Guided Primary Source Analysis: Abolition Frowned Down

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Abolition Frowned Down

Access a larger image of this political cartoon. Do you think this cartoon supports or opposes abolition? Explain your reasoning, pointing to specific details in the source that support your view. Now review the bibliographic record and closely read the summary. Do you think this cartoon supports or opposes abolition? Explain your reasoning, pointing to specific details in…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Jefferson’s Pasta Machine

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…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Hitting the trail to Normandy

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…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Taft About to Eclipse Bryan

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…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Afro-American Monument

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Afro-American Monument

There are two Revolutionary War heroes depicted on this print who experienced very different outcomes. Who were the two men and what happened to each in the war? Review the 13 scenes related to Afro-American history on this lithograph. Which scene speaks most powerfully to you? Explain the reasoning for your choice. What person or event…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: The Way They Go to California

Guided Primary Source Analysis: The Way They Go to California

What different types of transportation are these men trying to use to get to California? Cartoonists sometimes exaggerate, or overdo, physical characteristics of people and things. Zoom into a more detailed image of this cartoon and look for examples of exaggeration. Describe one example and explain why it is a form of exaggeration for this situation. Find out about…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Goal!

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Goal!

Without knowing any background information, do you think this political cartoon is positive or negative? Why? Now do some research by following the links below and answer the questions. Links Taft vs. Bryan Presidential Election of 1908: select newspaper articles Wilson vs. Roosevelt vs. Taft Presidential Election of 1912: select newspaper articles Questions Who were the final…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Tree of Liberty

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Tree of Liberty

Click here to save and download this primary source in .pdf format. Open up the document and use the magnification dropdown to look carefully at the political cartoon; if you are having trouble reading the text, use the transcription provided in the summary above. The illustration shows both northern and southern points of view. What…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Engine Company 54 lost 15 men, 9/11/01

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Engine Company 54 lost 15 men, 9/11/01

Look at this collage as a whole and then examine it’s details. What do you notice first? What else draws your attention? How does this work inform your understanding of this event and its impact? This artist and professor at the School of Visual Arts talked about why he uses everyday materials and what attracted…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Lewis & Clark Compass & Magnet

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Lewis & Clark Compass & Magnet

Describe the type of person would need these objects. For what purposes would the person use the objects? These objects are from 1802. Describe what a compass and magnet are like today. Explain how someone would use a compass and magnet today. Use the Primary Source Nexus search box to find information about William Clark. What did he do and who was…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Hippodrome Theater

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Hippodrome Theater

Where was the Hippodrome Theater? What other details in the photograph support that answer? Use the Primary Source Nexus search box to look for more information about the Hippodrome Theater. What did you learn? Imagine you are one of the people on the street outside the Hippodrome Theater. What are you thinking or talking about?…