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Treaties and Other International Agreements - Research Guide

The purpose of this guide is to help researchers using the University Libraries locate the text and status of treaties and other international agreements. While the focus of this guide is treaties and agreements to which the United States is a party, Part IX contains a brief list of worldwide treaty resources.

Treaties are formal agreements between countries. In the United States, treaties have the same legal effect as statutes. The Constitution gives the executive branch the power to arrange treaties, but treaties must be submitted to the Senate for ratification. Executive agreements may also be made with other countries. Legally and bibliographically executive agreements are similar to treaties. The major difference between treaties and agreements is that agreements do not require Senate ratification. Most of the sources listed in this handout cover both treaties and executive agreements.

CONTENTS:

  1. Library Catalogs, Franklin and Lola
  2. Indexes to United States Treaties in Force
  3. Recent Treaties not yet Published in the TIAS Series - Texts and Indexes
  4. Treaties from 1950 to recently - Texts and Indexes
  5. Treaties from 1776 to 1949 - Texts and Indexes
  6. Unperfected" Treaties from 1776 to 1976 - Texts and Indexes
  7. Native American Treaty Sources
  8. Worldwide Treaty Sources
  9. Specialized Treaty Collections
  10. Guides, Bibliographies, Indexes, and News Sources for Treaty Research
  11. Other Internet Resources

1. Library Catalogs, Franklin and LOLA

For books on treaties and alliances etc., search both the Franklin, the Penn Library Catalog, and LOLA, the catalog of the Biddle Law Library.

Subject searching using the following Library of Congress Subject Headings may be useful:

alliances
armistices
diplomacy
international business enterprises
international law
international relations
japan foreign relations united states
national security
peace treaties
security international
strategic alliances business
treaties
treaties collections
united states foreign economic relations
united states foreign relations
united states foreign relations
united states foreign relations japan
united states relations
world politics

2. INDEXES TO UNITED STATES TREATIES CURRENTLY IN FORCE

U.S. Department of State. Office of the Legal Advisor. Treaties in Force: A List of Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States. Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1929- .
Online version from Hein, 1955-present.
Online version from State Department (current)
Print: [Van Pelt Library Stacks: JX 236 1929c; latest in Reference] Library has: 1941,55-56,58-70,72-86,88-90, 92-93,95- .
This annual publication lists treaties and agreements currently in effect to which the United States is a party. TIF provides access to bilateral treaties by country and, within country, by broad subject; access to multilateral treaties is only by broad subject. Citations are provided so that researchers may locate the text of the treaty. Later modifying agreements are given with each original reference. When the status of a treaty is in doubt, contact the Office of Treaty Affairs at the Department of State.
A Guide to the United States Treaties in Force . Buffalo, N.Y., W.S. Hein, 1982- .
Online version from Hein
Print: [Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: JX 236.5 G84; latest, earlier in stacks 1984,1987,1989- .
Print: [Biddle Law Library: JX 236.5 G8]), 1982-
This commercially published annual guide is based on information about treaties and agreements found in the State Department's annual Treaties in Force (above). The purpose of the Guide is to supplement retrieval approaches available in Treaties in Force. Part I provides numerical lists of treaties and agreements. Part II provides country and subject lists of bilateral and multilateral treaties and agreements. Part III provides a chronological index and directory of multilateral treaties by countries, sub-arranged by subject.
Commerce Clearing House. Congressional Index . Chicago: Commerce Clearing House, 1937/38- .
[Biddle Law Library KF 49 C6; 1983- , latest in Reference]

3. RECENT TREATIES NOT YET PUBLISHED IN the TIAS SERIES -- TEXTS AND INDEXES

Researchers may have to wait several years after a treaty is signed before it is published as a slip treaty in the TIAS series (described in Part 4). During the period before official publication it may be possible to locate a treaty or agreement if it has been published in a periodical or as a Senate Treaty Document. Listed below are the major sources and indexes for unpublished and unnumbered treaties.

Some recent Treaty Documents can be found on the Internet through:
[GPO Access - Congressional Documents
Currently, treaty documents are searchable from the 104th to the current Congress and include the Secretary of State's Letter of Submittal to the President, the President's Letter of Transmittal to the Senate and a PDF file of the treaty text.
LexisNexis Congressional Universe.
[Select: Congressional Publications]
For citations to Treaty Documents, Executive Messages, Executive Reports, Hearings, Legislative Histories, and Prints, search under the descriptor: "treaties and conventions" combined with other keyword(s) .
United States. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs. US Department of State Dispatch. Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1990- 1999.
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: JX 232 A332]
Online from 1993-1999.
This weekly periodical published the text of major treaties. The Dispatch was a continuation of the Department of State Bulletin.
International Legal Materials. Washington, D.C., American Society of International Law, 1962-
[Biddle Law Library: v.1(1962)-v.37(1998), v.39(2000) Loose issues in FILL Office. Bound vols. in Biddle stacks. Online version available via LOLA to Penncard holders.
ILM is a monthly periodical which frequently publishes the texts and drafts of treaties. Each volume has an annual index. Each issue has a detailed table of contents which makes it easy to locate the texts of treaties and agreements in that particular issue. LILM is also indexed in PAIS.
Senate Treaty Documents. Washington, D.C. GPO, 1981- .
[Van Pelt Documents Room; Current Congresses.- ]
All United States treaties must be ratified by the Senate. Senate Treaty Documents are used to transmit the text of a treaty from the President to the Senate. Prior to 1981 Senate Treaty Documents were called Executive Documents. Executive Documents were first made available to depository libraries in 1977 and became part of the Serial Set beginning with the 96th Congress. Senate Treaty Documents are first published as pamphlets which are retained until they are reprinted as part of the Serial Set [Van Pelt Library Stacks: J 74 A22 and High Density Storage]. Senate Treaty Documents are indexed in the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, the CIS Index to Publications of the United States Congress (included in LexisNexis Congressional Universe ), and the Congressional Index [Van Pelt Reference Stacks: J 69 C6]; latest 3 years only retained). When searching the Monthly Catalog online, try searching for the phrase "treaty doc" in the series field.

4. TREATIES FROM 1950 TO RECENT -- TEXTS AND INDEXES

United States. Treaties, etc. Treaties and Other International Acts [Advanced Sheets]. Washington, D.C., GPO, 1946- .
[Van Pelt Library Documents Room]
Bibble Law Library has advanced sheets- [Biddle Law JX 239.5 A32]
The TIAS series, prepared by the Department of State, constitutes the first official publication of United States treaties and agreements. The series consists of pamphlets (slip treaties) which are retained until they are reprinted in the bound, permanent United States Treaties and Other International Agreements. Treaties in the TIAS series are arranged by TIAS number. The pamphlets in the TIAS series are indexed in the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications. (When searching the Monthly Catalog, try searching for the words "treaties" and "acts" in the series field.)
United States. Treaties, etc. United States Treaties and Other International Agreements (UST). Washington, D.C., GPO, 1950- .
Online version from Hein - 1950-1984.
Print: [Van Pelt Library Stacks: JX 231 A34], 1950-1984.
Print: [Biddle Law: JX 235.9 A34], 1950-1984, has advanced sheets, see above.
Several years after they appear as a pamphlets in the TIAS series (above), treaties are reprinted in the permanent, bound United States Treaties and Other International Agreements series Arrangement in Treaties and Other International Agreements is numerical, following the numbering used for the pamphlets in the TIAS series. Each annual volume includes subject and country indexes. A table of contents in each volume lists treaties in numerical order. TIAS numbers may be identified by using the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications.
Hein's United States treaties and other international agreements current service [microform]. Buffalo, N.Y., W.S. Hein, [1990- .
Biddle Law Library FILL Ofc Fiche S25 Index
Kavass, Igor, and Adolf Sprudzs. UST Cumulative Index: Cumulative Index to United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, 1950/1970- . Buffalo, N.Y, W.S. Hein, 1973- .
(Biddle Law Library: JX 236.5 U78 1973)
This index provides a numerical list of documents as well as chronological, country, and subject indexes. The index consists of three parts: a four volume set covers the years 1950 through 1970; five-year supplements are issued as new bound volumes are published; and a loose-leaf supplement keeps the index up- to-date until the five-year supplements are published.
Current Treaty Index: A Cumulative Index to the United Slip Treaties and Agreements. Buffalo, N.Y., W.S. Hein, 1982- .
[Biddle Law Lewis: JX236.5 C87], 1985-
An index to treaties which are available only in slip during the lengthy period from their publication and their eventual incorporation into bound volumes. Each annual volume is cumulative, so it is only necessary to consult the most recent volume. The index provides a numerical list by TIAS number, as well as chronological, country, and subject indexes.
KAV Agreements.
U.S. treaties and executive agreements since 1950 not published in UST or TIAS. Documents are assigned KAV numbers. Most KAV documents will eventually be published in UST or TIAS.

5. TREATIES FROM 1776 TO 1949 -- TEXTS AND INDEXES

United States. Treaties, conventions, international acts, protocols and agreements between the United States of America and other powers, 1776-1909. Compiled by William M. Malloy, under resolution of the Senate of Jan. 18, 1909. Washington : G.P.O., 1910.
Online version from Hein
Prepared under the direction of the Committee on foreign relations, United States Senate. The Department of state cooperated with the compiler in the preparation of this publication. Vols. [I-II] 1776-1909, compiled by William M. Malloy and issued as Senate document 357, 61st Congress, 2d session. Vol. III, 1910-1923, issued as Senate document 348, 67th Congress, 4th session, Denys P. Myers, co-editor. Vol. IV, 1923-1937, issued as Senate document 134, 75th Congress,contains a chronological index and an alphabetical index to the contents of vol.I-IV. Contents: pt. 1. Conventions in force pt. 2. Conventions not in force.
Kavass, Igor. United States Treaties and Other International Agreements Cumulative Index, 1776-1949. 4v. Buffalo, N.Y., W.S. Hein, 1975.
[Biddle Law Library: JX 236.5 K38 1975]
This four-volume index lists documents in numerical order. It also provides detailed chronological, country and subject indexes. Treaties with Native Americans are not included. The index gives citations to Bevan's compilation (above), as well as to other major sources in which the text of treaties may be found.
United States. Treaties, etc. Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States of America, 1776-1949. Ed. Charles I. Bevans. 13v. Washington, D.C., GPO, 1968-1976.
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: JX 236 1968 A5]
Online version from Hein
This is the definitive retrospective compilation of treaties and other international agreements entered into by the United States from 1776 to 1949. Treaties with Native Americans are not included. Volume thirteen is an index to countries and subjects.
Collection of neutrality laws, regulations and treaties of various countries . Edited and annotated by Francis Deak and Philip Jessup. Washington, D.C. : Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1939.
Online version from Hein
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: 341.3 D3421]
This material which includes laws, regulations and treaties covering the period from 1800 until October 1, 1938, has been assembled in the course of the preparation of a draft Convention on Rights and Duties of Neutral States in Naval and Aerial War for Research in International Law, under the auspices of the Faculty of the Harvard Law School.--Pref.

6. UNPERFECTED TREATIES FROM 1776 TO 1976 -- TEXTS AND INDEXES

United States. Unperfected Treaties of the United States of America, 1776-1976. Ed. and annot. by Christian Wiktor. Dobbs, Ferry, N.Y., Oceana, 1976-1994. 9 vols. Law Library has: v. 1-9.
[Biddle Law Library: JX 236 1976]
The term "unperfected" refers to treaties or agreements which have been signed by the United States, or have been submitted to the Senate, but which have failed to go into force. The collection is arranged chronologically by date of signature. Each volume has an index for countries and subjects. For a list of treaties currently awaiting Senate ratification, consult the Congressional Index described in Section I of this bibliography.

7. NATIVE AMERICAN TREATY SOURCES

Treaties were made between the United States government and American Indian tribes until 1871. In 1871 Congress passed a law which said that Indian tribes were no longer to be recognized as independent nations with whom treaties could be made.

United States. Laws, statutes, etc. Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Washington, DC., GPO, 1975- .
Online version from Hein
Print: [Van Pelt Library Stacks: KF 8203 1975, v.1-7]
This compilation includes treaties, laws, executive orders, and other matters relating to Indian affairs. Volume two contains treaties, arranged chronologically. Each volume has an index. Commonly referred to as the Kappler report.
Avalon Project: Treaties Between the United States and Native Americans
Cohen, Felix S. Handbook of Federal Indian Law . Washington, D.C., GPO, 1942. Reprint. New York, AMS, 1972. 662p.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: KF 8205 C6 1972; Biddle Law Library has 1982 ed.]
Chapter three covers treaties. Texts are not included.
Vaughan, Alden T., ed. Early American Indian Documents: Treaties and Laws 1607-1789. Washington, DC., University Publications of America, 1979-
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: KF 8202 1979], Library has: 1-2,4-9,11,18..
This work-in-progress has volumes for each colony. Includes treaty texts.
De Puy, Henry F. A Bibliography of the English Colonial Treaties With the American Indians. New York: Lenox Club, 1917. Reprint. New York: AMS, 1971.
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: Z 1209.2 U5 D44 1971]
Arranged chronologically. Citations to texts are given. Synopses are provided.
Canby, William C. American Indian Law In a Nutshell. 2nd ed. St. Paul, Minn: West, 1988. 336p.
[Biddle Law Library: KF 8205 Z9 C36 1988]
Chapter six covers treaties and treaty making.

8. WORLDWIDE TREATY SOURCES

LexisNexis Academic.
Search for articles about recent treaties and sometimes the text of a treaty.
Keesings Record of World Events can serve as an index to information about world treaties and alliances. Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: D 410 K4], covers 1931 - present
EBSCO MegaFile
A combined index of EBSCO's Academic Search Premier and Masterfile Premier. Indexes both scholarly journals and popular periodicals. Strong from 1990s forward, although many titles are indexed back further.
International Legal Materials. Washington, D.C., American Society of International Law, 1962-
[Biddle Law Library: JX 68 I5], Law Library has: 1963- .
ILM is a monthly periodical which frequently publishes the texts and drafts of treaties. Each volume has an annual index. Each issue has a detailed table of contents which makes it easy to locate the texts of treaties and agreements in that particular issue. ILM is also indexed in PAIS.
The Consolidated Treaty Series. . Ed. and annot. by Clive Parry. 231v. plus appendixes. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., Oceana Publications, 1969-1981.
[Biddle Law Library: JX 120 P35]
This series attempts to collect the texts of all treaties dating from 1648 to 1919. The texts of the treaties are printed in their original language. If an English or French translation was available, it is included along with the original text. If a translation was not available a summary in English is provided. The arrangement is chronological with appendix volumes for treaties which were overlooked when the initial volumes were published.
Index-Guide to Treaties. 22v. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, 1979-1986.
Biddle Law Library: JX 120 P352]
This index is based on the Consolidated Treaty Series (above). It gives references to CTS as well as to earlier series. The index volumes provide a chronological list of treaties and alphabetical access by party. A separate section provides a chronology for colonial agreements and postal and telegraph agreements.
League of Nations. Treaty Series. 205v. London: Harrison, 1920-46.
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: 341.1L I.1B; Biddle Law Library JX 170 L4]
The Covenant of the League of Nations required that treaties and international agreements entered into by its members be registered with the Secretariat of the League and be published in the Treaty Series. Treaties were published in the order of registration. English and French translations of each treaty in the series are provided. Although the United States was not a member of the League, its treaties appear in this series. A chronological, subject, and country index volume was issued for the first 1000 treaties. Thereafter index volumes were issued for each group of 500 treaties. Also indexed in the World Treaty Index (below).
United Nations. Treaty Series. New York, United Nations, 1947- .
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: JX 170 U35; Biddle Law Library: JX 170 U35]
The Charter of the United Nations requires that every treaty and international agreement entered into by its member states be registered with the Secretariat. The treaties registered by members (and some non-members) are published in order of registration in the Treaty Series. Unfortunately, there is about a ten year time lag for the publication of treaties. In 1978 the General Assembly passed a resolution giving the Secretariat the option not to publish bilateral treaties and agreements of limited interest. These treaties and agreements are listed with an asterisk in the Statement of Treaties and International Agreements (below). English and French translations of each treaty are included where necessary. Indexes which contain chronological listings and alphabetical listings for subjects and countries are currently being published for every fifty volumes. Also indexed in the World Treaty Index (below).
Rohn, Peter H. World Treaty Index. 2nd ed. 5v. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-Clio, 1983-1984.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: JX 171 R63 1983]
This index, produced by the Treaty Research Center at the University of Washington, provides access to 44,000 treaties from the period 1900 to 1980. It covers treaties in the United Nations Treaty Series, the League of Nations Treaty Series, national treaty collections, and other sources. Citations to the texts of treaties are given. Arrangement is chronological with indexes by party and key word.
United Nations. Office of Legal Affairs. Multilateral Treaties Deposited With the Secretary-General. Annual. New York, United Nations, 1982- .
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: JX 170 U335 -- Latest in Reference], 1981 -.
This annual publication identifies the status of multilateral treaties in the Treaty Series of the United Nations and the League of Nations as of December 31 of each year. Citations are given to the text of each treaty. Arrangement is by broad subject with a more detailed subject index at the end of each volume.
United Nations. Office of Legal Affairs. Statement of Treaties and International Agreements. Monthly. New York: United Nations, 1947- . Library has: 1950- .
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: JX 170 U38 -- Unbound issues in Current Periodicals]
This monthly publication lists treaties registered with the Secretary-General. Treaties are listed in order of registration. This is a useful source for identifying treaties during the lengthy period between their registration and their eventual publication in the Treaty Series. Each issue has an index by subject and country; the December issue has cumulative indexes for the year.

9.. SPECIALIZED TREATY COLLECTIONS

There are many specialized compilations of treaties which may be found by searching the library catalogs. A few are listed below.
Treaties and Alliances of the World. Comp. by N. Rengger and J. Campbell. 6th ed. London, Cartermill, 1995. 538p, maps.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: JX 4005 T72 1995]
Grenville, J.A.S. The Major International Treaties, 1914-1945: A History and Guide With Texts. London, Metheun, 1987.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: JX 171 G736 1987]
Israel, Fred, ed. Major Peace Treaties of Modern History, 1648-1967. 5v. New York: Chelsea House, 1967-80.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: JX 121 I8]
Davenport, Frances Gardiner, ed. European Treaties Bearing On the History of the United States and Its Dependencies. 4v. Washington DC: Carnegie Institution, 1917-37.
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: AS 32 A5 no. 254]
Commission of the European Communities. Treaties Establishing the European Communities: ECSC, EEC, AEAC, Single European Act, Other Basic Instruments. Luxembourg: European Communities, 1987.
[Lippincott Reference Stacks: HC 241.2 T74 1987]

10. GUIDES AND BIBLIOGRAPHIES FOR TREATY RESEARCH

Axelrod, Alan., American treaties and alliances. Washington, DC : CQ Press, 2000.
Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: KZ236 2000]
Burns, Richard D., ed. Guide to American Foreign Relations Since 1700. Santa Barbara. Calif., ABC-Clio, 1983.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: E 183.7 G838 1983]
Cheney, Debora. "Post World War II Treaty Research Sources, Finding Tools, and Status Information Sources." Government Publications Review. Vol. 12, pp. 1-23, 1985.
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: Z 7164 G7 G69]
Cohen, Morris L. Legal Research in a Nutshell. 5th ed. St. Paul, West, 1992.
[Van Pelt Reference Stacks: KF 240 C54 1992]
Plischke, Elmer. U.S. Foreign Relations: A Guide to Information Sources. Detroit: Gale, 1980.
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: JX 1417 P58]

11. OTHER INTERNET RESOURCES

United Nations Treaty Collection
Eur-Lex Treaties
International Human Rights Instruments

Send mail concerning this Bibliography to: Patty Lynn at lynn@pobox.upenn.edu.

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