We’re excited to introduce HeinOnline’s newest database, Organization of American States (OAS), the only digital resource of its kind offering comprehensive, structured access to official documents from the oldest regional organization in the world.
What is the OAS?
Established in 1948 but with roots dating back to 1890, the Organization of American States (OAS) is a multilateral regional body uniting 34 independent countries of the Americas.
Its core mission is to strengthen peace and security in the Western Hemisphere, support representative democracy, resolve disputes peacefully, and coordinate responses to aggression, and advance economic, social, and cultural development.
The OAS is governed by the General Assembly, the Permanent Council, and the General Secretariat, and has played a crucial role in monitoring elections, responding to regional crises, and shaping the Inter-American legal and diplomatic system.
What’s included in the HeinOnline Database?
This groundbreaking collection features:
- Nearly 1,000 digitized publications from the OAS and its predecessor, the Pan American Union
- Foundational documents including charters, treaties, resolutions, reports, and more
- Structured access through official OAS series, using the trusted Classification Manual for OAS Official Records relied on by researchers since 1977
- Access to hard-to-find materials from the Columbus Memorial Library, the institutional memory of the OAS
- Historical and contextual works, such as the Bulletin of the Pan American Union and classic titles like Are We Good Neighbors? Three Decades of Inter-American Relations, 1930-1960 by Donald Dozer
- Editor’s picks curated by Rocio Suarez of the Columbus Memorial Library, highlighting the most valuable, frequently consulted, and informative OAS documents
- A growing bibliography linked to WorldCat
- Hundreds of curated scholarly articles providing commentary and analysis
Built for Researchers, Powered by Metadata
Titles published after January 1960 that are part of the official OAS classification system include custom metadata drawn from the Classification Manual for the OAS Official Records Series, making it easier to locate and understand the materials. This allows researchers to browse and search by the series title and classification, document title, or date. Earlier publications and related works outside the classification system do not contain this metadata but are still fully searchable by title, author, and date.
For titles that are part of the classification system, relevant metadata is reproduced directly in search results, helping scholars, analysts, and students quickly assess and access key material.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We’ve got answers!
Will the content be updated?
Yes, new OAS publications will be checked regularly and added to the collection.
What audience is this database intended for?
The Organization of American States collection is a great resource for academics, researchers, government officials, and legal professionals focusing on Latin America, diplomacy, international law, and Inter-American relations.
What are the noteworthy documents?
The most requested documents can be found in:
Series F: Foreign Ministers Meeting Materials
Series G: Permanent Council Documents
Series P: General Assembly Proceedings
Series L: Inter-American Specialized Organizations
Is this database comprehensive?
At launch, the database is nearly complete, with approximately 190,000 pages still being digitized. These will be added in HeinOnline’s monthly content releases, with full completion expected by March 2026.
Is this included in a Core HeinOnline Subscription package?
This database is not included in HeinOnline’s core subscription packages. It is available as an add-on to any subscription. Contact us to request a quote and set up a free trial.
How much does a subscription cost?
Access options include a cost-effective annual subscription with reduced renewal rates, or a one-time perpetual access license.
Special Offer: Current subscribers to HeinOnline’s United Nations Law Collection are eligible for a one-time 10% discount on any pricing option.
Contact us to request a quote for your institution or to set up a free trial.
Subscription Information
Access options include a cost-effective annual subscription with reduced renewal rates, or a one-time perpetual access license.
Special Offer: Current subscribers to HeinOnline’s United Nations Law Collection are eligible for a one-time 10% discount on any pricing option.
Contact us to request a quote for your institution or to set up a free trial.
