Using Primary Resources
Primary sources as defined by the Library of Congress are objects and documents that were created at the historical time, as opposed to the secondary sources that have been created to interpret, evaluate, or summarize firsthand evidence.
The Legacy Dallas Education project relies heavily on the use of primary source documents. Included are photographs, maps, letters, government documents, museum artifacts (in photograph form for online presentation), pamphlets, receipts and more. Having access to primary sources has never been easier. Using actual documents, photos, videos, maps and other interactives brings dimension to a lesson about the past. Using primary sources leads to critical thinking skills. Students begin to think like historians. Curiosity is awakened. The questions are deeper, and the thoughts are broader.
As you begin, read through the project and discover what works for you in your environment. Simple observation and discovery may be enough to start a meaningful conversation. At times and with different documents, a deeper dive is necessary to provide understanding. Both opportunities are represented in the project presentation. The document analysis worksheets are designed to inspire critical thinking and be a springboard for further discussion.
Primary Sources are manuscripts, first-person diaries, oral histories, letters, interviews, photographs, maps, films, sound recordings, music, song sheets-fragments of history, incomplete in themselves, but when assembled, analyzed, and researched they can provide personal insights, human drama, and deep historical understandings.
Digitized artifacts from Old Red Museum, Dallas Historical Society, Museum of the Red River, National Archives, Caddo artists and many others make up the collection that is available to you remotely for classroom use. Although the project originates in Dallas County, the content and themes represented include a broader scope.
Museum education is informal. The patron to the museum site can engage with the exhibits and object the museum has to offer at their convenience and pace. This project encourages engagement and allows you to pick the assets and activities that fit into your planned curriculum and busy days. The projects are meant to highlight objects, places and experiences that represent or originated in Dallas County. As the project grows, expect to see material rotate and new topics to explore.
Examples of online resources for teaching with primary sources
- https://www.georgewbushlibrary.gov/learn/lesson-plans/analyzing-primary-sources
- https://civics.archives.gov
- https://www.loc.gov/collections/
- https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/about-this-program/
- https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/declaration-of-independence-from-rough-draft-to-proclamation/
- https://docsteach.org
Meet the document. Observe its parts. Try to make sense of it. Use it as historical evidence.