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:
![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)
![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)
![Above Hoover Dam near Boulder City, Nevada Above Hoover Dam near Boulder City, Nevada](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-land-mainpage.gif?itok=a9ZcXQg2)
![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)
![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)
![An election-year cartoon satirizing disharmony within the Whig ranks on the bank issue. An election-year cartoon satirizing disharmony within the Whig ranks on the bank issue.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-party-main-source.jpg?itok=vq59uMak)
![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)
![Architect's Drawing of the Iowa State Capitol, ca. 1880 (Image) Architect's Drawing of the Iowa State Capitol, ca. 1880 (Image)](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-gov-mainimage.jpg?itok=Us9tabEt)
![Herbert Hoover Herbert Hoover](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-hoover-mainpage.jpg?itok=59vsyAw4)
![Five adult men seen walking in mature corn field, harvesting ears of sweet corn. One ear is seen in the air being tossed into wagon of harvested ears. Two additional horse-drawn wagons hauling harvested ears of sweetcorn are seen in the background. Five adult men seen walking in mature corn field, harvesting ears of sweet corn. One ear is seen in the air being tossed into wagon of harvested ears. Two additional horse-drawn wagons hauling harvested ears of sweetcorn are seen in the background.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-corn-mainpage.gif?itok=VEiwZEpN)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![Cambodia Crisis Campaign Magazine Advertisement, Date Unknown Cambodia Crisis Campaign Magazine Advertisement, Date Unknown](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-refugee-cambodia-homepage.jpg?itok=87U1y6U1)
![African-American demonstrators protesting for civil rights African-American demonstrators protesting for civil rights](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-vote-homepage_0.jpg?itok=9HPZ3P_-)
![Aid to Dependent Children Under the Social Security Act. Aid to Dependent Children Under the Social Security Act.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-rights-mainpage.gif?itok=XmYJkeg3)
![A desegregated classroom in Washington, D.C., on December 15, 1964. A desegregated classroom in Washington, D.C., on December 15, 1964.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-desegregationhomepagepreview.jpg?itok=eGbtJZVf)