Finding Resources: U.S. History Primary Source Timelines

Finding Resources: U.S. History Primary Source Timelines

Colonial Settlement1600s – 1763 The American Revolution 1763 – 83 The New Nation1783-1815 National Expansion & Reform1815-80 Civil War & Reconstruction1861-77 Rise of Industrial America1876-1900 Progressive Era to New Era1900-29 Great Depression & WW II1929-45 The Post War United States1945-68 Congressional Documents1774-1873 U.S. History by Time Period primary source sets

Green Book newspaper ad

Literature Links: Ruth and the Green Book

Elementary teacher librarian and former teacher in residence at the Library of Congress, Tom Bober (@CaptainLibrary), details a plan for pairing primary source analysis with the book, Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, to help students make connections to history and geography. In his post on Knowledge Quest from the American Association of School Librarians, Tom also…

Civil rights march on Wash DC

Primary Source Spotlight: Civil Rights

Civil rights primary source collections Collection Spotlight: Civil Rights History Project Presidential Spotlight: Lyndon B. Johnson Primary Source Spotlight: NAACP Primary Source Spotlight: Voting Rights Act of 1965 Selma Marches March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Freedom story map Civil rights books, reports & other texts Select civil rights primary sources Civil Rights: Before,…

Presidential Spotlight: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Presidential Spotlight: Dwight D. Eisenhower

From America’s Library: Dwight D. Eisenhower Born: October 14, 1890 Died: March 28, 1969 Dwight David Eisenhower was an inspiring military leader, best-selling author, head of Columbia University, and president of the United States. As the top American general and later Allied Supreme Commander in the European theater, he directed Allied forces in World War…

Portrait of Frank Sinatra and Axel Stordahl

Today in History: Frank Sinatra

Today in History–July 13–the Library of Congress features Frank Sinatra, who made his recording debut on this day in 1939 with the Harry James band. After, Sinatra sang with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra before beginning his solo career. On his own, Sinatra became a teenage sensation but would later appeal to music and movie fans of multiple generations. Learn more about this…

Portrait of Billie Holiday

Today in History: Billie Holiday

Today in History–April 7–the Library of Congress features jazz singer Billie Holiday, born on this date in 1915 in Baltimore, Maryland. Although she had no formal music training, Holiday arranged and composed music in addition to singing. Her 1939 rendition of Lewis Allan’s “Strange Fruit,” a song about lynching, was described in the liner notes to Immortal Sessions of…

Washington's prominent figures listen to Marian Anderson's singing

Today in History: Marian Anderson

Today in History–January 7–the Library of Congress features singer Marian Anderson, who made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on his day in 1955. Barred from attending a Philadelphia music school because of her race, Anderson’s family, friends and church helped fund private voice lessons. Although she toured Europe and the United States extensively, Anderson continued to suffer…

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Today in History: Guggenheim Museum

Today in History–October 21–the Library of Congress features the Guggenheim Museum, opened on this day in 1959. This contemporary art museum designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright was the brainchild of Solomon Guggenheim as a way to promote art and art education. Find out more by visiting  the Today in History section, then click the links below to…

Women farm workers on the picket line in 1966

Primary Source Learning: Postwar United States (1945-1968) Primary Source Set

Have students use the primary sources in this set to tell a story about the period 1945-1968. The wartime economy led to new economic prosperity for the United States and expanded opportunities for many, but certainly not all its citizens. As a result, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and American women took up the fight for civil…

Scrapbook page featuring coverage of the birth of Ball and Arnaz’s real-life baby, Desi Arnaz, Jr., 1953

Today in History: Television

Today in History–August 19–the Library of Congress features children’s television. On this date in 1950, ABC aired its first Saturday morning children’s television shows: Animal Clinic and the variety show Acrobat Ranch, which featured two young acrobats, Tumbling Tim and Flying Flo, and children competing in games and stunts. Learn more about children’s television as well as…

painting by Alexander Calder

Today in History: Alexander Calder

Today in History–July 22–the Library of Congress features artist Alexander Calder, born on this date in 1898 in Pennsylvania. Calder’s mother was a painter and his father was a sculptor but Alexander began his career as a mechanical engineer. That early career choice served him well as an artist later when creating his first motor-driven sculptures, later…