May 19, 2013

Learning from the Source: Close Reading in Service of a Cause

Harper's Ferry insurrection

Activity overview Close reading is an opportunity to read and reread thoughtfully and with purpose. By breaking down the analysis of texts and other primary sources into distinct chunks, you can increase rigor and help students more easily climb the staircase of complexity required by the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). In this primary source activity students will look closely and critically at images in conjunction with historical and contemporary texts. They will compare and contrast … [Read more...]

Primary Source Spotlight: 9/11

Two women looking upwards with expressions of shock and horror, during the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, New York City

On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four airplanes and killed thousands as they destroyed the World Trade Center towers in New York and damaged the Pentagon in Virginia; a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers struggled with hijackers. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section and, in particular, by reviewing the primary sources listed below that document this terrible, tragic day and its aftermath. September 11, 2001, Documentary Project (audio & … [Read more...]

Oral History & Personal Narrative Collections

Bridgeton, New Jersey. Seabrook Farm. Cannery workers

LOC.gov contains numerous oral history and personal narrative resources. Check out the lists below! Experiencing War: Stories from the Veterans History Project, World War I to present Primary Source Sets Veterans' Stories: The Veterans History Project Veterans' Stories: Struggles for Participation American Memory oral history collections After the Day of Infamy: "Man-on-the-Street" Interviews Following the Attack on Pearl Harbor American English Dialect Recordings … [Read more...]

Featured Image: Engine Company 54 lost 15 men, 9/11/01

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Primary Source Learning: Sep. 11, 2001 Collection Resources

It's OK.

On September 12, 2001, the Library of Congress began recording public and private responses to the events, much as it did after the Pearl Harbor attacks in 1941. The Teaching with the Library of Congress blog provides some ideas for teaching with the resources in the September 11 collections. For more resources and teaching and learning ideas, click the links below. Today in History: September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001, Documentary Project  (American Memory collection) audio … [Read more...]

Today in History: Edison Gets Kinetographic Camera Patent

The Black Maria, Edison's First Motion Picture Studio

Today in History–August 31–the Library of Congress features the awarding of a federal patent for a kinetographic camera—the forerunner to the motion picture film projector—to Thomas A. Edison on this day in 1897. Find out more by reading the Today in History section and this article on Edison's kinetographic films and parlors where they showed. Below you'll find lots more primary sources and other resources related to Edison and film. Interested in other inventors? Check out this … [Read more...]

Today in History: New York & Architect Cyrus Eidlitz

New Times Bldg., N.Y.

Today in History–July 27–the Library of Congress features New York and architect Cyrus Eidlitz, born on this day in 1853. Eidlitz was the architect of the Times building, for which Times Square was named. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below to access more primary source treasures about New York City and New York state. Interested in other cities and states? Find resources for Washington, D.C., Kiska Island & … [Read more...]