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-)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![The great Bartholdi statue, liberty enlightening the world: the gift of France to the American people. The great Bartholdi statue, liberty enlightening the world: the gift of France to the American people.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-immigration-main2.jpg?itok=10h1yrjN)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)