Incorporating 20th Century US Environmental History in the 6-12 Classroom
This guide consists of curated primary and secondary sources to help students connect environmental history to broader themes in twentieth century US history.
Incorporating 20th Century US Environmental History in the K-5 Classroom
This guide consists of curated primary and secondary sources to help students connect environmental history to broader themes in twentieth century US history.
History of Higher Education: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers
Help students understand the different types of universities and colleges in the U.S. by examining and analyzing a wide range of photographs from the Library of Congress
Immigration from Asia Post-1970: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers
Help students understand recent immigration history by exploring photographs of Asian immigrant communities in the U.S.
9/11 and Commemoration: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers
Help students understand the events of 9/11 and how such events are commemorated via informal and formal memorials.
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.
History of Education and Indigenous Americans: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers
Help students reflect on the purpose of learning history and of education in general by using Library of Congress primary sources to better understand the history of education of Indigenous people in the United States.
Statistics in Schools
Analyze data from the U.S. Census Bureau in the social studies classroom.
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.
A Close Look at the World War II Memorial
Historian Christopher Hamner introduces educators to the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. He asks, what was its intended audience and purpose?
A Close Look at the FDR Memorial
Historian Christopher Hamner visits the original Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial with educators. They consider the different purposes the old and new memorials serve.
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Close Observation
Close observation and an inquisitive mind are all the tools you need to start analyzing primary sources! Teachers model analyzing works of art.
Paintings About Segregation
Textbooks describe segregation in a few pages, but these artists share complicated, personal views of how segregation looked and felt.
Race and Ethnicity in Advertising
The definitive online exhibition and archives about how American experiences of race and ethnicity have shaped and been shaped by the development of advertising over the course of the 20th century.
ABMC War Dead Database
Features over 224,000 records of individuals buried or memorialized in ABMC cemeteries and memorials worldwide.
American Archive of Public Broadcasting
Watch and listen to thousands of public broadcasting programs from across the U.S.
100 Years of Parcels, Packages, and Packets, Oh My!
In the age of Amazon, take students back to a time when delivery in the U.S. was still developing.
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!
The Thomas Jefferson Building: Secret Messages
What messages are hidden in art and architecture? Explore the Library of Congress’s Jefferson Building in this online activity.
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.
The Gaming Evolution
From text-based to modern multiplayer interaction—even video games have history.
Transportation: Past, Present and Future
What pushes and pulls people into new ways of life? In this lesson, students use artifacts, documents, and photographs to help them answer this question.
My Piece of History
Even the recent past was very different from the present. Students analyze photos from the 1960s and 1970s to identify differences between then and now.
Olympic Spirit: Teaching with the Olympics
Summer or winter, the Olympics bring together countries worldwide—including the U.S. How can you teach with Olympic history?
Resources for Flag Day
Flag Day may not fall during the school year for many, but Flag Day resources are valuable all year long.
World War II Memorial
What meanings does the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, have? Historians Christopher Hamner and Michael O’Malley try to answer this question.
IWitness
Delve into 20th-century history with Holocaust survivor and witness testimonies.
Memorial Day: The Poppy Puzzle
Do you know the history of this symbol?
Earth Day: Lost to History
Human history affects more than human beings.
A Symbol of Friendship
The cherry trees in Washington, DC were a gift from Japan. What does their history tell us?
Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship
Discover the rich history of DC’s cherry trees and what they reveal about U.S./Japan relations.
White House Historical Association
There’s more to the White House than the President himself—music, art, staff, pets. . .
Japanese American National Museum Collections
Looking for ways to grow awareness of injustice of Japanese internment? This site likely has the perfect primary source for your needs.
Presidents Day: Growing Up to Be President
Even American presidents were babies once!
Understanding 9/11: A Television News Archive
How was the TV-viewing world introduced to the events of 9/11 in the U.S. and around the world?
World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response
Get out of the political arena and teach your students about the emergency response and human issues that resulted from 9/11.
VOCES Oral History Project
Ever wondered about the wartime experiences of Latinos and Latinas? VOCES seeks to help remedy the gap in U.S. popular historical narrative.
Memoirs v. Tapes: President Nixon and the December Bombings
Was Nixon as reluctant to initiate the Christmas bombing as his memoirs suggest, or was he as eager as he claimed Kissinger to be?
In Dr. King's Words
People can identify (some of) the words of Martin Luther King Jr. Can you place these quotes?
Resources for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Do you use Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a teachable moment? Our spotlight page and other resources can help!
Witness and Response: September 11 Acquisitions at the Library of Congress
If you’re searching for 9/11 materials, this website offers easy access to materials across the Library of Congress’s collections.
Flashing Across the Country: Mr. Zip and the ZIP Code Promotional Campaign
Have you ever wondered what your zip code means or when the codes came into use?
The Iran Hostage Crisis: Diary of Robert Ode
Diaries give a personal view of historical events. Historian Peter Hahn interprets the diary of Robert Ode, kept as he was held hostage in Iran.
Veterans Day: Medals and Merit
You know the Purple Heart, but can you identify these honors?
Thanksgiving: Presidential Turkeys
How many turkeys have presidents pardoned?
Digital Resource Guide for the Labor Archives of Washington State
Making labor history access less of a chore.
Hope for America
Do you want to use humor to your advantage in the classroom? Hope for America examines comedy and satire in American popular culture and its influence on political history.
The U.S. House of Representatives Remembers September 11
9/11 impacted more than just the nation. This repository of oral history video and audio clips reflects the tragedy from personal perspectives.
America's Love for the Automobile
An Exciting Whiff of Danger or La Belle Dame sans Merci?
September 11th Sourcebooks
Looking for official documents concerning the U.S. stance on terrorism?
Here is New York
View photographs taken by everyday people as they came to terms with the 9/11 attacks, or watch oral histories.
Massive Resistance Political Cartoons
Watch J. Douglas Smith discuss the Massive Resistance policy enacted by U.S. Senator, Harry F. Byrd, Sr., in 1956.
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: The Tenth Inning
Can one subject—say, baseball—tell a larger story of historical change? Historian Daniel Nathan says it can.
Film Review: The Aviator
Historical films like The Aviator sacrifice historical context to create character portraits, says historian David Courtwright.
September 11, 2001, Web Archive
What coverage did websites give the 9/11 attacks?
September 11, 2001, Documentary Project
Access children’s pictures and Italian oral histories regarding 9/11, among other sources.
9/11 Memorial
What does our choice of memorial design say about the U.S. today?
Ballyhoo!: Posters as Portraiture
Think of all the celebrity advertisements you see everyday. Why pick that particular person for that particular poster?
Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project
What role have women played in war and the military?
DocsTeach
Team up with the National Archives and Records Administration to bring primary sources into your classroom!
Finishing the Dream: Learning from the Civil Rights Era
This collection of short videos recognizes the civil rights movement as ongoing struggle.
Texas Archive of the Moving Image
Watch some Texas history, submit your own, or learn to make local documentaries.
Center on Congress
What is Congress? Why should anyone care?
Film Review: Ken Burns's Jazz
Documentaries can be critiqued on many levels, says Professor Frank Tirro. Here, he looks at Ken Burns’s Jazz from four angles.
Questioning History Using the Census
Historian Alex Stein poses questions about population shift in Detroit, and models using census data and other sources to answer his question.
Comic Books in the History Classroom
Comic books as primary sources? Bring superheroes into the classroom with these six historical themes.
Joe Jelen's Ads as Primary Sources: The Ad Council's Historic Campaigns
Advertisements don’t always use ideas to sell products—sometimes they use ideas to sell ideas. Explore the ideas the Ad Council’s PSAs have sold, Joe Jelen suggests.
Women in the Lab (and the Field)
Marie Curie and Jane Goodall—you may know these female scientists, but can you name any American women scientists?
Cintia Cabib's Interdisciplinary Gardening
Walk through the history of student gardening with documentarian Cintia Cabib, and see how you can use gardens in the classroom.
Sand, Sea, and Oil: Operation Desert Storm
It’s in the name: “Desert.” How did the environment affect the Persian Gulf War?
Divided Allegiance
Being born in the United States was not always a guaranteed path to citizenship.
Divining America: Religion in American History
Use this essay on Jewish immigration to flesh out a unit on the Civil War or immigration.
Women at War
Women have fought in every U.S. war, but only recently have they gained official military status.
Presidents in the Library
Happy Presidents Day! What better place to turn to for presidential history resources than libraries dedicated to the presidents?
Tax Rates of the Mid-20th Century
Is it April 15 already? Discussing the recent past in context.
Cold War Wrestling Match
How political cartoons illustrate international events and the artists beliefs.
A Day On, Not a Day Off
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Celebrate this holiday as a day of public service.
Civil Rights Sit-in
“Local custom” was at odds with company policy in Jackson, MS.
Presidential Timeline of the Twentieth Century
Teaching 20th century presidential history or political events? Explore this site for interactive timelines, exhibits, and over 1,500 primary sources.
Freedom's Story: Teaching African American Literature and History
Slavery, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement—you have to teach these topics, so check out these essays to enrich your curriculum!
Remembering All Veterans
Veterans Day is for everyone who fought for the U.S.—including those who volunteered in the face of prejudice.
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.
DocsTeach
Find primary sources and the tools to present them to students—in one place.
California or Bust
Who went west when? Answer questions about migration from 1935 to 2000.
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.
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: Hail to the Chief Nicknames
Fond or far-fetched, everyone has one—but as president, nicknames garner the respect and allegiance of the nation.
Patents as Primary Sources
Patents as primary sources? These documents can give your students clues to development of U.S. science, technology, business, and social concerns.
Monuments to a Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorials
Answer these questions about memorials to the life and ideals of MLK.
Teaching the 20th
When does the past go from ‘recent’ to ‘history?’ Consider these questions about textbook portrayals of late 20th-century events.
My Lai Massacre Political Cartoon
Professor Meredith Lair examines a 1971 political cartoon and what it says about U.S. reaction to the My Lai Massacre and the trial of Lt. Willam Calley.
State of the Union
What can 214 State of the Union addresses tells us about American politics and rhetoric?
Indiana Historical Society Digital Image Collections
Indiana educators, looking for visual primary sources? Search more than 38,000 photographs from the 19th century to the present.
Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection
Covering Californian urban history? Search more than 275,000 digitized images in Los Angeles Public Library’s photo archives.
Feminist Art
Explorations of the body, self-reference, and the entanglement of art and politics have all been the themes of feminist art—as they have been themes of other art of our time.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library
Teaching modern presidencies and politics? Take advantage of the virtual resources of the Foundation and Library.
A History of Fundamentalism
What does fundamentalism mean and how has that meaning changed over time?
My History at School
To make something real, make it personal. Abstract concepts can best be understood when applied to individual experience.
PhilaPlace
Pennsylvania educators, or teaching urban history? Explore two neighborhoods in Philadelphia using an interactive map and more than 1,240 primary sources.
Nixtontapes.org
Teaching Watergate? Introduce students to the Nixon tapes with more than 2,000 hours of recordings.
Chicano/a Movement in Washington State History Project
Washington State educators, bring diversity and reform activism into your classroom with resources on this civil rights movement.
University of Washington Libraries: Moving Image Collection
Northwest educators—need some unconventional primary sources? Check out 65 moving images from 1915 through the 21st century.
Wisconsin State Historical Society Online Collections
Wisconsin educators, search the online collections of the oldest American historical society for primary sources.
Washington State Digital Archives
Attention Washington State educators! Looking for primary sources? With more than 84.5 million documents, this archive has what you need.
Watergate and the Constitution
To indict or not to indict? Watergate raised complicated questions concerning Constitutional interpretation.
Reagan's "Rising Tide"
Economic policy during the Reagan Administration
Rock Paper Scissors
Gamester extraordinaire Comte de Rochambeau?
Enduring Outrage: Editorial Cartoons by Herblock
Introduce your students to political cartoons with Herbert Block’s bold, visually inviting style. 32 cartoons cover the 1940s through the 1990s.
Missouri Digital Heritage
Missouri teachers looking for primary sources, look no further. Explore this portal for resources from libraries, universities, archives, and heritage sites throughout the state.
Curating the City: Wilshire Blvd
California educators, lead your students on an interactive journey down Los Angeles’s historic Wilshire Boulevard!
Land of (Unequal) Opportunity
460 documents and images on civil rights in Arkansas, from before, during, and after the civil rights movement.
U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1994
More than 355,000 items produced by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, from 1817-1994.
Platte River Basin in Nebraska
Forty diverse documents about the history, geology, and hydrology of the Platte River, from 1843 to the present.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
This presidential library presents sources from the 35th President’s life and times.
Tennessee's Social Studies Curriculum
Standardization is a fairly new concept in education.
Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences
Search over 200 prominent African American scientists.
Trial of The Chicago Seven
Explore radical activism and 1960s culture through the trial of the Chicago Seven.
The Leonard Bernstein Collection, ca.1920-1989
An extensive collection of primary resources concerning renowned composer Leonard Bernstein.
Integrated Public Use Microdata Series
View 22 census data samples and 65 million records from 13 federal censuses.
Photographing History: Fred J. Maroon and the Nixon Years
View the many faces of President Nixon as captured by photographer Fred Maroon.
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!
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
Visit the Gerald Ford Presidential Library for a wealth of resources regarding Ford’s presidency.
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.
Hagley Digital Archives
Focused on business history, this gateway site connects businesses to greater cultural and social trends.
White Trash: The Construction of an American Scapegoat
An excellent site for new study into the “white trash” demographic.
Tending the Commons: Folklife and Landscape in Southern West Virginia
Learn about life in the Big Coal River Valley in West Virginia.
Vietnam Online
A companion site to a PBS series, this website contains a wealth of resources relating to Vietnam.
Through Our Parent's Eyes: Tucson's Diverse Community
Learn about the ethnically diverse history of Tucson, AZ.
Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS), 1945-1972
Peruse this collection of recently declassified foreign policy documents.
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?
Directory of Corporate Archives in the United States and Canada
Interested in researching business history? You may want to contact an archivist.
Congress for the New Urbanism
What is New Urbanism, and does it effect you? Will it affect the way you buy a home, or where the homes are located?
American Women
Interested in using the Library of Congress to research women’s history, but unsure how to start?
United States Early Radio History
How did radio move from major technological advance to mass popular culture?
National Postal Museum
The mail always comes, rain or shine; but how?
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?
Jacob Lawrence: Exploring Stories
Frame your lessons on the Great Migration with the life and works of Jacob Lawrence.
Cleveland Digital Library
Explore the history of “the forest city.”
Bob Hope and American Variety
“When Vaudeville died, television was the box they put it in,” according to Bob Hope. Read essays on his life and career.
Arizona State Museum
Can’t get to Arizona? You can still see local Native American artifacts online.
Communism in Washington State--History and Memory Project
Communist Russia. Communist China. Communist Washington?
ECHO (Exploring and Collecting the History Online)
Introduce yourself to the history of science, or learn to make your own history website.
Best of History Websites
Find top notch history web resources, as well as advice on using technology for teaching.
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.
Working in Paterson: Occupational Heritage in an Urban Setting
How does an industrial past shape current work and play? How does it affect what professions still exist in cities?
U.S. Intelligence Policy Documentation Project
Read up on the NRO, NSA, and the use of satellite imaging for intelligence collection.
Oral History Research Center
What do Vegas showgirls have to say about their time in the city?
China and the United States: From Hostility to Engagement, 1960-1998
Trace U.S.-China relations from the 60s through present day.
The Joshua Lederberg Papers
What contributions has bacterial geneticist Joshua Lederberg made to science and healthcare?
Digital Archive of American Architecture
Explore U.S. architectural styles and ornamentation, or date the buildings in your town.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Contemporary art highlights and reflects societal issues following World War II.
History of American Education Web Project
Explore the history of education within the U.S, through writings and images.
The Hartford Black History Project
Follow the formation of the African American community in the city of Hartford, CT
Living Voices, Voces Vivas
How do Native Americans preserve their heritage in the world of today?
Linus Pauling Research Notebooks
What goes through the mind of a Nobel-prize winning chemist?
U.S. Steel Gary Works Photograph Collection, 1906-1971
Relive the construction of the city of steel—Gary, Indiana.
Lesson Plans Library
Hundreds of lesson plans, right at your fingertips. Incorporate them in the classroom.
AMDOCS: Documents for the Study of American History
One convenient source for major historical U.S. documents.
The Commercial Closet
How have GLBT lifestyles been portrayed and used by the commercial media?
Remembering Herblock
View political cartoons by Herbert Block, father of the term, “McCarthyism.”
Economic Data, Fred II
Get your historical national economical statistics right here.
Voices of the Colorado Plateau
There’s more to the West than cowboys.
Science, Technology, and the CIA
Project “Acoustic Kitty,” anyone? With different code names for missions, the CIA has shielded some vital information from the public.
Industrial Research and Development Information System
Ever curious about the nexus between R&D and economics?
History Through Deaf Eyes
What has the U.S. deaf population experienced?
Department of Transportation: Digital Special Collections
Read up on early 20th-century train and airplane accidents, among other transportation topics.
Data & Information Services Center: Online Data Archive
Ever wonder about Irish immigration to Boston or family finances in the ’60s?
HistoryWired: A Few of Our Favorite Things
What American history items do Smithsonian curators like best?
Phillip Morris Advertising Archive
What tactics has the tobacco industry used to sell smoking to the populace?
Today in History Web Resources
Need to check a date? Have students report on their birth dates? Try here.
National Security Archives: The Pentagon's Spies
James Bond, anyone? Delve into the States’ history of espionage.
Labor Arts
What role has art had in the depiction and reality of U.S. labor?
AdFlip
Nostalgic for X-ray glasses advertisements?
Traders: Voices from the Trading Post
Listen as traders talk about their experiences at Native American trading posts.
Democratic Vistas: The William Clyde DeVane Lecture Series
Look to the past to consider the prospects of democracy in the U.S.
Archives of American Art, Oral History Collections
Interested in the life of a particular artist? Find out more about the painting and the person here.
Agents of Social Change: 20th-Century Women's Activism
Source documents to help you approach 20th-century feminism.
Regional Oral History Office
Explore California oral histories, or learn to conduct your own interviews.
William Gedney Photographs and Writings
See American life through Gedney’s eyes and European and Indian life through American eyes.
A Visual Journey: Photographs by Lisa Law, 1965-1971
Check out the music scene, communes, and protests of the 1960s.
Jo Freeman.com
Explore women’s political history and activism from the 1960s onward.
To the Moon
Explore the history of the moon itself, as well as how we reached it.
NBER Macrohistory Database
Looking for historical economics statistics? The NBER Macrohistory Database should be a central resource for you.
Hall of Black Achievement Gallery
Meet 30 influential African Americans who contributed across a wide variety of fields.
A Southern Mill Village: History of Old West Durham
Follow the development of a mill town from its birth to its current status.
One Hundred Years of Photography from the National Archives
Relive the 20th century through iconic imagery—more than 70 photographs represent major U.S. events.
Historical Atlas of the Twentieth Century
Compare global statistics on topics from infant mortality to literacy.
Max Hunter Folk Song Collection
A top notch concept: combining traveling sales with anthropological fieldwork.
Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
Right this way for Seattle and Washington state history resources.
History Cooperative
Catch up on the latest scholarly research, and learn and incorporate new scholarship or innovative findings into the classroom.
Civics Online
Gain inspiration for new ways to approach political history.
May 4 Collection, Kent State University
What can we learn from the Kent State Riots?
Hannah Arendt Papers
Do you read German? Not to worry. Select documents are available in English.
FDIC Historical Studies
What do you know about the 1980s Savings and Loan crisis?
The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962: The 40th Anniversary
For your eyes only: photos and previously classified Cold War documents.
Quilts and Quiltmaking in America, 1978-1996
From the queer to the quite extraordinary—explore the art of quiltmaking in the Southern U.S.
Omaha Indian Music
Listen to a century of Omaha speeches and songs. Hear the influences of Native American music on contemporary tunes.
Mapping the National Parks
Track the exploration and use of Acadia, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Great Rocky Mountains.
Florida Heritage Collection
Explore Florida state, regional, and local history.
River of Song
Follow the evolution of American music along the Mississippi.
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.
National Security Archive
Read official documents on U.S. intelligence and positions from the Cold War through present day.
Great Lakes Maritime History Project
Delve into Wisconsin’s maritime history. Discover the multiple ways in which water shaped the history of the state.
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.
Digital Map Collection
Need a historic map for any of your lessons? Check out this digital map collection!
Conservation and Environmental Maps
Looking for maps with an environmental focus? Try here.
WTO History Project
Take a peek at Seattle protest history through the WTO Ministerial Week.
Oneida Indian Nation: Culture and History
Meet the Oneida, and discover their role in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.
Belgian-American Research Collection
What would your life have been like as a Belgian immigrant in Wisconsin?
SDA: Survey Documentation and Analysis
Observe statistical trends in U.S. beliefs and demographics from free speech to zodiac signs.
Crime and Justice Data Online
What crimes are most common? What is the demographic composition of the police force?
Election Statistics
How many votes did each nominee receive in federal elections?
The Barbara McClintock Papers
Meet Barbara McClintock, Nobel Prize-winning geneticist best known for discovering genetic transposition.
The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden
Unsure how to teach presidential history in an engaging manner? Try these activities and lessons.
American Roots Music
Discover blues, country, bluegrass, gospel, Cajun, Zydeco, Tejano, and Native American music.
Goldband Records: "Every One a Musical Treat"
What on earth is “swamp pop”?
Popular American Music
What songs were on the “Top 20” in the 1850s? Was it as much of a social concern as it is nowadays to stay musically trendy?
Pittsburgh City Photographer
See Pittsburgh, PA, the way it appeared as early as the 1890s.
Historic Topographic Maps of California
Explore a wide range of Californian geological survey maps, dating from 1895 to present.
Reston Collection Images
Explore the planned community of Reston, VA. Gain a better sense of the town that has become a burgeoning suburb.
The History of Sanitary Sewers
Few engineering feats are so overlooked by history as the creation of sewers worldwide.
Humor's Edge
Use modern political cartoons to introduce analysis of recent events.
Historical Maps Online
View 400 hundred years of cartography from the Illinois area.
Washington History
Make this your first stop for topics related to Washington state history!
Woman's Legal History Biography Project
How many female lawyers can you think of in U.S. history?
Milwaukee Neighborhoods: Photos and Maps, 1885-1992
Take a visual journey through the development of Milwaukee, WI.
University of California History Digital Archives
Discover the history of the University of California through primary sources.
The Pill
How has the birth control pill altered sexuality and feminine gender expectations?
Military Campaign Maps
Where exactly were troops stationed in a given battle? Visualize the military campaigns, and imagine what the troops saw when they were able to initiate fighting.
American Memory Learning Page
Try lesson plans based on the Library of Congress’ American Memory collections.
The Vietnam Project
A highly comprehensive look at the Vietnam War.
The United States and Brazil: Expanding Frontiers, Comparing Cultures
How are Brazil and the U.S. similar? How are they different?
What Exit? New Jersey and Its Turnpike
Travel through history with the New Jersey Turnpike.
Maine Memory Network
Explore the history of Maine, and create your own digital album.
TUPPERWARE!
Have you ever heard of a Tupperware party? Find out more about the household brand.
American Photography: A Century of Images
How has photography altered our perception of and the actuality of reality?
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.
San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection
Imagine San Francisco as it would have been as early as 1850.
Presidents of the United States - POTUS
Compare inauguration promises or cabinet members. See the image of the United States’ government over time.
George Mason University Electronic Documentary History
How does a university grow into its own?
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
How can you incorporate digital technology into your teaching, study, or understanding of history?
Hard Hat Riots: An Online History Project
Learn about the Hard Hat Riots of New York with this innovative website.
Investigating the Vietnam War
A good starting point for student research regarding the Vietnam War and its aftermath.
NativeWeb: Resources for Indigneous Cultures Around the World
A unique website designed to foster communication regarding all of the planet’s native peoples.
Chicago Imagebase
Witness the growth of the Chicago metro area with this interactive website.
Regarding Vietnam: Stories Since the War
A valuable site filled with firsthand discussion on the conduct and effect of the Vietnam War.
American Museum of Photography
View fantastic photography throughout the ages in over 15 exhibits.
Voices from the Gaps: Women Writers and Artists of Color
Learn about all of America’s most famous female writers of color with this comprehensive website.
WWW-Virtual Library, History Central Catalogue
This large gateway site provides a starting point for any and all historical research.
Words and Deeds in American History
View primary documents that helped to shape America’s history.
Modern and Contemporary American Poetry
Read hundreds of poems by major and lesser known figures.
Center for Working-Class Studies
Begin your study of working class and labor history with this website.
The Urban Landscape
View photographs of a variety of urban landscapes.
Living the Legacy: The Women's Rights Movement, 1848-1998
Learn about the women’s rights movement through the secondary sources offered by this website.
America Votes: Presidential Campaign Memorabilia
Follow presidential campaigns through the years with this collection of campaign materials.
Documents from the Women's Liberation Movement
Explore over 50 documents which chronicle the history of the Women’s Liberation Movement.
Posters: American Style
Explore 20th century American poster art, from advertisements to patriotic propaganda.
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Explore the history of baseball and the players who made the sport great.
The Wars for Vietnam: 1945-1975
Visit this website for a comprehensive introduction to the Vietnam War.
National Women's History Project
Start your research into Women’s history with the National Women’s History Project.
Children in Urban America: A Digital Archive
Imagine what it might have been like growing up over 100 years ago.
Vietnam War Era Ephemera Collection
Explore campus protest ephemera and the youth movements of the 1960s and 70s.
From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America
Peruse this online exhibit on the history of Jewish life in the United States.
Say it Plain: A Century of Great African American Speeches
Hear 12 renowned speeches by African Americans, including Marcus Garvey’s only known recording.
Wisconsin Magazine of History
Take in full articles from the 1917 through 2005 editions of the Wisconsin Magazine of History.
NASA History Division
Ever wonder what lunar surface crew members and mission control said to each other?
Library of Congress: Webcasts
Access more than 500 webcasts from the Library of Congress.
Vincentian Postcards
Explore 200 years of postcards which document the Vincentian religious order of educators and nurses.
A Portion of the People: Three Hundred Years of Southern Jewish Life
Explore Jewish heritage outside of the Mid-Atlantic or the Holocaust.
Folkstreams
View streaming videos on American folk culture from fox hunting to Zydeco.
Florida Folklife Collection
Explore the folk lore of Florida—from musical performances and art to occupational lore.
Jewish Women and the Feminist Revolution
What roles have Jewish women played in the Second Wave of feminism?
Invincible Cities
Visual depictions of post-industrial urban decay in California and New Jersey.
Louisiana State Museum Jazz Collection
Listen to New Orleans jazz while learning about Louis Armstrong and other famed musicians.
Portal to Texas History
Texas educators, looking for primary resources on state history? Search this portal for thousands of images and documents drawn from Texas-based archival collections.
Las Vegas: An Unconventional History
Why is Las Vegas one of the world’s most popular destinations? How has it changed?
New Jersey Public Records and Archives
Familiarize yourself with New Jersey history using images, maps, and official documents.
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Did you know that Micronesia was once a U.N. trusteeship administered by the United States?
Silicon Valley History Online
Silicone Valley is known as a high-tech industry center, but has it always been?
Virtual Museum and Archive of the SEC and Securities History
If you want to understand big business, it would be wise to examine the SEC’s history.
Turning Points in Wisconsin History
Primary documents, background information, and lesson plans for Wisconsin history.
Historic Missouri Newspaper Project
Peruse articles, images, and advertisements drawn from 14 Missouri newspapers, 1835 through 1988.
Minnesota Maps Online
Are you interested in cartography or the natural and social environment of early Minnesota?
Seattle Black Panther Party History and Memory Project
Who exactly were the Black Panthers? Explore the history and memories of the Seattle chapter.
Automobile in American Life and Society
Enter the world of automotive history through oral histories and scholarly essays.
Native American Constitution and Law Digitization Project
Tie civics into units involving Native American history using relevant full-text legal documents.
Coming of Age in the Twentieth Century, Stories from Minnesota and Beyond
What can oral histories tell us about girlhood, adolescence, and more in the United States?
Jacob Lawrence: Over the Line
Experience selected artworks by African American artist Jacob Lawrence while learning about his life.
Oxford African American Studies Center
Access more than 5,000 biographies, maps, and images relevant to African American history.
LexisNexis
Search news articles, court cases, journals, broadcast transmissions, polls, data compilations, magazine articles, and more.
Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
Review litigation studies ranging from mental health facilities and jail conditions to equal employment.
StoryCorps
Connect 20th-century events and daily life with real human experiences through oral history audio files.
The Dick Thornburgh Papers
Explore the positions and words of a former PA Governor and Attorney General.
Madison: Celebrating 150 Years
Learn about Madison, WI, from early settlement through its time as the “queen of bootleggers.”
Life After the Holocaust: Stories of Holocaust Survivors After The War
Can you imagine starting your life over in the U.S. following the Holocaust?
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?
Archives of African American Music and Culture
Interested in jazz, hip hop, blues, doo-wop, spirituals, or rock? Explore African American music history.
American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning
Looking for a new way to teach history? Peruse new media and educational resources.
The Sonic Memorial Project
Known for the 9/11 tragedy, the World Trade Center possesses a broader social history.
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?
Red White Blue & Brimstone: New World Literature and the American Millennium
Texts throughout U.S. history have featured imagery from the Book of Revelations, including the the documents on this site.
What Does It Mean to Be an American?
An 8th-grade teacher asks: Was early 20th-century America a “melting pot” or a “salad bowl”?
History News Network
Nowhere is history more present than in current events. HNN examines history in the media.
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.
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.
Legal Information Institute: Supreme Court Collection
Decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court change history—explore historical and present-day cases on this website.
James Madison's Failed Amendments
Apportionment in the House of Representatives and pay raises for Congress fell by the wayside—at least temporarily.
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.
Time Archive, 1923 to Present
From its March 23, 1923 first edition to the present, Time presents a searchable database of cover art.
The History of Social Security
We all know what the Social Security Administration does, but do you know how it was formed?
Profiles in Science
Explore the profiles of 26 scientists, physicians, and experts in biomedical research and public health.
Gulf War
Participants in Operation Desert Storm talk about their experiences in oral history interviews.
The Vault
With the Freedom of Information Act, the government declassified thousands of documents, including those available here.
Oral History Digital Collection
In full-text narratives, more than 2,000 people from northeast Ohio discuss issues significant to the state and the nation.
Multilaterals Project
From environmental agreements to rules of warfare, read the text of international multilateral treaties, agreements, and conventions.
American Radicalism Collection
From the Ku Klux Klan to the IWW, examine 129 historical documents from radical organizations.
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.
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.
CQ Historic Documents Series: Online Edition
From scientific findings to speeches, 100 documents represent each year since 1972.
Business Plan Archive
Through this collection of business plans and planning information, track the beginning of the “Dot Com Era.”
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Follow historical trends in national, international, and regional economic activity using the Bureau’s data.
AIDS at 20
New York Times articles from 1981 to 2001 follow the development of the AIDS epidemic.
Jewish Women's Archive
Learn more about American Jewish women’s contributions to their communities and the wider world with these exhibits and resources.
Frontera Collection of Mexican American Music
Listen to clips from more than 100,000 recordings of Mexican American vernacular music.
Digital Archive Collections at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Library
Covering topics ranging from the annexation of Hawaii to World War II, 29 collections document the history of Hawaii and Micronesia.
Taking the Long View: Panoramic Photographs, 1851-1991
Displays nearly 4,000 panoramic photographs of cityscapes, landscapes, and group portraits.
USC Archival Research Center
With over 126,000 photographs, maps, and other documents, this site offers a comprehensive look at the history of Los Angeles and southern California.
Battle Lines: Letters from America's Wars
More than 30 letters cover conflicts from the Revolutionary War to the War of 1812 to war in Iraq.
Picturing America
Presents 27 iconic works of art as examples for the use of art and primary sources in history classrooms.
Rutgers Oral History Archives
Listen to oral history interviews with Americans who served overseas and on the home front during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Cold War.
Teach Women's History Project
Provides teaching and reference materials on the women’s rights movement of the past 50 years.
Flint Sit-Down Strike
Provides a multimedia introduction to “the greatest strike in American history.”
Florida State Archives Photographic Collection
Presents more than 137,000 photographs of Florida on specific localities from the mid-19th century to the present.
Vietnam Center and Archive
Browse through a multitude of resources on Vietnam and the Vietnam War, including oral histories, video interviews, and primary source documents.
Selling the Computer Revolution: Marketing Brochures in the Collection
Presents more than 250 computer marketing brochures from 1948 to 1988.
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.
Making the Macintosh: Technology and Culture in Silicon Valley
Preserves the history of the Macintosh through interviews with designers, technical writers, Apple employees, and others.
Legacy Tobacco Documents Library
Houses more than 40 million pages from more than seven million tobacco industry documents.
Herblock's History: Political Cartoons from the Crash to the Millennium
View 150 cartoons drawn between 1929 and 2000 by Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Herbert Block.
Fifty Years of Coca-Cola Television Advertisements
Archives 50 Coca-Cola commercials, broadcast outtakes, and experimental footage.
CIA Electronic Reading Room
Digitally serves thousands of formerly secret documents in compliance with Freedom of Information Act requests.
Women in Journalism
Archives 44 “full-life” interviews with American women journalists.
Presidential Recording Program
Offers over 2,500 hours of White House recordings by six American presidents between 1940 and 1973.
Parallel History Project on Cooperative Security
More than 350 recently declassified documents reveal previously hidden aspects of Cold War military strategy.
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.
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.
Amateur Athletic Foundation Digital Archive
Official documents and articles from periodicals record the history of the Olympics and sport.
The Wizard of Oz: An American Fairy Tale
We’re off to see the wizard! Discover the cultural impact of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Online Archive of California
Explore California from Japanese American internment or the Free Speech Movement to oral histories.
Famous Trials
Presents balanced treatments of over 50 prominent court trials, including the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui
Watergate Revisited
The Washington Post looks back at the Watergate scandal in this exhibit of primary sources.
September 11 Digital Archive
Records the user-contributed histories of people affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Peruse 11 exhibits, from the Gold Rush of 1849 to Japanese American internment during WWII.
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.
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.
Gifts of Speech: Women's Speeches from Around the World
More than 400 speeches by women—politicians, scientists, and celebrities.
Oyez: U.S. Supreme Court Multimedia
Showcases primary sources from more than 3,300 Supreme Court cases since 1955.
Making Sense of American Popular Songs
Don’t overlook song as a way of understanding the past.
Broadcasting Longevity
The roots of the Grand Ole Opry extend deep into radio broadcasting history.