Curated OER
Powerful Signatures
Students experience famous historical documents that were initiated and propelled by signatures such as Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution. They create a school amendment using the information gathered.
Curated OER
Photographs as Documents
Students analyze photographs of Maine's history. They discuss the character of Maine and read a photograph. They analyze photos in pairs and complete an analysis sheet for each one. They evaluate their photos and rank them for qualities...
Curated OER
If a Picture's Worth a Thousand Words...
Pupils examine the debate between the preservation of and access to historical artifacts. They explore the notion of ownership and commodification of historical artifacts and come up with a plan for compromise.
Curated OER
Constitutional Convention, 1875: Photographs as Historical Documents
Eleventh graders compare and contrast the two photographs.
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: Documents
Browse U.S. historical documents according to historical period or search documents via search engine.W.11-12.9b US Doc Analysis
Library of Congress
Loc: Indian Land Cessions in the United States 1784 1894
This site from the Library of Congress provides links to the original land cession deals between Indians and the Federal Government are provided. Search for documents can be accomplished by searching for Indian tribe, state/territory, or...
Brigham Young University
Euro Docs: Online Sources for European History
Connect to primary source documents (facsimiles. transcriptions, translations) that trace the history of Europe.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Antietam: The Emancipation Proclamation (Full Text)
Read a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Abraham Lincoln in September, 1862, and put into law on January 1, 1863.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Art to Zoo Playing Historical Detective
Students become detectives, reading and analyzing documents and artifacts as clues to the life of a nineteenth century woman, Annie Steel. The students then use various materials to create a series of collages.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964)
Offers a summary of this resolution which supported President Johnson's actions in Vietnam and also provides an easy to read version of the complete text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Test Ban Treaty (1963)
Contains all the text and images of the original document. Also includes a summary of the history behind the signing of this treaty.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Desegregation of the Armed Forces(1948)
Read a brief overview of the history behind this executive order that integrated the segregated military and then read a copy of the complete original text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Boulder Canyon Project Act (1928)
Informative site that tells about the act that authorized the building of the Hoover Dam. Read the complete text of the Boulder Canyon Project here.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Keating Owen Child Labor Act of (1916)
Read the history behind the first child labor bill in 1916 and view the original document.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Our Documents Welcome Page
Explore 100 selected milestone historical documents relating to American History. Click on the link to the list of links to documents. RI.11-12.8 seminal U.S. texts, W.11-12.9b US Doc Analysis.
Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin Historical Society: A Handbook for Using Historical Documents [Pdf]
Teachers will find this a superb guide book for teaching students how to critically examine documents from the past. The guide contains lessons and resources for Wisconsin history but the teaching methodology can be adapted for anywhere.
Other
Liberty Online: The Articles of Confederation (1781)
Read the full text of the Articles of Confederation followed by the list of the signers of this important document.
Yale University
The Avalon Project at Yale Law School
Read historical documents from before the 18th century to the present. Providing "Documents in Law, History, and Diplomacy," this website can be browsed by historical period or searched via search engine.
University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma College of Law: Connecticut Colony Charter of 1662
Complete text of the Connecticut Colony Charter of 1662 which provided the basis for Connecticut government until 1818.
University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma College of Law: The First Thanksgiving Proclamation
Resource features the full text of the First Thanksgiving Proclamation June 20, 1676, which expressed thanks for the good fortune of the community of Charleston, Massachusetts.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Ben's Ab Cs
Each letter of this alphabet is linked to an important aspect of the U.S. Government, e.g. "A is for Armed Forces" has a link to the Air Force. Links are made to the Bill of Rights, symbols, branches of government and The Constitution....
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: A Student's Guide to Historical Research
This resource focuses on teaching students how to do historical research via a series of steps. Historical photos and documents are included as examples.
Library of Congress
World Digital Library: Illuminated Manuscripts From Europe: Map
A collection of primary source materials linked to a map that showcase illuminated manuscripts from 764 to 1889 that are in European museums and libraries. Click on a numbered circle and a popup appears showing one or more thumbnails and...
Library of Congress
World Digital Library: Imperial Russia: Map
A collection of primary source materials linked to a map that showcase the state of the Russian Empire in the 1800s. Click on any numbered circle and a popup appears showing one or more thumbnails of cards that highlight the unique...