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:
![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)
![Presidential Candidate Henry A. Wallace Campaigns at William Penn College, 1948 Presidential Candidate Henry A. Wallace Campaigns at William Penn College, 1948](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/history-education-pss-caucuses-wallace-homepage.jpg?itok=YBCYClBE)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![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_)