Incorporating 20th Century US Environmental History in the 6-12 Classroom
This guide consists of curated primary and secondary sources to help students connect environmental history to broader themes in twentieth century US history.
Incorporating 20th Century US Environmental History in the K-5 Classroom
This guide consists of curated primary and secondary sources to help students connect environmental history to broader themes in twentieth century US history.
John F. Kennedy and Service
Students learn about John F. Kennedy and his ideas about service as a prompt to explore what service means in their communities.
Statistics in Schools
Analyze data from the U.S. Census Bureau in the social studies classroom.
Smithsonian American Art Museum: "Acehlous and Hercules"
Analyzing a massive primary source? Divide it up! Teachers at the Smithsonian American Art Museum examine a Thomas Hart Benton mural.
A Close Look at the World War II Memorial
Historian Christopher Hamner introduces educators to the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. He asks, what was its intended audience and purpose?
A Close Look at the FDR Memorial
Historian Christopher Hamner visits the original Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial with educators. They consider the different purposes the old and new memorials serve.
Paintings About Segregation
Textbooks describe segregation in a few pages, but these artists share complicated, personal views of how segregation looked and felt.
Race and Ethnicity in Advertising
The definitive online exhibition and archives about how American experiences of race and ethnicity have shaped and been shaped by the development of advertising over the course of the 20th century.
For Us the Living
A series of five primary source based learning modules that encourage high school students to explore American history through the stories found in Alexandria National Cemetery.
ABMC War Dead Database
Features over 224,000 records of individuals buried or memorialized in ABMC cemeteries and memorials worldwide.
American Archive of Public Broadcasting
Watch and listen to thousands of public broadcasting programs from across the U.S.
100 Years of Parcels, Packages, and Packets, Oh My!
In the age of Amazon, take students back to a time when delivery in the U.S. was still developing.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott: They Changed the World
How was the 1955–1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott covered in Montgomery? Take a look with this archive from a Montgomery newspaper!
Turning Students into Historians
How do you engage students with primary sources and their community? Jasmine Alinder shares a success story!
The Thomas Jefferson Building: Secret Messages
What messages are hidden in art and architecture? Explore the Library of Congress’s Jefferson Building in this online activity.
Hawaiian Statehood
Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1898. Why did it take more than 60 years for it become a state?
The March on Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project
Wisconsin teachers, bring the Civil Rights Movement home to your students with this archive of primary sources.
Recreating the Cuban Missile Crisis
Ninth-grade teacher Jamie Kimbrough asked her students to stand in Kennedy’s shoes. How did they decide to resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis?
My Piece of History
Even the recent past was very different from the present. Students analyze photos from the 1960s and 1970s to identify differences between then and now.
Olympic Spirit: Teaching with the Olympics
Summer or winter, the Olympics bring together countries worldwide—including the U.S. How can you teach with Olympic history?
The "Daisy" Ad
Johnson, Goldwater, and the politics of fear.
The Short-Handled Hoe
History is imbedded in the smallest objects. In this lesson, students examine how a simple farming tool connects to the work done by United Farm Workers.
Resources for Flag Day
Flag Day may not fall during the school year for many, but Flag Day resources are valuable all year long.
IWitness
Delve into 20th-century history with Holocaust survivor and witness testimonies.
Reading Photographs: MacArthur and Hirohito
How would you have planned this photograph if you were General MacArthur?
Memorial Day: The Poppy Puzzle
Do you know the history of this symbol?
Earth Day: Lost to History
Human history affects more than human beings.
Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King Jr.
What connections do documents related to the Jackie Robinson Testimonial Dinner in 1962 make between these two men?
A Symbol of Friendship
The cherry trees in Washington, DC were a gift from Japan. What does their history tell us?
Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship
Discover the rich history of DC’s cherry trees and what they reveal about U.S./Japan relations.
White House Historical Association
There’s more to the White House than the President himself—music, art, staff, pets. . .
Japanese American National Museum Collections
Looking for ways to grow awareness of injustice of Japanese internment? This site likely has the perfect primary source for your needs.
Give Me (Nuclear) Shelter
How much do you know about these iconic emblems of Cold War fears?
Presidents Day: Growing Up to Be President
Even American presidents were babies once!
Reading a Cartoon: Massive Resistance
What do the objects in this 1954 editorial cartoon stand for?
VOCES Oral History Project
Ever wondered about the wartime experiences of Latinos and Latinas? VOCES seeks to help remedy the gap in U.S. popular historical narrative.
Memoirs v. Tapes: President Nixon and the December Bombings
Was Nixon as reluctant to initiate the Christmas bombing as his memoirs suggest, or was he as eager as he claimed Kissinger to be?
In Dr. King's Words
People can identify (some of) the words of Martin Luther King Jr. Can you place these quotes?
Resources for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Do you use Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a teachable moment? Our spotlight page and other resources can help!
Civilian Public Service Story
Unearth an important part of U.S. military history—the conscientious decision not to fight.
Flashing Across the Country: Mr. Zip and the ZIP Code Promotional Campaign
Have you ever wondered what your zip code means or when the codes came into use?
Food 50 Years Ago
Is your favorite food a recent invention?
Veterans Day: Medals and Merit
You know the Purple Heart, but can you identify these honors?
Japanese American Internment: Executive Order 9066
How did the World War II internment of Japanese Americans happen? Historian Frank Wu examines Executive Order 9066.
Thanksgiving: Presidential Turkeys
How many turkeys have presidents pardoned?
Digital Resource Guide for the Labor Archives of Washington State
Making labor history access less of a chore.
Hope for America
Do you want to use humor to your advantage in the classroom? Hope for America examines comedy and satire in American popular culture and its influence on political history.
America's Love for the Automobile
An Exciting Whiff of Danger or La Belle Dame sans Merci?
Film Review: The Aviator
Historical films like The Aviator sacrifice historical context to create character portraits, says historian David Courtwright.
Ballyhoo!: Posters as Portraiture
Think of all the celebrity advertisements you see everyday. Why pick that particular person for that particular poster?
Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project
What role have women played in war and the military?
DocsTeach
Team up with the National Archives and Records Administration to bring primary sources into your classroom!
Finishing the Dream: Learning from the Civil Rights Era
This collection of short videos recognizes the civil rights movement as ongoing struggle.
Texas Archive of the Moving Image
Watch some Texas history, submit your own, or learn to make local documentaries.
Freedom Riders
Meet the American men and women who traveled the South in the name of black/white equality.
Center on Congress
What is Congress? Why should anyone care?
Film Review: Ken Burns's Jazz
Documentaries can be critiqued on many levels, says Professor Frank Tirro. Here, he looks at Ken Burns’s Jazz from four angles.
Questioning History Using the Census
Historian Alex Stein poses questions about population shift in Detroit, and models using census data and other sources to answer his question.
Comic Books in the History Classroom
Comic books as primary sources? Bring superheroes into the classroom with these six historical themes.
Joe Jelen's Ads as Primary Sources: The Ad Council's Historic Campaigns
Advertisements don’t always use ideas to sell products—sometimes they use ideas to sell ideas. Explore the ideas the Ad Council’s PSAs have sold, Joe Jelen suggests.
Women in the Lab (and the Field)
Marie Curie and Jane Goodall—you may know these female scientists, but can you name any American women scientists?
Cintia Cabib's Interdisciplinary Gardening
Walk through the history of student gardening with documentarian Cintia Cabib, and see how you can use gardens in the classroom.
Divided Allegiance
Being born in the United States was not always a guaranteed path to citizenship.
Airplane Meals
Think you’re a post-WWII expert? Test your knowledge with this quiz on the Berlin Airlift.
On Telegrams and Telephone Calls
On the record and off the record communications between Washington and Birmingham in 1963.
Divining America: Religion in American History
Use this essay on Jewish immigration to flesh out a unit on the Civil War or immigration.
Women at War
Women have fought in every U.S. war, but only recently have they gained official military status.
Examining the Korean War
Allow students to explore historical events through multiple perspectives with this lesson.
Presidents in the Library
Happy Presidents Day! What better place to turn to for presidential history resources than libraries dedicated to the presidents?
Cold War Wrestling Match
How political cartoons illustrate international events and the artists beliefs.
A Day On, Not a Day Off
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Celebrate this holiday as a day of public service.
Civil Rights Sit-in
“Local custom” was at odds with company policy in Jackson, MS.
Presidential Timeline of the Twentieth Century
Teaching 20th century presidential history or political events? Explore this site for interactive timelines, exhibits, and over 1,500 primary sources.
Freedom's Story: Teaching African American Literature and History
Slavery, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement—you have to teach these topics, so check out these essays to enrich your curriculum!
Understanding and Appreciating World War II Veterans
Immerse your students in World War II battles, veterans, and services for Veteran’s Day projects with these handy websites.
Understanding and Appreciating WWII Veterans
Websites that assist students in compiling information on WWII battles, veterans, and services for Veteran’s Day projects.
Remembering All Veterans
Veterans Day is for everyone who fought for the U.S.—including those who volunteered in the face of prejudice.
DocsTeach
Find primary sources and the tools to present them to students—in one place.
The Big Picture: Match the Ad to the Year
Be it the radio or the television, the slogans related to popular or unpopular products tend to stick on our mind.
Vaccinations: Rites of Passage
Have you had your shots? Which childhood diseases do these public health announcements address?
California or Bust
Who went west when? Answer questions about migration from 1935 to 2000.
Baseball in Black and White
Baseball might be America’s favorite past time, but it has not always been inclusive. Can you answer these questions about African American ball players?
A Hoax Provokes Folks: Why Lie?
Peruse the news, but beware hot air? Examine famous U.S. hoaxes.
Paradise in a Breakfast Bowl
A morning meditation on flakes: Do your morals and values help you decide which cereal to eat in the morning?
Spot the President: Presidential Campaign Ads
Decide whether these statements on the more-than-50-year-old tradition of television campaign ads are true or false.
Textbook Twisters: Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the greatest conflicts between the US and Cuba. How did both nations interpret the Crisis?
Presidential Moments: Campaigns
Think the mudslinging in modern campaigns is bad? Campaigns have always been “dirty” to amass support for one politician over another.
Constitution Day 2010
Explore these online Constitution Day resources for September 17 and throughout the year.
Potent Quotables: Every Vote Counts
After more than two centuries of citizenship, much has been said about voting. Can you tell who said what?
Presidential Moments: Inauguration
The first day on the new job is difficult for everybody—including U.S. presidents.
Presidential Moments: Inaugural Addresses
Can you match these famous first words with their presidential speakers?
Fashion Maven
Do you have your mother’s—and her mother’s—fashion sense?
First Ladies' Firsts
What about the other occupants of the White House?
Patents as Primary Sources
Patents as primary sources? These documents can give your students clues to development of U.S. science, technology, business, and social concerns.
Monuments to a Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorials
Answer these questions about memorials to the life and ideals of MLK.
Theatre of the People
Through performing art, U.S. minorities assert their identities. Answer these questions on multicultural music and theatre.
Fly Away Jim Crow
Equality requires more than a Proclamation. Try to answer these questions on Jim Crow.
Stumbling Down the Road to Health
It seemed like a good idea at the time . . . which “healthful” ingredients and inventions that had unintended consequences?
Teaching the 20th
When does the past go from ‘recent’ to ‘history?’ Consider these questions about textbook portrayals of late 20th-century events.
Back to School
Binders, buses, and backpacks—consider the history of these back-to-school basics.
Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Culture
At the virtual home of the Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Culture, six exhibits highlight ethnic culture in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
State of the Union
What can 214 State of the Union addresses tells us about American politics and rhetoric?
Indiana Historical Society Digital Image Collections
Indiana educators, looking for visual primary sources? Search more than 38,000 photographs from the 19th century to the present.
Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection
Covering Californian urban history? Search more than 275,000 digitized images in Los Angeles Public Library’s photo archives.
Feminist Art
Explorations of the body, self-reference, and the entanglement of art and politics have all been the themes of feminist art—as they have been themes of other art of our time.
A History of Fundamentalism
What does fundamentalism mean and how has that meaning changed over time?
PhilaPlace
Pennsylvania educators, or teaching urban history? Explore two neighborhoods in Philadelphia using an interactive map and more than 1,240 primary sources.
Chicano/a Movement in Washington State History Project
Washington State educators, bring diversity and reform activism into your classroom with resources on this civil rights movement.
Cross-checking Sources and Testing Hypotheses
Challenge students to gather evidence from multiple primary sources. Here, a high school student uses two related primary sources to understand the civil rights movement.
Reading for Context
If students lack historical context, they can miss the substance of a reading. Watch a high school sophomore use what he knows about the 1950s and 1960s to approach a diary extract.
Mass Moments
MA educators—explore a historical moment (and accompanying primary source) for every day of the year.
University of Washington Libraries: Moving Image Collection
Northwest educators—need some unconventional primary sources? Check out 65 moving images from 1915 through the 21st century.
Wisconsin State Historical Society Online Collections
Wisconsin educators, search the online collections of the oldest American historical society for primary sources.
Washington State Digital Archives
Attention Washington State educators! Looking for primary sources? With more than 84.5 million documents, this archive has what you need.
Watergate and the Constitution
To indict or not to indict? Watergate raised complicated questions concerning Constitutional interpretation.
Tips to Trappers
What do Sears Roebuck, farming, advertising, furs, and rural America have in common?
True Americans in the Cold War
Looking for the Red in the Red, White, and Blue?
Rock Paper Scissors
Gamester extraordinaire Comte de Rochambeau?
The U.S. and Egypt in the 1950s
Creating political blowback in the Middle East
Massive Resistance through Political Cartoons
Watch 4th-graders analyze cartoons about Virginia and Brown v. Board of Education.
Opening up the Textbook: Voices from My Lai
High school students use primary sources to question their textbook’s narrative on the My Lai massacre.
Old Time Radio
Let your students compare the entertainment of yesteryear—radio—with the TV shows and other media in their homes today.
Enduring Outrage: Editorial Cartoons by Herblock
Introduce your students to political cartoons with Herbert Block’s bold, visually inviting style. 32 cartoons cover the 1940s through the 1990s.
Missouri Digital Heritage
Missouri teachers looking for primary sources, look no further. Explore this portal for resources from libraries, universities, archives, and heritage sites throughout the state.
Curating the City: Wilshire Blvd
California educators, lead your students on an interactive journey down Los Angeles’s historic Wilshire Boulevard!
Land of (Unequal) Opportunity
460 documents and images on civil rights in Arkansas, from before, during, and after the civil rights movement.
U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1994
More than 355,000 items produced by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, from 1817-1994.
Platte River Basin in Nebraska
Forty diverse documents about the history, geology, and hydrology of the Platte River, from 1843 to the present.
National Museum of the American Indian: Beauty Surrounds Us
Online exhibit of more than 65 objects from Native cultures in North and South America.
Kheel Center Labor Photos
More than 1,000 photographs from the history of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
This presidential library presents sources from the 35th President’s life and times.
Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences
Search over 200 prominent African American scientists.
Savannah Images Project
A useful local history project which focuses on the history of Savannah and the Georgia coastline.
The Leonard Bernstein Collection, ca.1920-1989
An extensive collection of primary resources concerning renowned composer Leonard Bernstein.
Integrated Public Use Microdata Series
View 22 census data samples and 65 million records from 13 federal censuses.
Photographing History: Fred J. Maroon and the Nixon Years
View the many faces of President Nixon as captured by photographer Fred Maroon.
Marian Anderson: A Life in Song
Travel through the life and works of Marion Anderson with this online exhibit.
Virginia Historical Society
View the Virginia Historical Society’s extensive collection of materials documenting Virginia history.
U.S. Electoral College
Uncover the inner workings and history of the US Electoral College. Click here to explore!
National Park Service, Teaching with Historic Places
Use this website to plan and organize lessons around NPS properties and locations.
The Vietnam War Declassification Project
An extensive collection of primary documents pertaining to the American withdrawal from Vietnam.
History of Presidential Elections Site
Provides a wealth of information on US presidential elections, with a particular focus on the 2000 election.
U.S. Senate Historical Office
How much do you know about the history of the American Senate? Click here for background information on this component of our legislative branch.
Material History of American Religion Project
Learn about American material culture and its relation to the nation’s religious history.
Hagley Digital Archives
Focused on business history, this gateway site connects businesses to greater cultural and social trends.
Divining America: Religion and the National Culture
A comprehensive history of religion and major religious events within the United States.
History Now: American History Online
Read this quarterly journal which focuses on a different topic in American History in each issue.
White Trash: The Construction of an American Scapegoat
An excellent site for new study into the “white trash” demographic.
The Aaron Copland Collection, ca. 1900-1990
An extensive collection of primary and secondary resources detailing the life of composer Aaron Copeland.
Tending the Commons: Folklife and Landscape in Southern West Virginia
Learn about life in the Big Coal River Valley in West Virginia.
The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship
A comprehensive guide consisting of over 240 primary source items detailing African American history.
For European Recovery: The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Marshall Plan
This website gives a broad introduction to the Marshall Plan and is home to over 30 primary sources.
Vietnam Online
A companion site to a PBS series, this website contains a wealth of resources relating to Vietnam.
The Whole World Was Watching: An Oral History of 1968
An oral history of 1968, as told by a variety of Rhode Island residents, focusing on Civil Rights and Vietnam.
The Challenge of Democracy: LBJ in the Oval Office: Johnson's Vietnam Anguish
Listen to four telephone conversations recorded by Lyndon B. Johnson related to the Vietnam War.
Through Our Parent's Eyes: Tucson's Diverse Community
Learn about the ethnically diverse history of Tucson, AZ.
Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS), 1945-1972
Peruse this collection of recently declassified foreign policy documents.
Nixon and Sports
Explore the relationship between Nixon’s love of sports and his actions as US President.
Fiddle Tunes of the Old Frontier: The Henry Reed Collection
Learn about the 20th century resurgence of fiddle music and Appalachian folk culture.
CIA and the Vietnam Policy Makers: Three Episodes 1962-1968
A recently declassified study on the CIA’s intelligence assessments concerning Vietnam.
Wilbur and Orville Wright Papers
Read about Wilbur and Orville Wright’s triumphs and setbacks as they experienced them.
Nixon Tapes
What was the nature of Nixon and Echeverria’s political relationship?
Civil Rights Oral History Interviews: Spokane, Washington
From racism to civil rights movement music, listen to the memories of these eight individuals.
The Official George and Ira Gershwin Website
Discover the works of songwriting brothers Ira and George Gershwin.
American Women
Interested in using the Library of Congress to research women’s history, but unsure how to start?
United States Early Radio History
How did radio move from major technological advance to mass popular culture?
National Postal Museum
The mail always comes, rain or shine; but how?
The Official Leonard Bernstein Site
Explore the life of a major classical conductor.
When They Were Young: A Photographic Retrospective of Childhood
What would it be like to grow up poor? Greek? Mexican? Rich?
Philip S. Hench Walter Reed Yellow Fever Collection
Discover the men, ideas, and process behind discovering that mosquitoes transfer yellow fever.
University of Missouri-Columbia: Digital Library Collections
A hodge podge of history: England, Missouri, and the greater U.S.
Freedom: A History of Us
What exactly is freedom, and who possesses it?
Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Museum
Peruse this national source for all things Eisenhower.
Linus Pauling and the Race for DNA: A Documentary History
Meet Linus Pauling, from his Nobel prizes to his “dirty laundry.”
Jacob Lawrence: Exploring Stories
Frame your lessons on the Great Migration with the life and works of Jacob Lawrence.
Bob Hope and American Variety
“When Vaudeville died, television was the box they put it in,” according to Bob Hope. Read essays on his life and career.
Communism in Washington State--History and Memory Project
Communist Russia. Communist China. Communist Washington?
Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia
Although painful to view, racist memorabilia reminds us of past mindsets and ethics.
Best of History Websites
Find top notch history web resources, as well as advice on using technology for teaching.
African-Americans--Biography, Autobiography, and History
Read a selection of the world’s greatest speeches by prominent African American figures.
Dox Thrash: An African American Master Printmaker Rediscovered
View depictions of African American life by artist Dox Thrash.
Harvesting the River
Explore river life—with a particular focus on food harvesting.
Selected Historical Decennial Census Population and Housing Counts
What questions have past censuses posed? What were the results?
Museum of Musical Instruments (MoMI)
Find out about the guitar players who came before you, and perhaps, even perfect your own abilities.
Worthington Memory, Online Scrapbook
Explore the history and development of a small town. The online scrapbook provides an uncanny lens into town life.
U.S. Intelligence Policy Documentation Project
Read up on the NRO, NSA, and the use of satellite imaging for intelligence collection.
Oral History Research Center
What do Vegas showgirls have to say about their time in the city?
China and the United States: From Hostility to Engagement, 1960-1998
Trace U.S.-China relations from the 60s through present day.
Kiowa Drawings
Kiowa artwork from buffalo hide canvases to university art training.
Black Wings: African American Pioneer Aviators
What was life like for the African American pilots of World War II?
The Joshua Lederberg Papers
What contributions has bacterial geneticist Joshua Lederberg made to science and healthcare?
Digital Archive of American Architecture
Explore U.S. architectural styles and ornamentation, or date the buildings in your town.
U.S. Army Signal Corps Photograph Collection
Take a peek at 1940s military life in Hampton Roads, VA.
Physical Sciences Collection: Surveying and Geodesy
What tools do men use to turn wilderness into private property?
RFK in the Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope
Examine the impact of Robert F. Kennedy’s anti-apartheid trip to South Africa.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Contemporary art highlights and reflects societal issues following World War II.
Picturing Hemingway: A Writer in His Time
You’ve read his words, but do you know who he was? Explore the man behind those epic stories.
History of American Education Web Project
Explore the history of education within the U.S, through writings and images.
The Hartford Black History Project
Follow the formation of the African American community in the city of Hartford, CT
Linus Pauling Research Notebooks
What goes through the mind of a Nobel-prize winning chemist?
U.S. Steel Gary Works Photograph Collection, 1906-1971
Relive the construction of the city of steel—Gary, Indiana.
Lesson Plans Library
Hundreds of lesson plans, right at your fingertips. Incorporate them in the classroom.
AMDOCS: Documents for the Study of American History
One convenient source for major historical U.S. documents.
Lift Every Voice: Music in American Life
What work can be accomplished through music?
Remembering Herblock
View political cartoons by Herbert Block, father of the term, “McCarthyism.”
Economic Data, Fred II
Get your historical national economical statistics right here.
Woody Guthrie and the Archive of American Folk Song: 1940-1950
How did the national government strive to preserve vernacular music?
Voices of the Colorado Plateau
There’s more to the West than cowboys.
Science, Technology, and the CIA
Project “Acoustic Kitty,” anyone? With different code names for missions, the CIA has shielded some vital information from the public.
Industrial Research and Development Information System
Ever curious about the nexus between R&D and economics?
History Through Deaf Eyes
What has the U.S. deaf population experienced?
Library of American Broadcasting Sound Bites
From dog food to automobiles—advertisers on the airwaves.
Historic USGS Maps of New England
Explore New England’s topography with more than 1,100 topographical maps, covering all of New England and parts of New York.
Department of Transportation: Digital Special Collections
Read up on early 20th-century train and airplane accidents, among other transportation topics.
Characteristics of Census Tracts in Nine U.S. Cities, 1940-1960
How many hospital beds did New Orleans have in 1960? Was it able to accommodate the poor and sick?
Data & Information Services Center: Online Data Archive
Ever wonder about Irish immigration to Boston or family finances in the ’60s?
HistoryWired: A Few of Our Favorite Things
What American history items do Smithsonian curators like best?
Phillip Morris Advertising Archive
What tactics has the tobacco industry used to sell smoking to the populace?
Today in History Web Resources
Need to check a date? Have students report on their birth dates? Try here.
Korea + 50: No Longer Forgotten
Explore one of the country’s least discussed major military conflicts, the Korean War.
We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement
Which locations, open for visitation, are most relevant to the civil rights movement?
American Originals Part II
Introduce students to 25 documents selected by the National Archives for their historical importance.
National Security Archives: The Pentagon's Spies
James Bond, anyone? Delve into the States’ history of espionage.
Labor Arts
What role has art had in the depiction and reality of U.S. labor?
The Irving Fine Collection, Ca. 1914-1962
Experience the life and works of lesser known American classical composer Irving Fine.
National Security Action Memoranda of John F. Kennedy
Browse a wealth of memos from the Kennedy administration.
AdFlip
Nostalgic for X-ray glasses advertisements?
Traders: Voices from the Trading Post
Listen as traders talk about their experiences at Native American trading posts.
Democratic Vistas: The William Clyde DeVane Lecture Series
Look to the past to consider the prospects of democracy in the U.S.
Archives of American Art, Oral History Collections
Interested in the life of a particular artist? Find out more about the painting and the person here.
Agents of Social Change: 20th-Century Women's Activism
Source documents to help you approach 20th-century feminism.
Regional Oral History Office
Explore California oral histories, or learn to conduct your own interviews.
Free Speech Movement: Student Protest, U.C. Berkeley, 1964-65
Explore primary documents concerning the Berkeley Free Speech Movement.
Bay of Pigs Reports
What did the U.S. government think of its own attempt to overthrow Castro?
William Gedney Photographs and Writings
See American life through Gedney’s eyes and European and Indian life through American eyes.
A Visual Journey: Photographs by Lisa Law, 1965-1971
Check out the music scene, communes, and protests of the 1960s.
Pictures of the American City
See the U.S. grow before your eyes with this collection depicting two centuries of urbanization.
Jo Freeman.com
Explore women’s political history and activism from the 1960s onward.
To the Moon
Explore the history of the moon itself, as well as how we reached it.
NBER Macrohistory Database
Looking for historical economics statistics? The NBER Macrohistory Database should be a central resource for you.
Hall of Black Achievement Gallery
Meet 30 influential African Americans who contributed across a wide variety of fields.
A Southern Mill Village: History of Old West Durham
Follow the development of a mill town from its birth to its current status.
One Hundred Years of Photography from the National Archives
Relive the 20th century through iconic imagery—more than 70 photographs represent major U.S. events.
Historical Atlas of the Twentieth Century
Compare global statistics on topics from infant mortality to literacy.
Max Hunter Folk Song Collection
A top notch concept: combining traveling sales with anthropological fieldwork.
Traveling Culture: Circuit Chautauqua in the Twentieth Century
Which performers, from martial artists to yodelers, traveled the Chautauqua circuit?
Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
Right this way for Seattle and Washington state history resources.
History Cooperative
Catch up on the latest scholarly research, and learn and incorporate new scholarship or innovative findings into the classroom.
Civics Online
Gain inspiration for new ways to approach political history.
May 4 Collection, Kent State University
What can we learn from the Kent State Riots?
Kellogg African American Health Care Project: The Oral Histories
What was health care like during segregation?
Hannah Arendt Papers
Do you read German? Not to worry. Select documents are available in English.
FDIC Historical Studies
What do you know about the 1980s Savings and Loan crisis?
Documents Relating to American Foreign Policy during the Cuban Missile Crisis
From telegrams to meeting notes, this site catalogs Cuban Missile Crisis documents.
Korean American Digital Archive
Meet singer Florence Ahn, minister Soon Hyun, and others.
The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962: The 40th Anniversary
For your eyes only: photos and previously classified Cold War documents.
Mapping the National Parks
Track the exploration and use of Acadia, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Great Rocky Mountains.
Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns
Can you tell New Orleans jazz from Bebop? Can you hear the variations in style and instrumental parts?
Florida Heritage Collection
Explore Florida state, regional, and local history.
Toledo's Attic: A Virtual Museum of Toledo, Ohio
Explore Toledo, Ohio’s entertainment, technological, business, and political history.
Conversations with History
Brush up on your understanding of international relations with these interviews.
Riverboats and Jazz
What entertainment might you have expected on a riverboat cruise in the early 1900s?
The American Experience
Discover briefs on more than 60 iconic points in U.S. history.
National Security Archive
Read official documents on U.S. intelligence and positions from the Cold War through present day.
Great Lakes Maritime History Project
Delve into Wisconsin’s maritime history. Discover the multiple ways in which water shaped the history of the state.
National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
More than 50 virtual exhibits ranging from Julia Child to West Point.
Digital Map Collection
Need a historic map for any of your lessons? Check out this digital map collection!
Conservation and Environmental Maps
Looking for maps with an environmental focus? Try here.
Oneida Indian Nation: Culture and History
Meet the Oneida, and discover their role in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.
Belgian-American Research Collection
What would your life have been like as a Belgian immigrant in Wisconsin?
SDA: Survey Documentation and Analysis
Observe statistical trends in U.S. beliefs and demographics from free speech to zodiac signs.
Crime and Justice Data Online
What crimes are most common? What is the demographic composition of the police force?
Election Statistics
How many votes did each nominee receive in federal elections?
Club Kaycee, Golden Age of Kansas City Jazz
Listen to jazz from the ’20s and ’40s while learning about music greats and hot spots.
The Barbara McClintock Papers
Meet Barbara McClintock, Nobel Prize-winning geneticist best known for discovering genetic transposition.
The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden
Unsure how to teach presidential history in an engaging manner? Try these activities and lessons.
American Roots Music
Discover blues, country, bluegrass, gospel, Cajun, Zydeco, Tejano, and Native American music.
Goldband Records: "Every One a Musical Treat"
What on earth is “swamp pop”?
Popular American Music
What songs were on the “Top 20” in the 1850s? Was it as much of a social concern as it is nowadays to stay musically trendy?
Pittsburgh City Photographer
See Pittsburgh, PA, the way it appeared as early as the 1890s.
Historic Topographic Maps of California
Explore a wide range of Californian geological survey maps, dating from 1895 to present.
Reston Collection Images
Explore the planned community of Reston, VA. Gain a better sense of the town that has become a burgeoning suburb.
The History of Sanitary Sewers
Few engineering feats are so overlooked by history as the creation of sewers worldwide.
Historical Maps Online
View 400 hundred years of cartography from the Illinois area.
Washington History
Make this your first stop for topics related to Washington state history!
Woman's Legal History Biography Project
How many female lawyers can you think of in U.S. history?
Milwaukee Neighborhoods: Photos and Maps, 1885-1992
Take a visual journey through the development of Milwaukee, WI.
With an Even Hand: Brown v. Board at Fifty
Examine the events which led to and the aftermath of Brown v. Board of Education.
Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Digital Archive
Explore Brown v. Board of Education through interactive activities and personal recollections.
University of California History Digital Archives
Discover the history of the University of California through primary sources.
The Pill
How has the birth control pill altered sexuality and feminine gender expectations?
Military Campaign Maps
Where exactly were troops stationed in a given battle? Visualize the military campaigns, and imagine what the troops saw when they were able to initiate fighting.
The New Georgia Encyclopedia
Need a comprehensive site on Georgia history? Why, here you go!
American Memory Learning Page
Try lesson plans based on the Library of Congress’ American Memory collections.
The Vietnam Project
A highly comprehensive look at the Vietnam War.
The United States and Brazil: Expanding Frontiers, Comparing Cultures
How are Brazil and the U.S. similar? How are they different?
What Exit? New Jersey and Its Turnpike
Travel through history with the New Jersey Turnpike.
Maine Memory Network
Explore the history of Maine, and create your own digital album.
Utah Digital Newspapers
Browse Utah newspapers from 1879 through modern day.
TUPPERWARE!
Have you ever heard of a Tupperware party? Find out more about the household brand.
Kennedy and Castro: The Secret History
Did you know that Kennedy considered softening the national platform on Cuba?
American Photography: A Century of Images
How has photography altered our perception of and the actuality of reality?
Civil Rights Movement Veterans
Access the human stories of the civil rights movement.
The Story of Virginia
State standards require you to teach VA history? Worry not! This site covers Virginia history from prehistoric times to the present.
Home Economics Archive: Research, Tradition, History
What would your life have been like as a housewife in 1850?
San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection
Imagine San Francisco as it would have been as early as 1850.
Presidents of the United States - POTUS
Compare inauguration promises or cabinet members. See the image of the United States’ government over time.
George Mason University Electronic Documentary History
How does a university grow into its own?
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
How can you incorporate digital technology into your teaching, study, or understanding of history?
Creative Memo on Lay's Products
Potato chip marketing—how a luxury item became an everyday U.S. food.
Bookmark This! Teaching Mexican American History with the Bracero Program
A resource for bilingual (Spanish-English) materials for teaching 20th century American history.
Hard Hat Riots: An Online History Project
Learn about the Hard Hat Riots of New York with this innovative website.
A Curriculum of United States Labor History for Teachers
Learn about labor politics and economics throughout American history.
Voice of the Shuttle: Web Page for Humanities Research
An impressive gateway site for all humanities subjects.
The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection
Explore the federal government’s extensive collection of resources pertaining to the JFK assassination.
Cold War: Postwar Estrangement
A collection of Soviet archival documents which take visitors inside the highest levels of the Soviet Government.
Chicago Imagebase
Witness the growth of the Chicago metro area with this interactive website.
Regarding Vietnam: Stories Since the War
A valuable site filled with firsthand discussion on the conduct and effect of the Vietnam War.
The Digital Classroom
An informative introduction to the practice and excitement of historical research.
American Museum of Photography
View fantastic photography throughout the ages in over 15 exhibits.
American Women's History: A Research Guide
Speed up your online search for resources on American women’s history with this research guide.
Voices from the Gaps: Women Writers and Artists of Color
Learn about all of America’s most famous female writers of color with this comprehensive website.
History: The National Park Service
Visit this website to learn the history of many of the 384 areas under the stewardship of the National Park Service.
WWW-Virtual Library, History Central Catalogue
This large gateway site provides a starting point for any and all historical research.
Words and Deeds in American History
View primary documents that helped to shape America’s history.
Modern and Contemporary American Poetry
Read hundreds of poems by major and lesser known figures.
Washington As It Was: Photographs by Theodor Horydczak, 1923-1959
Early 20th century Washington is captured in this collection of 14,350 photographs by Theodor Horydczak.
Creative Americans: Portraits by Carl Van Vechten, 1932-1964
View the mid-20th-century art scene through the photographs of music and dance critic Carl Vechten.
Jackie Robinson and Other Baseball Highlights, 1860s-1960s
Learn about race in American sports history through the life of Jackie Robinson.
Architecture and Interior Design for America: 1935-1955
Explore early 20th century architecture and interior design with this expansive photo gallery.
Center for Working-Class Studies
Begin your study of working class and labor history with this website.
The Urban Landscape
View photographs of a variety of urban landscapes.
Living the Legacy: The Women's Rights Movement, 1848-1998
Learn about the women’s rights movement through the secondary sources offered by this website.
America Votes: Presidential Campaign Memorabilia
Follow presidential campaigns through the years with this collection of campaign materials.
Buckaroos in Paradise: Ranching Culture in Northern Nevada, 1945-1982
Learn about ranching culture and everyday life in northern Nevada’s Paradise Valley.
California Heritage Collection
View the early history of California through this collection of over 30,000 photographs.
When Nixon Met Elvis
Learn about Elvis’ bizarre visit with Richard Nixon through this collection of primary sources.
American Originals
Explore 14 significant and compelling documents from the National Archive Holdings.
Sixties Project & Viet Nam Generation
Learn about the Vietnam anti-war movement through this website.
Women's Studies Database
Your starting point for research in the field of Women’s Studies.
Posters: American Style
Explore 20th century American poster art, from advertisements to patriotic propaganda.
Still Going On: Celebrating The Life and Times of William Grant Still
Learn about famous composer William Grant Still through this online exhibit.
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Explore the history of baseball and the players who made the sport great.
The Wars for Vietnam: 1945-1975
Visit this website for a comprehensive introduction to the Vietnam War.
National Women's History Project
Start your research into Women’s history with the National Women’s History Project.
Children in Urban America: A Digital Archive
Imagine what it might have been like growing up over 100 years ago.
Alaska's Digital Archive
View images related to Alaskan statehood and Native Americans.
Vietnam War Era Ephemera Collection
Explore campus protest ephemera and the youth movements of the 1960s and 70s.
From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America
Peruse this online exhibit on the history of Jewish life in the United States.
Columbia River Basin Ethnic History Archive
Which ethnic groups have made their homes in the Columbia River Basin?
Say it Plain: A Century of Great African American Speeches
Hear 12 renowned speeches by African Americans, including Marcus Garvey’s only known recording.
Black Past
Begin your exploration of African American history with this web portal, leading out to more than 400 websites.
Presidential Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
Fortify your knowledge of Eisenhower’s international and domestic policies.
Wisconsin Magazine of History
Take in full articles from the 1917 through 2005 editions of the Wisconsin Magazine of History.
Freedom Now! An Archival Project of Tougaloo College and Brown University
Immerse yourself in the historical struggle for the African American vote in Mississippi.
NASA History Division
Ever wonder what lunar surface crew members and mission control said to each other?
Library of Congress: Webcasts
Access more than 500 webcasts from the Library of Congress.
Vincentian Postcards
Explore 200 years of postcards which document the Vincentian religious order of educators and nurses.
Helen Keller Kid's Museum
Present Helen Keller’s story in more detail with photographs and historical background.
A Portion of the People: Three Hundred Years of Southern Jewish Life
Explore Jewish heritage outside of the Mid-Atlantic or the Holocaust.
Seattle Power and Water Supply Collection
Take a gander at Washington state hydroelectric engineering feats of the 1890s through 1950s.
Illinois Digital Archives
Primary sources on Illinois history with an emphasis on residential and commercial architecture.
The Malcolm X Project
Read FBI files on and watch interviews about Malcolm X, human and African American rights activist.
Folkstreams
View streaming videos on American folk culture from fox hunting to Zydeco.
Florida Folklife Collection
Explore the folk lore of Florida—from musical performances and art to occupational lore.
Jewish Women and the Feminist Revolution
What roles have Jewish women played in the Second Wave of feminism?
NOVA: Einstein's Big Idea
E=mc2. What does it mean? How has it changed society? What was Einstein’s life like?
Louisiana State Museum Jazz Collection
Listen to New Orleans jazz while learning about Louis Armstrong and other famed musicians.
Portal to Texas History
Texas educators, looking for primary resources on state history? Search this portal for thousands of images and documents drawn from Texas-based archival collections.
Las Vegas: An Unconventional History
Why is Las Vegas one of the world’s most popular destinations? How has it changed?
New Jersey Public Records and Archives
Familiarize yourself with New Jersey history using images, maps, and official documents.
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Did you know that Micronesia was once a U.N. trusteeship administered by the United States?
Silicon Valley History Online
Silicone Valley is known as a high-tech industry center, but has it always been?
Virtual Museum and Archive of the SEC and Securities History
If you want to understand big business, it would be wise to examine the SEC’s history.
McVicar/Stein Photo Copy Service Collection
Imagine life in Madison, WI, between 1920 and 1970.
Western History Photography Collection
How does your view of the American West compare to the visual reality?
Turning Points in Wisconsin History
Primary documents, background information, and lesson plans for Wisconsin history.
Encyclopedia of Chicago, Historical Sources
Imagine your life in 19th and 20th-century Chicago with this extensive collection of images.
Documenting Our Past: The Teenie Harris Archive Project
View African American life in Pittsburgh between 1930 and 1970.
Harlem History
Explore the politics, neighborhoods, culture, and arts of Harlem.
Wright on the Web
Follow architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s career with these summaries and images.
The Eastman Project: Images of California Life
View more than 13,200 photographs of California labor and community life between 1921 and 1965.
Negroes With Guns: Rob Williams and Black Power
Do you think armed resistance is a justifiable reaction to racism? Explore Rob William’s motives.
Minnesota Maps Online
Are you interested in cartography or the natural and social environment of early Minnesota?
Seattle Black Panther Party History and Memory Project
Who exactly were the Black Panthers? Explore the history and memories of the Seattle chapter.
Automobile in American Life and Society
Enter the world of automotive history through oral histories and scholarly essays.
Native American Constitution and Law Digitization Project
Tie civics into units involving Native American history using relevant full-text legal documents.
Coming of Age in the Twentieth Century, Stories from Minnesota and Beyond
What can oral histories tell us about girlhood, adolescence, and more in the United States?
Jacob Lawrence: Over the Line
Experience selected artworks by African American artist Jacob Lawrence while learning about his life.
Oxford African American Studies Center
Access more than 5,000 biographies, maps, and images relevant to African American history.
Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
Review litigation studies ranging from mental health facilities and jail conditions to equal employment.
StoryCorps
Connect 20th-century events and daily life with real human experiences through oral history audio files.
Musicians Local No. 627 and the Mutual Musicians Foundation
Have you heard of musicians’ unions? Learn about a 20th-century African American jazz organization.
Madison: Celebrating 150 Years
Learn about Madison, WI, from early settlement through its time as the “queen of bootleggers.”
Life After the Holocaust: Stories of Holocaust Survivors After The War
Can you imagine starting your life over in the U.S. following the Holocaust?
North American Women's Letters and Diaries: Colonial Times to 1950
Read the personal correspondence and diaries of women such as Phyllis Wheatley and Margaret Fuller.
Travel, Tourism, and Urban Growth in Greater Miami: A Digital Archive
Interested in the history of tourism? This site examines the topic within Miami, FL.
Atlanta in the Civil Rights Movement
What was Atlanta’s role in the larger African American civil rights movement 1940 through 1970?
Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage
Explore the history of Maryland, from Edgar Allen Poe to the War of 1812.
The Adoption History Project
Did you know that adoption was only recognized as a legal U.S. operation in 1851?
Center for Dewey Studies, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Discover the life of pragmatist and education reform advocate John Dewey (1859-1952).
Archives of African American Music and Culture
Interested in jazz, hip hop, blues, doo-wop, spirituals, or rock? Explore African American music history.
Jimmy Carter
Brush up on your knowledge of Carter’s staff, family, and the events of his administration.
LBJ Oral History Project Online
What better way to explore Johnson’s presidency than through the words of his associates?
History of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Follow the history of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, from its completion in 1938 to its collapse in 1940 and its 1950 reconstruction.
The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project
Primary source documents including 8,000 newspaper columns and lesson plans.
Papers of Justice Tom C. Clark
Tom C. Clark served as Supreme Court Justice from 1949 to 1967, a time of legal shift and reform. Learn more about cases from these years from his papers.
Supreme Court Historical Society
The U.S. Supreme Court has shaped American ideals into practice since 1789, but how much do you know about this influential institution?
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Intimidated by teaching legal history? Find resources for thinking about and teaching 17 pivotal U.S. Supreme Court cases at this site, designed for educators.
American Experience: We Shall Remain
Coming soon to your local PBS station: a new look at the Native American experience.
Home Sales During the Great Depression
Building an edifice of statistics—where can you learn about the real estate market during the Depression?
Reading and Thinking Aloud to Understand
Two practices help students to make sense of primary source documents on the internment of Japanese Americans while improving their reading skills.
Opening Up the Textbook: Rosa Parks
The textbook is examined as one source among many, rather than a final authority.
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
Through oral history interviews, audio files, texts, and other primary sources, learn about life and presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson.
Literature and Culture of the American 1950s
Explore the cultural, intellectual, and political trends of the 1950s in a diverse array of primary and secondary sources.
Dynamics of Idealism: Volunteers for Civil Rights, 1965-1982
Learn about the volunteers who participated in a 1965 Southern Christian Leadership Conference voter registration effort.
CWIHP: Cold War International History Project
Covering 1945 through the late 1990s, sources from the former Communist bloc provide a different perspective on the Cold War.
Time Archive, 1923 to Present
From its March 23, 1923 first edition to the present, Time presents a searchable database of cover art.
The History of Social Security
We all know what the Social Security Administration does, but do you know how it was formed?
Profiles in Science
Explore the profiles of 26 scientists, physicians, and experts in biomedical research and public health.
The Vault
With the Freedom of Information Act, the government declassified thousands of documents, including those available here.
Remembering Jim Crow
This site offeres 30 interview excerpts and 130 photographs that examine Jim Crow from multiple perspectives.
Oral History Digital Collection
In full-text narratives, more than 2,000 people from northeast Ohio discuss issues significant to the state and the nation.
Multilaterals Project
From environmental agreements to rules of warfare, read the text of international multilateral treaties, agreements, and conventions.
American Radicalism Collection
From the Ku Klux Klan to the IWW, examine 129 historical documents from radical organizations.
Studs Terkel: Conversations with America
Meet Studs Terkel—oral historian, radio host, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
Truman Presidential Museum and Library
Government documents, oral histories, photographs, and political cartoons trace Harry S. Truman’s presidency.
Television News of the Civil Rights Era
View contemporary coverage of the Civil Rights Movement from two Roanoke, VA television stations.
Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project
Primary and secondary sources document the minority struggle for civil rights in Seattle’s history.
National Election Studies
Search data from surveys of the American electorate conducted in presidential and congressional election years from 1948 to 2006.
Martin Luther King Jr. Papers Project
More than 1,400 speeches, sermons, and other writings of Martin Luther King, mostly covering the period from 1929 to 1968
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Follow historical trends in national, international, and regional economic activity using the Bureau’s data.
SIRIS Image Gallery
Access close to 140,000 images from the Smithsonian Institution.
Jewish Women's Archive
Learn more about American Jewish women’s contributions to their communities and the wider world with these exhibits and resources.
Frontera Collection of Mexican American Music
Listen to clips from more than 100,000 recordings of Mexican American vernacular music.
Digital Archive Collections at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Library
Covering topics ranging from the annexation of Hawaii to World War II, 29 collections document the history of Hawaii and Micronesia.
Taking the Long View: Panoramic Photographs, 1851-1991
Displays nearly 4,000 panoramic photographs of cityscapes, landscapes, and group portraits.
USC Archival Research Center
With over 126,000 photographs, maps, and other documents, this site offers a comprehensive look at the history of Los Angeles and southern California.
Battle Lines: Letters from America's Wars
More than 30 letters cover conflicts from the Revolutionary War to the War of 1812 to war in Iraq.
Picturing America
Presents 27 iconic works of art as examples for the use of art and primary sources in history classrooms.
Rutgers Oral History Archives
Listen to oral history interviews with Americans who served overseas and on the home front during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Cold War.
Teach Women's History Project
Provides teaching and reference materials on the women’s rights movement of the past 50 years.
Marchand Archive
Memorializes Roland Marchand with more than 6,100 images, including more than 2,000 advertisements, and 48 lesson plans drawn from his collection.
Florida State Archives Photographic Collection
Presents more than 137,000 photographs of Florida on specific localities from the mid-19th century to the present.
Vietnam Center and Archive
Browse through a multitude of resources on Vietnam and the Vietnam War, including oral histories, video interviews, and primary source documents.
Selling the Computer Revolution: Marketing Brochures in the Collection
Presents more than 250 computer marketing brochures from 1948 to 1988.
Legacy Tobacco Documents Library
Houses more than 40 million pages from more than seven million tobacco industry documents.
Herblock's History: Political Cartoons from the Crash to the Millennium
View 150 cartoons drawn between 1929 and 2000 by Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Herbert Block.
Fifty Years of Coca-Cola Television Advertisements
Archives 50 Coca-Cola commercials, broadcast outtakes, and experimental footage.
CIA Electronic Reading Room
Digitally serves thousands of formerly secret documents in compliance with Freedom of Information Act requests.
Women in Journalism
Archives 44 “full-life” interviews with American women journalists.
Presidential Recording Program
Offers over 2,500 hours of White House recordings by six American presidents between 1940 and 1973.
Parallel History Project on Cooperative Security
More than 350 recently declassified documents reveal previously hidden aspects of Cold War military strategy.
NSA and the Cuban Missile Crisis
Provides access to facsimiles of 100 declassified documents relating to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
History and Politics Out Loud
Captures significant events and personalities of the 20th century through 107 audio items, including speeches, addresses, and private telephone conversations.
Historical Thinking Matters
Presents four guided investigations—on the Spanish-American War, the Scopes Trial, Social Security, and Rosa Parks—designed to teach students to read primary sources and construct historical narratives.
Experiencing War: Stories from the Veterans History Project
Presents video and audio oral histories and additional material from American veterans of 20th-century wars.
Disability History Museum
Explore the experiences of those with disabilities through documents and images dating from the 18th century to the present.
Medicine and Madison Avenue
Provides more than 600 health-related newspaper and magazine advertisements from 1910 to 1960.
Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
Explore this archive of over 110 video interviews on Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Urban Experience in Chicago: Hull-House and Its Neighborhoods, 1889-1963
Peruse this collection of over 900 items relating to Chicago’s Hull House to discover its influence on 20th century urban development.
Ad*Access
Archives more than 7,000 newspaper and magazine advertisements printed in the U.S. from 1911 to 1955.
The Wizard of Oz: An American Fairy Tale
We’re off to see the wizard! Discover the cultural impact of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Sanborn® Fire Insurance Maps, UT
1,275 detailed historical maps, dating from 1867 through 1969, depict 40 cities in the state of Utah.
Online Archive of California
Explore California from Japanese American internment or the Free Speech Movement to oral histories.
Famous Trials
Presents balanced treatments of over 50 prominent court trials, including the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui
Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials, 1952-2008
More than 250 television commercials trace campaign issues and the selling of American presidential candidates.
Internet Moving Images Archive
Reproduces a privately held collection of American ephemeral films produced between 1927 and 1987.
Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties
Digitizes Indian Affairs, a seven-volume compendium of treaties, laws, and executive orders relating to U.S.-Indian affairs from 1778 to 1970.
Brown v. Board of Education
Examine segregation and desegregation through summaries and the court’s opinions for two major cases.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Website
The Holocaust must be remembered. This site will give your students a closer look at the atrocities of this genocide.
Civil Rights in Mississippi Digital Archive
150 oral history interviews and 16 collections of documents address the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi.
Gifts of Speech: Women's Speeches from Around the World
More than 400 speeches by women—politicians, scientists, and celebrities.
Oyez: U.S. Supreme Court Multimedia
Showcases primary sources from more than 3,300 Supreme Court cases since 1955.
Making Sense of American Popular Songs
Don’t overlook song as a way of understanding the past.
Broadcasting Longevity
The roots of the Grand Ole Opry extend deep into radio broadcasting history.