Suffragists Protest Woodrow Wilson’s Opposition to Woman Suffrage, October 1916. (Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress.
http://www.loc.gov/item/mnwp000288)
Use the Primary Source Analysis Tool
One structured way to engage students in primary source
Considerations for choosing primary sources:
guides students to independent analysis by helping to
• The item was created at the time of the event, or slightly
before or after.
analysis is with the Library of Congress Primary Source
Analysis Tool. The graphic organizer available at http://
www.loc.gov/teachers/primary-source-analysis-tool/
organize their thoughts about an item into three categories.
After using the tool, students will have clear reflections
about an item that can be backed up with observations. They
will also have developed questions about the item that will
guide their inquiry as they explore topic options or conduct
specific topic research. Try it with this photograph, or
another primary source. Use the Library’s Primary Source
Analysis Tool to record responses either on paper or with
the online version, and look for prompts on the Analyzing
Photographs and Prints Teacher’s Guide.
Once students are comfortable analyzing primary source
items, it is important for them to be able to locate and evaluate
sources for use in NHD projects. The Library of Congress
home page has a powerful search tool for discovering online
primary sources. Students can search generally for a topic or
choose a particular format, such as prints and photographs,
manuscripts, or maps. Encourage students to use this checklist
to help determine if a piece is appropriate for their work and
relevant to the goals of their project.
• The creator or author was a participant in or eyewitness to
the event/time.
• The item is significant because it comes directly from a
participant or witness or because it is a firsthand account
of an event.
• The item supports an idea or concept in my project.
• The format is usable because the text can be cited as expert
information.
• The format is usable because a non-text item can be
described well enough to serve as evidence.
• The item is available digitally for close reading,
observation, and inclusion in the project.
• The item has been analyzed for copyright considerations.
For more primary sources related to women’s suffrage and
downloadable files of the graphics used in this article, go to
www.nhd.org/themebook.htm.
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