In a Teaching with the Library of Congress blog post, Deborah Thomas, program manager for the National Digital Newspaper Program at the Library of Congress, discusses Helping Students Read Between the Lines: Identifying Bias and Attitude in Newspapers for the Presidential Election of 1912. With three major candidates, rather than the traditional two, the 1912 election became a varied debate between special interests, government oversight, and the value of individuals in society. While each … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Identifying Bias in Presidential Election Newspaper Coverage
October 24, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Primary Source Learning: Presidential Elections
October 4, 2016 by 3 Comments
Guided primary source analysis activities Does Your Vote for President Count? electoral college to 1912 Footrace, Pennsylvania Avenue 1844 Great presidential puzzle 1880 & 2016 The whole story (election 1888) in a nutshell! Taft About to Eclipse Bryan 1908 Goal! 1908 & 1912 Biggest Business in the World 1920 Massachusetts Did It 1920 Election Day contemporary More teaching resources American Memory Timeline: The Presidential Election of 1960 … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Flight & Planes
August 24, 2016 by 1 Comment
The Dream of Flight online exhibition With Wings as Eagles: From Fantasy to Flight (primary source sets documenting the history of flight) Today in History: Wright Brothers First Flight Early Women in Aviation 1910-19: Topics in Chronicling America Introduction & timeline Search strategies & selected articles American Female Pilots 1911-21: Topics in Chronicling America Introduction & timeline Search strategies & selected articles Harriet Quimby … [Read more...]
Primary Source Learning: U.S. Presidents
February 11, 2016 by 1 Comment
Learning from the Source: lessons Abraham Lincoln & Me Primary Source Activity Book The Art of Mourning (Lincoln) Monumental Men Mourning Lincoln & the Art of Tribute Presidential Portraits Indian Territory Resettlement Guided primary source analysis activities A Plan of My Farm (Washington) Jefferson’s Pasta Machine Abolition frowned down (Quincy Adams) Rats Leaving a Falling House (Van Buren) Footrace, Pennsylvania Avenue (Tyler & Polk) … [Read more...]
World Spotlight: Kenya
August 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Kenya primary sources from the World Digital Library Kenya maps Kenya images Kenya postcard collection TR [Theodore Roosevelt] in Africa 1909 film U.S. historical newspaper articles mentioning Kenya Service in Kenya: U.S. veteran oral histories Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection interviews mentioning Kenya Reports & other texts about Kenya Event recordings related to Kenya U.S. legislation related to Kenya Guide to Law Online: Kenya Global Legal … [Read more...]
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Everybody’s Doing It!
January 7, 2015 by 1 Comment
Zoom into a larger image of this political cartoon. What is the setting of this cartoon? Make a list of details that you see. Then describe the story that you think this source tells using the details you noted as evidence. Now read the summary and notes in the bibliographic record. What more did you learn? Do you think the artist was successful in getting his point across? Why or why not? Create a political cartoon that relates to federal, state or local government today, keeping the … [Read more...]
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Monopoly Brothers Supported by the Little Consumer
September 9, 2014 by Leave a Comment
What is the setting of this political cartoon? What details in the source support your conclusion? How is the consumer depicted in this cartoon? How do the coal strikers compare to the trusts? What details in the source support your conclusions? Gov. Osborn is literally jumping on the "Taft bandwagon" in the cartoon. What does this detail suggest about this governor? Now read the bibliographic record. What more did you learn about the political situation in 1912 commented on in … [Read more...]
Today in History: Gifford Pinchot
May 13, 2014 by 1 Comment
Today in History–May 13–the Library of Congress features the opening day of the Governors' Conference on the Conservation of Natural Resources on this day in 1908. President Theodore Roosevelt delivered the stirring opening address but the conference was spearheaded by Chief Forester of the United States Gifford Pinchot. The conference helped put the spotlight on conservationism. Pinchot later went on to become Governor of Pennsylvania. Find out more about this forester and politician by … [Read more...]
City Spotlight: Boston, Massachusetts
March 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Boston maps Boston images Boston Marathon bombing trial courtroom sketch Canoeing on the Charles River, Boston, Mass 1904 film TR attends his son Archie's wedding at Boston 1917 film Boston related books & articles Boston related correspondence, reports, printed ephemera & other texts Boston sheet music The Boston Burglar song lyrics Boston song recordings The Boston Courant newspaper, January 6, 1900 The Boston Advance newspaper, February 17, … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: Teddy Bears
February 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Teddy bears got their name from Theodore Roosevelt. He had a soft heart for animals in general and in particular for a bear that his aides cornered and thought he would like as a hunting trophy. The incident inspired the cartoon illustration above which, in turn, inspired a New York toy store owner to create a toy stuffed bear he called "Teddy's bear". Below you can find out more of the story and then explore teddy bear resources from the Library of Congress. The teddy bear story from … [Read more...]
Booker T. Washington delivered famous "Atlanta Compromise" speech. Check out our 