National History Education Clearinghouse

Using Primary Sources

Making Sense of American Popular Song

Tunes, lyrics, recordings, sheet music—all are components of popular songs, and all can serve as evidence of peoples, places, and attitudes of the past. Written by Ronald J. Walters and John Spitzer, Making Sense of American Popular Song provides a place for students and teachers to begin working with songs as a way of understanding the past.

Producer History Matters

Website: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/songs/

© 2008, Center for History and New Media
Created by the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University and the Stanford University History Education Group, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education (Contract Number ED-07-CO-0088)
Email: info@teachinghistory.org Telephone: 703–993–9875 or 1–866–539–8381

The content of this website does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

Making Sense of American Popular Song

Share

Ask Questions