Vietnam Unit III: Bobby Lou Letter to JFK
Primary source letter from Bobbie Lou Pendergrass to John F. Kennedy, asking about U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, 1963
Vietnam Unit III: JFK Letter to Bobby Lou
2/2 primary source document pair: JFK is responding to the letter sent by Bobby Lou Pendergrass who is grieving the loss of her soldier brother. JFK answers her questions about why he believes the U.S. is involved in the Vietnam War.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Primary Research
Learn the difference between primary and secondary research as well as some different types of primary sources that can be used when gathering research.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: What Is Primary Research and How Do I Get Started?
Learn the difference types of primary sources and how to use them as a part of your research.
Other
American Primary Sources Challenge: Jefferson Davis' Inaugural Speech
A concise biography of Jefferson Davis' including details of his election as President of the Confederacy.
Other
Fair: Retractions of Reporting Are Quite Selective
Interesting essay on the use of unnamed or anonymous sources, accuracy of reports, and retractions of innaccurate reports by major news outlets. Eye opener.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Common Pitfalls of Primary Research
Learn about the common mistakes made when reporting primary research findings.
CNN
Cnn: Newspaper Won't Identify Sources in Bombing
Remember Richard Jewell? He was the man accused of being the Olympic bomber by anonymous sources. Jewell was cleared and sued the paper for libel. Links to related stories allows viewers to follow Jewell's story.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Ethical Considerations in Primary Research
Learn about the ethical considerations necessary when reporting primary research findings.
Library of Congress
Loc: Topics in Chronicling America: Garfield Assassination
Find a chronology of events surrounding the assassination of President James Garfield, followed by links to articles from newspapers across the country that detailed the asssassination, his eventual death, and trial of the assassin,...
Imperial War Museums
Imperial War Museum: 8 Things You Need to Know About the Battle of Britain
This is a collection of eight short passages with information about the Battle of Britain accompanied by primary source photos.
Columbia University
Leaks Necessary to News Reporting
Anonymous sources are a troubling fact of life for journalists and news consumers, according to this article that quotes some of the profession's heavy hitters.
BBC
Bbc: Hungarians Rise Up Against Soviet Rule
An excellent primary source article describing the Hungarian Revolution. Describes the causes of the revolt and how the protests turned violent. Site includes description offering a general context as well as related links.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: New England Expands to New Colonies
Article with photographs on the expansion of the new England Colonies to include the Middle and Southern Colonies. Links to primary source documents.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: The Republic of Texas and the Mexican American War
Article on the history of Texas framed in a discussion of Spanish colonization to help readers better understand events leading to the Mexican-American War. With bullet pointed facts and links to primary source material.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Approach to Civil War: America in the 1840s & 1850s
Comprehensive article on the events leading up to the Civil War. The Author separates myth from fact and provides a detailed account of this period in history. Links to further reading and primary source material.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Southern Secession
Article with primary source secession resolutions from three states including, South Carolina, Virginia and Mississippi. Each declaring intent to secede from the Union and outlining reasons for doing so.
Other
Northwest College Wyoming: Heart Mountain Digital Preservation Project
Heart Mountain, Wyoming, was one of the Japanese relocation centers used during World War II. Read the history of the center, then browse the many original photos, conveniently sorted by topic. Some primary documents are also available...
Bartleby
Bartleby.com: Theodore Roosevelt: Military Preparedness and Unpreparedness
Read this essay from Roosevelt's, "The Strenuous Life," in which he discusses U.S. military forces, primarily in terms of the Spanish-American War. Excellent primary source!
Other
Chungara (Arica): Surgical Procedures During Ancient Egyptian Mummification
How did mummification work? Brier and Wade attempt to use primary sources to replicate the mummification process on a human cadaver. Read about how they went about it and whether they were successful.
US Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau: Current Population Survey
The Current Population Survey (CPS) is a monthly survey of about 50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey has been conducted for more than 50 years. The CPS is the primary...
Imperial War Museums
Imperial War Museum: 10 Inspiring Stories of Bravery During Battle of Britain
This article focuses on ten stories of bravery during the Battle of Britain with accompanying primary source photos. These stories include putting a fire out with bare hands, saving a village, and more.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum: Leonardo: Experiment, Experience, Design
A media-rich examination of Leonardo's work that includes a timeline of the artist's life, animations of his drawings that attempt to unlock something of the genius in his thinking, up-close details from his notebooks, thematic looks at...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Archaeology and the Study of Ancient China
Archaeology is the study of the material remains of humanity's past. Excavated materials, along with other historical objects and text records, form the primary source material on Ancient China. All the major dynasties, beginning with...