Housing and Houselessness: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers
Help students understand the how policy and structural forces have shaped how people in the U.S. access housing.
Theodore Roosevelt and the 1912 Election
Students learn more about the larger than life figure of Theodore Roosevelt through sources related to the presidential election of 1912.
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.
Ford's Theatre: Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
Ford’s Theatre Society’s Sarah Jencks leads teachers through Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and follow-up activities, in this example of on-site TAH professional development.
Visiting the George Mason Memorial
How can you get teachers thinking about monuments and memorials as secondary and primary sources? Historians Christopher Hamner and Michael O’Malley started out by introducing teachers to the George Mason Memorial, Washington, DC.
National Portrait Gallery: Teaching with 19th-Century Portraits
Watch Briana Zavadil White introduce teachers to portraits of inventors and presidents from the 19th century.
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.
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.
American Archive of Public Broadcasting
Watch and listen to thousands of public broadcasting programs from across the U.S.
Prohibition: A Film by Ken Burns & Lynn Novick
What did the effects of the 18th Amendment look like? Explore 1921 through 1933 through images and film.
Win the White House
What does it take to win a presidential campaign? Try it yourself with this online game from iCivics!
Turning Students into Historians
How do you engage students with primary sources and their community? Jasmine Alinder shares a success story!
Hawaiian Statehood
Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1898. Why did it take more than 60 years for it become a state?
Lincoln on the Big Screen
How do historians think about films like Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln? Take a look with Teachinghistory.org!
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.
Constitution Day 2012: Founding Documents
The Constitution and the Bill of Rights inspired many other important documents in U.S. history. This Constitution Day, trace its influence through primary sources.
You Must Be This Old to Govern
25, 30, 35. We all know these ages are part of the requirements for elected representatives, but where did they come from?
Bleeding Kansas
What were the origins of this infamous controversy?
Women's Suffrage: Jane Addams's Article
Who was Jane Addams, and how is her article “Why Women Should Vote” still relevant today?
Women's Suffrage: Burroughs's Article
In the struggle for women’s suffrage, how did African American women represent themselves? TJ Boisseau reads an article by activist Nannie Helen Burroughs.
Women's Suffrage Photographs
How did the women’s suffrage movement use the rise of journalism to its advantage? TJ Boisseau looks at what photographs reveal.
Women's Suffrage Cartoon
How does a political cartoon use popular beliefs about women to make its point? Historian TJ Boisseau examines the conventions in this image.
Little Wolf and President Grant
Why did Little Wolf, a Cheyenne leader, go to Washington in 1873?
The "Daisy" Ad
Johnson, Goldwater, and the politics of fear.
Resources for Independence Day
Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July instead of the Second of July? Teach the context of the Declaration of Independence with these resources!
Establishing Connections: Teaching the Progressive Era
Students are often disconnected from the past. Why not immerse them in historic study by building off things they already know?
Reading a Cartoon: Nast's "Milk Tickets for Babies"
What do you see in this 1876 cartoon?
White House Historical Association
There’s more to the White House than the President himself—music, art, staff, pets. . .
Film Review: Iron Jawed Angels
How does modern television portray early 20th-century suffragists? Through very modern eyes, says Historian Carla Bittel.
Presidents Day: Growing Up to Be President
Even American presidents were babies once!
Resources for Presidents Day
February 20 marks Presidents Day, 2012. What does this holiday mean to you?
Reading a Cartoon: Massive Resistance
What do the objects in this 1954 editorial cartoon stand for?
Creating the United States
Even the Founding Fathers wrote rough drafts! Interact with early versions of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
Abolitionist Speeches by African American Women
How do the speeches of Sojourner Truth and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper differ? Historian Carla Peterson examines documents for answers.
The Road to Pearl Harbor
Explore the rise of animosity between the U.S. and Japan through primary source documents and related classroom activities.
What If...?: Reexamining the American Revolution
How different would “the United States of America” be if the British had won the Revolutionary War?
Cause and Effect: The Outbreak of World War II
What factors contributed to the initiation of World War II? Find out here!
Bill of Rights Institute
What would life be like without freedoms we take for granted—of the press, right to assembly, and more?
Silverites, Populists, and the Movement for Free Silver
Why were the people living in rural areas more likely to support “free silver” in 1896 than urban dwellers?
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.
1775 Colonial Newspaper Article
Smithsonian Barbara Clark Smith looks at what a colonial newspaper article says—and doesn’t say—about a Patriot protest.
e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia
There’s far more to West Virginia than stereotypes suggest. Why not take some time to explore the state?
Puerto Rico Encyclopedia/Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico
Connect with your ELL students with this bilingual Puerto Rico Encyclopedia!
FDR's Second Inaugural Address
What is the key line in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second inaugural address? Historian David Kennedy gives his answer.
The Election of 1932: Photographs of FDR
What can a photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 reveal? Donald A. Ritchie looks at the people captured in this photograph.
The Election of 1932: Clifford Berryman Cartoon
Donald A. Ritchie, Historian of the U.S. Senate, asks how a political cartoon captures a moment of change in the 1932 presidential campaign.
Andrew Johnson and Impeachment
Determining the path of the Republican party.
Mission US: For Crown or Colony
Immerse your students in the 1770s with this online game.
Tippecanoe and Walking Canes Too
A family’s oral history intersects with larger events in U.S. history.
In Remembrance: September 11, 2001
September 11, 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. When does the recent past become history?
Film Review: John Adams
Does John Adams depart too far from history to be useful in the classroom? Historian James Kloppenberg reviews the film.
Constitution Day Count
How does the Constitution measure up to other important documents in U.S. history?
Declaration of Independence
Historian Rosemarie Zagarri reads the Declaration of Independence closely, taking time to define its context and its effects.
Civil War Letters
Historian Chandra Manning analyzes Civil War letters from black and white Union soldiers and a Confederate soldier.
Elizabeth Schaefer on a New Approach to President Lincoln
Summer is the time for professional development! Eighth-grade teacher Elizabeth Schaefer reports on her professional development experiences at DC’s Lincoln’s Cottage.
National Constitution Center: Explore the Constitution
Looking for resources on the Constitution? What better place to look than a center dedicated to its legacy?
iCivics
Games can be more than mindless fluff. When content-rich, they can engage your students in learning during play.
Finishing the Dream: Learning from the Civil Rights Era
This collection of short videos recognizes the civil rights movement as ongoing struggle.
HERB: Social History for Every Classroom
Find a wide variety of classroom resources focused on social history, from classroom activities to primary sources.
From Slavery to Freedom: The African-American Pamphlet Collection, 1822-1909
Peruse an extensive collection of pamphlets related to African-American life leading up to, during, and following the Civil War.
Throughout the Ages
Looking for a primary source website created especially for elementary teachers?
Shaping the Constitution
What role did Virginia play in defining the U.S. and upholding rights we now consider basic and essential?
Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858
Compare Republican and Democrat accounts of the great debates.
Center on Congress
What is Congress? Why should anyone care?
Anthony Pellegrino on Teaching Segregated History
Anthony Pellegrino explores the history of one segregated school, and complicates his understanding of a traditional textbook narrative.
Bill of Rights
Whitman Ridgway outlines some of the context in which the Bill of Rights was created and arguments surrounding its creation.
Memorializing Memorials
How do we relate to national memorials? Photographs can show us how we want to see our monuments.
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.
Political Animals
A menagerie of terms for politicians, parties, factions, and movements.
In Pursuit of Freedom
Frederick Douglass approached the abolition of slavery from within the confines of the Constitution.
Black-Robed Regiment
Not technically a military force, the “Regiment” proved integral to the success of the American Revolution.
The Conspirator in the Classroom
With the new film, The Conspirator, out in theaters, here are a few resources to help you explore the story of Mary Surratt and America’s first presidential assassination.
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 Gendering the Constitution
The agitation among women’s rights activists over the language of the 14th Amendment.
On Telegrams and Telephone Calls
On the record and off the record communications between Washington and Birmingham in 1963.
Searching for Sesquicentennial Sources
Teaching the Civil War? With the sesquicentennial kicking off, resources are popping up left and right!
Animating the Home Front
What happens when cartoon characters go to war?
Anthony Pellegrino's Classroom Simulations: Begin with Paris
Re-enact the Paris Peace Conference with your students, and let them experience dissatisfaction (or satisfaction) with the results themselves.
Historical Improbabilities
Truth is stranger than fiction, they say. Can you tell the difference?
International Aid: How and When the U.S. Helps
With the Mar. 11 earthquake in Japan, your students may be asking about international aid. Here are some places to start learning about when and why the U.S. helps.
First Impressions: The U.S. and Japan
In 1854, Japan signed a treaty with the U.S. How did the U.S. and Japan see each other during this exchange?
Union or Secession: Virginians Decide
Trace Virginia’s route to secession in the Civil War with more than 200 primary sources.
Virginia Memory
Are you a Virginia educator teaching VA state history? My your task easy! Explore the Library of Virginia’s 70 collections of digitized primary sources.
Presidents in the Library
Happy Presidents Day! What better place to turn to for presidential history resources than libraries dedicated to the presidents?
Zinn Education Project
Wanting to go deeper into the history of labor and marginalized groups in the U.S.?
Elizabeth Schaefer's Vocabulary in Motion!
As spring weather approaches, are your students getting antsy? Eighth-grade teacher Elizabeth Schaefer gets students out of their seats with American Expansionism.
Tax Rates of the Mid-20th Century
Is it April 15 already? Discussing the recent past in context.
Dissent in the Ranks
George Washington’s military career and reputation were not pure successes. His military losses caused some to question his ability to lead a nation.
The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself
What we know and what we don’t about the origin of the famous line in Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address.
Cold War Wrestling Match
How political cartoons illustrate international events and the artists beliefs.
Diversity in the 1920s
Segregation and equality in America was a case of double standards.
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
Teaching the Reconstruction? Ford’s Theatre’s Sarah Jencks leads teachers through Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and follow-up activities.
Naming Colonial History
Everyone knows what “American Revolution” means. But can you identify these other labels used in naming colonial history?
Civil Rights Sit-in
“Local custom” was at odds with company policy in Jackson, MS.
Victory Vegetables
WWII Victory Gardens allowed citizens to raise food…and wage war!
Taxation to Revolution
It was reasoned that no colonists could fear an act that made them drink cheaper tea.
Great Expectations for the Civil War
Many believed the Civil War would be a short, bloodless battle. The reality of the drawn out combat led many soldiers in the North and South to desert the military to return home to farm and family.
Burr-Hamilton Duel
Was it illegal? Was it dishonorable? Was it a duel or was it murder?
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.
Lone Wolf v Hitchcock
Part of a series of laws that displaced Native Americans from land allotted to them through treaties with the U.S. government.
Intertwined Development: Railroads and Political Parties
The influence of the booming rail system on the growth and development of three political parties in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Anthony Pellegrino: Let the Music Play!...in Our Classrooms
Teach with punk, hip hop, and classic rock with these suggestions from teacher educator Anthony Pellegrino.
Understanding and Appreciating WWII Veterans
Websites that assist students in compiling information on WWII battles, veterans, and services for Veteran’s Day projects.
Old Political Cartoons
Poking fun and puncturing pomposity—how can you interpret political cartoons?
Elizabeth Schaefer on the Interactive Declaration of Independence
Eighth-grade U.S. history teacher Elizabeth Schaefer “warps” the Declaration of Independence into the future with interactives from the Library of Congress.
Trade Routes and Emerging Colonial Economies
The direct and indirect impacts of various trade routes during the 16th through 19th centuries.
The Barbary Pirates: Letter from Tripoli
Two letters from 1800 Tripoli lead into a story of piracy, privateering, slavery, international politics, and war at sea and on land.
East St. Louis Massacre
Raising “the terrible weapon of self-defense” during riots in 1917 Illinois.
Charters for Colonies
To legally exist, English colonies needed charters from the monarchy. Answer these questions about colonies and charters.
Stamping Out Free Speech?
The Stamp Act of 1765 had colonists crying foul. Answer these questions about this most hated act.
OurStory
Link literature and history with activity sets for 18 books and a database of over 270 other books for young readers.
Elizabeth Schaefer on the Impact of 9/11 in the Classroom
Eighth-grade U.S. history teacher Elizabeth Schaefer introduces students to interview techniques and historical thinking with a lesson on 9/11.
Amy Trenkle on Experiencing the First Amendment
For Constitution Day, DC teacher Amy Trenkle’s 8th-grade class carved out their thoughts on the First Amendment.
By the Numbers: Election Maps
What can historical election maps tell us? Take a look at the electoral vote for several 19th-century presidential elections.
The Possible Path of Barnard Bee
Examination of counterfactual questions and how they are used in historical analysis.
Researching for a Research Topic
Paring down a larger idea to answer one specific question.
Saving Daylight
Politicians get hot under the collar when discussing the hottest of topics—the sun’s light. Which statements about Daylight Saving Time are true?
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.
Booth's Reason for Assassination
In an attempt to salvage a failed Confederate agenda, John Wilkes Booth swore to destroy President Abraham Lincoln’s policy of extending civil liberties to African Americans.
The Royal We: Princesses of the Past
Daughters of rulers and subjects of history…are these statements on women of monarchical lineage 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.
The Cost of Industrialization
Use the Triangle Shirtwaist fire to examine the benefits and costs of industrialization.
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: Hail to the Chief Nicknames
Fond or far-fetched, everyone has one—but as president, nicknames garner the respect and allegiance of the nation.
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?
First Ladies' Firsts
What about the other occupants of the White House?
United We Stand: Industry and Famous Strikes
Stand up (or sit down) for better working conditions! Test your knowledge of strikes in U.S. history.
We the People . . . Rarely Agree
What does the Constitution mean to you? Match each quote to the historical figure whose view of the Constitution it reveals.
American Personalities: Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty
Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty are popular American icons. How much do you know about their history?
Monuments to a Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorials
Answer these questions about memorials to the life and ideals of MLK.
Presidential Valentines
The politics of love—answer these questions about valentines to and from U.S. presidents
Teaching the 20th
When does the past go from ‘recent’ to ‘history?’ Consider these questions about textbook portrayals of late 20th-century events.
Constitution Day
Securing the blessings of liberty for ourselves and for posterity—answer these questions on the U.S. Constitution.
Forty Acres and a Mule
The origin of the “Sherman Reservation” in Special Field Order No. 15, by which the Southern coastal low country was set aside for resettlement by ex-slaves.
Freedom Trail Foundation
Studying the American Revolution? How about walking Boston’s Freedom Trail? You don’t have to live near Boston to take this virtual tour.
State of the Union
What can 214 State of the Union addresses tells us about American politics and rhetoric?
Alternative Outcomes of World War II
Can historians answer questions about alternate history? No, but they can assess a particular moment in the past.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library
Teaching modern presidencies and politics? Take advantage of the virtual resources of the Foundation and Library.
Coming of the American Revolution, 1764-1776
Teaching the American Revolution and its politics? Check out 15 topical essays and a database of more than 150 primary sources.
Bank Notes of the Second Bank of the United States
The impermanence of paper money was matched by the impermanence of the bank that issued it.
Iroquois and the Founding Fathers
Historians argue over whether the Founding Fathers’ knowledge of Native American forms of confederation influenced their early plans for the government of the United States.
Jefferson versus Hamilton
Their differing philosophies of government set the stage for the permanent growth of political factions.
Divided Loyalties?
How citizenship determines eligibility for the U.S. presidency.
Nixtontapes.org
Teaching Watergate? Introduce students to the Nixon tapes with more than 2,000 hours of recordings.
Politics of a Massacre: Discovering Wilmington 1898
This site contains sources covering and reacting to the deplorable 1898 massacre in Wilmington, NC.
Mass Moments
MA educators—explore a historical moment (and accompanying primary source) for every day of the year.
Monticello Explorer
Can’t travel to Monticello? Take your students on a virtual tour of Jefferson’s estate with this website.
Lincoln Archives Digital Project
Surf an animated timeline of Abraham Lincoln’s life and times.
Wisconsin State Historical Society Online Collections
Wisconsin educators, search the online collections of the oldest American historical society for primary sources.
Ulysses S. Grant Digital Archive
Deepen your coverage of the late 19th century with the letters of Ulysses S. Grant, war-hero-turned-president.
Watergate and the Constitution
To indict or not to indict? Watergate raised complicated questions concerning Constitutional interpretation.
Refugees from the American Revolutionary War
Neighbor against neighbor, brother against brother, father against son.
Building the Erie Canal
Cutting through New York from the ocean to the Great Lakes, the Erie Canal changed lives.
Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment
Relive the dream of the women’s vote through roleplay or interfacing with primary documents.
A Clear Shot across the Continent
President Polk, the fortunes of war, territory, and the ever-present compromises of history.
Reagan's "Rising Tide"
Economic policy during the Reagan Administration
True Americans in the Cold War
Looking for the Red in the Red, White, and Blue?
The U.S. and Egypt in the 1950s
Creating political blowback in the Middle East
Senatorial Division
A Congressional balance of power between North and South on slavery
Honest Abe
The secret life of Lincoln? Gettysburg-era pride?
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.
A Life of Strenuous Endeavor
T Roosevelt: “Let us pay with our bodies for our souls’ desire.”
Voting Rights and the 14th Amendment
How did women suffer no suffrage through the 14th Amendment?
Voice of America
Find out how to pronounce tricky names, and listen to official international radio programs.
The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library eLibrary
More than 5,700 documents related to Woodrow Wilson’s life and presidency.
Resources for Units on Early American Government
When unit planning is daunting, look to exceptional examples online.
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.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
This presidential library presents sources from the 35th President’s life and times.
Early American Newspapers: Series 1, 1690-1876
17th- through 19th-century newspaper articles from 23 states and DC.
Civil War Peace Offers
Olive branches from the North? Did the United States ever negotiate possible Union troop withdrawal in order to gain support from regions within the Confederacy?
Jefferson's Confidential Letter to Congress
Jefferson, surprised by the Louisiana Purchase? Maybe not. Historian Leah Glaser looks at a letter from Jefferson requesting funding for the Corps of Discovery.
Famous American Trials: "The Scottsboro Boys" Trials 1931-1937
Explore the infamous Scottboro case through a variety of primary source documents and images.
John Brown's Holy War
A variety of resources focused on the life and times of infamous abolitionist John Brown.
Thomas Jefferson Papers
The largest collection of original Jefferson documents in the world. Really, we’re serious.
Photographing History: Fred J. Maroon and the Nixon Years
View the many faces of President Nixon as captured by photographer Fred Maroon.
Mr. Lincoln's Virtual Library
A keyword-searchable archive containing over 2,000 of Abraham Lincoln’s papers.
Impeachment Trial of Andrew Johnson
Learn about Andrew Johnson’s impeachment through contemporary accounts and resources.
U.S. Electoral College
Uncover the inner workings and history of the US Electoral College. Click here to explore!
The Papers of George Washington
An excellent introduction to the papers of George Washington, including personal correspondence and maps.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
Visit the Gerald Ford Presidential Library for a wealth of resources regarding Ford’s presidency.
Wet With Blood: The Investigation of Mary Todd Lincoln's Cloak
Explore the archives of the Chicago Historical Society to learn about Lincoln’s assassination through objects.
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.
Liberty! The American Revolution
The companion site to a PBS documentary, this website is a useful resource for scholars of the American Revolution.
Mount Vernon
Take a virtual tour of George Washington’s famous estate, Mt. Vernon.
Carrie Chapman Catt Girlhood Home and Museum
A useful gateway site for materials on Carrie Chapman Catt and the women’s suffrage movement.
History Now: American History Online
Read this quarterly journal which focuses on a different topic in American History in each issue.
Albert and Vera Weisbord Archives
Learn about American radicalism and the communist movement with this collection of primary sources.
The Last Days of a President: Films of McKinley, 1901
Learn about the 1901 assassination of President William McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY.
The American Colonist's Library
This extensive database contains influential documents and literature spanning from 500BC to the 1800s.
The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship
A comprehensive guide consisting of over 240 primary source items detailing African American history.
Red Scare (1918-1921)
Could the Bolsheviks and radicalism destroy the American way of life?
Finding Precedent: The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Search this archive from the Harper’s Weekly for a firsthand view into Andrew Johnson’s impeachment.
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.
CIA and the Vietnam Policy Makers: Three Episodes 1962-1968
A recently declassified study on the CIA’s intelligence assessments concerning Vietnam.
Early American Imprints, Series I: Evans, 1639-1800
Looking for a one-stop spot for all your quick 1639-1800 research needs?
September 11, 2001: Attack on America
How does a nation react, legally and politically, to international terrorism?
Nixon Tapes
What was the nature of Nixon and Echeverria’s political relationship?
The Crisis of the Union
An impressive array of tracts (and more) brought together for your convenience.
Spain, The United States, and The American Frontier: Historias Paralelas
If you need primary sources on the Spanish in North America, try this site.
The Annexation of Hawaii: A Collection of Documents
Compare U.S. and Hawaiian opinion on Hawaiian annexation.
United States Early Radio History
How did radio move from major technological advance to mass popular culture?
University of Missouri-Columbia: Digital Library Collections
A hodge podge of history: England, Missouri, and the greater U.S.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Teaching Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War? Explore this storehouse of Lincolnian history.
Colonial Williamsburg
Experience life in Colonial Williamsburg without visiting Virginia.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Museum
Peruse this national source for all things Eisenhower.
Communism in Washington State--History and Memory Project
Communist Russia. Communist China. Communist Washington?
Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States
Ask yourself: What did Coolidge do for our country?
African Americans in Massachusetts
Compare perspectives on educational desegregation. How did it affect the community?
Worthington Memory, Online Scrapbook
Explore the history and development of a small town. The online scrapbook provides an uncanny lens into town life.
July 1942: United We Stand
See how the federal government promoted nationalism in a widespread media movement.
China and the United States: From Hostility to Engagement, 1960-1998
Trace U.S.-China relations from the 60s through present day.
RFK in the Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope
Examine the impact of Robert F. Kennedy’s anti-apartheid trip to South Africa.
Student Voices from World War II and the McCarthy Era
Imagine traveling from a university to work on a farm.
George Washington: A National Treasure
What can you learn from the Lansdowne portrait of George Washington?
The Hartford Black History Project
Follow the formation of the African American community in the city of Hartford, CT
Lesson Plans Library
Hundreds of lesson plans, right at your fingertips. Incorporate them in the classroom.
Thomas Jefferson Papers
What did Thomas Jefferson read?
AMDOCS: Documents for the Study of American History
One convenient source for major historical U.S. documents.
Washington During the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865
What did patent examiner Taft have to say on the Civil War homefront?
Remembering Herblock
View political cartoons by Herbert Block, father of the term, “McCarthyism.”
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.
HistoryWired: A Few of Our Favorite Things
What American history items do Smithsonian curators like best?
Austin Treasures: Online Exhibits from the Austin History Center
Discover the depth of Austin, Texas’s urban history through 10 online exhibits containing images and essays.
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.
American Originals Part II
Introduce students to 25 documents selected by the National Archives for their historical importance.
Labor Arts
What role has art had in the depiction and reality of U.S. labor?
The Capital and the Bay, ca. 1600-1925
What picture have people painted of the Washington, D.C. in written works?
National Security Action Memoranda of John F. Kennedy
Browse a wealth of memos from the Kennedy administration.
Democratic Vistas: The William Clyde DeVane Lecture Series
Look to the past to consider the prospects of democracy in the U.S.
Civil War Letters of the Christie Family
What would your life be like as a Union soldier? What did it say about your personal values?
American Civil War Manuscript Guides
Through these writings, you can see how soldiers saw themselves as actors in Civil War battles.
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.
Private Passions, Public Legacy: Paul Mellon's Personal Library
Enjoy this sneak peek at the Mellon Collection of Virginia history.
Jo Freeman.com
Explore women’s political history and activism from the 1960s onward.
A Maritime Perspective on American Expansion, 1820-1890
We all know the role of the wagon in westward expansion, but what of ships?
Hall of Black Achievement Gallery
Meet 30 influential African Americans who contributed across a wide variety of fields.
Papers of John Jay
Read the correspondence of lesser known founding father John Jay.
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.
Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
Right this way for Seattle and Washington state history resources.
Civics Online
Gain inspiration for new ways to approach political history.
Hannah Arendt Papers
Do you read German? Not to worry. Select documents are available in English.
Documents Relating to American Foreign Policy during the Cuban Missile Crisis
From telegrams to meeting notes, this site catalogs Cuban Missile Crisis documents.
The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962: The 40th Anniversary
For your eyes only: photos and previously classified Cold War documents.
Pioneering the Upper Midwest: Rare Books c. 1820-1910
Explore Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin life through rare books.
Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920
What do the songs people sing tell us about their lives?
Theodore Roosevelt: His Life and Times on Film
Do films capture your students’ attention? Introduce them to Roosevelt in motion.
Puerto Rico at the Dawn of the Modern Age
Have you ever wondered about the international politics of Puerto Rico?
The 19th Century in Print: Periodicals
What magazines do you read? What did people read in the 1800s?
The 19th Century in Print: Books
What were people reading around the time of the Civil War?
The Texas Constitutions Digitization Project
When was Texas part of Mexico? The U.S.? Separate?
Presidential Elections and the Electoral College
Look to the Library of Congress for your election and electoral congress needs.
Florida Heritage Collection
Explore Florida state, regional, and local history.
Dr. Seuss Went to War: A Catalog of Political Cartoons
We all remember the Lorax, but who remembers Seuss’s political cartoons?
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.
The American Experience
Discover briefs on more than 60 iconic points in U.S. history.
Presidential Elections
How has campaigning changed over the years? Need to know details on major campaign issues?
Brooklyn Daily Eagle Online (1841-1902)
Explore the history of Brooklyn, 1841 through 1902, with historical newspaper issues.
National Security Archive
Read official documents on U.S. intelligence and positions from the Cold War through present day.
Earliest Voices: A Gallery from the Vincent Voice Library
Hear the conviction and charisma of seven renowned turn-of-the-century speakers.
Access to Archival Databases
Delve into more than 85 million records related to U.S. history.
The Uses & Abuses of the Constitution
What role did the Constitution play in the Clinton impeachment, women’s history, and gun control?
National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
More than 50 virtual exhibits ranging from Julia Child to West Point.
WTO History Project
Take a peek at Seattle protest history through the WTO Ministerial Week.
SDA: Survey Documentation and Analysis
Observe statistical trends in U.S. beliefs and demographics from free speech to zodiac signs.
Election Statistics
How many votes did each nominee receive in federal elections?
The Star-Spangled Banner
What does the flag mean in the terms of forging a cohesive U.S. identity?
The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden
Unsure how to teach presidential history in an engaging manner? Try these activities and lessons.
Samuel F. B. Morse Papers, 1793-1919
Explore the thoughts of Samuel F. Morse, artist and father of the electromagnetic telegraph.
Pittsburgh City Photographer
See Pittsburgh, PA, the way it appeared as early as the 1890s.
Humor's Edge
Use modern political cartoons to introduce analysis of recent events.
Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America
How much do you know about the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury?
Washington History
Make this your first stop for topics related to Washington state history!
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.
Rediscovering George Washington
Take in the latest scholarship on the life of the first U.S. president.
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.
Presidents of the United States - POTUS
Compare inauguration promises or cabinet members. See the image of the United States’ government over time.
Indian Health Service
Disease ravaged colonial-era Native American populations. What health challenges do they face today?
Hard Hat Riots: An Online History Project
Learn about the Hard Hat Riots of New York with this innovative website.
Democracy in America: Alexis de Tocqueville
Visit this website to learn more about the United States during the time of Tocqueville’s landmark tour and book.
Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture
Learn about the history of the United States up to 1815 with this website dedicated exclusively to early American history.
NativeWeb: Resources for Indigneous Cultures Around the World
A unique website designed to foster communication regarding all of the planet’s native peoples.
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.
The Alexis de Tocqueville Tour: Exploring Democracy in America
Everything you never knew you wanted to know about Alexis de Tocqueville’s trip through the United States. You’re welcome!
By Popular Demand: Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies, 1789-Present
A collection of over 150 portraits of past US Presidents and their First Ladies.
American Treasures of the Library of Congress
A collection of special documents and artifacts held within the Library of Congress.
Women's History: The 1850 Worcester Convention
Learn about the First National Women’s Rights Convention and the greater women’s rights movement.
The Digital Classroom
An informative introduction to the practice and excitement of historical research.
WestWeb: Western Studies and Research Resources
This gateway site provides a wealth of resources pertaining to the American West.
FDR Cartoon Archive
Learn about FDR through this collection of political cartoons.
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.
Words and Deeds in American History
View primary documents that helped to shape America’s history.
By Popular Demand: "Votes for Women" Suffrage Pictures, 1850-1920
View photographs, cartoons, and campaign items from the women’s suffrage movement.
Jackie Robinson and Other Baseball Highlights, 1860s-1960s
Learn about race in American sports history through the life of Jackie Robinson.
Center for Working-Class Studies
Begin your study of working class and labor history with this website.
Political Thought Page
Use the links on this website to explore political thought from the ancient past to the present day.
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.
Emma Spaulding Bryant Letters
Explore husband-wife relationships through this late 19th century series of letters.
America Votes: Presidential Campaign Memorabilia
Follow presidential campaigns through the years with this collection of campaign materials.
Documents from the Women's Liberation Movement
Explore over 50 documents which chronicle the history of the Women’s Liberation Movement.
When Nixon Met Elvis
Learn about Elvis’ bizarre visit with Richard Nixon through this collection of primary sources.
Thomas Jefferson on Politics and Government
Learn about Jefferson’s political views through this collection of quotations from his writings.
American Originals
Explore 14 significant and compelling documents from the National Archive Holdings.
A New Deal for the Arts
View works from artists financed by the United States Government during the Great Depression.
Archiving Early America
Explore the early history of America with reproductions of important documents and newspapers.
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.
Drafting the Documents of Independence
View documents relating to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
Civil War Women
Learn about the role of three American women during the Civil War.
Charters of Freedom
Explore documents that helped to shape the history of our nation.
New Jersery History Partnership Project
Use New Jersey during the American Revolution as a national microcosm.
Vietnam War Era Ephemera Collection
Explore campus protest ephemera and the youth movements of the 1960s and 70s.
Say it Plain: A Century of Great African American Speeches
Hear 12 renowned speeches by African Americans, including Marcus Garvey’s only known recording.
Rebellion: John Horse and the Black Seminoles
What role did runaway slaves and free African Americans play in the Second Seminole War?
Adams Family Papers
You probably know about John Adam’s political career, but what of the Adams’ domestic life?
Slavery and the Making of America
An extensive glimpse into slave life and the history of slavery in the United States.
Presidential Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
Fortify your knowledge of Eisenhower’s international and domestic policies.
Freedom Now! An Archival Project of Tougaloo College and Brown University
Immerse yourself in the historical struggle for the African American vote in Mississippi.
Benjamin Franklin: In His Own Words
Get to know Benjamin Franklin through his own writings, cartoons, and letters.
Library of Congress: Webcasts
Access more than 500 webcasts from the Library of Congress.
Dolley Madison Project
Read the letters of Dolley Madison while learning about her life—from childhood to widowhood.
Wisconsin Local History and Biography Articles Collection
Search Wisconsin newspapers mainly from 1860 through 1940.
The History Box
Have a question about New York City or state history? More than 750 articles available.
Illinois Digital Archives
Primary sources on Illinois history with an emphasis on residential and commercial architecture.
Historic Pittsburgh
Acquaint yourself with Pittsburgh history through full texts, images, maps, census data, and lesson plans.
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.
Teaching Future Historians: U.S. History Lesson Plans Using Primary Documents
A diverse array of Antebellum, Civil War, and Gilded Age lesson plans for your convenience.
Illinois During the Gilded Age
Listen to, read, and sing sources from the Gilded Age canvassing women, religion, and more.
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?
Women of Protest: Images from the Records of the National Woman's Party
See the suffragettes who gave over 50% of U.S. citizens the right to vote.
The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II
What alternatives were suggested to dropping nuclear weapons on Japan? What is radiation poisoning?
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.
World War I Sheet Music
What can the music of World War I tell us about its era?
Harlem History
Explore the politics, neighborhoods, culture, and arts of Harlem.
Historic Missouri Newspaper Project
Peruse articles, images, and advertisements drawn from 14 Missouri newspapers, 1835 through 1988.
Tennessee Documentary History Collection, 1796-1850
Geared toward K-12 education, this site presents antebellum life in Tennessee through letters and images.
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.
Dolley Madison Digital Edition
Read Dolley Madison’s personal correspondence from her youth through her widowhood.
McKinley Assassination Ink: A Documentary History
Explore the assassination of President McKinley and the social context thereof.
Getting the Message Out! National Political Campaign Materials, 1840-1860
What were common presidential campaign strategies between 1840 and 1860?
Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
Review litigation studies ranging from mental health facilities and jail conditions to equal employment.
Early American Imprints, Series II: Shaw-Shoemaker, 1801-1819
Uncover novels, readers, hymnals, almanacs, diaries, maps, treaties, and more from between 1801 and 1819.
American State Papers, 1789-1838
Access Congressional documents from the first 25 Congresses.
The Dick Thornburgh Papers
Explore the positions and words of a former PA Governor and Attorney General.
American Broadsides and Ephemera, Series I, 1760-1900
Explore American life through advertisements, literature, poetry, Civil War envelopes, and more!
The Lincoln Institute
Explore Lincoln’s presidency; and access related classroom resources, including lesson plans.
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?
The African-American Mosaic
Let the Library of Congress introduce you to African-American history from colonization to the WPA.
American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning
Looking for a new way to teach history? Peruse new media and educational resources.
Connecticut Historical Society
Explore the political and sociocultural history of Connecticut.
Monticello: The Home of Thomas Jefferson
Have you ever wondered how Thomas Jefferson spent his days?
Jimmy Carter
Brush up on your knowledge of Carter’s staff, family, and the events of his administration.
Alabama Maps
How have boundaries changed over time? Compare the maps of yesteryear with those of today.
LBJ Oral History Project Online
What better way to explore Johnson’s presidency than through the words of his associates?
How Much Have Federal Census Takers Made Through the Years?
Accounting for the counters.
Supreme Court Nominations
How many “yeas” and “nays” on the path to being a Supreme Court justice?
National Security Archive: The Pentagon Papers
In 1971, the “Pentagon Papers” formed the center of a legal debate over freedom of speech. Follow the Supreme Court’s process and decisions.
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.
What Events Led to Lincoln's Assassination?
Elementary students investigate the first presidential assassination and debate whether it was avoidable.
Which Native American Tribes Allied Themselves with the French?
Historians endeavor to uncover Native American perspectives.
Why Did President Polk Want War with Mexico?
During the 1840s, Manifest Destiny remained an effusive spirit rather than an agenda for empire.
James Madison's Failed Amendments
Apportionment in the House of Representatives and pay raises for Congress fell by the wayside—at least temporarily.
Teaching the Declaration without Overwhelming Students
Is the Declaration of Independence challenging for your students? Check out these ideas to make this text more accessible.
Structured Academic Controversy (SAC)
Are classroom discussions about winning the argument or about understanding alternative positions?
Is the Story of George Washington and the Colt a True Story?
Is it all right to make up stories about real people to teach children about honesty? In the 19th century, some people thought so.
Lincoln Bicentennial: A Teachable Moment (updated February 24)
An ongoing reference to exhibits, events, lectures, reenactments, ceremonies, and other tributes commemorating the significance of Lincoln’s life and his presidency during this 200th-year anniversary.
Register for Your Virtual Seat: Smithsonian Education Online Lincoln Conference
If you missed this two-day online event, watch the videos from the Abraham Lincoln: a Smithsonian Education Online Conference on the website.
Save the Date! National Teach-In on Lincoln!
Register now for this program with expert historians geared for middle and high schoolers.
Classroom Resources: Presidential Inaugurals
Inaugural parades and balls are as integral to the nation’s history as the solemnity of the presidential oath of office and the inaugural address.
Presidential Death During the Election Process
Unforeseen events and potential crises forced politicians and lawmakers to devise backup plans for presidential and vice-presidential elections.
What Happened to the Royal Family of Hawaii After the U.S. Took Over?
In Hawaii today, a large number of people might be considered heirs or pretenders to the Hawaiian throne, were it ever to be revived.
Why Was the Boston Tea Party Not Stopped by British Troops?
To some extent, the Boston Tea Party was the result of unintended consequences.
Was There an African American President Before Barack Obama?
Historians cannot claim to prove beyond doubt that occurrences in the past did or did not happen.
Abraham Lincoln
This lesson leads students to see how Lincoln’s life in Springfield influenced important national issues.
What Happened to the Fenians After 1866?
Ireland’s revolutionary struggle against Britain played out in North America as well as in Europe.
Declaration of Independence: Rough Draft to Proclamation
How did the final version of the Declaration differ from Jefferson’s draft?
Quoting Economic Policy
Milton Friedman and Herbert Hoover are excellent sources.
Teaching about Presidential Elections
A wealth of historical material exists on the web to support teaching about presidential elections.
Court Packing Controversies
What do Presidents Ulysses Grant and Franklin Roosevelt have in common? Both were accused of packing the Supreme Court.
Premonition of Death
Accounts of Abraham Lincoln’s dream of a presidential assassination vary, and so do the interpretations.
American Presidents
Analyze letters written by America’s presidents to learn more about these men.
"Join or Die"
Think the “Join or Die” snake first appeared during the American Revolution? Think again!
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.
Prosperity and Thrift: Coolidge Era and the Consumer Economy
An array of primary sources follows the rise of the consumer economy under Coolidge.
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.
Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research
Social science data offered to member colleges and universities here covers a range of sociological and political areas.
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.
The History of Social Security
We all know what the Social Security Administration does, but do you know how it was formed?
Gulf War
Participants in Operation Desert Storm talk about their experiences in oral history interviews.
African-American Perspectives: Pamphlets from 1818-1907
Pamphlets and documents from 1875 to 1900 highlight African American leaders and organizations.
Voices from the Dust Bowl: 1940-1941
Great Depression documentation of migrant work camps in central California.
The Vault
With the Freedom of Information Act, the government declassified thousands of documents, including those available here.
Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection
With over 300,000 pages available for full-text searching, this is one of the richest collections of anti-slavery and Civil War materials in the world.
Race and Place
Discover connections between race and place in this archive documenting the effects of Jim Crow on a Virginia town.
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.
Native American Documents Project
Four collections of data and documents address Federal Indian policy in the late 19th century.
Multilaterals Project
From environmental agreements to rules of warfare, read the text of international multilateral treaties, agreements, and conventions.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Digital Archives
Photographs, audio clips, documents, and more preserve the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Emma Goldman Papers
Learn more about Emma Goldman, radical and feminist activist, through this collection of primary and secondary sources.
American Radicalism Collection
From the Ku Klux Klan to the IWW, examine 129 historical documents from radical organizations.
Alcohol, Temperance, and Prohibition
More than 1,800 primary sources provide a window into the Temperance Movement and Prohibition.
African-American Experience in Ohio: From the Ohio Historical Society
Take a look through more than 30,000 items relating to African American life in Ohio between 1850 and 1920.
The Tax History Project
Follows the history of American taxation through a collection of primary and secondary sources.
Studs Terkel: Conversations with America
Meet Studs Terkel—oral historian, radio host, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
Slaves and the Courts, 1740-1860
Delve into the complex history of slavery and the law with this collection of primary sources.
Rivers, Edens, Empires: Lewis and Clark and the Revealing of America
180 documents and artifacts interpret 19th-century westward exploration and the concept of Manifest Destiny.
Public Papers of the Presidency
From Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush—discover the public messages, statements, and speeches of the presidents.
Osher Map Library
History can be revealed through the study of maps, as these exhibits containing more than 600 maps and related documents explain.
France in America
In French and English, explore the history of the French in North America from the 1500s through the 1800s.
Dred Scott Case
Follow the proceedings of the Dred Scott case with facsimiles and transcriptions of 85 legal documents.
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.
Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) Photographs
Close to 200 photographs document the work of Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA).
Votes for Women: Selections from the NAWSA, 1848-1921
10,000 pages of records on the struggle for votes for women, including papers by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
A variety of primary sources and background essays explore the 1911 fire, a hallmark tragedy of the industrial age.
Spanish-American War in Motion Pictures
See how early film was used to capture and communicate the Spanish-American War.
Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers Project
Presents the life and work of black activist Marcus Garvey, leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).
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.
Chicago Anarchists on Trial: Evidence from the Haymarket Affair, 1886-1887
The court proceedings surrounding the Haymarket Affair look at the event that led to the first “Red Scare” in America.
Anti-Saloon League, 1893-1933
Printed materials preserve the public campaigns of the Anti-Saloon League from 1893 to 1933.
Thomas Paine National Historical Association
Explore the life and works of one of the most famous revolutionaries—Thomas Paine.
Territorial Kansas Online
Primary and secondary sources examine the growing divisions in Kansas and the nation prior to the Civil War.
Slavery in New York
Nine galleries explore the history of slavery in New York City.
Mexican-American War and the Media
More than 5,500 transcribed newspaper articles related to the Mexican-American War.
Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920
Documents the birth of the conservation movement through published works, manuscripts, images, and motion picture footage.
Envisaging the West: Thomas Jefferson and the Roots of Lewis and Clark
Follows Jefferson’s life, political participation, and accumulation of scientific geographical knowledge from 1735 to 1804.
David Rumsey Map Collection
More than 15,800 rare historical maps focus on North and South America.
Century of Lawmaking: Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1873
Covers Congressional documents from the nation’s founding through early Reconstruction.
Abraham Lincoln Papers
Approximately 20,000 documents provide a window into President Abraham Lincoln’s life.
Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project
This site examines Illinois history and the life of Abraham Lincoln in the years 1831 through 1860.
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.
Readex Digital Collections
This site offers a cornucopia of documents spanning four centuries of American history.
Kentuckiana Digital Library
Collects photographs, texts, and oral histories drawn from 15 Kentucky colleges, universities, libraries, and historical societies.
Hypertext on American History from the Colonial Period until Modern Times
Collects more than 375 documents related to United States history from the colonial period to the present.
Documenting the American South
Nearly 1,400 documents covering Southern life from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
Colonial Connecticut Records, 1636-1776
Explore the 15-volume Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, from April 1636 to October 1776.
American President: An Online Reference Resource
Presents detailed information on all 43 of the nation’s presidents.
Africans in America
Trace the history of Africans in America through Reconstruction, with 245 images, maps, and documents.
Digital History
Multimedia resources for teaching slavery, private life, technology, and film.
Picturing America
Presents 27 iconic works of art as examples for the use of art and primary sources in history classrooms.
Diary, Correspondence, and Papers of Robert "King" Carter, 1701-1732
Offers letters and diary entries by Robert “King” Carter (1663–1732), wealthy Virginian landowner and public figure.
Teach Women's History Project
Provides teaching and reference materials on the women’s rights movement of the past 50 years.
Flint Sit-Down Strike
Provides a multimedia introduction to “the greatest strike in American history.”
Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1600-2000
Offers 45 mini-monographs on U.S. women’s history, each organized around an analytical question concerning a social movement.
The Presidents
Profiles all 42 of the nation’s completed presidencies.
Tangled Roots
Primary sources point out cultural connections between the experiences of African and Irish Americans.
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.
Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, 1992-2001
Digitized versions of 20 volumes of Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, from 1992 to 2004.
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.
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.
Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943
Showcases more than 900 Work Projects Administration (WPA) posters produced as part of the New Deal.
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.
Historic Government Publications from World War II: A Digital Library
Includes more than 300 U.S. government pamphlets and books on home front issues from World War II.
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.
After the Day of Infamy
Listen to more than 12 hours of oral interviews taken in the first three months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War
A wonderful collection of chronologies, images, maps, and other materials on the Spanish-American War.
Photographs from the Chicago Daily News: 1902-1933
Presents more than 55,000 Chicago Daily News photographs taken in the early 20th century.
Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
Explore this archive of over 110 video interviews on Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Chinese in California, 1850-1925
Browse more than 8,000 objects related to Chinese immigrant life in California.
American Shores: Maps of the Middle Atlantic Region to 1850
Explore the mid-Atlantic region with more than 1,852 maps created before 1850.
1896: The Presidential Campaign
Follow the contentious election of 1896 with close to 100 political cartoons related to the presidential campaigns.
Margaret Sanger Papers Project
Selected materials by and about the “birth control pioneer” Margaret Sanger.
American Leaders Speak: Recordings from World War I and the 1920 Election
Access 59 sound recordings of 1918-1920 speeches by American leaders.
Uncle Tom's Cabin and American Culture
Explore Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin as the American cultural phenomenon it was.
Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music
Scanned images of more than 18,000 pieces of sheet music, including covers, published prior to 1923.
Virtual Jamestown
Experience firsthand accounts of Jamestown and colonial history, dating from 1570 through 1720.
The Kraus Collection of Sir Francis Drake
Peruse 60 primary and secondary materials concerning the voyages of Sir Francis Drake.
James Madison Papers
Explore James Madison’s life through his correspondence, personal notes, drafts of letters and legislation, and legal and financial documents.
George Washington Papers, 1741-1799
Presents the largest set of original Washington documents in the world.
Documents from the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention
274 sources focusing on the work of the Continental Congress and the drafting and ratification of the Constitution.
Online Archive of California
Explore California from Japanese American internment or the Free Speech Movement to oral histories.
Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS), 1861-1960
Presents digitized selections from the official record of major declassified U.S. foreign policy decisions and diplomatic activity.
Digital Library of Georgia
Examines the history and culture of the state of Georgia, presenting an extensive range of primary sources.
Watergate Revisited
The Washington Post looks back at the Watergate scandal in this exhibit of primary sources.
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.
The Stars and Stripes, 1918-1919
Peruse every edition of the “official newspaper” of the U.S. Army fighting forces during World War I.
South Texas Border, 1900-1920: The Robert Runyon Collection
This site showcases over 8,000 images documenting the history and development of South Texas and the border.
Civil Rights in Mississippi Digital Archive
150 oral history interviews and 16 collections of documents address the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi.
Ansel Adams's Photographs of Japanese-American Internment at Manzanar
Ansel Adams’s photographs preserve life at the Manzanar War Relocation Center during World War II.
Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War
Take a closer look at the Civil War with this extensive database that offers a comparison of two Shenandoah Valley counties—Augusta County, VA and Franklin County, PA.
Thomas Jefferson Digital Archive
Peruse more than 1,700 texts written by or to Thomas Jefferson—from correspondence to books and papers.
Salem Witch Trials: Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Examine the verbatim transcripts of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.
Atlantic Slave Trade and Slave Life in the Americas: A Visual Record
Showcases more than 1,230 images depicting the enslavement of Africans, the Atlantic Slave Trade, and slave life in the New World.
Accessible Archives
Presents articles from 18th- and 19th-century newspapers, magazines, and books, with a focus on the Mid-Atlantic region.
Our Documents
Presents 100 milestone documents in American history, from the Richard Henry Lee Resolution of June 7, 1776, to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Gifts of Speech: Women's Speeches from Around the World
More than 400 speeches by women—politicians, scientists, and celebrities.
Documents in Law, History, and Government
Houses more than 3,500 full-text documents addressing the legal, economic, and political history of the U.S.
Archive of Early American Images
Collects more than 4,000 images from books created in Europe between 1492 and 1825.