Primary Source Spotlight: Japanese-American Internment

Primary Source Spotlight: Japanese-American Internment

Primary sources Ansel Adams’s Photographs of Japanese-American Internment at Manzanar Japanese-American Internment Camp Newspapers, 1942 to 1946 Dorothea Lange Japanese American photos Veteran’s oral histories mentioning Japanese-American internment Congressional documents related to Japanese-American internment Behind Barbed Wire story map iBook: History of Portland’s Japantown Teaching resources “Suffering Under a Great Injustice”: Ansel Adams’s Photographs of…

Building a Sod House in Western Nebraska

Literature Links: My Daniel – Hunting Dinosaurs in Nebraska

Below you will find numerous primary source activity ideas to use in conjunction with the novel My Daniel by Pam Conrad. Let us know which ones work for you. Publisher overview “All I want to find is one dinosaur,” Daniel was saying. “And I’ll find it right here. Like I do all my fossils.” Wandering…

Grape shot found near Fort Necessity

Today in History: Fort Necessity & the French and Indian War

Today in History–June 4–the Library of Congress features Fort Necessity near Uniontown, Pennsylvania. On this date in 1754, the young Colonel George Washington and his troops were hard at work constructing the makeshift stronghold to protect themselves from French aggression. Less than a month later, however, Washington and his troops were surrounded and forced to surrender to French troops on…

John Quincy Adams

Presidential Spotlight: John Quincy Adams

From America’s Library: Born: July 11, 1767 Died: Feb. 23, 1848 John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States and the first son of a former president who himself became president. (George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush are the only other father-son presidents.) John Quincy Adams was well known for his diplomatic success…

John Adams, 2nd President of the United States

Presidential Spotlight: John Adams

From America’s Library: Born: October 30 (October 19, Old Style), 1735, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts Died: July 4, 1826, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts John Adams worked as a teacher and lawyer before dedicating himself to a life of patriotism and politics. He was America’s second president. Adams was well known for his extreme political independence,…

American Progress

Primary Source Spotlight: Western Expansion & Manifest Destiny

This set of primary sources and teaching resources focuses, primarily, on the time period 1800-1860. Western expansion stories from America’s Library Western expansion timeline (includes primary source activities) Primary source sets Primary source collections American migration timeline and maps (in English and Russian) The right of Nebraska, 1854 (sheet music) Key government documents related to territorial expansion…

Speech of Hon. Carl Schurz, of Missouri at Indianapolis, Indiana, July 20, 1880

Today in History: Carl Schurz

Today in History–October 29–the Library of Congress features journalist and politician Carl Schurz. On this date in 1855, the recent German immigrant wrote his wife, Margarethe Meyer Schurz, about his hope for their future in America. Exactly five years later Schurz sent his wife another letter, this time from Abraham Lincoln’s presidential campaign trail. Schurz served as a U.S. senator and worked with…

John Adams to Abigail Adams [Dec. 3, 1775]

Today in History: Abigail Adams

Today in History–October 25–the Library of Congress features Abigail Adams, who was married to John Adams on this day in 1764. Abigail Adams was well educated and her husband frequently discussed political issues with her. Learn more about this famous first lady and first mother who was also a staunch supporter of women’s rights by visiting the Today in History section,…

First Lady Michelle Obama official portrait

Primary Source Learning: Women in the White House

Use the resources below to learn about the women in the White House and the some of the roles various first ladies took on throughout the years. One fun learning activity comes from the Collection Connections section of Words and Deeds in American History. Ask students to consider if these letter show evidence of a first lady…

Brigham Young's Grand March

Today in History: Brigham Young & the Mormon Pioneers

Today in History–July 24–the Library of Congress features Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers, who arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah on this day in 1847. The weary group was happy to find their “promised land” after traveling some 1,000 miles from the Mormon settlement in Nauvoo, Illinois. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to…

Martha Washington

Today in History: Martha Washington

Today in History–May 22–the Library of Congress features America’s first, first lady Martha Washington, who died on this day in 1802. Unfortunately, few of the letters written by Martha and George remain since she burned most before her death to protect their privacy. Learn more about this upstanding woman and consummate hostess by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the…

Family in Northern Sikkim relaxes by fireside

Today in History: Celebrating Mothers

Today in History–May 9–the Library of Congress celebrates mothers. On this day in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day, serving “as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources showcasing…