A Public Company sell shares of the company (stocks) to the general public, and are required to submit financial information and annual reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  Public companies are easier to research.

There are many places to find information about a company and its history. Try the following:

• Company's website
  • Websites often include an "about us" section that sometimes details their history. Remember, the company will explain its history the way it wants to be seen.
• Annual report
  • Public companies are required to file an annual report to the U.S. government, known as a 10-K. These reports will often include a section on the company's history. Again, remember this is a self-reported history.
• Search for articles
  • Newspapers, trade/magazine, and scholarly articles that mention or are about specific companies might provide some historical information.
• Use Library Databases
  • Most of the databases that contain company profiles include a history, annual reports, SEC filings, financial information and more.