diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index 5bc3f276..3a4c3a23 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-vis.js history
+# vis.js history
 http://visjs.org
 
 
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ http://visjs.org
 - Minor bug fixes.
 - More examples added.
 
+### DataSet
+
+- A DataSet can now be constructed with initial data, like
+  `new DataSet(data, options)`.
+
 
 ## 2014-04-18, version 0.7.4
 
diff --git a/docs/dataset.html b/docs/dataset.html
index cbb2ec8f..477d26a4 100644
--- a/docs/dataset.html
+++ b/docs/dataset.html
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ console.log('formatted items', items);
 </p>
 
 <pre class="prettyprint lang-js">
-var data = new vis.DataSet(options)
+var data = new vis.DataSet([data] [, options])
 </pre>
 
 <p>
@@ -116,6 +116,11 @@ var data = new vis.DataSet(options)
   <a href="#Data_Manipulation">Data Manipulation</a>.
 </p>
 
+<p>
+  The parameter <code>data</code>code> is optional and can be an Array or
+  Google DataTable with items.
+</p>
+
 <p>
   The parameter <code>options</code> is optional and is an object which can
   contain the following properties:
diff --git a/examples/timeline/08_edit_items.html b/examples/timeline/08_edit_items.html
index fe431ce9..a8c1bd88 100644
--- a/examples/timeline/08_edit_items.html
+++ b/examples/timeline/08_edit_items.html
@@ -18,8 +18,7 @@
   <div id="log"></div>
 
   <script type="text/javascript">
-    var items = new vis.DataSet();
-    items.add([
+    var items = new vis.DataSet([
       {id: 1, content: 'item 1', start: new Date(2013, 3, 20)},
       {id: 2, content: 'item 2', start: new Date(2013, 3, 14)},
       {id: 3, content: 'item 3', start: new Date(2013, 3, 18)},
diff --git a/examples/timeline/09_order_groups.html b/examples/timeline/09_order_groups.html
index d7556491..22dcbb36 100644
--- a/examples/timeline/09_order_groups.html
+++ b/examples/timeline/09_order_groups.html
@@ -26,16 +26,14 @@
 <div id="visualization"></div>
 
 <script>
-  var groups = new vis.DataSet();
-  groups.add([
+  var groups = new vis.DataSet([
     {id: 0, content: 'First', value: 1},
     {id: 1, content: 'Third', value: 3},
     {id: 2, content: 'Second', value: 2}
   ]);
 
   // create a dataset with items
-  var items = new vis.DataSet();
-  items.add([
+  var items = new vis.DataSet([
     {id: 0, group: 0, content: 'item 0', start: new Date(2014, 3, 17)},
     {id: 1, group: 0, content: 'item 1', start: new Date(2014, 3, 19)},
     {id: 2, group: 1, content: 'item 2', start: new Date(2014, 3, 16)},
diff --git a/src/DataSet.js b/src/DataSet.js
index 719482b6..a7b95d04 100644
--- a/src/DataSet.js
+++ b/src/DataSet.js
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
  * - gives triggers upon changes in the data
  * - can  import/export data in various data formats
  *
+ * @param {Array | DataTable} [data]    Optional array with initial data
  * @param {Object} [options]   Available options:
  *                             {String} fieldId Field name of the id in the
  *                                              items, 'id' by default.
@@ -35,9 +36,15 @@
  * @constructor DataSet
  */
 // TODO: add a DataSet constructor DataSet(data, options)
-function DataSet (options) {
+function DataSet (data, options) {
   this.id = util.randomUUID();
 
+  // correctly read optional arguments
+  if (data && !Array.isArray(data) && !util.isDataTable(data)) {
+    options = data;
+    data = null;
+  }
+
   this.options = options || {};
   this.data = {};                                 // map with data indexed by id
   this.fieldId = this.options.fieldId || 'id';    // name of the field containing id
@@ -58,10 +65,13 @@ function DataSet (options) {
     }
   }
 
-  // event subscribers
-  this.subscribers = {};
+  this.subscribers = {};  // event subscribers
+  this.internalIds = {};  // internally generated id's
 
-  this.internalIds = {};            // internally generated id's
+  // add initial data when provided
+  if (data) {
+    this.add(data);
+  }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/Panel.js b/src/timeline/component/Panel.js
index eb4264c5..615636e3 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/Panel.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/Panel.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ function Panel(options) {
   this.options = options || {};
 
   // create frame
-  this.frame = document.createElement('div');
+  this.frame = (typeof document !== 'undefined') ? document.createElement('div') : null;
 }
 
 Panel.prototype = new Component();
diff --git a/test/dataset.js b/test/dataset.js
index 2a563529..84fbe5ca 100644
--- a/test/dataset.js
+++ b/test/dataset.js
@@ -162,5 +162,20 @@ assert.deepEqual((data.get()[0].id == undefined), false);
 assert.deepEqual(data.isInternalId(data.get()[0].id), true);
 assert.deepEqual((data.get({"showInternalIds": false})[0].id == undefined),true);
 
+// create a dataset with initial data
+var data = new DataSet([
+  {id: 1, content: 'Item 1', start: new Date(now.valueOf())},
+  {id: 2, content: 'Item 2', start: now.toISOString()}
+]);
+assert.deepEqual(data.getIds(), [1, 2]);
+
+// create a dataset with initial data and options
+var data = new DataSet([
+  {_id: 1, content: 'Item 1', start: new Date(now.valueOf())},
+  {_id: 2, content: 'Item 2', start: now.toISOString()}
+], {fieldId: '_id'});
+assert.deepEqual(data.getIds(), [1, 2]);
+
+
 // TODO: extensively test DataSet
 // TODO: test subscribing to events
\ No newline at end of file