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)
![Many people seen at a distance walking down “Center Street” in Buxton, Iowa, circa 1908. Photograph shows company houses, muddy streets, “coal chute hill,” and many mature trees. Many people seen at a distance walking down “Center Street” in Buxton, Iowa, circa 1908. Photograph shows company houses, muddy streets, “coal chute hill,” and many mature trees.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-buxton-homepage.jpg?itok=E3tswyCV)
![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)
![Migrant Mother portrait taken by Dorothea Lange during the Great Depression Migrant Mother portrait taken by Dorothea Lange during the Great Depression](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-GD-homepage.jpg?itok=mfmJlddK)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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_-)
![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)
![Artist Geoge Catlin painted this scene of American Indians playing a large field game in 1844. Artist Geoge Catlin painted this scene of American Indians playing a large field game in 1844.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-sports-main-image_0.jpg?itok=ZL57XdjH)
!["A Bold Stroke for Freedom" Illustration, 1872 "A Bold Stroke for Freedom" Illustration, 1872](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-underground-freedomwagon-homepage.jpg?itok=xAH7akUu)