The Digital Past

Finding Primary Sources

Before Class:

• Read: Google, How Search Works
• Watch: Eli Pariser, “Beware of Online ‘Filter Bubbles’”, TED Talk, March 2011.
• Sam Wineburg, “Thinking Like a Historian,” Teaching with Primary Sources Quarterly 3, 1 (Winter 2010).
• Using Primary Sources: Primary Source Village, Modules One and Three
• Basics of Visual Literacy, University of Maryland
• Errol Morris, “Which Came First?,” New York Times, 2007: part 1, part 2, part 3.

During Class:

• What are primary sources?
• How do historians “read” photographs?
• Document Analysis Worksheets:
  • Cartoons
  • Textual Sources
  • Photographs
• Examples for in class discussion:
  • The First picket line – College Day in the Picket Line
  • “All together now! Stop her!” Library of Congress

In Class Activity: Pick one source from each category below and do a document analysis for it using the worksheets listed above. Post the answers on your blog and be prepared to discuss in class.

• Texts:
  • “Let Her Come.” New York Times, n.d. From Library of Congress, Miller NAWSA Suffrage Scrapbooks, 1897-1911
  • “Alice Paul Describes Force Feeding.” London, England: December 1909. From Library of Congress, Miller NAWSA Suffrage Scrapbooks, 1897-1911
  • Tulsa Daily World (OK). “Discriminating Against Mother.” Nov. 3, 1918. From Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers
• Photographs:
  • “Youngest parader in New York City suffragist parade.” Photograph. American Press Association, May 6, 1912. From Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
  • Harris & Ewing, photographer. “Woman Suffrage Jail Cell.” Photograph. Between 1916 and 1918. From Library of Congress, Harris & Ewing Collection
  • Harris & Ewing, photographer. “National Anti-Suffrage Association. Photograph. 1911, From Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
  • Harris & Ewing, photographer. “Woman Suffrage. Bonfire on sidewalk before White House.” Photograph. 1918. From Library of Congress, Harris & Ewing Collection

• Cartoons:

  • Bushnell. “The Sky is Now Her Limit.” Cartoon. New York Times Current History. New York: New York Times Co., October 1920, Page 142. From Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
  • Gustin, E. W. “Election Day!” Cartoon. c1909. From Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

• Finding Primary Sources: Mason Libraries Info Guide: U.S. History Sources 1880s-1930s

After Class:

• Keep thinking about a final project topic. We’ll workshop and discuss your topics in class on Monday, June 19th.
• Blog #2: Write about two of the most compelling, interesting, or relevant primary sources you found this week. Please fully cite and link to the primary sources.
  • Your blog posts should be at least 350-500 words and should be written in a semi-formal scholarly style (complete thoughts, correct spelling, grammar and syntax.) Please use the Chicago style guide to cite any sources. See the blog post criteria page for more details.