Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Documents Gallery: Ellington and Strayhorn
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, two of the greatest jazz composers, collaborated on hundreds of works. As you explore this exhibition, you will have an opportunity to view original music scores, listen to audio clips, and view videos...
![Pbs: History Detectives: Investigations: Black Star Line [Pdf] Activity](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/35500-5ce0e7c72f9615a7b74440d3571e2d59.jpg?1661252960 "Pbs: History Detectives: Investigations: Black Star Line [Pdf] Activity")
PBS
Pbs: History Detectives: Investigations: Black Star Line [Pdf]
PBS had a series called "History Detectives." The video is no longer available for this episode, but this transcript of the video is. Read about the Black Star Line, envisioned by Marcus Garvey as a shipping company in which African...
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Gertrude "Ma" Rainey
Often called the "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey was known for her deep-throated voice and mesmerizing stage presence that drew packed audiences and sold hit records in the early twentieth century.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: 20th Century: Religion in American History: The Rise of Fundamentalism
An essay on the definition and discussion of generic fundamentalism and historic fundamentalism, includes historian debate, online resources and guide for student discussion.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Harlem Renaissance
Extensive information about the Harlem Renaissance, a period of time considered to be the cultural awakening of African Americans. Included are sections on poetry, fiction, and drama, as well as the legacy of this movement.
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 6: Becoming a Modern Nation
This extensive learning module examines the role of large-scale industrialization, urbanization, and mass migrations in creating new demands on government and social organizations to design reforms, and looks at the global and domestic...
Curated OER
History Matters: The National Pastime in the 1920s: The Rise of the Baseball Fan
Read this article from a 1923 issue of Literary Digest that discusses the rise in interest in baseball. The author contends that the attendance at baseball games is a chance for the upper class and working class to mix socially in a way...
Other
"Blind" Boone: History
This resource provides a thorough biography of one of the most influential but overlooked Ragtime composers, John William "Blind" Boone. The emphasis is on his lifetime and the tremendous success of his musical career despite his...
Other
Southern Music
Read a simple history of southern music from the 1900s to 1990, complete with in-text links to information on popular musicians and events related to country music. Included are dates for upcoming country music events, as well as a small...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: The Jazz Age
A comprehensive overview with many interesting facts and information on the Jazz Age, a period in U.S. history associated with exuberance and the introduction of jazz music.
Tennessee History For Kids
Tennessee History for Kids: Bessie Smith
Often known as the "Empress of the Blues," Bessie Smith influenced entire generations of blues, jazz, and rock musicians and was the highest-paid black entertainer of her time. This website will provide more information about Smith's...
Other
Voice of America: American History: 1920s Were a Big Time for the Arts
Voice of America offers an article about the arts in the Jazz Age including information about authors who wrote to protest what they saw happening in society. Read this article or listen to the narration of it.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Outlines: Clash of Cultures
Although brief, this discussion of the clash of cultures in the 1920s covers all the reasons for cultural discordance.
Chicago History Museum
Chicago History Museum: History Files: The Black Sox
Media coverage of the 1919 World Series involving the players from this team and the scandal that became so well known.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Musical Harlem
The Kennedy Center's ArtsEdge offers a great unit for introducing jazz to students. Its use of Harlem as the "glue" which binds together elements such as jazz history and jazz terminology, makes it particularly effective for the...
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Techno Pop
Feature series on "The Secret History of Technology and Pop Music," traced partly through the story of an Indiana company that stopped making pianos and started cutting 78 rpm records using the talents of famous jazz musicians and others.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: America in the 1920s: Chicago Tribune Cartoons
The National Humanities Center presents collections of primary resources compatible with the Common Core State Standards - historical documents, literary texts, and works of art - thematically organized with notes and discussion...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Louisiana
This article provides a brief overview of Louisiana, followed by numerous in depth articles regarding relevant events and traditions from this state.
Other
Oculus Magazine: Free Jazz
A short description of the free jazz movement, and a timeline of important movements in jazz.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Modern Jazz Quartet (Mjq)
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ), an American musical ensemble noted for delicate percussion sonorities, innovations in jazz forms, and consistently high-performance standards sustained over a...
Scott Alexander
Red Hot Jazz: Dorsey Brothers Orchestra
Brief history of the Dorsey Brothers' musical careers including a good sized discography collection.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Duke Ellington
Biography of Duke Ellington, one of the originators of big band jazz, and a noted composer.
Digital History
Digital History: The Roaring Twenties [Pdf]
Read this comprehensive look at the Roaring Twenties, or Jazz Age. Read about Prohibition and its ramifications, women's gains, entertainment, and literature. Also find out about the resurgence of racial unrest and violence. A very good...
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Billie Holiday
Examine the life and historical contributions of renown jazz vocalist and Pennsylvania native, Billie Holiday in this concise biography.