Research, Citation, & Class Guides: Social Studies Education Resources: Primary Sources

Primary Sources: UWW Subscriptions

A primary source a is an artifact such as a document, a recording, an untouched photo, or some other source of information that was created at the time that is being studied. The following are resources to help you get started locating primary sources that you may wish to include in lesson plans. If you need more in-depth information and locations for primary sources, visit the LibGuide: Finding Primary Sources for History Research.

Visit the Andersen Library Special Collections on the 1st floor of the library for primary source materials, including UW-Whitewater history, Wisconsin Historical Society collections, Area Research Center for Jefferson, Rock, and Walworth Counties, and much more.

Accessible Archives
Primary source material from 18th & 19th century publications contains primary source material from 18th & 19th century publications. Includes historic periodicals and books including eyewitness accounts of historical events, descriptions of everyday life, editorial observations, commerce as seen through advertisements and genealogical records.

Collections provided by Andersen Library: African-American Newspapers (Parts 1-13); VA Gazette (Parts 1-5); Civil War Collection (Parts 1-6); Godey's Lady's Book (Parts 1-9); Frank Leslie's Weekly (Parts 1-14); Women's Suffrage Collection (Parts 1-3).

HeritageQuest
Comprehensive database of American genealogical sources including unique primary sources, local and family histories and finding aids. From BadgerLink
LibGuide for Primary Sources
Comprehensive overview of Andersen Library databases and search tips for locating primary resources
History Reference Center
Information and primary sources for U.S. and world history topics
from Badgerlink

Primary Sources: Select Websites

Recommend additional K-12 primary source resources using the Comments link below.

Library of Congress - Digital Collections
Part of the Library of Congress, American Memory pulls together digital collections on everything from advertisements to maps to baseball cards.
American Journeys (Wisconsin Historical Society)
More than 18,000 pages of eyewitness accounts of North American exploration

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From the Wisconsin Historical Society, this site contains more than 18,000 pages of eyewitness accounts of North American exploration.
CUL Digital Collections
Of particular interest is the Sulphur Springs Collection of Pre-Nickelodeon Films.

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A digital collection from the Central University Libraries at Southern Methodist University. Of particular interest is the Sulphur Springs Collection of Pre-Nickelodeon Films.
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
This site houses over 13,000 historical maps, with search and viewing capabilities.
History Matters
designed for high school and college teachers and students of U.S. history

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This collection is designed for high school and college teachers and students of U.S. history. and includes lesson plans and teaching strategies.
National History Day in Wisconsin
includes program and annual competition information, teaching guides, and resources
The Making of America
primary sources in American social history from the antebellum period through reconstruction

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This is a digital library of primary sources in American social history from the antebellum period through reconstruction. The primary documents are from the library collections at the University of Michigan and Cornell University.
The National Archives of the U.S.: Teaching with Documents
reproducible copies of primary documents that correlate to standards and
excellent examples of teaching activities that incorporate primary sources

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This section of the National Archives Web site contains reproducible copies of primary documents from the holdings of the National Archives of the United States that correlate to standards. It also provides excellent examples of teaching activities that incorporate primary sources.
University of Wisconsin Digital Collections
manuscript collections; photographic images; slides; maps; prints; posters; audio; and video

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Created to provide access to digital resources that support the teaching and research needs of the UW community, all of the digital resources within the collections are free and publicly accessible. They include text-based materials such as books, journal series, and manuscript collections; photographic images; slides; maps; prints; posters; audio; and video.

Primary Sources

Jackdaw Collection in the Library

What is a Jackdaw?

Jackdaws are collections of primary source materials designed for classroom use. They include a teacher's guide, blackline masters, maps, facsimiles of documents, translations, photographs, maps, and more.

Jackdaws are filed in the Curriculum Collection Textbooks on the 2nd floor of the library. Click below to browse the collection.

Andersen Library Jackdaw Holdings