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-)
![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)
![Herbert Hoover Herbert Hoover](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-hoover-mainpage.jpg?itok=59vsyAw4)
![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)
![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)
![The Harper’s Weekly engraving depicts people of all social classes immigrating from Ireland in 1874, after the infamous potato famine. The Harper’s Weekly engraving depicts people of all social classes immigrating from Ireland in 1874, after the infamous potato famine.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-irish-homepage.jpg?itok=xAjaMEWo)
![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)
![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)
![Schoolchildren on Circular Swing in San Augustine, Texas, April 1939 Schoolchildren on Circular Swing in San Augustine, Texas, April 1939](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-schools-circularswing-homepage_0.jpg?itok=-ki6LvYR)
![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)
![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)
![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)