The Library of Congress has digitized a variety of works related to eclipses, including maps and diagrams, photographs of eclipses and eclipse observers, and astronomical texts.
See the list here: Library of Congress Digital Collections - Solar Eclipses: A Reference Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congress (loc.gov)
Six pages of the Dresden codex: Pages (55–59, 74) on eclipses (left), multiplication tables, and a flood (far right)
Many cultures around the world have stories and traditions relating to eclipses and other astronomical events. Ancient people were skilled astrologers including the Maya, Mesopotamians, Chinese, Greeks, Indians, and others developed calendars to predict when lunar and solar eclipses would occur. For thousands of years, or more, people around the world have recorded solar eclipses literature and images. The earliest descriptions and predictions of solar events were recorded in stone or clay tablets. Later depictions were drawn or photographed. Technology now helps us understand more about the sun. Watch this Nova program, Babylonians and the Saros Cycle to learn more about ancient astronomy.
Featured above is a scan of a page from Drew University's Nuremberg Chronicle that discusses—amongst other things—the ill after-effects of an eclipse and a passing comet.
FOLIO CLVII recto
Constantine (Constantinus), son of the emperor Constans , received the Roman sovereignty after Constans and Mezezius (Mesentio); and he reigned seventeen years. This Constantine (who previously had been taken into the sovereignty by his father Constans as an associate) was so crushed by fear after the assassination of his father (as mentioned above) that he managed all matters so timidly that he might have lost the sovereignty if any force had been raised against him. Later he was a brave and very virtuous Christian man, and after receiving the sovereignty, he shared it in common with his brothers Heraclius and Tiberius whom he took into it with him. However, some write that he deprived his brothers of their noses, although they did not aspire to the sovereignty. Afterwards he restored the churches which had been destroyed by the heretics in the time of Heraclius; and he also built other churches. Being a warlike man and experienced in the use of arms, he defeated the Saracens, enemies of the Roman Empire, in war; and in the tenth year of his reign he so overcame the Saracens by a speedy victory that they chose to pay taxes and tribute to the empire. Upon these terms he made peace with them, and returned to Constantinople. To bring about unity between the Roman church and the other churches he called the Sixth Council at Constantinople at the suggestion of Agatho, the pope. And now being full of good works, he died at Constantinople, leaving his son Justinian as his successor to the sovereignty.
The Sixth Ecumenical Council was called by the emperor Constantine at Constantinople. Two legates of Pope Agatho were present, namely, John, the bishop of Portuensis, and John, a deacon of the Roman Church. And so, at the command of the emperor, came two hundred eighty-nine bishops. The case of the Monothelite heretics was earnestly considered. Contrary to the true Christian faith, these heretics held that there was but a single will in Christ. Two bishops were responsible for these things— George (Georgius), of Constantinople, and Macarius (Marcharius), bishop of Antioch. And although George, after the presentation of sensible views was easily dissuaded from his error, Macarius, was tenacious in strongly resistant to changing his mind; for this reason he was not only deprived of his episcopate, but, together with the deceased heretics Sergius, Pyrrhus, Paul, and Peter, their followers in the same error, was given over to the Satan. Finally, together with a number of relatives, they were sent to Rome. Theophanus, the abbot, was installed as bishop in the place of Macarius. Now, in thanksgiving to the Lord God for the unification of the two churches, the aforesaid bishop of Porto (Portuensis) held the office of the holy mass in Latin on the eighth day of Easter in the Basilica of Saint Sophia in the presence of the emperor, the patriarch, and the people of Constantinople; and all present acknowledged that such was the correct and holy manner of holding the mass. In this Council it was concluded that according to the correct interpretation of holy Christian teaching there were two natures and wills in Christ, and not a single one as claimed by the Monothelite heretics.
A comet appeared in these times for three months continuously; then came a heavy rain, and thunderbolts not experienced before. The elements performed as if they had conspired to destroy the city of Rome and the land of Italy. Much cattle died in consequence, and the people sustained great damage. Many men were struck by lightning and died. Crops wilted and dried up in the fields, so that melons, beans, lentils, and the like were a great rarity to the people; and the grain was beaten out by the wind, and matured as mere shrubbery.
Afterwards eclipses of the sun and moon were followed by a severe pestilence that devastated the city of Pavia, so that the people fled to the mountain heights, and the city grew up with shrubbery and weeds.
