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.
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.
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.
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum: Personalizing History
Make large-scale historic events like the Holocaust personal with artifacts and stories from individual human lives.
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.
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.
Prohibition: A Film by Ken Burns & Lynn Novick
What did the effects of the 18th Amendment look like? Explore 1921 through 1933 through images and film.
The Thomas Jefferson Building: Secret Messages
What messages are hidden in art and architecture? Explore the Library of Congress’s Jefferson Building in this online activity.
Hawaiian Statehood
Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1898. Why did it take more than 60 years for it become a state?
The Origins of the Service Flag
Discover what the symbols on these flags stand for.
Labor Unions in the Cotton Mills
Introduce students to the importance of oral history while simultaneously teaching them about 20th-century labor unions.
Film Review: Amelia
What is the cultural terrain staked out by Amelia, the Hollywood biopic about the intrepid flyer Amelia Earhart?
Homicide in Chicago 1870-1930
Covering urbanization and industrialization? This homicide index can help students understand social changes and tensions associated with both.
Family History and the 1940 Census
Search the 1940 census for a personal link to history, with these guidelines from educator Alex Stein.
Olympic Spirit: Teaching with the Olympics
Summer or winter, the Olympics bring together countries worldwide—including the U.S. How can you teach with Olympic history?
The Short-Handled Hoe
History is imbedded in the smallest objects. In this lesson, students examine how a simple farming tool connects to the work done by United Farm Workers.
Resources for Flag Day
Flag Day may not fall during the school year for many, but Flag Day resources are valuable all year long.
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.
Reading Photographs: A Dusty Street
When and where was this photo taken? See what clues you can spot!
Reading Photographs: MacArthur and Hirohito
How would you have planned this photograph if you were General MacArthur?
Memorial Day: The Poppy Puzzle
Do you know the history of this symbol?
Earth Day: Lost to History
Human history affects more than human beings.
Organizing History Through Images
In this lesson, students will organize photographs both chronologically and conceptually in order to construct a narrative of the Holocaust.
A Symbol of Friendship
The cherry trees in Washington, DC were a gift from Japan. What does their history tell us?
Preparing for the Days of Remembrance
How do people talk about and understand the Holocaust today in the U.S. and around the world?
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.
World War and Literature
Can you suggest any literature covering World War I to World War II that my 10th-grade world history class can read?
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.
Pearl Harbor Attack Map
What did U.S. sailors mean when they refer to seeing “the meatball”? What did Japanese pilots think about the attack?
IWitness
View testimonies on the Holocaust, create videos, and learn the importance of ethical editing.
Presidents Day: Growing Up to Be President
Even American presidents were babies once!
Reading Photographs: Snow Day
When was this winter photo taken? See what clues you can spot!
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.
Civilian Public Service Story
Unearth an important part of U.S. military history—the conscientious decision not to fight.
Remembering Pearl Harbor: Resources for the 70th Anniversary
December 7, 2011 will mark the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Discover resources for teaching the day.
Film Review: Pearl Harbor and U-571
When does a historical film go from “based on historical events” to total fiction? Historian Lawrence Suid critiques two war movies.
The Road to Pearl Harbor
Explore the rise of animosity between the U.S. and Japan through primary source documents and related classroom activities.
Veterans Day: Medals and Merit
You know the Purple Heart, but can you identify these honors?
Japanese American Internment: Ansel Adams Photos
If the U.S. interned you and your family, how would you respond?
Cause and Effect: The Outbreak of World War II
What factors contributed to the initiation of World War II? Find out here!
Thanksgiving: Presidential Turkeys
How many turkeys have presidents pardoned?
Which Witch?
Words constantly evolve and change over time. What did “witch” mean to these artists?
Digital Resource Guide for the Labor Archives of Washington State
Making labor history access less of a chore.
Socks to War
Even humble, everyday artifacts have a rich place in history.
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.
Two Blues Songs
Written primary sources only tell you so much. To learn about history that was never written down, listen to sources like these two songs.
FDR's Second Inaugural Address
What is the key line in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second inaugural address? Historian David Kennedy gives his answer.
The Election of 1932: Photographs of FDR
What can a photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 reveal? Donald A. Ritchie looks at the people captured in this photograph.
The Election of 1932: Clifford Berryman Cartoon
Donald A. Ritchie, Historian of the U.S. Senate, asks how a political cartoon captures a moment of change in the 1932 presidential campaign.
America's Love for the Automobile
An Exciting Whiff of Danger or La Belle Dame sans Merci?
Living New Deal Project
Live in California? Trying to find local New Deal projects?
The Memphis Belle
The last operational mission of a venerable World War II airplane.
Film Review: The Aviator
Historical films like The Aviator sacrifice historical context to create character portraits, says historian David Courtwright.
Ron Gorr on Imagining the Great Depression: Mixing Primary Documents and Student Creativity
Use primary sources to tell stories and discover what the stories you create say about historical bias.
Ballyhoo!: Posters as Portraiture
Think of all the celebrity advertisements you see everyday. Why pick that particular person for that particular poster?
D-Day
Did you know that the gear a paratrooper had to carry could weigh as much as 120 pounds?
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!
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.
Setting the Tone: Introducing Students to World War II
Whichever lesson you pick, make sure it meets your learning goals.
Questioning History Using the Census
Historian Alex Stein poses questions about population shift in Detroit, and models using census data and other sources to answer his question.
Comic Books in the History Classroom
Comic books as primary sources? Bring superheroes into the classroom with these six historical themes.
Joe Jelen's Ads as Primary Sources: The Ad Council's Historic Campaigns
Advertisements don’t always use ideas to sell products—sometimes they use ideas to sell ideas. Explore the ideas the Ad Council’s PSAs have sold, Joe Jelen suggests.
Women in the Lab (and the Field)
Marie Curie and Jane Goodall—you may know these female scientists, but can you name any American women scientists?
Cintia Cabib's Interdisciplinary Gardening
Walk through the history of student gardening with documentarian Cintia Cabib, and see how you can use gardens in the classroom.
Divided Allegiance
Being born in the United States was not always a guaranteed path to citizenship.
Roosevelt's Tree Army
The work of the Civilian Conservation Corps in central New York State.
Animating the Home Front
What happens when cartoon characters go to war?
Divining America: Religion in American History
Use this essay on Jewish immigration to flesh out a unit on the Civil War or immigration.
Women in Blues (and Jazz)
In the early 20th century, the new music recording industry embraced hundreds of artists—including women.
Women at War
Women have fought in every U.S. war, but only recently have they gained official military status.
Teaching Imperialism: Incorporating Learning Activities and State Standards
Develop an engaging unit on American Imperialism that streamlines State Standards and Performance Objectives.
Practicing Medicine on the Presidents
When the presidents’ maladies threatened to affect their performance.
Presidents in the Library
Happy Presidents Day! What better place to turn to for presidential history resources than libraries dedicated to the presidents?
The Great Black Hope
These African American athletes drew crowds with their skill and determination in the early 20th century.
The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself
What we know and what we don’t about the origin of the famous line in Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address.
Victory Vegetables
WWII Victory Gardens allowed citizens to raise food…and wage war!
Presidential Timeline of the Twentieth Century
Teaching 20th century presidential history or political events? Explore this site for interactive timelines, exhibits, and over 1,500 primary sources.
Freedom's Story: Teaching African American Literature and History
Slavery, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement—you have to teach these topics, so check out these essays to enrich your curriculum!
Understanding and Appreciating World War II Veterans
Immerse your students in World War II battles, veterans, and services for Veteran’s Day projects with these handy websites.
Understanding and Appreciating WWII Veterans
Websites that assist students in compiling information on WWII battles, veterans, and services for Veteran’s Day projects.
Remembering All Veterans
Veterans Day is for everyone who fought for the U.S.—including those who volunteered in the face of prejudice.
Forming Lesson Plans Around State Mandates
How do you teach the effects of WWI on art and literature? Transforming a content standard into a solid lesson plan.
Black Days in the Market
The Stock Market Crash of 1929 opened the curtain on the Great Depression.
DocsTeach
Find primary sources and the tools to present them to students—in one place.
The Big Picture: Match the Ad to the Year
Be it the radio or the television, the slogans related to popular or unpopular products tend to stick on our mind.
Vaccinations: Rites of Passage
Have you had your shots? Which childhood diseases do these public health announcements address?
California or Bust
Who went west when? Answer questions about migration from 1935 to 2000.
Baseball in Black and White
Baseball might be America’s favorite past time, but it has not always been inclusive. Can you answer these questions about African American ball players?
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?
Thanksgiving Dinner in 1943
What traditional Thanksgiving foods would have been hard to come by during WWII?
Constitution Day 2010
Explore these online Constitution Day resources for September 17 and throughout the year.
Presidential Moments: Inauguration
The first day on the new job is difficult for everybody—including U.S. presidents.
Presidential Moments: Inaugural Addresses
Can you match these famous first words with their presidential speakers?
Fashion Maven
Do you have your mother’s—and her mother’s—fashion sense?
First Ladies' Firsts
What about the other occupants of the White House?
Patents as Primary Sources
Patents as primary sources? These documents can give your students clues to development of U.S. science, technology, business, and social concerns.
United We Stand: Industry and Famous Strikes
Stand up (or sit down) for better working conditions! Test your knowledge of strikes in U.S. history.
We the People . . . Rarely Agree
What does the Constitution mean to you? Match each quote to the historical figure whose view of the Constitution it reveals.
Alien Invasions
For each pair of animal and plant species, identify the one that is not native to America.
Theatre of the People
Through performing art, U.S. minorities assert their identities. Answer these questions on multicultural music and theatre.
Fly Away Jim Crow
Equality requires more than a Proclamation. Try to answer these questions on Jim Crow.
Stumbling Down the Road to Health
It seemed like a good idea at the time . . . which “healthful” ingredients and inventions that had unintended consequences?
Back to School
Binders, buses, and backpacks—consider the history of these back-to-school basics.
FDR's Fireside Chats
High school teacher Joe Jelen combines roleplaying and critical analysis—by having students roleplay critics of the New Deal. Jelen’s students listen to one of FDR’s Fireside Chats and respond to the speech from the perspective of one of FDR’s many historical critics.
FDR's Fireside Chats
Historian Allida Black analyzes FDR’s April 28, 1935 Fireside Chat. What ideas and arguments does FDR present to the American people?
Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Culture
At the virtual home of the Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Culture, six exhibits highlight ethnic culture in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
The Museum of Broadcast Communications
Teaching media history and the spread of pop culture? Explore over 7,000 digitized programs and commercials.
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.
Playing House—Homemaking for Children
How have childhood and gender roles changed over time? Browse five housekeeping books for girls.
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.
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.
Alternative Outcomes of World War II
Can historians answer questions about alternate history? No, but they can assess a particular moment in the past.
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
Learn about race in the Progressive Era through the life of Jack Johnson, the original African American Heavy Weight Champion of the World.
A History of Fundamentalism
What does fundamentalism mean and how has that meaning changed over time?
The Auto Industry Goes to War
Domestic automotive manufacturing took a back seat to military transport needs in World War II.
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.
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.
University of Wyoming Digital Collections
Wyoming educators, explore more than 10,000 primary sources on Wyoming’s 19th- and 20th-century history.
Tips to Trappers
What do Sears Roebuck, farming, advertising, furs, and rural America have in common?
True Americans in the Cold War
Looking for the Red in the Red, White, and Blue?
Rock Paper Scissors
Gamester extraordinaire Comte de Rochambeau?
Laboring to Bring Forth Child Labor Statistics
How many children were at work on the eve of World War II? What types of jobs did they hold?
Old Time Radio
Let your students compare the entertainment of yesteryear—radio—with the TV shows and other media in their homes today.
Black Mask Magazine
Analyze popular fiction of the 1920s with these stories from the pulp magazine Black Mask. What do they say about gender, stereotypes, youth, and entertainment?
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!
Friendly Fire
Fratricide and allied questions. In the heat of battle, mistakes happen.
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.
National Museum of the American Indian: Beauty Surrounds Us
Online exhibit of more than 65 objects from Native cultures in North and South America.
Kheel Center Labor Photos
More than 1,000 photographs from the history of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union.
Russian Ships at Pearl Harbor?
Playing the game of alternative history—do what-ifs and if-onlys have a place in historical inquiry?
Famous American Trials: "The Scottsboro Boys" Trials 1931-1937
Explore the infamous Scottboro case through a variety of primary source documents and images.
Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences
Search over 200 prominent African American scientists.
Savannah Images Project
A useful local history project which focuses on the history of Savannah and the Georgia coastline.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of South Carolina
A collection of maps detailing over 80 South Carolina towns and cities.
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.
Now What a Time : Blues, Gospel, and the Fort Valley Music Festivals, 1938-1943
Listen to African American Blues from the Fort Valley Music Festivals of 1938-1943.
Marian Anderson: A Life in Song
Travel through the life and works of Marion Anderson with this online exhibit.
Virginia Historical Society
View the Virginia Historical Society’s extensive collection of materials documenting Virginia history.
U.S. Electoral College
Uncover the inner workings and history of the US Electoral College. Click here to explore!
National Park Service, Teaching with Historic Places
Use this website to plan and organize lessons around NPS properties and locations.
History of Presidential Elections Site
Provides a wealth of information on US presidential elections, with a particular focus on the 2000 election.
U.S. Senate Historical Office
How much do you know about the history of the American Senate? Click here for background information on this component of our legislative branch.
Material History of American Religion Project
Learn about American material culture and its relation to the nation’s religious history.
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.
White Trash: The Construction of an American Scapegoat
An excellent site for new study into the “white trash” demographic.
Albert and Vera Weisbord Archives
Learn about American radicalism and the communist movement with this collection of primary sources.
The Mercury Theater on the Air
Visit this sound archive to listen to all Mercury Theatre on the Air productions, including “War of the Worlds.”
Hispano Music and Culture from the Northern Rio Grande
Learn about Hispanic culture with the Juan B. Rael collection of upper Rio Grande folk music.
The Aaron Copland Collection, ca. 1900-1990
An extensive collection of primary and secondary resources detailing the life of composer Aaron Copeland.
Tending the Commons: Folklife and Landscape in Southern West Virginia
Learn about life in the Big Coal River Valley in West Virginia.
The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship
A comprehensive guide consisting of over 240 primary source items detailing African American history.
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.
Promise of Gold Mountain: Tucson's Chinese Heritage
A collection of primary sources detailing early Asian-Americans in Tucson, Arizona.
Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections, 1937-1942
Explore the history of Florida folklife and culture.
Wilbur and Orville Wright Papers
Read about Wilbur and Orville Wright’s triumphs and setbacks as they experienced them.
The Perilous Fight: America's World War II in Color
Explore World War II’s color film footage.
The Official George and Ira Gershwin Website
Discover the works of songwriting brothers Ira and George Gershwin.
American Women
Interested in using the Library of Congress to research women’s history, but unsure how to start?
United States Early Radio History
How did radio move from major technological advance to mass popular culture?
National Postal Museum
The mail always comes, rain or shine; but how?
Fats Waller Forever Digital Exhibit
Meet legendary jazz pianist Fats Waller. Be at the forefront of musical history.
Life Interrupted: The Japanese American Experience in WW II Arkansas
What was life like during Japanese American internment?
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?
Charles H. Templeton Sheet Music Collection
Looking for World War era, minstrel, or showtune sheet music?
Bob Hope and American Variety
“When Vaudeville died, television was the box they put it in,” according to Bob Hope. Read essays on his life and career.
Communism in Washington State--History and Memory Project
Communist Russia. Communist China. Communist Washington?
Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States
Ask yourself: What did Coolidge do for our country?
Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia
Although painful to view, racist memorabilia reminds us of past mindsets and ethics.
Streetscape and Townscape of Metropolitan New York City, 1860-1942
See uncommon photograph subjects for the turn-of-the-century, such as street peddlers.
Best of History Websites
Find top notch history web resources, as well as advice on using technology for teaching.
Dox Thrash: An African American Master Printmaker Rediscovered
View depictions of African American life by artist Dox Thrash.
Harvesting the River
Explore river life—with a particular focus on food harvesting.
Selected Historical Decennial Census Population and Housing Counts
What questions have past censuses posed? What were the results?
Museum of Musical Instruments (MoMI)
Find out about the guitar players who came before you, and perhaps, even perfect your own abilities.
Worthington Memory, Online Scrapbook
Explore the history and development of a small town. The online scrapbook provides an uncanny lens into town life.
July 1942: United We Stand
See how the federal government promoted nationalism in a widespread media movement.
Oral History Research Center
What do Vegas showgirls have to say about their time in the city?
Kiowa Drawings
Kiowa artwork from buffalo hide canvases to university art training.
Black Wings: African American Pioneer Aviators
What was life like for the African American pilots of World War II?
The Joshua Lederberg Papers
What contributions has bacterial geneticist Joshua Lederberg made to science and healthcare?
Digital Archive of American Architecture
Explore U.S. architectural styles and ornamentation, or date the buildings in your town.
WPA Life Histories, Virginia Interviews
Explore Depression-era, ex-slave, and urban youth life stories.
U.S. Army Signal Corps Photograph Collection
Take a peek at 1940s military life in Hampton Roads, VA.
Physical Sciences Collection: Surveying and Geodesy
What tools do men use to turn wilderness into private property?
1939 World's Fair Photograph Collection
What images does a state choose to describe its way of life to the nation?
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Contemporary art highlights and reflects societal issues following World War II.
Picturing Hemingway: A Writer in His Time
You’ve read his words, but do you know who he was? Explore the man behind those epic stories.
History of American Education Web Project
Explore the history of education within the U.S, through writings and images.
Student Voices from World War II and the McCarthy Era
Imagine traveling from a university to work on a farm.
The Hartford Black History Project
Follow the formation of the African American community in the city of Hartford, CT
Linus Pauling Research Notebooks
What goes through the mind of a Nobel-prize winning chemist?
U.S. Steel Gary Works Photograph Collection, 1906-1971
Relive the construction of the city of steel—Gary, Indiana.
Lesson Plans Library
Hundreds of lesson plans, right at your fingertips. Incorporate them in the classroom.
AMDOCS: Documents for the Study of American History
One convenient source for major historical U.S. documents.
Lift Every Voice: Music in American Life
What work can be accomplished through music?
Remembering Herblock
View political cartoons by Herbert Block, father of the term, “McCarthyism.”
Economic Data, Fred II
Get your historical national economical statistics right here.
Dismuke's Virtual Talking Machine
Swing to the beats of the early 1900s.
Woody Guthrie and the Archive of American Folk Song: 1940-1950
How did the national government strive to preserve vernacular music?
History Through Deaf Eyes
What has the U.S. deaf population experienced?
Historic USGS Maps of New England
Explore New England’s topography with more than 1,100 topographical maps, covering all of New England and parts of New York.
Department of Transportation: Digital Special Collections
Read up on early 20th-century train and airplane accidents, among other transportation topics.
Characteristics of Census Tracts in Nine U.S. Cities, 1940-1960
How many hospital beds did New Orleans have in 1960? Was it able to accommodate the poor and sick?
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.
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.
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.
Labor Arts
What role has art had in the depiction and reality of U.S. labor?
The Irving Fine Collection, Ca. 1914-1962
Experience the life and works of lesser known American classical composer Irving Fine.
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.
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.
Pictures of World War II
If you need World War II visuals, this is an excellent place to start searching.
Pictures of the American City
See the U.S. grow before your eyes with this collection depicting two centuries of urbanization.
Pictures of African Americans During World War II
See what life on the homefront and at war was like for African American citizens.
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.
Traveling Culture: Circuit Chautauqua in the Twentieth Century
Which performers, from martial artists to yodelers, traveled the Chautauqua circuit?
Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
Right this way for Seattle and Washington state history resources.
History Cooperative
Catch up on the latest scholarly research, and learn and incorporate new scholarship or innovative findings into the classroom.
Civics Online
Gain inspiration for new ways to approach political history.
Kellogg African American Health Care Project: The Oral Histories
What was health care like during segregation?
Hannah Arendt Papers
Do you read German? Not to worry. Select documents are available in English.
FDIC Historical Studies
What do you know about the 1980s Savings and Loan crisis?
Korean American Digital Archive
Meet singer Florence Ahn, minister Soon Hyun, and others.
The 3Cities Project
Examine the nexus of representation, modernity, and urban life.
Mapping the National Parks
Track the exploration and use of Acadia, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Great Rocky Mountains.
Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns
Can you tell New Orleans jazz from Bebop? Can you hear the variations in style and instrumental parts?
Florida Heritage Collection
Explore Florida state, regional, and local history.
Dr. Seuss Went to War: A Catalog of Political Cartoons
We all remember the Lorax, but who remembers Seuss’s political cartoons?
Toledo's Attic: A Virtual Museum of Toledo, Ohio
Explore Toledo, Ohio’s entertainment, technological, business, and political history.
Riverboats and Jazz
What entertainment might you have expected on a riverboat cruise in the early 1900s?
The American Experience
Discover briefs on more than 60 iconic points in U.S. history.
Great Lakes Maritime History Project
Delve into Wisconsin’s maritime history. Discover the multiple ways in which water shaped the history of the state.
Little Cowpuncher: Rural School Newspaper of Southern Arizona
If you were a pioneer, what would you have to say about your schooling? Students take up their pens and invoke their democratic freedom of the press.
Photographs of the Historic American Buildings Survey: Georgia
What sort of structures did the WPA consider culturally important to Georgia?
National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
More than 50 virtual exhibits ranging from Julia Child to West Point.
Digital Map Collection
Need a historic map for any of your lessons? Check out this digital map collection!
Conservation and Environmental Maps
Looking for maps with an environmental focus? Try here.
Oneida Indian Nation: Culture and History
Meet the Oneida, and discover their role in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.
Belgian-American Research Collection
What would your life have been like as a Belgian immigrant in Wisconsin?
Election Statistics
How many votes did each nominee receive in federal elections?
Club Kaycee, Golden Age of Kansas City Jazz
Listen to jazz from the ’20s and ’40s while learning about music greats and hot spots.
The Barbara McClintock Papers
Meet Barbara McClintock, Nobel Prize-winning geneticist best known for discovering genetic transposition.
The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden
Unsure how to teach presidential history in an engaging manner? Try these activities and lessons.
A More Perfect Union
Was Japanese American internment constitutional? Explore the Japanese American experience.
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.
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?
Milwaukee Neighborhoods: Photos and Maps, 1885-1992
Take a visual journey through the development of Milwaukee, WI.
With an Even Hand: Brown v. Board at Fifty
Examine the events which led to and the aftermath of Brown v. Board of Education.
University of California History Digital Archives
Discover the history of the University of California through primary sources.
The Pill
How has the birth control pill altered sexuality and feminine gender expectations?
Military Campaign Maps
Where exactly were troops stationed in a given battle? Visualize the military campaigns, and imagine what the troops saw when they were able to initiate fighting.
The New Georgia Encyclopedia
Need a comprehensive site on Georgia history? Why, here you go!
Spalding Base Ball Guides, 1889-1939
Check out player and World Series statistics from the turn of the century.
American Memory Learning Page
Try lesson plans based on the Library of Congress’ American Memory collections.
Education by Design: Using Visual Aids
Seek inspiration from classroom visual aids of the past.
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.
Utah Digital Newspapers
Browse Utah newspapers from 1879 through modern day.
African Americans in the Spanish Civil War
Why would you volunteer to fight in another country’s war? Was it a display of patriotism?
Women of Valor
Meet international anarchist and women’s rights activist Emma Goldman.
WRA Photographs of Japanese-American Evacuation and Resettlement
These curious photos created by the War Relocation Authority put a positive spin on Japanese American internment.
The Zora Neale Hurston Plays
Read 10 unpublished Hurston plays based on her anthropological studies of the U.S. South.
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.
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.
Mission to Arizona, 1916–1940: Father Augustine Schwarz, O.F.M.
View 179 images of Catholic missionary and Native American life in Arizona.
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?
Bookmark This! Teaching Mexican American History with the Bracero Program
A resource for bilingual (Spanish-English) materials for teaching 20th century American history.
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.
Building an Archives
Learn about the history of the National Archives as well as how to start your own archives.
Augustana College Library, Digital Projects
Midwest teacher looking for local history primary sources? Try these nine digital collections.
Chicago Imagebase
Witness the growth of the Chicago metro area with this interactive website.
The Digital Classroom
An informative introduction to the practice and excitement of historical research.
FDR Cartoon Archive
Learn about FDR through this collection of political cartoons.
American Museum of Photography
View fantastic photography throughout the ages in over 15 exhibits.
American Women's History: A Research Guide
Speed up your online search for resources on American women’s history with this research guide.
Voices from the Gaps: Women Writers and Artists of Color
Learn about all of America’s most famous female writers of color with this comprehensive website.
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.
Washington As It Was: Photographs by Theodor Horydczak, 1923-1959
Early 20th century Washington is captured in this collection of 14,350 photographs by Theodor Horydczak.
Creative Americans: Portraits by Carl Van Vechten, 1932-1964
View the mid-20th-century art scene through the photographs of music and dance critic Carl Vechten.
New Deal Stage: Selections from the Federal Theatre Project, 1935-1939
Learn about the New Deal through the Federal Theatre Project, designed to employ actors during the Great Depression.
Jackie Robinson and Other Baseball Highlights, 1860s-1960s
Learn about race in American sports history through the life of Jackie Robinson.
Hitting the Sawdust Trail With Billy Sunday
The life of famous evangelist Billy Sunday is chronicled on this website.
Architecture and Interior Design for America: 1935-1955
Explore early 20th century architecture and interior design with this expansive photo gallery.
Center for Working-Class Studies
Begin your study of working class and labor history with this website.
The Urban Landscape
View photographs of a variety of urban landscapes.
America Votes: Presidential Campaign Memorabilia
Follow presidential campaigns through the years with this collection of campaign materials.
California Heritage Collection
View the early history of California through this collection of over 30,000 photographs.
A People at War
A collection of primary sources detailing the American war effort in World War II.
Powers of Persuasion: Poster Art from World War II
Explore American propaganda and advertising during the second world war.
American Originals
Explore 14 significant and compelling documents from the National Archive Holdings.
A New Deal for the Arts
View works from artists financed by the United States Government during the Great Depression.
Hiroshima Peace Site
Learn about Hiroshima and the history of nuclear warfare and non-proliferation through this website.
A Cybrary of the Holocaust
Visit this website for a firsthand view into the horror of the holocaust.
Remembering Nagasaki
View rare photographs of Nagasaki which chronicle the destructive power of nuclear warfare.
Japanese-American Internment
Use this site as a gateway to primary sources and online resources detailing Japanese Internment
Women's Studies Database
Your starting point for research in the field of Women’s Studies.
Posters: American Style
Explore 20th century American poster art, from advertisements to patriotic propaganda.
The Lindbergh Case: The Trial of the Century
Relive media coverage of the famous Lindbergh Trial through this Hunterdon County Democrat database.
Still Going On: Celebrating The Life and Times of William Grant Still
Learn about famous composer William Grant Still through this online exhibit.
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Explore the history of baseball and the players who made the sport great.
National Women's History Project
Start your research into Women’s history with the National Women’s History Project.
The Japanese American Exhibit and Access Project
Go back in time and witness the harsh conditions at Japanese Internment Camps during World War II.
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.
Alaska's Digital Archive
View images related to Alaskan statehood and Native Americans.
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.
A Century of Progress: The 1933-34 Chicago World's Fair
Browse official publications from the 1933-1934 World’s Fair.
Columbia River Basin Ethnic History Archive
Which ethnic groups have made their homes in the Columbia River Basin?
Say it Plain: A Century of Great African American Speeches
Hear 12 renowned speeches by African Americans, including Marcus Garvey’s only known recording.
Black Past
Begin your exploration of African American history with this web portal, leading out to more than 400 websites.
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.
Helen Keller Kid's Museum
Present Helen Keller’s story in more detail with photographs and historical background.
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.
Seattle Power and Water Supply Collection
Take a gander at Washington state hydroelectric engineering feats of the 1890s through 1950s.
The History Box
Have a question about New York City or state history? More than 750 articles available.
Bound for Glory: America in Color, 1939-1943
View color photographs of everyday life during the Great Depression and pre-World War II mobilization.
Illinois Digital Archives
Primary sources on Illinois history with an emphasis on residential and commercial architecture.
The Malcolm X Project
Read FBI files on and watch interviews about Malcolm X, human and African American rights activist.
Florida Folklife Collection
Explore the folk lore of Florida—from musical performances and art to occupational lore.
NOVA: Einstein's Big Idea
E=mc2. What does it mean? How has it changed society? What was Einstein’s life like?
Louisiana State Museum Jazz Collection
Listen to New Orleans jazz while learning about Louis Armstrong and other famed musicians.
Portal to Texas History
Texas educators, looking for primary resources on state history? Search this portal for thousands of images and documents drawn from Texas-based archival collections.
Las Vegas: An Unconventional History
Why is Las Vegas one of the world’s most popular destinations? How has it changed?
American POWS in Japanese Captivity
Japanese treatment of American prisoners of war.
New Jersey Public Records and Archives
Familiarize yourself with New Jersey history using images, maps, and official documents.
Silicon Valley History Online
Silicone Valley is known as a high-tech industry center, but has it always been?
Women of Protest: Images from the Records of the National Woman's Party
See the suffragettes who gave over 50% of U.S. citizens the right to vote.
The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II
What alternatives were suggested to dropping nuclear weapons on Japan? What is radiation poisoning?
Virtual Museum and Archive of the SEC and Securities History
If you want to understand big business, it would be wise to examine the SEC’s history.
McVicar/Stein Photo Copy Service Collection
Imagine life in Madison, WI, between 1920 and 1970.
Western History Photography Collection
How does your view of the American West compare to the visual reality?
Turning Points in Wisconsin History
Primary documents, background information, and lesson plans for Wisconsin history.
Encyclopedia of Chicago, Historical Sources
Imagine your life in 19th and 20th-century Chicago with this extensive collection of images.
Documenting Our Past: The Teenie Harris Archive Project
View African American life in Pittsburgh between 1930 and 1970.
Harlem History
Explore the politics, neighborhoods, culture, and arts of Harlem.
Historic Missouri Newspaper Project
Peruse articles, images, and advertisements drawn from 14 Missouri newspapers, 1835 through 1988.
Frank Lloyd Wright: Designs for an American Landscape 1922-1932
Check out five design schemes created by Frank Lloyd Wright, but never implemented.
Wright on the Web
Follow architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s career with these summaries and images.
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.
The Eastman Project: Images of California Life
View more than 13,200 photographs of California labor and community life between 1921 and 1965.
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.
Oxford African American Studies Center
Access more than 5,000 biographies, maps, and images relevant to African American history.
StoryCorps
Connect 20th-century events and daily life with real human experiences through oral history audio files.
Musicians Local No. 627 and the Mutual Musicians Foundation
Have you heard of musicians’ unions? Learn about a 20th-century African American jazz organization.
Madison: Celebrating 150 Years
Learn about Madison, WI, from early settlement through its time as the “queen of bootleggers.”
Life After the Holocaust: Stories of Holocaust Survivors After The War
Can you imagine starting your life over in the U.S. following the Holocaust?
North American Women's Letters and Diaries: Colonial Times to 1950
Read the personal correspondence and diaries of women such as Phyllis Wheatley and Margaret Fuller.
Travel, Tourism, and Urban Growth in Greater Miami: A Digital Archive
Interested in the history of tourism? This site examines the topic within Miami, FL.
Atlanta in the Civil Rights Movement
What was Atlanta’s role in the larger African American civil rights movement 1940 through 1970?
Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage
Explore the history of Maryland, from Edgar Allen Poe to the War of 1812.
The Adoption History Project
Did you know that adoption was only recognized as a legal U.S. operation in 1851?
Center for Dewey Studies, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Discover the life of pragmatist and education reform advocate John Dewey (1859-1952).
The African-American Mosaic
Let the Library of Congress introduce you to African-American history from colonization to the WPA.
California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties
Sit back and enjoy folk and popular music recordings from 1930s California natives and immigrants.
Connecticut Historical Society
Explore the political and sociocultural history of Connecticut.
LBJ Oral History Project Online
What better way to explore Johnson’s presidency than through the words of his associates?
Lionel Hampton: His Life and Legacy
Jazz musician Lionel Hampton and the University of Idaho shared a rich relationship, explored in this tribute site.
History of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Follow the history of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, from its completion in 1938 to its collapse in 1940 and its 1950 reconstruction.
Fly Girls
Explore the experiences of World War II’s Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) at this companion website to the PBS American Experience documentary.
The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project
Primary source documents including 8,000 newspaper columns and lesson plans.
Third Graders and Local History
Third graders explore civil rights history in their own hometown.
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.
Discovering Angel Island: The Story Behind the Poems
Learn about the experiences of immigrants detained at Angel Island and how this impacted their opinion of the US.
Civilian Conservation Corps
Examine the role of African Americans in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.
American Experience: We Shall Remain
Coming soon to your local PBS station: a new look at the Native American experience.
Home Sales During the Great Depression
Building an edifice of statistics—where can you learn about the real estate market during the Depression?
Reading and Thinking Aloud to Understand
Two practices help students to make sense of primary source documents on the internment of Japanese Americans while improving their reading skills.
Civil Rights and Incarceration
What were the consequences of and motivations for Japanese American removal during World War II?
Intertextual Reading of Two Primary Documents
A student demonstrates thinking aloud reading two documents.
Close Reading of a Primary Document
On the website Historical Thinking Matters, a student reads aloud a speech by former Louisiana Governor Huey Long.
Indian Peoples of the Northern Great Plains
Artifacts preserve the lifestyles of current and former American Indian tribes of the Northern Great Plains, 1870-1954.
American Environmental Photographs, 1891-1936
This collection captures natural environments, ecologies, and plant communities at the turn of the 19th-to-20th centuries.
William P. Gottlieb: Photographs from the Golden Age of Jazz
Explore writer-photographer William P. Gottlieb photographs of 1938–1948 jazz culture.
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.
Eugenics Archive
Traces the history of the eugenics movement in the United States.
Voices from the Dust Bowl: 1940-1941
Great Depression documentation of migrant work camps in central California.
The Vault
With the Freedom of Information Act, the government declassified thousands of documents, including those available here.
Remembering Jim Crow
This site offeres 30 interview excerpts and 130 photographs that examine Jim Crow from multiple perspectives.
Race and Place
Discover connections between race and place in this archive documenting the effects of Jim Crow on a Virginia town.
Oral History Digital Collection
In full-text narratives, more than 2,000 people from northeast Ohio discuss issues significant to the state and the nation.
Multilaterals Project
From environmental agreements to rules of warfare, read the text of international multilateral treaties, agreements, and conventions.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Digital Archives
Photographs, audio clips, documents, and more preserve the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Emma Goldman Papers
Learn more about Emma Goldman, radical and feminist activist, through this collection of primary and secondary sources.
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.
American Radicalism Collection
From the Ku Klux Klan to the IWW, examine 129 historical documents from radical organizations.
Studs Terkel: Conversations with America
Meet Studs Terkel—oral historian, radio host, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project
Primary and secondary sources document the minority struggle for civil rights in Seattle’s history.
Martin Luther King Jr. Papers Project
More than 1,400 speeches, sermons, and other writings of Martin Luther King, mostly covering the period from 1929 to 1968
Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) Photographs
Close to 200 photographs document the work of Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA).
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Follow historical trends in national, international, and regional economic activity using the Bureau’s data.
SIRIS Image Gallery
Access close to 140,000 images from the Smithsonian Institution.
Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers Project
Presents the life and work of black activist Marcus Garvey, leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).
Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940
Read the life histories of a range of U.S. citizens, compiled by the WPA’s Federal Writers’ Project.
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.
Anti-Saloon League, 1893-1933
Printed materials preserve the public campaigns of the Anti-Saloon League from 1893 to 1933.
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.
Kentuckiana Digital Library
Collects photographs, texts, and oral histories drawn from 15 Kentucky colleges, universities, libraries, and historical societies.
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.
Northwestern European Military Situation Maps from World War II
Displays 416 situation maps from World War II.
Flint Sit-Down Strike
Provides a multimedia introduction to “the greatest strike in American history.”
Marchand Archive
Memorializes Roland Marchand with more than 6,100 images, including more than 2,000 advertisements, and 48 lesson plans drawn from his collection.
Florida State Archives Photographic Collection
Presents more than 137,000 photographs of Florida on specific localities from the mid-19th century to the present.
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.
Women in Journalism
Archives 44 “full-life” interviews with American women journalists.
Presidential Recording Program
Offers over 2,500 hours of White House recordings by six American presidents between 1940 and 1973.
Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943
Showcases more than 900 Work Projects Administration (WPA) posters produced as part of the New Deal.
History and Politics Out Loud
Captures significant events and personalities of the 20th century through 107 audio items, including speeches, addresses, and private telephone conversations.
Historical Thinking Matters
Presents four guided investigations—on the Spanish-American War, the Scopes Trial, Social Security, and Rosa Parks—designed to teach students to read primary sources and construct historical narratives.
Historic Government Publications from World War II: A Digital Library
Includes more than 300 U.S. government pamphlets and books on home front issues from World War II.
Experiencing War: Stories from the Veterans History Project
Presents video and audio oral histories and additional material from American veterans of 20th-century wars.
Disability History Museum
Explore the experiences of those with disabilities through documents and images dating from the 18th century to the present.
After the Day of Infamy
Listen to more than 12 hours of oral interviews taken in the first three months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip
Archives audio files of more than 700 folk tunes recorded in the South in 1939.
Medicine and Madison Avenue
Provides more than 600 health-related newspaper and magazine advertisements from 1910 to 1960.
Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
Explore this archive of over 110 video interviews on Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Amateur Athletic Foundation Digital Archive
Official documents and articles from periodicals record the history of the Olympics and sport.
Without Sanctuary: Photographs and Postcards of Lynching in America
An assemblage of more than 80 photographs and postcards of lynchings, from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Urban Experience in Chicago: Hull-House and Its Neighborhoods, 1889-1963
Peruse this collection of over 900 items relating to Chicago’s Hull House to discover its influence on 20th century urban development.
Margaret Sanger Papers Project
Selected materials by and about the “birth control pioneer” Margaret Sanger.
Like a Family: The Making of a Southern Cotton Mill World
Offers oral history resources examining life in southern textile mill towns from the 1880s to the 1930s.
Ad*Access
Archives more than 7,000 newspaper and magazine advertisements printed in the U.S. from 1911 to 1955.
The Wizard of Oz: An American Fairy Tale
We’re off to see the wizard! Discover the cultural impact of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Sanborn® Fire Insurance Maps, UT
1,275 detailed historical maps, dating from 1867 through 1969, depict 40 cities in the state of Utah.
Online Archive of California
Explore California from Japanese American internment or the Free Speech Movement to oral histories.
Famous Trials
Presents balanced treatments of over 50 prominent court trials, including the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Peruse 11 exhibits, from the Gold Rush of 1849 to Japanese American internment during WWII.
Internet Moving Images Archive
Reproduces a privately held collection of American ephemeral films produced between 1927 and 1987.
Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties
Digitizes Indian Affairs, a seven-volume compendium of treaties, laws, and executive orders relating to U.S.-Indian affairs from 1778 to 1970.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Website
The Holocaust must be remembered. This site will give your students a closer look at the atrocities of this genocide.
The Great Depression to World War II: Photos from the FSA-OWI
Explore this database of over 150,000 photographs that capture the true nature of this crisis and its solutions.
Reclaiming the Everglades: South Florida's Natural History, 1884-1934
Contains 10,000 pages and images on Everglades reclamation efforts and the history of south Florida.
Ansel Adams's Photographs of Japanese-American Internment at Manzanar
Ansel Adams’s photographs preserve life at the Manzanar War Relocation Center during World War II.
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.
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.
Typical in the 1930s
A panel of judges enlisted by the New York World’s Fair Corporation looked to Texas to find this family.
Broadcasting Longevity
The roots of the Grand Ole Opry extend deep into radio broadcasting history.