Guided Primary Source Analysis: Origin of April Fool’s Day

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Origin of April Fool’s Day

For elementary & middle school students Read this newspaper article, then make a list of the countries mentioned that celebrate April Fool’s Day and information about how they celebrate the day. Explain which story you found funniest or most interesting. Create an April Fool’s Day poem using information from the article and your own experiences. For elementary & middle school students Read this newspaper article, then…

Primary Source Spotlight: Black Women’s Clubs

Primary Source Spotlight: Black Women’s Clubs

In the late nineteenth century black women organized to bolster their communities by undertaking educational, philanthropic and welfare activities.¹ National Association of Colored Women reports, articles & other texts National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs historical newspaper coverage National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs website Negro Women’s Clubs historical newspaper coverage African-American women’s clubs in…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Monopoly Brothers Supported by the Little Consumer

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Monopoly Brothers Supported by the Little Consumer

What is the setting of this political cartoon? What details in the source support your conclusion? How is the consumer depicted in this cartoon? How do the coal strikers compare to the trusts? What details in the source support your conclusions? Gov. Osborn is literally jumping on the “Taft bandwagon” in the cartoon. What does this…

Primary Source Learning: Immigration

Primary Source Learning: Immigration

Primary source sets with teaching guides Immigration Challenges for New Americans Mexican American Migrations and Communities Primary Source Learning: Immigration Primary Source Set Puerto Rican Identity Primary source lesson plans The American West: Images of Its People 6-8 Child Immigrant Experiences of Early 1900s and Today 3-5 Creating a Primary Source Archive: All History Is…

Primary Source Spotlight: League of Nations

Primary Source Spotlight: League of Nations

Topics in Chronicling America – League of Nations More League of Nations historical newspaper coverage League of Nations texts, including address transcripts 1916-1929 Speeches about the League of Nations audio recordings and transcripts The League of Nations: A Pictoral Survey 1925-28 League of Nations mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection League of Nations sheet music World War I:…

Today in History: General John J. Pershing

Today in History: General John J. Pershing

Today in History–July 15–the Library of Congress features General John J. Pershing, who died on this date in 1948. Pershing received a hero’s burial at Arlington National Cemetery, a fitting tribute to the only military leader since George Washington to earn the title General of the Armies of the United States. Find out more about this officer who led troops from the cavalry to…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Signing the Declaration of Their Independence

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Signing the Declaration of Their Independence

Compare and contrast the illustration above with this well-known print. What similarities do you notice? What differences do you see? This illustration is actually a political cartoon. What do you think the purpose of the creator might have been? Now read the source record as well as the source record for the comparison print. Do you think…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Washington D.C. Invites You to the Opening of Congress

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Washington D.C. Invites You to the Opening of Congress

According to this ad, how could you get your free trip to Washington D.C.? How would you get to the U.S. capital from your home town today? How far is it? How much would it cost? What can you still see now that you could see then? What places would be on your list of…

Today in History: Woman’s Rights Conventions

Today in History: Woman’s Rights Conventions

Today in History–May 28–the Library of Congress features the Woman’s Rights Convention, held in Akron, Ohio on this date and May 29 in 1851. Convention topics included common law, education and labor, including wage inequities. Find out more about the early efforts of women’s rights advocates by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access primary sources related to the…

Today in History: Gifford Pinchot

Today in History: Gifford Pinchot

Today in History–May 13–the Library of Congress features the opening day of the Governors’ Conference on the Conservation of Natural Resources on this day in 1908. President Theodore Roosevelt delivered the stirring opening address but the conference was spearheaded by Chief Forester of the United States Gifford Pinchot. The conference helped put the spotlight on conservationism. Pinchot later went on to…