Thomas Jefferson ["Maccaroni" machine with instructions for making pasta] Holograph drawing and text, 1787

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Jefferson’s Pasta Machine

Curator description: Thomas Jefferson noted these plans for a macaroni or pasta machine while touring northern Italy in 1787. When Jefferson prepared these plans, macaroni was a highly fashionable food in Paris, where he was stationed as minister to France. He later commissioned his secretary William Short to purchase a macaroni machine in Italy, but…

I'm hitting the trail to Normandy so kiss me good-bye.

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Hitting the trail to Normandy

Using details from the cover of this sheet music, describe what you think this song is about. Use the Primary Source Nexus search box to find out about Normandy. Where is it? What was happening there in 1917? Look inside at the song lyrics and music notation. What is the tone of the song? Does…

U.S. Capitol at night with stars, Taft as moon, about to eclipse William Jennings Bryan as sun

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Taft About to Eclipse Bryan

What scientific event does this source facetiously mimic? Do you think the analogy works in this context? Why or why not? This source is referenced as a photographic print but is it a single image? How do you know? How do you think the postcard was made? Do some research to find out more about the…