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:
![Fort Wagner Fort Wagner](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-afamcivil-homepage_0.jpg?itok=1CPto4i1)
![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)
![Presidential Candidate Henry A. Wallace Campaigns at William Penn College, 1948 Presidential Candidate Henry A. Wallace Campaigns at William Penn College, 1948](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-caucuses-wallace-homepage.jpg?itok=YBCYClBE)
![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)
![A protest sign in Des Moines, Iowa, during the visit of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. A protest sign in Des Moines, Iowa, during the visit of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-coldwar-homepage.jpg?itok=aAxEZYZo)
![Anti-Communism (Soviet Union) Propaganda Poster for Asian Countries Anti-Communism (Soviet Union) Propaganda Poster for Asian Countries](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-vietnam-homepage.jpg?itok=MsqqvcW5)
![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)
![Image of Black migrants standing near their loaded-down car along a road in North Carolina as they travel from Florida to New Jersey to take jobs picking potatoes. Image of Black migrants standing near their loaded-down car along a road in North Carolina as they travel from Florida to New Jersey to take jobs picking potatoes.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-migration-main.jpg?itok=nRtLIAzK)
![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_)
![Sewing Class for Refugee Students in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, 1918 Sewing Class for Refugee Students in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, 1918](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-global-mtayr-homepage.jpg?itok=MTJKMdAu)
![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)
![Relief Check Line in California Relief Check Line in California](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-deal-homepage_0.jpg?itok=626idbyz)
![The photo depicts a bale of hay in the middle of the road blocking a truck with cows in the back bound for Sioux City with protestors on either side of the truck. The photo depicts a bale of hay in the middle of the road blocking a truck with cows in the back bound for Sioux City with protestors on either side of the truck.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-protest-mainpage-image.jpg?itok=4b1ff4op)
![Silent Protest Parade in New York City Against the East St. Louis Riots, July 28, 1917 Silent Protest Parade in New York City Against the East St. Louis Riots, July 28, 1917](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-recon-homepage_0.jpg?itok=LzIDKzXM)
![The bottom third of the image shows a “typical Arabian horse” and a “typical Percheron horse.” The top of the image shows a scene with pastures on the left and grain fields on the right. One pasture has hogs, and the other sheep. The grain fields show a wheat field after harvest and a corn field growing. The bottom third of the image shows a “typical Arabian horse” and a “typical Percheron horse.” The top of the image shows a scene with pastures on the left and grain fields on the right. One pasture has hogs, and the other sheep. The grain fields show a wheat field after harvest and a corn field growing.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-life-main-source.jpg?itok=8HkioHMu)
![American soldiers approaching Argonne Forest in France during WWI. American soldiers approaching Argonne Forest in France during WWI](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-war-gunner-homepage.jpg?itok=N_nKdM-5)
![The black and white image shows the aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii with the USS West Virginia aflame. Disregarding the dangerous possibilities of explosions, United States sailors man their boats at the side of the burning battleship, USS West Virginia, to better fight the flames started by Japanese torpedoes and bombs. Note the national colors flying against the smoke-blackened sky The black and white image shows the aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii with the USS West Virginia aflame. Disregarding the dangerous possibilities of explosions, United States sailors man their boats at the side of the burning battleship, USS West Virginia, to better fight the flames started by Japanese torpedoes and bombs. Note the national colors flying against the smoke-blackened sky](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-WWII-homepage.jpg?itok=QezNGsac)