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)
![Fort Wagner Fort Wagner](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-afamcivil-homepage_0.jpg?itok=1CPto4i1)
![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-)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![Children Play "Ring Around the Rosie" in Chicago, Illinois Children Play "Ring Around the Rosie" in Chicago, Illinois](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-children-main.jpg?itok=Lur_Y1eF)
![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)
![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 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)
![Lincoln and Emancipation Print by Thomas Nast Lincoln and Emancipation Print by Thomas Nast](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-forcedmigration-homepage.jpg?itok=Xa4Q8AOQ)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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_)
![Survival Means Sacrifice Postcard Survival Means Sacrifice Postcard](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-holocaust-homepage_0.jpg?itok=MI5LfL-H)
![Photograph of New York children in the Bronx in 1970. Photograph of New York children in the Bronx in 1970.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-identity-homepage.jpg?itok=1-dUr1fO)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![Astronaut Peggy Whitson Astronaut Peggy Whitson](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-world-homepage.jpg?itok=qLByZDnK)
![Meskwaki children performing at the annual powwow Meskwaki children performing at the annual powwow](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-meskwaki-mainpage2.jpg?itok=k7bdL1e6)
![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)
![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 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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![Trinidadians Sorting Cocoa Pods, 1900 (Image) Trinidadians Sorting Cocoa Pods, 1900 (Image)](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-trade-mainpage.jpg?itok=UG-Tehz_)
![Print this page Immigration In Iowa, Liberian Couple Reaches Out to Fellow African Refugees February 02, 2019 05:05 AM Thirty youngsters are eager to share with the group at Genesis Youth Foundation's nightly gathering in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 28, 2019. Thirty youngsters are eager to share with the group at Genesis Youth Foundation's nightly gathering in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 28, 2019. Print this page Immigration In Iowa, Liberian Couple Reaches Out to Fellow African Refugees February 02, 2019 05:05 AM Thirty youngsters are eager to share with the group at Genesis Youth Foundation's nightly gathering in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 28, 2019. Thirty youngsters are eager to share with the group at Genesis Youth Foundation's nightly gathering in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 28, 2019.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-trade2-main-image.jpg?itok=i_6nuPNI)
![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)
!["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)
![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)