Rethinking "Westward Expansion": A Guide for Preservice Teachers
Help students reconsider the how the expansion of the United States from 1865 to 1890 was perceived by Native peoples in the west using primary sources from the Library of Congress.
Religion and the Civil War: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers
Help students understand the how religious beliefs shaped Americans’ understanding of the Civil War using sheet music from the Library of Congress.
Abraham Lincoln and the Jews
Students learn about the sixteenth president’s relationship with Jewish Americans and his policy of religious tolerance.
Statistics in Schools
Analyze data from the U.S. Census Bureau in the social studies classroom.
A Close Look at the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial
Historian Christopher Hamner engages educators in close questioning of the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in Washington, DC.
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Teaching with 19th-Century Art
Watch Suzannah Niepold of the Smithsonian American Art Museum guide teachers in analyzing four works of art.
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.
Smithsonian American Art Museum: "Westward the Course of Empire"
Watch Suzannah Niepold guide TAH teachers through analyzing the differences between two versions of Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze’s Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way.
National Portrait Gallery: Teaching with 19th-Century Portraits
Watch Briana Zavadil White introduce teachers to portraits of inventors and presidents from the 19th 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.
After Slavery
Does your textbook make Reconstruction sound simple? Explore the real pain and complexity of Reconstruction with primary sources focusing on the Carolinas.
Lincoln on the Big Screen
How do historians think about films like Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln? Take a look with Teachinghistory.org!
The Civil War in Art: Teaching and Learning Through Chicago Collections
Integrate these two guides into your curriculum to help students develop visual and textual analysis skills.
Teaching the Emancipation Proclamation on Constitution Day
This Constitution Day, the National Endowment for the Humanities asks, how is the Emancipation Proclamation like the U.S. Constitution?
A Trail of 4,000 Tears
Discover the ramifications of the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
Homicide in Chicago 1870-1930
Covering urbanization and industrialization? This homicide index can help students understand social changes and tensions associated with both.
Little Wolf and President Grant
Why did Little Wolf, a Cheyenne leader, go to Washington in 1873?
Exploring Historical Fiction
Make the Lewis and Clark expedition and life on the Oregon Trail come alive with these suggestions!
Resources for Flag Day
Flag Day may not fall during the school year for many, but Flag Day resources are valuable all year long.
Ulysses S. Grant Memorial
How does the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in Washington, DC, depict Grant and the Civil War? Historians Christopher Hamner and Michael O’Malley take a look.
Civil War in Art
Why did the painter frame Lincoln in greenery? Learn about interpretations of the Civil War through period and recent works of art.
Westward Expansion: Image vs. Reality
East or West? See if you can determine which region produced these images on westward migration!
Reading a Cartoon: Nast's "Milk Tickets for Babies"
What do you see in this 1876 cartoon?
Earth Day: Lost to History
Human history affects more than human beings.
Instigating a Ban on "Spirituous Liquors"
Discover the motivations fueling the 19th-century temperance movement.
Clio Visualizing History
This site offers a grab bag of digital history exhibits. Definitely worth perusal.
White House Historical Association
There’s more to the White House than the President himself—music, art, staff, pets. . .
Voices of Women's Reform
There’s more to it than Seneca Falls.
Texas and Mexico: Centers for Cultural Collision
In 1821, Anglo settlers migrated to Texas en masse. Discover the profound impact this movement had on the relationship between whites and hispanic Tejanos.
The Blue and the Grey (and Red and Green and Yellow)
What do you think Civil War uniforms looked like? They varied more than you might think!
African American History Month: Civil Rights Worldwide
These African American civil rights activists affected more than the U.S.
Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman
Can you trust a biography? Historian Tiya Miles analyzes an 1869 biography of abolitionist Harriet Tubman.
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.
Conrad W. Chapman: A Confederate Soldier's Paintings of the Defense of Charleston
Chapman spent more than 20 years painting Civil War Charleston after his stint in the Confederate Army.
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Virtual Museum Exhibit
What was life like in abolitionist Frederick Douglass’s home in Washington, DC? The NPS takes a look.
Socks to War
Even humble, everyday artifacts have a rich place in history.
American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia
Meet Virginians from the 1860s, and learn about their lives.
Red Cross: Exploring Humanitarian Law
Humanitarian law and history are hardly mutually exclusive.
Gettysburg: Turning Point or a Small Stepping-Stone to Victory?
History is often muddled by modern hindsight. Discover the true meaning of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Civil War Convicts: Unraveling a Misconception
Did criminals fight during the Civil War? Not exactly, but some soldiers became convicts as a result of their service.
1853 Daguerreotype
What does an 1853 daguerreotype have to say? Plenty, says Frank Goodyear, particularly about tourist culture and the rise of railroads and photography.
Thomas Nast Cartoon
Today, we accept paper—and electronic—money as a fact of life. Historian Michael O’Malley analyzes an 1876 cartoon criticizing “greenbacks.”
Andrew Johnson and Impeachment
Determining the path of the Republican party.
Civil War Poster!
What can a quilt, a map, some photographs, a haversack, and a receipt tell you about the past?
John Brown's Body
Chandra Manning discusses the song “John Brown’s Body,” and how music can be an important source in discovering the past.
Film Review: Gods and Generals
What view of the Civil War does Gods and Generals present? Historian Steven E. Woodworth critiques the film.
Gettysburg National Military Park: Camp Life
What did soldiers do between battles? Sometimes, fought off boredom!
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.
Industrializing Women
Did industrialization result in more women working outside the home or in more women in domestic spheres only?
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Teacher Bill Kendrat demonstrates the techniques he uses to draw students in to culturally-familiar stories.
Ballyhoo!: Posters as Portraiture
Think of all the celebrity advertisements you see everyday. Why pick that particular person for that particular poster?
Sewall-Belmont House Museum Collections
Allow the National Woman’s Party to show you their collection on women’s progress to equality.
Creating a More Perfect Union: 1861-1865
Interested in teaching about the Civil War from a maritime perspective?
DocsTeach
Team up with the National Archives and Records Administration to bring primary sources into your classroom!
Open Yale Courses
Looking for a little professional development? Miss your college classes? Try Yale’s.
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.
Diary of a Civil War Nurse
What was life like for Amanda Akin, Civil War nurse in Washington, DC?
William Steinway Diary, 1861-1896
Daily life in 19th-century New York City, music history, and Civil War commentary all in one place.
Center on Congress
What is Congress? Why should anyone care?
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.
In Pursuit of Freedom
Frederick Douglass approached the abolition of slavery from within the confines of the Constitution.
Black Confederates
Most African Americans (free or slaves) never joined the ranks of the Confederacy. Are there cases where individuals did?
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.
Of the Student, For the Student, By the Student
Sixth graders in Prince William County film their interpretations of the First Battle of Manassas.
On Gendering the Constitution
The agitation among women’s rights activists over the language of the 14th Amendment.
Searching for Sesquicentennial Sources
Teaching the Civil War? With the sesquicentennial kicking off, resources are popping up left and right!
Historical Improbabilities
Truth is stranger than fiction, they say. Can you tell the difference?
Divining America: Religion in American History
Use this essay on Jewish immigration to flesh out a unit on the Civil War or immigration.
Laura Jernegan: Girl on a Whaleship
Make whaling, a rich part of New England history, relevant to young students with the diary of a six-year-old at sea.
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?
The Garden of Infants
Kindergarten came to America in the 19th century on a wave of German Romantic Idealism.
Union or Secession: Virginians Decide
Trace Virginia’s route to secession in the Civil War with more than 200 primary sources.
Keep Your Top Eye Open
Boston abolitionists on the lookout for slave-catchers in 1851.
Riding the Rails
How many cows could a cowcatcher catch, if a cowcatcher could catch cows?
Innovation and Technology in the 19th Century
Of all the discoveries and developments that occurred in the 19th century, two proved to be the main force behind the development of the New Age.
150 Years Ago Today...
April 12th will mark the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. How is your state celebrating?
Drafting Music
Both the North and South instituted drafts during the Civil War. Popular music of the day had something to say on the subject.
Selling a Slave
The obstacles and restraints on disposing of one’s human “property.”
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.
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.
The Disaster of Innovation
How the cotton gin revolutionized the use of slaves and the production of cotton in the Southern United States.
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!
Turkey Tracking
Thanksgiving—how much do you know about the history of this popular holiday?
The Multiple Dilemmas of Abraham Lincoln
An interactive exploration of the decisions Abraham Lincoln had to make during his presidency.
Civil War Photos: What Do You See?
Analysis of photographs of Civil War artillery broadens students understanding of the American Industrial period.
DocsTeach
Find primary sources and the tools to present them to students—in one place.
Breaking the Confederate Line at Antietam
Hour by hour account of how Union Generals moved on the battlefield at Sharpsburg.
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.
Carriages and Wagons
Trade in your old Cabriolet for a new 1876 Landau? Test your knowledge of the trendiest 19th century carriages.
The Possible Path of Barnard Bee
Examination of counterfactual questions and how they are used in historical analysis.
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?
In Our Own Time: Native American Timekeeping
Pre-Columbian calendars were very different from the ones we use today. Are these statements about Native American timekeeping true?
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 Ice Cream Wars
Was there conflict in the past over one of our favorite summer treats?
Presidential Moments: Campaigns
Think the mudslinging in modern campaigns is bad? Campaigns have always been “dirty” to amass support for one politician over another.
American Myths: Popular Music
Each song has a story. What inspired it? When was it made? By whom?
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?
Pre-Modern Pop Music
Before “pop” music reigned supreme, jazz and ragtime amassed great public popularity.
Voices in the Whirlwind
To each prophet, a certain way of speaking. Match civil rights leaders with their words.
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.
Alien Invasions
For each pair of animal and plant species, identify the one that is not native to America.
Dance, But Not That Way . . .
Do you know how to dance the Sleigh Bell Polka? Learn the proper way to perform 19th and 20th century dances.
American Personalities: Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty
Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty are popular American icons. How much do you know about their history?
Theatre of the People
Through performing art, U.S. minorities assert their identities. Answer these questions on multicultural music and theatre.
The Many Roots of African American Cooking
Africa, Europe, and North America—mix, and serve. Explore the foods that African Americans developed in the colonies, and later in the nation.
Go West, Young Woman!
Men and women both settled the West. Answer these questions on women’s records of the experience.
A-mouldering in the Grave
“John Brown’s Body” keeps reappearing. What do you know about the song?
Stumbling Down the Road to Health
It seemed like a good idea at the time . . . which “healthful” ingredients and inventions that had unintended consequences?
Classroom Glory
Does the movie “Glory” depict historical accuracy or wholesale fiction?
When Whales Lit the World
Up to the 20th century, whalers provided oil for the industrial revolution. How much do you know about these iron men and wooden ships?
Robert Gould Shaw
Where does the glory of Robert Shaw and the men of the 54th Massachusetts reside?
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.
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.
Lower East Side Tenement Museum
From 1863 to 1935, this tenement building housed working immigrant families. View photographs of their lives, and engage in interactive learning opportunities.
Evoking the Past
When visiting historical sites, sometimes you need a visual/emotional “hook” to get students interested.
The Era of Reform
Was the antebellum period the height of reform movements in U.S. history?
Teaching the Transcontinental Railroad
From Chinese immigrants to the Golden Spike, explore the history of the transcontinental railroad.
PhilaPlace
Pennsylvania educators, or teaching urban history? Explore two neighborhoods in Philadelphia using an interactive map and more than 1,240 primary sources.
Mass Moments
MA educators—explore a historical moment (and accompanying primary source) for every day of the year.
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.
University of Wyoming Digital Collections
Wyoming educators, explore more than 10,000 primary sources on Wyoming’s 19th- and 20th-century history.
Ulysses S. Grant Digital Archive
Deepen your coverage of the late 19th century with the letters of Ulysses S. Grant, war-hero-turned-president.
Stonewall Jackson and the Battle of Chancellorsville
The Confederate battle plan at Chancellorsville was extraordinarily daring and risky.
Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment
Relive the dream of the women’s vote through roleplay or interfacing with primary documents.
Deserters in the Civil War
What happened to Civil War deserters after they deserted?
Honest Abe
The secret life of Lincoln? Gettysburg-era pride?
Everyday Life in the 19th Century
Wandering through time into our ancestors’ attic.
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.
Feeding America: The Historic American Cookbook Project
75 full-text cookbooks let you or your students prepare the foods from the 19th to the early 20th century.
Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley could shoot 6 holes in a playing card before it touched ground. Invite this sharpshooter into your classroom!
With or Without Slavery?
Forcing the issue in Bleeding Kansas. The Lecompton Constitution, slavery, and children born to slaves.
Roads to Antietam
You’re a Union general on the eve of Antietam. You know Lee’s plans. What will you do?
Voting Rights and the 14th Amendment
How did women suffer no suffrage through the 14th Amendment?
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.
Toolbox Library: Primary Resources in U.S. History and Literature
Eight “toolboxes” enable secondary teachers to enhance existing U.S. History units.
Library of Southern Literature
Full texts of more than 130 works of literature by more than 75 Southern authors.
Frederick Douglass's Autobiographies
Use autobiographies to deconstruct views of slavery and historical heroes.
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?
Tall Tales: The West as Legend
Wrestling bears, surly cowboys, vultures circling lone travelers. . . Find resources on American myth.
Daily Objects, 19th-century America
With the advent of industry and western expansion, U.S. businesses mass produced dreams of affluence and progress.
Beyond Face Value: Depictions of Slavery in Confederate Currency
Learn about southern culture through the images on Confederate currency.
Savannah Images Project
A useful local history project which focuses on the history of Savannah and the Georgia coastline.
John Brown's Holy War
A variety of resources focused on the life and times of infamous abolitionist John Brown.
Integrated Public Use Microdata Series
View 22 census data samples and 65 million records from 13 federal censuses.
Civil War Maps
Explore the Library of Congress’ collection of Civil War maps, including maps of all major engagements.
Band Music from the Civil War Era
Listen to an overview of popular brass band music from the Civil War era.
African American Sheet Music, 1850-1920
View 1,300 pieces of sheet music composed by and about African Americans.
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.
Virginia Historical Society
View the Virginia Historical Society’s extensive collection of materials documenting Virginia history.
Bartleby, Great Books Online
A collection of American and European literary classics, made available free of charge.
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.
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.
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.
Death of the Dream: Farmhouses in the Heartland
Begin your background research on prairie farmhouses with this website.
Historical Maps of the United States
A collection of U.S. and military maps useful for a variety of research.
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.
Jewish American History on the Web
An impressive website for the study of Jews and Judaism in the United States.
Images of African Americans from the 19th Century
Your first resource for photographs and images depicting African Americans during the 19th century.
The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship
A comprehensive guide consisting of over 240 primary source items detailing African American history.
Mathew Brady's Portraits
A collection of portraits and photographs by acclaimed photographer Matthew Brady.
Godey's Lady's Book
Explore mid-18th century women’s culture through three full-text issues of the Godey’s Lady’s Book.
Map History/History of Cartography: The Gateway to the Subject
A collection of 3,000 historical maps and information about the history of cartography.
Finding Precedent: The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Search this archive from the Harper’s Weekly for a firsthand view into Andrew Johnson’s impeachment.
John Brown and the Valley of the Shadow
A comprehensive collection of primary source materials which cover the infamous Harper’s Ferry raid.
U.S. Women's History Workshop
A collection of primary source material for teaching women’s history and mid-19th century culture.
American Landscape and Architectural Design, 1850-1920
Explore the history of American landscape and architectural design from 1850-1920.
American Notes: Travels in America, 1750-1920
What impressions did the average citizen or foreigner form of early America and its people?
Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the War
Visualize the Civil War through the photographs selected by Alexander Gardner in 1865.
The Crisis of the Union
An impressive array of tracts (and more) brought together for your convenience.
National Geographic Online: The Underground Railroad
Would you have survived along the Underground Railroad?
Spain, The United States, and The American Frontier: Historias Paralelas
If you need primary sources on the Spanish in North America, try this site.
Federal Township Plats of Illinois, 1804-1891
View maps created during the early stages of surveying Illinois.
National Postal Museum
The mail always comes, rain or shine; but how?
Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition
What was said, written, and drawn about slavery? Gain a more complete image of the institution, its evil effects, and how it felt to be a slave.
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?
Ghost Town Gallery
Turn off the lights, and explore the ghost towns of the West.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Teaching Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War? Explore this storehouse of Lincolnian history.
Images of African Americans from the Cook Collection of Photographs
What might your life have been like as an African American in Virginia c. 1900?
Urban Planning, 1794-1918: An International Anthology
How did WWI affect urban development? How did it impact housing and business in the cities?
American Women's Dime Novel Project
What was the turn-of-the-century woman’s “beach read”?
Streetscape and Townscape of Metropolitan New York City, 1860-1942
See uncommon photograph subjects for the turn-of-the-century, such as street peddlers.
Early Washington Maps: A Digital Collection
Washington was once part of an area contested for between the U.S. and Great Britain.
Best of History Websites
Find top notch history web resources, as well as advice on using technology for teaching.
African Americans in Massachusetts
Compare perspectives on educational desegregation. How did it affect the community?
Nineteenth-Century Texas Law Online: Gammel's The Laws of Texas
Delve into Texas law from early colonization through 1897.
Thomas Eakins: American Realist
Discover one of America’s great realists, and see the Philadelphia of his day.
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.
Emile Berliner and the Birth of the Recording Industry
Listen to the recordings of the creator of the microphone and gramophone player.
Kiowa Drawings
Kiowa artwork from buffalo hide canvases to university art training.
Digital Archive of American Architecture
Explore U.S. architectural styles and ornamentation, or date the buildings in your town.
WPA Life Histories, Virginia Interviews
Explore Depression-era, ex-slave, and urban youth life stories.
Physical Sciences Collection: Surveying and Geodesy
What tools do men use to turn wilderness into private property?
Meeting of Frontiers
How does the settling of the Siberian frontier compare to that of the U.S. West?
History of American Education Web Project
Explore the history of education within the U.S, through writings and images.
Record of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Civil War, 1861-1865
Search this Civil War roster for data on the service of New Jersey soldiers.
Mark Twain: A Film Directed by Ken Burns
Enjoy an interactive experience depicting the life of Mark Twain.
The Hartford Black History Project
Follow the formation of the African American community in the city of Hartford, CT
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?
Lift Every Voice: Music in American Life
What work can be accomplished through music?
Brief Timeline of American Literature, Music, and Movies
Explore film, music, and literature in its social context and chronology. Understand the cultural dynamics that lent themselves to the media.
The Yale Map Collection: Online Maps
What kind of map might you have used as an explorer? An early urbanite?
The Luso-Hispanic World in Maps
Peruse maps of Spanish and Portuguese colonization, exploration, and military ventures.
History Through Deaf Eyes
What has the U.S. deaf population experienced?
Historical Map and Chart Collection
Teaching exploration? Why not introduce your students to nautical charts?
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.
American Originals Part II
Introduce students to 25 documents selected by the National Archives for their historical importance.
Virginia Historical Inventory (VHI)
View Virginia’s antebellum architectural culture.
The Capital and the Bay, ca. 1600-1925
What picture have people painted of the Washington, D.C. in written works?
American Colonization Society Collection: Maps of Liberia, 1830-1870
View maps of Liberia acquired during efforts to restore freedmen to Africa.
Surveyors of the West: William Henry Jackson and Robert Brewster Stanton
Follow the journey of two men through the western United States.
Heading West and Touring West
View maps of the West, while simultaneously looking into the lives of traveling performers.
Democratic Vistas: The William Clyde DeVane Lecture Series
Look to the past to consider the prospects of democracy in the U.S.
Texts from Collections of the University of Wisconsin, Madison
Access a selection of rare 19th-century books online.
Keffer Collection of Sheet Music, ca. 1790-1895
What was popular music like in the 19th century?
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.
Private Passions, Public Legacy: Paul Mellon's Personal Library
Enjoy this sneak peek at the Mellon Collection of Virginia history.
An American Family: The Beecher Tradition
Did you know that Harriet Beecher Stowe’s family was also involved in abolitionism?
The Daguerreian Society
Have you ever thought of teaching your students the history of photography?
Pictures of the American City
See the U.S. grow before your eyes with this collection depicting two centuries of urbanization.
Women Artists of the American West
What have women artists considered worthy of depiction in the U.S. West?
Photographs of the American West, 1861-1912
Imagine life on the western frontier.
A Maritime Perspective on American Expansion, 1820-1890
We all know the role of the wagon in westward expansion, but what of ships?
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.
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.
19th Century Advertising, Harper's Weekly
Can I interest you in a metallic artificial leg?
The 3Cities Project
Examine the nexus of representation, modernity, and urban life.
Pioneering the Upper Midwest: Rare Books c. 1820-1910
Explore Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin life through rare books.
Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, 1870-1885
What do the songs people sing tell us about their lives? Do they sing about tragedy? About love and happiness? How do their tunes reflect their personal stories?
Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920
What do the songs people sing tell us about their lives?
America Singing: 19th-century Song Sheets
How did people learn the latest music trends without electronics?
Theodore Roosevelt: His Life and Times on Film
Do films capture your students’ attention? Introduce them to Roosevelt in motion.
Railroad Maps, 1828-1900
View maps created for a multitude of purposes related to travel by rail.
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?
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?
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.
Eye of the Storm
See the Civil War as it happened in Union soldier Knox Sneden’s watercolors.
New Perspectives on the West
Peruse lesson plans about the West on this companion site to a Ken Burns documentary.
The American Experience
Discover briefs on more than 60 iconic points in U.S. history.
Drawing the Western Frontier: The James E. Taylor Album
How did newspaper illustration shape stereotypes (and our understanding) of the “Wild West”?
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.
Great Lakes Maritime History Project
Delve into Wisconsin’s maritime history. Discover the multiple ways in which water shaped the history of the state.
Across the Generations: Exploring U.S. History through Family Papers
Experience Caucasian, middle-class Northeastern life through the collections of four families.
St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project
Explore the largest collection of freedom suits available to U.S. researchers.
National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
More than 50 virtual exhibits ranging from Julia Child to West Point.
The Church in the Southern Black Community, 1780-1925
How did the Protestant Church become central to Southern African American communities?
FamilySearch
Begin genealogical projects on the right foot with these databases and tools.
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.
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?
Harrisburg's Old 8th Ward
Visit the businesses and meet the people of Harrisonburg, PA’s 8th Ward.
Boston Streets: Mapping Directory Data
Explore the history of Boston, MA, through photographs, maps, and atlas pages.
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.
Children's Books Online
For story time or personal research, peruse historical children’s books.
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?
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?
Women Working, 1800-1930
What did women think of their work at home, in the arts, and in business?
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!
A Civil War Soldier in the Wild Cat Regiment
Follow Capt. Reynold’s life, from childhood photos to his stint as a Union soldier.
Carriers' Addresses
Did you know that, traditionally, newsboys read poems to their customers on New Year’s?
American Memory Learning Page
Try lesson plans based on the Library of Congress’ American Memory collections.
The United States and Brazil: Expanding Frontiers, Comparing Cultures
How are Brazil and the U.S. similar? How are they different?
Maine Memory Network
Explore the history of Maine, and create your own digital album.
Women of Valor
Meet international anarchist and women’s rights activist Emma Goldman.
Voices from the Days of Slavery: Former Slaves Tell Their Stories
Hear the recollections of ex-slaves and freedmen in their own voices.
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.
Freedom Bound: The Underground Railroad in Lycoming County, PA
How did the Underground Railroad work? Listen to an insider’s story.
Presidents of the United States - POTUS
Compare inauguration promises or cabinet members. See the image of the United States’ government over time.
Connecticut History Online
Take a look at the “Constitution State,” with approximately 14,000 images depicting Connecticut’s history from the 19th through the 20th century.
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
How can you incorporate digital technology into your teaching, study, or understanding of history?
Rare Map Collection
Explore maps from throughout America’s history, with a special focus on 19th century Georgia.
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.
NativeWeb: Resources for Indigneous Cultures Around the World
A unique website designed to foster communication regarding all of the planet’s native peoples.
Center for the Study of the American South
An interesting collection of cultural resources pertaining to the American South.
The Internet African-American History Challenge
A great website for introducing African American history to young or new students.
Chicago Imagebase
Witness the growth of the Chicago metro area with this interactive website.
Women's History: The 1850 Worcester Convention
Learn about the First National Women’s Rights Convention and the greater women’s rights movement.
Crisis at Fort Sumter
Work through the Fort Sumter crises alongside our nation’s leaders.
Mapping History
Explore American and world history through this collection of maps.
At Home in the Heartland
Learn about family life and social history in the northern Midwest.
The Five Points Site
Navigate a virtual exhibit of a 1991 archaeological undertaking.
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.
Third Person, First Person: Slave Voices
Explore American slavery through this website’s 33 primary source documents.
Freedmen and Southern Society Project
Follow the emancipation process through the eyes of its participants.
Excerpts from Slave Narratives
The 46 first-person accounts on this website effectively chronicle slavery in the United States.
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.
By Popular Demand: "Votes for Women" Suffrage Pictures, 1850-1920
View photographs, cartoons, and campaign items from the women’s suffrage movement.
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.
African American Women
Read the memoirs and letters of three 19th-century African American women on this website.
First-Person Narratives of the American South, 1860-1920
Learn about the American south in the late 19th century through 141 firsthand texts.
California Heritage Collection
View the early history of California through this collection of over 30,000 photographs.
American Originals
Explore 14 significant and compelling documents from the National Archive Holdings.
Women's Studies Database
Your starting point for research in the field of Women’s Studies.
Letters from an Iowa Soldier in the Civil War
Read a firsthand account of army life during the Civil War. See the battles from the perspective of someone who fought in them.
Images of Battle: Selected Civil War Letters
Relive major Civil War battles through the words of the soldiers who fought in them.
Godey's Lady's Book Online
Explore mid-19th century culture as presented in the Godey’s Lady’s Book, a women’s magazine.
Civil War Letters of Galutia York
Read about the Civil War from private Galutia York’s perspective.
National Women's History Project
Start your research into Women’s history with the National Women’s History Project.
Civil War Women
Learn about the role of three American women during the Civil War.
American Slave Narratives
Read and listen to firsthand narratives on slave life during the 19th century.
Children in Urban America: A Digital Archive
Imagine what it might have been like growing up over 100 years ago.
Brooklyn in the Civil War
What role did Brooklyn play in the War Between the States?
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.
Lest We Forget: The Triumph Over Slavery
Explore slavery in America from nine thematic perspectives.
H.H. Bennett: Photographer Extraordinaire
View commercial photography from the last half of the 19th century.
Columbia River Basin Ethnic History Archive
Which ethnic groups have made their homes in the Columbia River Basin?
Rebellion: John Horse and the Black Seminoles
What role did runaway slaves and free African Americans play in the Second Seminole War?
Black Past
Begin your exploration of African American history with this web portal, leading out to more than 400 websites.
Slavery and the Making of America
An extensive glimpse into slave life and the history of slavery in the United States.
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.
Anne Sullivan Macy: Miracle Worker
When teaching about Helen Keller, why leave out her friend and educator Anne Sullivan Macy?
A Portion of the People: Three Hundred Years of Southern Jewish Life
Explore Jewish heritage outside of the Mid-Atlantic or the Holocaust.
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.
Medicine in the Americas, 1619-1914
Access works on medicine and health by Clara Barton, Benjamin Coleman, Benjamin Rush, and others.
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.
The Lives and Writings of Antebellum Students at UNC
What did college students think about their lives and larger issues in the 19th-century?
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.
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.
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.
Perry Visits Japan
Explore the official beginning of U.S.-Japan international relations.
Walt Whitman Archive
Get to know the life, mind, works, and criticisms of poet Walt Whitman.
Historic Missouri Newspaper Project
Peruse articles, images, and advertisements drawn from 14 Missouri newspapers, 1835 through 1988.
Thar's Gold in Them Thar Hills: Gold and Gold Mining in Georgia, 1830s-1940s
Gold mining, though often portrayed as lawless, was, in some cases, big business.
Stephen Foster's Sketchbook
Ever wondered what a composer’s drafts look like? View Foster’s sketchbook.
Minnesota Maps Online
Are you interested in cartography or the natural and social environment of early Minnesota?
Dickinson Electronic Archives
Learn about Dickinson’s family through their own writings and wider critical response to her poetry.
Oxford African American Studies Center
Access more than 5,000 biographies, maps, and images relevant to African American history.
Northern Visions of Race, Region, and Reform in the Press
Investigate racial issues during and after the Civil War through letters, illustrations, and official documents.
Gilmer Civil War Maps Collection
Explore the Civil War-era South through hand-drawn maps and renderings.
Madison: Celebrating 150 Years
Learn about Madison, WI, from early settlement through its time as the “queen of bootleggers.”
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.
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.
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.
Panoramic Maps, 1847-1929
Did you know that between 1840 and 1929 many maps were not drawn to scale?
American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning
Looking for a new way to teach history? Peruse new media and educational resources.
Recovered Notebooks from the Thomas Harned Walt Whitman Collection
Experience personal accounts of Civil War hospitals and read poetry drafts in Walt Whitman’s journals.
Connecticut Historical Society
Explore the political and sociocultural history of Connecticut.
The Franklin County Publication Archives Index
Explore 19th-century life through newspaper articles from the 1870s.
New York Public Library Picture Collection Online
Support visual learners with a selection of more than 30,000 historical images.
Alabama Maps
How have boundaries changed over time? Compare the maps of yesteryear with those of today.
First Century of the First State University: The Creation of UNC
Primary sources document the history of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the first U.S. public university.
Immigration
Very few of us have ancestors who were not immigrants. Bring the topic of immigration to life.
Teaching with Laurel Grove School
Local history teaches about slavery, emancipation, and freedom in Northern Virginia.
Children’s Voices from the Civil War
Help students identify with the past via children who lived through the Civil War.
Teaching with Historic Places
Looking for new ideas on how to teach with the historic places in your community?
John Brown, Harpers Ferry, Students, History and Technology
Middle school students interpret history at Harpers Ferry.
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.
What Events Led to Lincoln's Assassination?
Elementary students investigate the first presidential assassination and debate whether it was avoidable.
Foundations of American History: John Brown Song
How did people in the North feel about John Brown after his raid on Harpers Ferry?
American Experience: We Shall Remain
Coming soon to your local PBS station: a new look at the Native American experience.
Prologue to Studying the Emancipation Proclamation
An 8th-grade class analyzes letters about the Emancipation Proclamation.
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.
Who Earned a Medal for Cutting Costs by Starving Confederate Prisoners?
Almost two million dollars allocated to feed prisoners was returned to the U.S. Treasury.
Save the Date! National Teach-In on Lincoln!
Register now for this program with expert historians geared for middle and high schoolers.
Exploring Historical Texts in a Discussion-Based Class
Trying to promote more productive and engaging discussions?
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.
A New Look at Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln turned to the developing field of photography to broaden his public presence.
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.
Contradictions in John Fremont's Political Chart of the US (1856)
The 1850s were a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization in the Northeastern states.
Bridging the Language Barrier
Vocabulary legends, guiding questions, and teamwork are all good solutions.
Court Packing Controversies
What do Presidents Ulysses Grant and Franklin Roosevelt have in common? Both were accused of packing the Supreme Court.
The Reason Behind the "Stars and Bars"
Find out how this battle flag came into being.
Premonition of Death
Accounts of Abraham Lincoln’s dream of a presidential assassination vary, and so do the interpretations.
Emergence of Advertising in America: 1850-1920
Follow the rise of professional advertising with these advertising items and publications from 1850 to 1920.
History of the American West, 1860-1920
More than 30,000 photographs capture life in Colorado from 1860 to 1920.
Dime Novels and Penny Dreadfuls
Cover art and full texts from dime novels preserve the popular culture of an industrializing U.S.
Alexander Graham Bell Family Papers
Alexander Graham Bell’s work and interests extended far beyond the invention of the telephone. Explore his papers here.
African-American Perspectives: Pamphlets from 1818-1907
Pamphlets and documents from 1875 to 1900 highlight African American leaders and organizations.
African American Women Writers of the 19th Century
Read the full text of 52 published works by black women writers from the late 18th to the early 20th century.
Wright American Fiction, 1851-1875
Digitizing 19th-century American fiction, this site offers close to 3,000 texts by 1,456 authors.
Nineteenth-century California Sheet Music
Scanned images from more than 2,700 pieces of sheet music provide insight into life in 1852–1900 California.
Civil War Treasures from the New York Historical Society
This site houses more than 1,500 Civil War items, including letters, photographs, sketches, and posters.
Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938
Read the accounts of former slaves in oral history interviews collected by the Federal Writers’ Project.
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.
Slaves and the Courts, 1740-1860
Delve into the complex history of slavery and the law with this collection of primary sources.
SCETI: Schoenberg Center for Electronic Text and Image
Search and browse a collection of resources covering topics ranging from the Civil War to the ENIAC computer.
Primary Documents in American History
The Library of Congress presents 35 of the most important documents from early American history.
Images of Native Americans
Illustrations follow European interpretations of Native Americans, through images from popular culture, literary and political observations, and artistic representations.
Union Army Project
Presents medical and mortality statistics and records on 35,747 white males who served in the Union Army.
Territorial Kansas Online
Primary and secondary sources examine the growing divisions in Kansas and the nation prior to the Civil War.
Making of America
Provides more than 1.5 million pages of text in an effort to digitize more than 11,000 volumes and 100,000 19th-century journal articles.
Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920
Documents the birth of the conservation movement through published works, manuscripts, images, and motion picture footage.
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.
Kentuckiana Digital Library
Collects photographs, texts, and oral histories drawn from 15 Kentucky colleges, universities, libraries, and historical societies.
Documenting the American South
Nearly 1,400 documents covering Southern life from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
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.
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.
American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar Launches Education Web Companion
The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar in Richmond, Virginia, recently launched an educational web companion helpful both to visitors to the Center and as a standalone teaching guide.
Nineteenth-Century American Children and What They Read
Examines 19th-century children in America: what they read, what was written about them, and what was written for them.
North American Slave Narratives, Beginnings to 1920
Explore all of the known published slave narratives, to better understand the experience of slavery and the culture that slaves created in the nation.
Tangled Roots
Primary sources point out cultural connections between the experiences of African and Irish Americans.
Florida State Archives Photographic Collection
Presents more than 137,000 photographs of Florida on specific localities from the mid-19th century to the present.
Map Collections: 1500-2003
16th-century to present-day maps, focusing on Americana and cartographic treasures.
Chinese in California, 1850-1925
Browse more than 8,000 objects related to Chinese immigrant life in California.
Thomas A. Edison Papers
A vast database of Thomas Edison’s papers, including correspondence, technical drawings, and clippings about the inventor.
Small-Town America: Images from the Robert Dennis Collection, 1850-1920
More than 12,000 stereoscopic photographs depict life in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut small towns and rural areas from 1850 to 1920.
Prairie Settlement: Nebraska Photographs and Family Letters
Nearly 3,500 images and approximately 318 letters illuminate life on the Great Plains from 1862 to 1912.
Uncle Tom's Cabin and American Culture
Explore Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin as the American cultural phenomenon it was.
Sunday School Books: Shaping the Values of Youth in 19th-Century America
Provides full-text transcriptions and page images of 1815–1865 Sunday school books addressing religious instruction for youth.
Mark Twain in His Times
Focuses on Mark Twain’s life and career, including creation of his popular image, marketing and promotion of his texts, and live performances.
Lost Museum
Recreates the P.T. Barnum Museum as an interactive 3D exhibit and an archive of images, documents, accounts, and essays on 16 original Barnum exhibits.
Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music
Scanned images of more than 18,000 pieces of sheet music, including covers, published prior to 1923.
Great Chicago Fire and the Web of Memory
Commemorates the 1871 Great Chicago Fire with an array of primary sources.
Freedmen's Bureau Online
Read about crimes committed in the former Confederate states between 1865 to 1868.
Daguerreotype Portraits and Views, 1839-1864
Examples of early photographs preserve the likenesses of cities, famous figures, and other subjects.
California as I Saw It: First-Person Narratives of California, 1849-1900
40,000 written pages and more than 3,000 illustrations provide accounts of California history from the Gold Rush to the end of the 19th century.
Trails to Utah and the Pacific: Diaries and Letters, 1846-1869
Get up close-and-personal with western migrants. Explore personal accounts of westward treks from the perspective of 45 men and four women.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Peruse 11 exhibits, from the Gold Rush of 1849 to Japanese American internment during WWII.
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.
HarpWeek: Explore History
With illustrations, articles, editorials, and overviews, 22 exhibits cover a variety of subjects dealing with 19th-century American history.
American Indians of the Pacific Northwest
Documents the lives of Native Americans in the Northwest Coast and Plateau regions of the Pacific Northwest in text and photographs.
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.
Selected Civil War Photographs
Explore more than 1,000 Civil War photographs.
Accessible Archives
Presents articles from 18th- and 19th-century newspapers, magazines, and books, with a focus on the Mid-Atlantic region.
Gifts of Speech: Women's Speeches from Around the World
More than 400 speeches by women—politicians, scientists, and celebrities.
Making Sense of American Popular Songs
Don’t overlook song as a way of understanding the past.