The history of the Elves is hard to piece together without reading The Silmarillion, and let me tell you, it has parts as difficult to understand as a college textbook. This is a very concise version of Elven history, if you want the full effect you need to wade through The Silmarillion. If you do decide to read ot, read it when you don't have to put it down for long periods of time. I got to Chapter 10, then put it down for awhile, now i have to start all over again. I got most of my info about the Elves from The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth: From The Hobbit to The Silmarillion by Robert Foster. Now, back to the Elves.

The Elves are the firstborn of Eru's(Ilùvatar) children. They were created during the Ainulindalë, in the third theme to be exact. Eru gifted the Elves with immortality, though they could die.

Although they could be slain or die of grief, Elves were not subject to age or disease.

   - "Elves" pg. 152, The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth

They slept for many years, then one night before the rising of the sun and moon...

They awoke by Cuiviènen in the starlight of the Sleep of Yavanna...

   - "Elves" pg. 151, The Complete Guide

They were loved by all the Valar except for Melkor (I don't think he was a Valar anymore at that point), jealous of them he wanted to creat his own for of life to worship him...

"Do you know how the Orcs first came into being? They were Elves once. Taken by the dark powers, tortured and mutilated, a ruined and terrible form of life."

   - Saruman, FOTR Disc two, Scene two

Because of this the Valar sent 'the summons', inviting the Elves to join them in Aman. The Elves split for the first time (it happens often). One group, the Avari or Sindarin Elves, ignored the summons. The other group, the Eldar, began the journey to Aman. The Eldar were split into three groups, the Vanyar, the Norldor, and the Teleri.

The Vanyar (Q. fair ones), led by Ingwë were the first to reach Aman, they first settled in Tirion, but were drawn by the trees into Valinor. Some went to the Great battle with the Host of Valinor, but most of them were content to stay with the Valar.

The Noldor (Q. knowledgeable) were led by Finwë, they were the second group to reach Aman. They too dwelt in Tirion awhile. Eventually they began to travel throughout Aman in a quest for knowledge.

The Teleri (Q. last or hindmost) were the last to reach the shores of Aman. The Teleri were led by Elwë and Olwë. A small group of the Teleri settled along the Vales of Anduin, the rest continued on to Eldamar. At first the Teleri livedo on Tol Eressëa in the Bay of Eldamar.

There surrounded by the beloved Sea but within site of Aman and the Light of the Two Tress, the Teleri lived for a long time.

   - "Teleri" pg. 479, The Complete Guide

Later they moved to the shores of Eldamar and built the city of Alqualondë. This is where the Noldor come back into the picture.

Feanor, son of Finwë, created the Silmarils, and he guarded them fiercely.. Around this time Melkor was released after many, many years chained up. Melkor had his eyes on the Silmarils and, after decieving the Noldor quite a bit, he stole them and retreated to his fortress of Angband. Feanor declared that he was never to be called Melkor (Q. He who arises in Might) by the Eldar again, instead they named him Morgoth (S. dark enemy). Many of the Noldor followed Feanor back to Middle-Earth. In their haste to reach cross the sea they slew the Elves in Alqualond, the is known as the Kinslaying at Alqualondë, and they were exiled from Aman. They did eventually retrieve one of the Silmarils, but that's another story.

The Elves reached the height of their power and glory in the First Age, but by the Third Age only three Elven kingdoms were left: Rivendell, ruled by Elrond; Mirkwood, ruled by Thranduil; and Lothlorien, ruled by Galadriel and Celeborn.. The passed into the West with the coming of the Fourth Age.