Primary Source Sets
Through the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) grant, the State Historical Society of Iowa developed free and downloadable Primary Source Sets to help K-12 educators meet the Iowa Core Content Anchor Standards for Social Studies. These Primary Source Sets address national and international history as well as Iowa-specific history. Educators are encouraged to explore sets beyond a particular grade level – great sources are available at all grade levels that can be tailored for students.
- Compelling and supporting questions guide each Primary Source Set
- An introduction, with an Iowa focus, offers an overview for each set
- Source-dependent questions (available for each source) are provided to aid student understanding
- Transcripts and grade-appropriate text excerptions are available for ease of use
- Search the Primary Source Sets by grade level Content Anchor Standards, subject or time period
Educator Toolkit Need help using primary sources with your students? Download the extensive Primary Source Toolkit (K-12), which is filled with tools, worksheets and alternative activities for educators to customize for their classrooms.
In partnership with Read.Inquire.Write., a Library of Congress TPS grant recipient, the State Historical Society of Iowa is excited to share resources to support primary source-based inquiry and argument writing in social studies.
Images credited to the State Historical Society of Iowa in these primary source sets are provided solely for educational use. Requests for copies and permissions to use for other purposes should be directed to History.Research@iowa.gov.
Watch this How-To Video to to learn how to use the sorting tool below.Filter By:
!["Heroes of the Colored Race," 1881 "Heroes of the Colored Race," 1881](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-abolitionist-heroes-homepage.jpg?itok=6QEAbBtZ)
![Meskwaki Wickiup photo from a scrapbook Meskwaki Wickiup photo from a scrapbook](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-removal-homepage-wickiup.jpg?itok=hPmK4PXf)
![The 1784 map of the United States shows that the western border of the country, as determined by the Treaty of Paris, would be the Mississippi River. The 1784 map of the United States shows that the western border of the country, as determined by the Treaty of Paris, would be the Mississippi River.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-revolutionary-main.jpg?itok=OAuP7oXQ)
![Beaconsfield Supply Store in Ringgold County, Iowa Beaconsfield Supply Store in Ringgold County, Iowa](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-business-mainpage.gif?itok=UZD_KYO1)
![Photo shows women marching with banner "National Woman Suffrage" at the Woman Suffrage Parade Photo shows women marching with banner "National Woman Suffrage" at the Woman Suffrage Parade](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-rights-main-image.jpg?itok=Wj-IakLT)
![Picture of African-American soldiers and sailors sitting and standing around a table in a Red Cross Rest Room specifically outfitted for only African Americans during World War I. Picture of African-American soldiers and sailors sitting and standing around a table in a Red Cross Rest Room specifically outfitted for only African Americans during World War I.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-civilww-homepage.jpg?itok=6Gg-1KBy)
!["The Great Exhibition of 1860" Political Cartoon, 1860 "The Great Exhibition of 1860" Political Cartoon, 1860](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-civil-homepage_0.jpg?itok=WA3WWXRc)
![An illustrated map of Council Bluffs in 1868, showing the layout of the city along the Mosquito River down to the Missouri River and including the railroad lines running through the city, east to west as well as south. An illustrated map of Council Bluffs in 1868, showing the layout of the city along the Mosquito River down to the Missouri River and including the railroad lines running through the city, east to west as well as south.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-economic-main.jpg?itok=sqaIto1D)
![Angry farmers in protest Angry farmers in protest](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-10/Screenshot%20%28365%29.png?itok=fKH-RYb1)
![Herbert Hoover Herbert Hoover](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-hoover-mainpage.jpg?itok=59vsyAw4)
![Lincoln Highway Lincoln Highway](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-highway-mainpage.gif?itok=Bc2K9tU_)
![Lagonda Agricultural Works Print Lagonda Agricultural Works Print](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-innovation-homepage_0.jpg?itok=E3WTc5fD)
![Grays Ferry Print Grays Ferry Print](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-transportation-homepage_0.jpg?itok=1MB1mbKh)
![Flooded Street in Ottumwa, Iowa; June, 1947 Flooded Street in Ottumwa, Iowa; June, 1947](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-weather-homepage.jpg?itok=v__wMr9C)
![Jack Trice with Iowa State football players Jack Trice with Iowa State football players](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-civil-homepage_1.jpg?itok=Pny4fF4y)
![Astronaut Peggy Whitson Astronaut Peggy Whitson](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-world-homepage.jpg?itok=qLByZDnK)
![Print shows an archway of the nine steps of a drunkard's progress, beginning with a man in fancy dress having "a glass with a friend" and then his gradual decline in society with poverty & disease Print shows an archway of the nine steps of a drunkard's progress, beginning with a man in fancy dress having "a glass with a friend" and then his gradual decline in society with poverty & disease](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-reform-mainpage.gif?itok=POyyyqrR)