LOC.gov provides researchers of all ages access to millions of digitized primary sources. When using these sources in research or learning projects, it is important to provide citations. Citing primary sources requires the researcher to think carefully about the source—who created/published/distributed it, when was it created, and from where was it accessed. Citing sources ensures that full…
If you’ve browsed and searched the Citizen U Primary Source Nexus and still can’t find what you were looking for, feel free to contact us with questions about Library resources or strategies for teaching with primary sources. We also welcome you to leave a comment on any post. You can get help directly from the Library…
There is a search box at the far right of the top menu bar. You can use it to search the content of posts and pages published on the TPS-Barat Primary Source Nexus. It is generally good practice to limit your search query to 3-5 words. The search engine used on this website does not…
We have had lots of teachers use the primary source thinking triangle with great success, so when Montana teacher librarian Ruth Ferris asked if we had an interactive version of this graphic organizer we knew it was time to create one. While it’s not high-tech, Ferris said it will help her model the process of…
America’s Library is filled with stories about the history and culture of the United States, richly embellished with all types of primary sources. The website is a great way to introduce younger students and lower level readers to the Library of Congress and primary sources. You can access America’s Library by clicking the Kids & Families link, found…
Overview The Library of Congress cartographic collection is the largest in the world and contains millions of maps, thousands of which are available online from the LOC.gov website. The Library interface allows you to zoom into these digitized maps in incredible detail simply through your web browser, save the maps in a variety of sizes…
Sometimes LOC.gov and some of its associated sites are not available. Whether that’s because of maintenance or a government shutdown, don’t despair. Here are some ways to access great Library resources. Congress.gov legislative information on Congress.gov available Library of Congress Flickr account image sets available, including access to larger images and bibliographic information Library of Congress YouTube channel videos…
Overview The Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC) provides access to over a million digitized images, including photographs, fine and popular prints and drawings, posters, and architectural and engineering drawings. While there are collections with an international scope, the 70 collections are particularly rich in materials produced in and about the history and…
Overview Chronicling America Historic Newspapers is produced by the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP), a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Library of Congress, as a long-term effort to develop an Internet-based, searchable database of U.S. newspapers with coverage from 1836-1922. As of March, 2013, the Chronicling American digitized database contained more…
Capturing an Oral History Oral histories help us to understand people and communities, giving personal and cultural context to history. Capturing an oral history is not difficult as long as you prepare for the interview in advance. Preparing for the Interview Arranging the Interview Interview Equipment Setting Up at the Interview Location The Interview Process…
Searching Across LOC.gov The Library of Congress is continually making improvements to the search functions of the online Library. Although the Library is vast and contains many sections, fruitful searches across LOC.gov are possible. Keyword Search Tips Remember when searching for historical primary sources that you may need to try different terms applicable to the…
The Civil War Glass Negatives collection provides access to about 7,000 views and portraits made during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and its immediate aftermath, many by Mathew Brady (biographical note) and Alexander Gardner. Taking photographs during the Civil War was a complex, time-consuming process difficult to master in a studio setting and even more difficult when…