Primera pagina (first page) de Diario Las Americas 1, mayo 1954

Finding Resources: Spanish Language Newspapers

Chronicling America, a searchable database of U.S. historical newspapers, includes close to 100 Spanish-language newspapers from several states and Puerto Rico that span the years from 1836-1963. You can use the previous link to browse through the list of papers or use this map view of Spanish-language papers. When you click on a newspaper title…

Story Maps

Finding Resources: Story Maps

Story Maps are immersive web applications that tell the incredible stories of the Library’s collections through narrative, multimedia, and interactive maps. The story maps are created within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based software platform created by Esri. Story Maps are chock full of primary sources, including photographs, illustrations, texts, newspaper articles, and even maps. “I find story…

Vase with Sixty Hieroglyphs

Primary Source Learning: Hispanic Points of View

Lessons The Huexotzinco Codex Drake’s West Indian Voyage 1588-1589 Cesar Chavez & Good Citizenship Dolores Huerta Collaborating to Affect Change (elementary) Building Coalitions to Affect Change (middle school) Inspiring Civic Responsibility (high school) Media & Migrant Laborers Perspectives Guided Primary Source Analyses Bank note explorer vignettes Community & Teamwork Houston, Santa Anna, and Cos Los…

The government of Spain donated this statue of Juan Ponce de Leon in downtown Miami, Florida

Today in History: Juan Ponce de León

Today in History–September 27–the Library of Congress features Juan Ponce de León, who was granted permission to settle Bimini Island and Florida on this day in 1514.  Seven years later, in 1521, Ponce de León sailed from Puerto Rico to Florida with two ships, two hundred men, fifty horses, as well as other domestic animals and agricultural tools….

Just before the opening of the engagement, El Pozo

Today in History: Spanish American War

Today in History–April 25–the Library of Congress features the Spanish American War, declared on this date in 1898. Learn more about this short, decisive war by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to learn even more from primary sources. The World of 1898: The Spanish American War Spanish American War primary source set, includes teacher…

USS Maine

Today in History: U.S.S. Maine Sunk

Today in History–February 15–the Library of Congress features the Spanish-American War, sparked on this date in 1898 when an explosion sank the battleship U.S.S. Maine in the Havana, Cuba harbor, killing 266 of the 354 crew members. Two months later, President William McKinley announced a state of war with Spain on April 25, 1898. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to…

Today in History: Puerto Rico

Today in History: Puerto Rico

Today in History–October 18–the Library of Congress features Puerto Rico. On this date in 1898, American troops fighting in the Spanish-American War raised the United States flag in Puerto Rico formalizing U.S. control of this former Spanish colony. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below to access more primary sources about this current U.S. commonwealth. Puerto Rico during the…

Selecting Primary Sources: Considering Historical Context

Selecting Primary Sources: Considering Historical Context

Understanding historical context is an important element when considering why a primary source was created. The Teaching with the Library of Congress blog outlines characteristics to look for when selecting primary sources that students will be able to place in historical context. For more help providing historical context, look in the Library Teacher Guides in…