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:
![Farm Family in the United States, between 1915 and 1923 Farm Family in the United States, between 1915 and 1923](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-agriculture-farm-homepage.jpg?itok=1lI8L52-)
![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)
![sweet corn field in Marengo, Iowa sweet corn field in Marengo, Iowa](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-environment-homepage_0.jpg?itok=jgEZ8e8g)
![Angry farmers in protest Angry farmers in protest](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-10/Screenshot%20%28365%29.png?itok=fKH-RYb1)
![Sadie Pfeifer, Child Worker, at Lancaster Cotton Mills in South Carolina, November 30, 1908 Sadie Pfeifer, Child Worker, at Lancaster Cotton Mills in South Carolina, November 30, 1908](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-industrial-main.jpg?itok=ZZc9CYyf)
![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)
![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)
![Astronaut Peggy Whitson Astronaut Peggy Whitson](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-world-homepage.jpg?itok=qLByZDnK)
![Woman in foreground standing with her back to the photographer, operating a very large boring press. Woman in foreground standing with her back to the photographer, operating a very large boring press.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-work-mainpage.gif?itok=heU-JQ88)
![Corn farm in Jasper County, Iowa. Corn farm in Jasper County, Iowa.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-land-homepage.jpg?itok=zK5UkcVg)
![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)
![About 35 messengers with bicycles and a couple of motorcycles posed on the steps in the front of a brick building. About 35 messengers with bicycles and a couple of motorcycles posed on the steps in the front of a brick building.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-transportation-homepage.jpg?itok=uYzXnBfJ)