Pockets from the Past: Daily Life at Monticello
What do the contents of pockets say about their owners? TAH teachers model strategies for examining and questioning artifacts.
Open Parks Network
View over 1 million images from U.S. national parks and historic sites.
American Archive of Public Broadcasting
Watch and listen to thousands of public broadcasting programs from across the U.S.
Prohibition: A Film by Ken Burns & Lynn Novick
What did the effects of the 18th Amendment look like? Explore 1921 through 1933 through images and film.
Lincoln on the Big Screen
How do historians think about films like Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln? Take a look with Teachinghistory.org!
The Gaming Evolution
From text-based to modern multiplayer interaction—even video games have history.
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter?
Students reading over-the-top fiction? Remind them to read historical fiction and secondary sources with critical eyes.
Film Review: Amelia
What is the cultural terrain staked out by Amelia, the Hollywood biopic about the intrepid flyer Amelia Earhart?
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.
Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King Jr.
What connections do documents related to the Jackie Robinson Testimonial Dinner in 1962 make between these two men?
A Symbol of Friendship
The cherry trees in Washington, DC were a gift from Japan. What does their history tell us?
Quilt Index
Consider broaching local or women’s history using a quilt as a gateway artifact.
Flashing Across the Country: Mr. Zip and the ZIP Code Promotional Campaign
Have you ever wondered what your zip code means or when the codes came into use?
Food 50 Years Ago
Is your favorite food a recent invention?
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.
Teaching Thanksgiving 2011
Prepare for Thanksgiving with our spotlight page on the holiday!
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?
Guampedia
Guam is often left out of discussions of U.S. history. Remedy the situation!
Socks to War
Even humble, everyday artifacts have a rich place in history.
The Jewish Americans
This site, produced by PBS, uses multiple resources to examine the history and influence of Jewish culture in the U.S.
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.
1853 Daguerreotype
What does an 1853 daguerreotype have to say? Plenty, says Frank Goodyear, particularly about tourist culture and the rise of railroads and photography.
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.
e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia
There’s far more to West Virginia than stereotypes suggest. Why not take some time to explore the state?
Puerto Rico Encyclopedia/Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico
Connect with your ELL students with this bilingual Puerto Rico Encyclopedia!
Civil War Poster!
What can a quilt, a map, some photographs, a haversack, and a receipt tell you about the past?
Film Review: Gods and Generals
What view of the Civil War does Gods and Generals present? Historian Steven E. Woodworth critiques the film.
Film Review: The Tenth Inning
Can one subject—say, baseball—tell a larger story of historical change? Historian Daniel Nathan says it can.
Gettysburg National Military Park: Camp Life
What did soldiers do between battles? Sometimes, fought off boredom!
Texas Archive of the Moving Image
Watch some Texas history, submit your own, or learn to make local documentaries.
Throughout the Ages
Looking for a primary source website created especially for elementary teachers?
Yale Digital Commons
A wheeled pull toy depicting Nixon with a crown? If you’re looking for a unique object to bring up in class, start with the digital commons.
New York Philharmonic Digital Archives
Sift through the music and entertainment of the past.
National Jukebox
Dance the jitterbug, or enjoy lunch break to the sounds of a brass band.
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.
An Ear for the Past: The National Jukebox
Catchy primary sources? You bet! With the Library of Congress’s National Jukebox, get your students humming history.
Comic Books in the History Classroom
Comic books as primary sources? Bring superheroes into the classroom with these six historical themes.
Anthony Pellegrino's Teaching with Class in Mind
How can you make history relevant to your students? Social studies/history education professor Anthony Pellegrino suggests teaching thematically—in this case, with class and labor.
Manias of the Gilded Age
Fads, crotchets, crazes, rages, and cultural fevers. Test your knowledge of these short-lived obsessions.
Ron Gorr on Go to the Source (GTTS) Activities
Primary sources are crucial for historical study. AP history teacher Ron Gorr suggests ways to better incorporate them into lesson plans.
Animating the Home Front
What happens when cartoon characters go to war?
Children and Youth in History
Bring history home to young students with sources they can relate to—and prompt older students to think about the construction of concepts like “child” and “teenager.”
Women in Blues (and Jazz)
In the early 20th century, the new music recording industry embraced hundreds of artists—including women.
Film Review: Titanic
Are historical films like James Cameron’s Titanic most useful as ways to interest students in history—or as primary sources for the present day?
Animoto
Discover new classroom possibilities with this easy-to-use video presentation tool.
Anthony Pellegrino's Into the Weeds: Harnessing the Power of Music to Teach Social Studies
Present the context first, or later? Teaching with music can be valuable both ways, says teacher educator Anthony Pellegrino.
The Great Black Hope
These African American athletes drew crowds with their skill and determination in the early 20th century.
Drafting Music
Both the North and South instituted drafts during the Civil War. Popular music of the day had something to say on the subject.
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!
Anthony Pellegrino: Let the Music Play!...in Our Classrooms
Teach with punk, hip hop, and classic rock with these suggestions from teacher educator Anthony Pellegrino.
Let's Get Folky
Looking for a way to spice up your lesson plans? Try incorporating folk music!
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.
Fine Line Between Thief and Entrepreneur
Explore the fine line between Captains of Industry and Robber Barons and how the terms has evolved over time.
New England Puritans
Trying to build a New Jerusalem on the coast of Massachusetts.
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.
Advice for Beachgoers
Long before sunblock, boogie boards, or bikinis…did ladies wear corsets to the beach?
American Myths: Christopher Columbus
In 1492, what did Columbus really do?
Plays You Won't See in the Superbowl
Football has always been a great American sport, but how much do you know about its beginnings?
Back to the Future . . .
In the year 1900, what did Americans think the next century would bring?
The Ice Cream Wars
Was there conflict in the past over one of our favorite summer treats?
American Myths: Popular Music
Each song has a story. What inspired it? When was it made? By whom?
Pre-Modern Pop Music
Before “pop” music reigned supreme, jazz and ragtime amassed great public popularity.
Dance, But Not That Way . . .
Do you know how to dance the Sleigh Bell Polka? Learn the proper way to perform 19th and 20th century dances.
Theatre of the People
Through performing art, U.S. minorities assert their identities. Answer these questions on multicultural music and theatre.
Presidential Valentines
The politics of love—answer these questions about valentines to and from U.S. presidents
A-mouldering in the Grave
“John Brown’s Body” keeps reappearing. What do you know about the song?
Column A and Column B
In the 19th century, no one expected Chinese food to take off in the United States.
Classroom Glory
Does the movie “Glory” depict historical accuracy or wholesale fiction?
Playing History
Board games preserve the past in squares, paper money, and toy tokens. Answer these questions about the history of play.
Colonial Teenagers
Young people in their teens were not thought of as a distinct group, but as young adults who were obliged to work for their living, whether they lived at home or not.
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.
Mass Moments
MA educators—explore a historical moment (and accompanying primary source) for every day of the year.
Monticello Explorer
Can’t travel to Monticello? Take your students on a virtual tour of Jefferson’s estate with this website.
True Americans in the Cold War
Looking for the Red in the Red, White, and Blue?
Rock Paper Scissors
Gamester extraordinaire Comte de Rochambeau?
All Wrapped Up in the Flag
Flinging the first American flag to the breeze.
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.
Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley could shoot 6 holes in a playing card before it touched ground. Invite this sharpshooter into your classroom!
National Endowment for the Arts
Watch videos on jazz and opera history, courtesy of the National Endowment of the Arts.
Early American Newspapers: Series 1, 1690-1876
17th- through 19th-century newspaper articles from 23 states and DC.
National Postal Museum
When going postal is actually a good thing! Explore the Museum’s extensive online resources, including 15 exhibits.
Daily Objects, 19th-century America
With the advent of industry and western expansion, U.S. businesses mass produced dreams of affluence and progress.
The Leonard Bernstein Collection, ca.1920-1989
An extensive collection of primary resources concerning renowned composer Leonard Bernstein.
Baseball Cards, 1887-1914
A collection of over 2,100 early baseball cards.
Band Music from the Civil War Era
Listen to an overview of popular brass band music from the Civil War era.
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.
African American Sheet Music, 1850-1920
View 1,300 pieces of sheet music composed by and about African Americans.
Mr. Lincoln's Virtual Library
A keyword-searchable archive containing over 2,000 of Abraham Lincoln’s papers.
Marian Anderson: A Life in Song
Travel through the life and works of Marion Anderson with this online exhibit.
Bartleby, Great Books Online
A collection of American and European literary classics, made available free of charge.
National Park Service, Teaching with Historic Places
Use this website to plan and organize lessons around NPS properties and locations.
Wet With Blood: The Investigation of Mary Todd Lincoln's Cloak
Explore the archives of the Chicago Historical Society to learn about Lincoln’s assassination through objects.
Material History of American Religion Project
Learn about American material culture and its relation to the nation’s religious history.
Hagley Digital Archives
Focused on business history, this gateway site connects businesses to greater cultural and social trends.
17th-Century Colonial New England
Explore the history of 17th century New England and, more specifically, the Salem Witchcraft Trials.
History Now: American History Online
Read this quarterly journal which focuses on a different topic in American History in each issue.
White Trash: The Construction of an American Scapegoat
An excellent site for new study into the “white trash” demographic.
The Mercury Theater on the Air
Visit this sound archive to listen to all Mercury Theatre on the Air productions, including “War of the Worlds.”
The Last Days of a President: Films of McKinley, 1901
Learn about the 1901 assassination of President William McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY.
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.
Inside an American Factory: Films of the Westinghouse Works, 1904
A collection of resources pertaining to the Westinghouse Works company, including films and articles.
Origins of American Animation
A collection of early animated films useful for the study of early American animation.
Mathew Brady's Portraits
A collection of portraits and photographs by acclaimed photographer Matthew Brady.
Godey's Lady's Book
Explore mid-18th century women’s culture through three full-text issues of the Godey’s Lady’s Book.
NativeTech: Native American Technology and Art
Learn about Native American technology, including wigwams, beadwork, pottery, and tools.
Finding Precedent: The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Search this archive from the Harper’s Weekly for a firsthand view into Andrew Johnson’s impeachment.
African Americans in the Harmon Foundation Collection
A collection of 20 portraits by African American artists from the Harmon Foundation.
Nixon and Sports
Explore the relationship between Nixon’s love of sports and his actions as US President.
Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections, 1937-1942
Explore the history of Florida folklife and culture.
Fiddle Tunes of the Old Frontier: The Henry Reed Collection
Learn about the 20th century resurgence of fiddle music and Appalachian folk culture.
American Notes: Travels in America, 1750-1920
What impressions did the average citizen or foreigner form of early America and its people?
Photographer to the World-The Detroit Publishing Company
When travel wasn’t an easy option what views did people have of other places?
Civil Rights Oral History Interviews: Spokane, Washington
From racism to civil rights movement music, listen to the memories of these eight individuals.
The Official George and Ira Gershwin Website
Discover the works of songwriting brothers Ira and George Gershwin.
United States Early Radio History
How did radio move from major technological advance to mass popular culture?
Fats Waller Forever Digital Exhibit
Meet legendary jazz pianist Fats Waller. Be at the forefront of musical history.
The Official Leonard Bernstein Site
Explore the life of a major classical conductor.
Knowing Poe
Introduce your students to one of America’s great masters of horror.
The Pilgrims in American Culture: Thanksgiving
Were the Pilgrims really shorter than us? Discover the answer to all your Thanksgiving queries here!
Colonial Williamsburg
Experience life in Colonial Williamsburg without visiting Virginia.
Images of African Americans from the Cook Collection of Photographs
What might your life have been like as an African American in Virginia c. 1900?
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.
American Women's Dime Novel Project
What was the turn-of-the-century woman’s “beach read”?
Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia
Although painful to view, racist memorabilia reminds us of past mindsets and ethics.
Dox Thrash: An African American Master Printmaker Rediscovered
View depictions of African American life by artist Dox Thrash.
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?
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?
Emile Berliner and the Birth of the Recording Industry
Listen to the recordings of the creator of the microphone and gramophone player.
U.S. Army Signal Corps Photograph Collection
Take a peek at 1940s military life in Hampton Roads, VA.
Meeting of Frontiers
How does the settling of the Siberian frontier compare to that of the U.S. West?
1939 World's Fair Photograph Collection
What images does a state choose to describe its way of life to the nation?
Encyclopedia Britannica: The 1911 Edition
Find out what people thought of everything from ablation to vinegar in 1911.
Mark Twain: A Film Directed by Ken Burns
Enjoy an interactive experience depicting the life of Mark Twain.
The Hartford Black History Project
Follow the formation of the African American community in the city of Hartford, CT
Living Voices, Voces Vivas
How do Native Americans preserve their heritage in the world of today?
Lesson Plans Library
Hundreds of lesson plans, right at your fingertips. Incorporate them in the classroom.
Lift Every Voice: Music in American Life
What work can be accomplished through music?
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.”
Dismuke's Virtual Talking Machine
Swing to the beats of the early 1900s.
Brief Timeline of American Literature, Music, and Movies
Explore film, music, and literature in its social context and chronology. Understand the cultural dynamics that lent themselves to the media.
Woody Guthrie and the Archive of American Folk Song: 1940-1950
How did the national government strive to preserve vernacular music?
Voices of the Colorado Plateau
There’s more to the West than cowboys.
History Through Deaf Eyes
What has the U.S. deaf population experienced?
Library of American Broadcasting Sound Bites
From dog food to automobiles—advertisers on the airwaves.
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.
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.
Heading West and Touring West
View maps of the West, while simultaneously looking into the lives of traveling performers.
AdFlip
Nostalgic for X-ray glasses advertisements?
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.
Keffer Collection of Sheet Music, ca. 1790-1895
What was popular music like in the 19th century?
The Daguerreian Society
Have you ever thought of teaching your students the history of photography?
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.
Women Artists of the American West
What have women artists considered worthy of depiction in the U.S. West?
Photographs of the American West, 1861-1912
Imagine life on the western frontier.
Freeze Frame: Eadweard Muybridge's Photography of Motion
Witness the birth of motion photography, as it created the foundation for the growth of the film industry and Hollywood.
To the Moon
Explore the history of the moon itself, as well as how we reached it.
Hall of Black Achievement Gallery
Meet 30 influential African Americans who contributed across a wide variety of fields.
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.
A Brush With History: Paintings from the National Portrait Gallery
Compare changing artistic styles, or source images of famous individuals.
Max Hunter Folk Song Collection
A top notch concept: combining traveling sales with anthropological fieldwork.
Traveling Culture: Circuit Chautauqua in the Twentieth Century
Which performers, from martial artists to yodelers, traveled the Chautauqua circuit?
19th Century Advertising, Harper's Weekly
Can I interest you in a metallic artificial leg?
The 3Cities Project
Examine the nexus of representation, modernity, and urban life.
James Fenimore Cooper Society
Teenagers in love? By the author of The Last of the Mohicans?
Pioneering the Upper Midwest: Rare Books c. 1820-1910
Explore Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin life through rare books.
Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, 1870-1885
What do the songs people sing tell us about their lives? Do they sing about tragedy? About love and happiness? How do their tunes reflect their personal stories?
Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920
What do the songs people sing tell us about their lives?
America Singing: 19th-century Song Sheets
How did people learn the latest music trends without electronics?
Theodore Roosevelt: His Life and Times on Film
Do films capture your students’ attention? Introduce them to Roosevelt in motion.
The American Revolution and Its Era: Maps and Charts
See Revolutionary War-era maps evolve from draft to completion.
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.
The Life of a City: Early Films of New York, 1898-1906
View early films of New York City life.
The 19th Century in Print: Periodicals
What magazines do you read? What did people read in the 1800s?
The 19th Century in Print: Books
What were people reading around the time of the Civil War?
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.
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.
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.
Drawing the Western Frontier: The James E. Taylor Album
How did newspaper illustration shape stereotypes (and our understanding) of the “Wild West”?
Presidential Elections
How has campaigning changed over the years? Need to know details on major campaign issues?
Brooklyn Daily Eagle Online (1841-1902)
Explore the history of Brooklyn, 1841 through 1902, with historical newspaper issues.
Great Lakes Maritime History Project
Delve into Wisconsin’s maritime history. Discover the multiple ways in which water shaped the history of the state.
Across the Generations: Exploring U.S. History through Family Papers
Experience Caucasian, middle-class Northeastern life through the collections of four families.
Picturing Modern America Project
Create your own thematic exhibits using Library of Congress images.
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.
The Wright Brothers in Photographs
Meet the Wright Brothers and their family through photographs of friends and exploits.
SDA: Survey Documentation and Analysis
Observe statistical trends in U.S. beliefs and demographics from free speech to zodiac signs.
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 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.
The Primeline Midi Library
Browse more than 630 ragtime Midi files.
Perfessor Bill Edwards Ragtime/Old-time Piano Gallery
Introduce yourself to ragtime music and the time which gave birth to it.
Goldband Records: "Every One a Musical Treat"
What on earth is “swamp pop”?
Samuel F. B. Morse Papers, 1793-1919
Explore the thoughts of Samuel F. Morse, artist and father of the electromagnetic telegraph.
Popular American Music
What songs were on the “Top 20” in the 1850s? Was it as much of a social concern as it is nowadays to stay musically trendy?
Pittsburgh City Photographer
See Pittsburgh, PA, the way it appeared as early as the 1890s.
Reston Collection Images
Explore the planned community of Reston, VA. Gain a better sense of the town that has become a burgeoning suburb.
Humor's Edge
Use modern political cartoons to introduce analysis of recent events.
Children's Books Online
For story time or personal research, peruse historical children’s books.
Milwaukee Neighborhoods: Photos and Maps, 1885-1992
Take a visual journey through the development of Milwaukee, WI.
The New Georgia Encyclopedia
Need a comprehensive site on Georgia history? Why, here you go!
Carriers' Addresses
Did you know that, traditionally, newsboys read poems to their customers on New Year’s?
Education by Design: Using Visual Aids
Seek inspiration from classroom visual aids of the past.
Colonial House
Companion to a PBS television program, this site provides insight into everyday colonial life.
TUPPERWARE!
Have you ever heard of a Tupperware party? Find out more about the household brand.
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.
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.
Hard Hat Riots: An Online History Project
Learn about the Hard Hat Riots of New York with this innovative website.
Democracy in America: Alexis de Tocqueville
Visit this website to learn more about the United States during the time of Tocqueville’s landmark tour and book.
Pluralism and Unity
Explore the clash of ideas and ideologies in early 20th century America.
NativeWeb: Resources for Indigneous Cultures Around the World
A unique website designed to foster communication regarding all of the planet’s native peoples.
Center for the Study of the American South
An interesting collection of cultural resources pertaining to the American South.
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.
American Treasures of the Library of Congress
A collection of special documents and artifacts held within the Library of Congress.
Magic, Illusion, and Detection in Turn of the Century America
Learn about American culture at the turn of the 20th century.
WestWeb: Western Studies and Research Resources
This gateway site provides a wealth of resources pertaining to the American West.
FDR Cartoon Archive
Learn about FDR through this collection of political cartoons.
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.
History: The National Park Service
Visit this website to learn the history of many of the 384 areas under the stewardship of the National Park Service.
Words and Deeds in American History
View primary documents that helped to shape America’s history.
Modern and Contemporary American Poetry
Read hundreds of poems by major and lesser known figures.
Washington As It Was: Photographs by Theodor Horydczak, 1923-1959
Early 20th century Washington is captured in this collection of 14,350 photographs by Theodor Horydczak.
Creative Americans: Portraits by Carl Van Vechten, 1932-1964
View the mid-20th-century art scene through the photographs of music and dance critic Carl Vechten.
Photographs from the Fred Hulstrand and F. A. Pazandak Photograph Collections
Witness farming at the turn of the 20th century with this collection of photographs.
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.
Architecture and Interior Design for America: 1935-1955
Explore early 20th century architecture and interior design with this expansive photo gallery.
America Votes: Presidential Campaign Memorabilia
Follow presidential campaigns through the years with this collection of campaign materials.
African American Women
Read the memoirs and letters of three 19th-century African American women on this website.
Documents from the Women's Liberation Movement
Explore over 50 documents which chronicle the history of the Women’s Liberation Movement.
An American Ballroom Companion: Dance Instruction Manuals, ca. 1490-1920
This collection of social dance manuals showcases the social history of Europe and America.
California Heritage Collection
View the early history of California through this collection of over 30,000 photographs.
When Nixon Met Elvis
Learn about Elvis’ bizarre visit with Richard Nixon through this collection of primary sources.
Powers of Persuasion: Poster Art from World War II
Explore American propaganda and advertising during the second world war.
A New Deal for the Arts
View works from artists financed by the United States Government during the Great Depression.
Views of the Famine
Explore the Irish Famine of 1846 through the eyes of Irish and English newspapers.
Sixties Project & Viet Nam Generation
Learn about the Vietnam anti-war movement through this website.
Posters: American Style
Explore 20th century American poster art, from advertisements to patriotic propaganda.
Godey's Lady's Book Online
Explore mid-19th century culture as presented in the Godey’s Lady’s Book, a women’s magazine.
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.
World War I: Trenches on the Web
Visit Trenches on the Web for all your World War I research needs.
The American 1890s
Explore a unique website dedicated to American history during the 1890s.
Children in Urban America: A Digital Archive
Imagine what it might have been like growing up over 100 years ago.
Alaska's Digital Archive
View images related to Alaskan statehood and Native Americans.
Vietnam War Era Ephemera Collection
Explore campus protest ephemera and the youth movements of the 1960s and 70s.
A Century of Progress: The 1933-34 Chicago World's Fair
Browse official publications from the 1933-1934 World’s Fair.
H.H. Bennett: Photographer Extraordinaire
View commercial photography from the last half of the 19th century.
Doris Ulmann Photograph Collection
See the faces of the rural South, and acquaint yourself with their folk arts.
Brittingham Family Lantern Slide Collection
Catch a glimpse of wealthy turn-of-the-century Wisconsin life and travel in these photos.
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.
Dolley Madison Project
Read the letters of Dolley Madison while learning about her life—from childhood to widowhood.
The History Box
Have a question about New York City or state history? More than 750 articles available.
Illinois Digital Archives
Primary sources on Illinois history with an emphasis on residential and commercial architecture.
Historic Pittsburgh
Acquaint yourself with Pittsburgh history through full texts, images, maps, census data, and lesson plans.
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.
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?
Teaching Future Historians: U.S. History Lesson Plans Using Primary Documents
A diverse array of Antebellum, Civil War, and Gilded Age lesson plans for your convenience.
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?
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?
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.
World War I Sheet Music
What can the music of World War I tell us about its era?
Walt Whitman Archive
Get to know the life, mind, works, and criticisms of poet Walt Whitman.
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.
Stephen Foster's Sketchbook
Ever wondered what a composer’s drafts look like? View Foster’s sketchbook.
Dickinson Electronic Archives
Learn about Dickinson’s family through their own writings and wider critical response to her poetry.
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?
Unified Vision: The Architecture and Design of the Prairie School
View Prairie School works by famed architects and designers Wright, Sullivan, Elmslie, Purcell, and Maher.
Jacob Lawrence: Over the Line
Experience selected artworks by African American artist Jacob Lawrence while learning about his life.
Dolley Madison Digital Edition
Read Dolley Madison’s personal correspondence from her youth through her widowhood.
Home Sweet Home: Life in 19th-Century Ohio
Examine 19th-century domestic life through sheet music and audio song files.
Getting the Message Out! National Political Campaign Materials, 1840-1860
What were common presidential campaign strategies between 1840 and 1860?
The Blues, Black Vaudeville, and the Silver Screen, 1912-1930s
How was the community support for and operation of Southern African American theaters?
Early American Imprints, Series II: Shaw-Shoemaker, 1801-1819
Uncover novels, readers, hymnals, almanacs, diaries, maps, treaties, and more from between 1801 and 1819.
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.
Manufacturers' Catalogs from the First Decade of American Automobiles
Curious about early cars? View more than 800 automobile manufacturer catalog images from 1909.
Madison: Celebrating 150 Years
Learn about Madison, WI, from early settlement through its time as the “queen of bootleggers.”
American Broadsides and Ephemera, Series I, 1760-1900
Explore American life through advertisements, literature, poetry, Civil War envelopes, and more!
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.
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.
California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties
Sit back and enjoy folk and popular music recordings from 1930s California natives and immigrants.
Recovered Notebooks from the Thomas Harned Walt Whitman Collection
Experience personal accounts of Civil War hospitals and read poetry drafts in Walt Whitman’s journals.
The Franklin County Publication Archives Index
Explore 19th-century life through newspaper articles from the 1870s.
New York Public Library Picture Collection Online
Support visual learners with a selection of more than 30,000 historical images.
Alabama Maps
How have boundaries changed over time? Compare the maps of yesteryear with those of today.
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.
Lionel Hampton: His Life and Legacy
Jazz musician Lionel Hampton and the University of Idaho shared a rich relationship, explored in this tribute site.
Another Kind of American Idol
Explore the history of America’s most iconic image—the American flag. But remember: lip-syncing is not allowed!
Premonition of Death
Accounts of Abraham Lincoln’s dream of a presidential assassination vary, and so do the interpretations.
Prosperity and Thrift: Coolidge Era and the Consumer Economy
An array of primary sources follows the rise of the consumer economy under Coolidge.
Emergence of Advertising in America: 1850-1920
Follow the rise of professional advertising with these advertising items and publications from 1850 to 1920.
Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia 1876
Primary sources from Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exhibition provide a view of the U.S.’s industrial development.
William P. Gottlieb: Photographs from the Golden Age of Jazz
Explore writer-photographer William P. Gottlieb photographs of 1938–1948 jazz culture.
Performing Arts in America, 1875-1923
Browse primary sources reflecting the performing arts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Dime Novels and Penny Dreadfuls
Cover art and full texts from dime novels preserve the popular culture of an industrializing U.S.
Wright American Fiction, 1851-1875
Digitizing 19th-century American fiction, this site offers close to 3,000 texts by 1,456 authors.
Nineteenth-century California Sheet Music
Scanned images from more than 2,700 pieces of sheet music provide insight into life in 1852–1900 California.
Alcohol, Temperance, and Prohibition
More than 1,800 primary sources provide a window into the Temperance Movement and Prohibition.
Images of Native Americans
Illustrations follow European interpretations of Native Americans, through images from popular culture, literary and political observations, and artistic representations.
Frontera Collection of Mexican American Music
Listen to clips from more than 100,000 recordings of Mexican American vernacular music.
American Variety Stage: Vaudeville and Popular Entertainment, 1870-1920
Follows the development of popular entertainment forms from the 1870s to the 1920s, through playscripts, playbills, and media clips.
Touring Turn-of-the-Century America
This database of images literally offers snapshots of late 19th to early 20th century America.
Making of America
Provides more than 1.5 million pages of text in an effort to digitize more than 11,000 volumes and 100,000 19th-century journal articles.
Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920
Documents the birth of the conservation movement through published works, manuscripts, images, and motion picture footage.
Edgar Allan Poe
Annotated materials about Poe published during his lifetime.
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.
Nineteenth-Century American Children and What They Read
Examines 19th-century children in America: what they read, what was written about them, and what was written for them.
America at Work, America at Leisure: Motion Pictures from 1894-1915
Collects 150 1894–1915 motion pictures on work, school, and leisure activities.
Florida State Archives Photographic Collection
Presents more than 137,000 photographs of Florida on specific localities from the mid-19th century to the present.
Selling the Computer Revolution: Marketing Brochures in the Collection
Presents more than 250 computer marketing brochures from 1948 to 1988.
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.
Fifty Years of Coca-Cola Television Advertisements
Archives 50 Coca-Cola commercials, broadcast outtakes, and experimental footage.
Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943
Showcases more than 900 Work Projects Administration (WPA) posters produced as part of the New Deal.
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.
Photographs from the Chicago Daily News: 1902-1933
Presents more than 55,000 Chicago Daily News photographs taken in the early 20th century.
Amateur Athletic Foundation Digital Archive
Official documents and articles from periodicals record the history of the Olympics and sport.
1896: The Presidential Campaign
Follow the contentious election of 1896 with close to 100 political cartoons related to the presidential campaigns.
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.
Inventing Entertainment: The Early Innovations of the Edison Companies
Early motion pictures, sound recordings, and related materials document Thomas Edison’s impact on the history of American entertainment.
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.
Red Hot Jazz Archive: A History of Jazz before 1930
Discover over 200 jazz bands and musicians active from 1895-1929, captured here in countless audio and video files.
Sunday School Books: Shaping the Values of Youth in 19th-Century America
Provides full-text transcriptions and page images of 1815–1865 Sunday school books addressing religious instruction for youth.
Mark Twain in His Times
Focuses on Mark Twain’s life and career, including creation of his popular image, marketing and promotion of his texts, and live performances.
Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music
Scanned images of more than 18,000 pieces of sheet music, including covers, published prior to 1923.
Daguerreotype Portraits and Views, 1839-1864
Examples of early photographs preserve the likenesses of cities, famous figures, and other subjects.
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.
The Stars and Stripes, 1918-1919
Peruse every edition of the “official newspaper” of the U.S. Army fighting forces during World War I.
Around the World in the 1890s: Photographs, 1894-1896
Explore this archive of over 900 images by American photographer, William Henry Jackson.
Accessible Archives
Presents articles from 18th- and 19th-century newspapers, magazines, and books, with a focus on the Mid-Atlantic region.
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.