A new video archive from C-SPAN has 160,000 hours of archival video from every C-SPAN program that has run since 1987. The collection includes a full text index of the transcripts of the programs and a subject index so that you can look up people by name and see who they have spoken with.

Here's an illustration of some of the depth of this collection; it can't possibly do it justice, but I know that political operatives, scholars, comedians and historians will be mining their way through this collection for years.

Local content

A total of 41 separate programs show up in a search for video from Ann Arbor. These include a 2009 commencement speech by Google founder Larry Page, a 2007 guided tour of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, a 1998 interview with the late Edward Weber of the Labadie Collection, and the 1991 commencement speech by President George Bush. The 2000 commencement address by President Bill Clinton at Eastern Michigan University is also available.

At least 115 people from the University of Michigan make appearances in the C-SPAN archives. A 2003 appearance by President Mary Sue Coleman at the dedication of the Ford School features President Gerald Ford.

Congress

No less than 665 programs include testimony or speeches by Rep. John Dingell, seen here in this 1987 House session. One of his most recent appearances on C-SPAN is this 32 minute interview on March 5, 2010 where he talks about health care reform.