Excellent place to find basic information about any technology.

American Consumer Culture: Market Research and American Business, 1935-1965 - Contains thousands of reports commissioned by companies such as Philip Morris, Chrysler, Exxon and CBS on consumer goods ranging from tobacco and broadcasting to cars and hotels. Features the complete market research reports of Ernest Dichter, the era’s foremost consumer analyst and market research pioneer.

American Consumer Culture: Trade Catalogues and the American Home, 1850-1950 - Advertisements reflecting one hundred years of changing commercial tastes and consumer trends, attitudes towards race, the family and domestic sphere, and advancements in technology. Includes trade catalogues, cards and marketing ephemera.

An index to periodical literature from 1890 to 1982. Most of these are available in the KU Libraries. Many will be on microfilm.

An excellent sources starting in the 1980s. Be warned that you cannot search advertisements.

Even though this database focuses on business, remember every technology has to be bought and sold. This database has good coverage from the mid 1970s on.

Access public opinion polls back to the 1930s to today.

Search annual reports of public companies from 1844 to 2008. In addition to annual summaries, this database includes financials.

Once called the second most important magazine in the US, Liberty covers from the 1920s through the 1950s.

The most important American newspaper in the 20th century.

Although this database doesn't have images or PDFs of original texts, the content here covers a significant portion of the twentieth century.

Search and watch various television news broadcasts starting in 1968.

Search all pages of the American edition of Vogue, including advertisements.

America's most read business newspaper.

Search and browse the pages of the 20th centuries most important photographic magazine.