Guided Primary Source Analysis: When Women are Jurors

Guided Primary Source Analysis: When Women are Jurors

Zoom into a more detailed image of this illustration. Study carefully the expressions–both facial and body–of each woman in this illustration. Use one adjective and one verb to describe each woman based on your analysis of their expressions. The full title of this illustration is “Studies in expression. When women are jurors.” This 1902 illustration…

Primary Source Spotlight: Gibson Girls

Primary Source Spotlight: Gibson Girls

From the Library of Congress: An acclaimed master of pen-and-ink drawing, Charles Dana Gibson (1867–1944) came of age when the expansion of women’s roles and increasing social mobility were changing America. After training at the Art Students League in New York City and in Europe, Gibson began to create satirical illustrations based on his observations…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Women Land Ownership & the World Economy

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Women Land Ownership & the World Economy

Zoom into this 1997 map online or this .pdf document. What do you learn just from looking at the title and the information presented outside of the country labels (ignore the orange leaves for now)? Look at the country labels (orange leaves). Which countries have the most female landowners? Use the information provided in this map to…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Woman and Child

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Woman and Child

Describe how this illustration makes you feel. What details in the drawing contribute to this feeling? Write a description of this scene or write a poem to accompany the illustration. Now read the poem that this drawing illustrated. Describe how this poem compares with what you wrote. What other observations, reflections or questions does this source…

Primary Source Spotlight: Black Women’s Clubs

Primary Source Spotlight: Black Women’s Clubs

In the late nineteenth century black women organized to bolster their communities by undertaking educational, philanthropic and welfare activities.¹ National Association of Colored Women reports, articles & other texts National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs historical newspaper coverage National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs website Negro Women’s Clubs historical newspaper coverage African-American women’s clubs in…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Science & the Suffragettes

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Science & the Suffragettes

Zoom into the top half of this newspaper page that contains only the article’s headline and subhead and photos and captions. Based on this information, explain the points you think the newspaper article will discuss. Now read the article. What is the main point, or claim, of the article. List the arguments the author makes and…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: For United America, YWCA

Guided Primary Source Analysis: For United America, YWCA

The shields displayed on this poster represent the flags of various countries. Do some research to see how many countries you can identify and make a list. Look closely at the details that you see in this poster. For what purpose do you think this poster was created? What details from the print and your own background knowledge helped…

Signing the declaration of their independence

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Signing the Declaration of Their Independence

Compare and contrast the illustration above with this well-known print. What similarities do you notice? What differences do you see? This illustration is actually a political cartoon. What do you think the purpose of the creator might have been? Now read the source record as well as the source record for the comparison print. Do you think…

Concerning the American girl

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Concerning the American Girl

List the different career paths illustrated in this political cartoon. Did any surprise you? Why or why not? Political cartoons often contain irony. What example of irony do you find in this political cartoon? (If you need help, review the post Analyzing Primary Sources: Reading Cartoons.) What do you think were the “old ideals” of womanhood in 1904?…

Resolutions from the proceedings of the Woman's Rights Convention

Today in History: Woman’s Rights Conventions

Today in History–May 28–the Library of Congress features the Woman’s Rights Convention, held in Akron, Ohio on this date and May 29 in 1851. Convention topics included common law, education and labor, including wage inequities. Find out more about the early efforts of women’s rights advocates by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access primary sources related to the…