Here are some examples of book subject-headings that might be helpful:
Search across the full-text of African-American newspapers
Search for news articles from historical American newspapers published from 1690-1922
Search for primary sources related to American history from the 16th to 20th century.
Search facsimiles of 15,000 broadsides printed between 1820 and 1900 and 15,000 pieces of ephemera printed between 1749 and 1900 from the American Antiquarian Society.
Search the full text of the 19th century Flash Press chronicling the seamier side of urban life from 1826 to 1876