Using Primary Sources from the Library of Congress

Using Primary Sources from the Library of Congress American Memory By Regan Smith Library Media Specialist Metter High School

AGENDA • Review primary and secondary sources • Visual Tour of American Memory website • Distinguish between objective and subjective observation • How to ask researchable, quality questions of a primary source • Group practice analysis • Wiki posting

Primary vs. Secondary Sources • Primary: Firsthand evidence of historical events or periods. − A personal diary − An old photograph − A current event newspaper article • Secondary: A later interpretation of historical events of periods. − A school textbook − A biography − An encyclopedia

Our focus today is Primary Sources T. R. ’s arrival in Panama Poster: [between 1936 and 1941]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction Number: LC-USZC 2 -5175. Political Cartoon: 1909. Copyright by E. W. Gustin.

Library of Congress American Memory • Offers more than 100 multimedia collections with more than 7 million digitized documents, photographs, recorded sound, moving pictures, and texts. − http: //memory. loc. gov/ammem/index. html

Artifact Examples • Photographs • Posters • Sheet music • Playbills • Advertisements • Works of art • Letters

Objective vs. Subjective Observation • Objective: fact, able to be seen, heard or touched, smelled, tasted − The same from multiple reporters • I saw… • I counted… • Subjective: opinion, assumption, rumor, suspicion; varies: person-to-person, day-to-day • S/he does not like • S/he feels • S/he thinks

How to ask researchable, quality questions of a primary source • Surface Questions/Observations − What is it? − Where did it happen? • Deep Questions/Details − What does it mean? − What are the consequences? − What caused this? − What will happen next? • Support Your Thinking − Why do you think this is true? − What examples can you provide?

Group practice analysis • Each group will be given several topics. • Use American Memory to find primary sources related to or that represent your topic. Dig deep and have fun! • As a group, analyze your sources using reciprocal notes as a guide. • Compile your thoughts at: http: //metterhslibrary. pbwiki. com/? l=S • Find Hendrix US History American Memory

Now that you have all of the answers: • What is the question? • What do all of these topics have in common? • What do they represent?

BUZZ WORDS

Essential Questions • What was the impact of mass production on the automobile industry? • How has media (radio, movies, television, and Internet) affected the values of Americans? • What was the impact of 1920’s musical advancements such as jazz, Harlem Renaissance, and Tin Pan Alley on the cultural customs and traditions of today? • How did overproduction, under consumption, and stock market speculation lead to the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression?