sites/html/arthur.html

Biography of Arthur plus info about the site.

Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/grovercleveland22

Biography of Grover Cleveland on the White House Web site.
Grover Cleveland: http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=22

Facts about Cleveland, plus a video biography that includes a visit to his birthplace.

Benjamin Harrison

President Benjamin Harrison's Home: http://www.presidentbenjaminharrison.org/

A long biography of Harrison, including his early years, Civil War, and his presidency.
Benjamin Harrison: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/benjaminharrison

Biography of Benjamin Harrison on the White House Web site.

William McKinley

McKinley Memorial Library & Museum: http://www.mckinley.lib.oh.us/

This website includes a biography of McKinley, his genealogy, and more.
William McKinley: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williammckinley

Biography of William McKinley on the White House Web site

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt: Icon of the American Century: http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/roosevelt/trintro2.htm

This Smithsonian Institute website presents the life and times of Roosevelt and also explores who key figures in his political world were.
TR: The Story of Theodore Roosevelt: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/tr/

This website from PBS Online and the American Experience presents a short biography of Theodore Roosevelt, but focuses on his legacies: the Panama Canal and the environment.
Theodore Roosevelt and the National Park System: http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/hisnps/NPSHistory/teddy.htm

Roosevelt was an integral part of the conservation movement in the beginning of the 20th century. Learn what his role was in the creation of the National Park Service in the United States at this site.
Sagamore Hill: http://www.nps.gov/sahi/index.htm

This website presents the history of Roosevelt's home, Samamore Hill. Learn about the story of the home and Roosevelt's family in it at this site.
Theodore Roosevelt: His Life and Times on Film: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/trfhtml/trfhome.html

Roosevelt was the first president whose life was chronicled by motion picture companies. Discover some of these films online and watch them at this website from the Library of Congress.
Featured Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/26_t_roosevelt/

This website from PBS Online presents the life and times of Theodore Roosevelt and his legacy of conservation.
Theodore Roosevelt Association: http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/

This website includes Roosevelt's biography, including photos, and more.

William Taft

William Howard Taft: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/wt27.html

Biography of William Howard Taft on the White House Web site.
William Howard Taft: http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=26

Facts about Taft.

Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson House: http://www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org/

This website presents an online tour of Wilson's Washington DC home and a biography of him.
The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library: http://www.woodrowwilson.org/

Discover Wilson's birthplace and take a virtual tour of the home.

Warren G. Harding

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/warrenharding

Biography of Harding on the White House Web site.

Warren G. Harding: http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=28

Facts about Harding and a video biography.

Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge: 30th President of the United States: http://www.calvin-coolidge.org/

This website presents a chronology of Coolidge's life as well as detailed information about what he was like as a child.
Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation: http://www.calvin-coolidge.org/

Info on Coolidge, First Lady Grace, and the homestead.
Properity and Thrift: The Coolidge Era and the Sonsumer Economy 1921-1929: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/coolhtml/coolhome.html

This Library of Congress website explores Collidge's life and actions during the 1920s.

Herbert Hoover

Herbert Clark Hoover Presidential Library & Museum: http://www.hoover.nara.gov/

A long biography of Hoover and a kids section are included.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt: http://www.rooseveltinstitute.org/policy-and-ideas/roosevelt-history

This website from the Roosevelt Institute provides indepth biographies of Franklin and Eleanor.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum: http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/

Browse or search for photos about World War II, the Great Depression or of Franklin and/or Eleanor Roosevelt. This website also has over 10,000 digitized documents, from treaties to letters and report cards of both of the Roosevelts and biographies of both of them.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial: http://www.nps.gov/fdrm/home.htm

This website presents a bioraphy and information about the monument.
Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt: National Historic Site: http://www.nps.gov/hofr/james.html

This website teaches about Roosevelt's life and provides a virtual tour of his home.

Harry S. Truman

Truman Presidential Library & Museum: http://www.trumanlibrary.org/

This website has a kids page with a biography of Truman, maps and details about places he liked to visit and stay, photos, and information about decisions he made while president.
Hiroshima: Harry Truman's Diary & Papers: http://www.doug-long.com/hst.htm

This website presents the text relevent to the atomic bomb from Truman's diary.

Dwight Eisenhower

Dwight Eisenhower Library & Museum: http://www.eisenhower.utexas.edu/

Explore hundreds of photographs and audio clips and transcripts at this site. Take a virtual tour of the museum or visit theeducation center for details about his political career and homelife. Also, check out the "Reference Desk" under the research page to find answers to frequently asked questions about Eisenhower and his administration.
Eisenhower National Historic Site: http://www.nps.gov/eise/index.htm

This website provides indepth information about Eisenhower, through his public and personal life. Take a virtual tour of the Eisenhower home or look at photos online.

John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum: http://www.jfklibrary.org/

This website has a biography of Kennedy and includes a reference desk section with speeches, audiovisual materials.
John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection: http://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) presents this searchable database of records about and surrounding the assassination.
The Kennedy Assassination: http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/home.html

This website presents assassination information supporting the lone gunman theory of the Kennedy assassination.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson Library & Museum: http://www.lbjlibrary.org/

This website answered frequently asked questions about Johnson, provides his biography, and presents his speeches online. The website also includes the president's daily diary, and audio and video clips.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park: http://www.nps.gov/lyjo/Home.htm

This website offers extensive information and images of Johnson and include virtual tours of the visitor center and the LBJ Ranch.

Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon Birthplace & Museum: http://www.nixonfoundation.org/

Learn more about Nixon's birthplace and take a virtual tour of the museum.
Nixon Presidential Library and Museum: http://www.nixonlibrary.gov/index.php

See the archives section for documents and audio files of the White House tapes.

Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford Library and Museum: http://www.ford.utexas.edu/DEFAULT.HTM

This website includes documents, biographies, photographs, and more.

Jimmy Carter

The Jimmy Carter Library & Museum: http://carterlibrary.galileo.peachnet.edu/

This website has the full text to Carter's presidential daily diary online and searchable, select photographs of the president, speeches, and diary during the Iran hostage crisis. This website also presents a biography of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.
Jimmy Carter & Habitiat For Humanity: http://www.habitat.org/how/carter.html

This website explains Carter's involvement in Habitat for Humanity following his presidential term in office.

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan: An Obituary: http://www.npr.org/news/specials/obits/reagan/index.html

National Public Radio's obituary with links to photos, a timeline and audio and video files.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum: http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/

This website presents a biography of his life, works from his presidency and more.
The American Experience: Reagan: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reagan/

This website from PBS Online presents the life and legacy of Ronald Reagan.

George Bush

George Bush Presidential Library & Museum: http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/

Read biographies of his family, Bush papers from his time in office, and more.

William Clinton

William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum: http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/index.html

Biographical info on the Clintons, as well as a photo gallery and virtual tour of the museum.
The President on Trial: http://www.time.com/time/daily/scandal/

Time Magazine online presents this online reference to the events leading up to the Impeachment trial of Clinton.

George W. Bush

The Life of George W. Bush: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/images/campaign2000/bush/splash.htm

This website from the Washington Post examines George W.'s life and how it led to the presidency.
George W. Bush Presidential Library: http://www.georgewbushlibrary.gov/

George W. Bush's public papers, a photogallery, and a link to his administration's White House website.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama: http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/

The official White House biography of the president.
Barack Obama: http://www.biography.com/articles/Barack-Obama-12782369

Watch Obama videos and learn more about his childhood and parents, and First Lady Michelle.