Selecting Primary Sources: Considering Historical Context

Understanding historical context is an important element when considering why a primary source was created. The Teaching with the Library of Congress blog outlines characteristics to look for when selecting primary sources that students will be able to place in historical context. For more help providing historical context, look in the Library Teacher Guides in the primary source sets and the Collection Connections (please note that those collections marked with teaching resources are the ones with Collection Connections). You also might want to check out the specific resources listed below.