Maps are among the oldest forms of human communication, and for historians they are invaluable primary sources. This guide explains how to analyze historical maps critically, what they reveal about past worldviews, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
Oral histories preserve the voices, memories, and perspectives of people who lived through history. This guide explains how to use them as primary sources, from preparation to analysis, grounded in best practices from the Library of Congress, Smithsonian, and Oral History Association.
Drawing on contemporary newspapers, diaries, and official reports, this article reconstructs the 1950s as Americans experienced them: the post-war boom, the Cold War’s nuclear dread, the Korean War, the rise of rock ‘n’ roll, and the early civil rights movement.
Drawing on V-mail, personal letters, and home front reports, this article reveals how American soldiers and their families endured the Korean War through written words—capturing love, fear, and daily life in a conflict often called a ‘police action.’
Drawing on contemporary radio broadcasts, newspaper headlines, and eyewitness accounts, this article reconstructs how Americans first heard the beep-beep of Sputnik and how the press transformed a small Soviet satellite into a national crisis that launched the space race.
Drawing on letters from Florida, interviews from Midwest cities, and a Saskatchewan farm woman’s diary, this article reveals how women documented daily struggles and devised survival strategies during the Great Depression.
Drawing on contemporary headlines, editorials, and wire reports, this article reconstructs how Americans experienced the October 1929 stock market collapse through the pages of their daily newspapers—from the first wave of panic to the fragile hopes of recovery.
Drawing on President Kennedy’s July 1963 address, the Moscow joint statement, and contemporary press coverage, this article reconstructs how Americans and the world experienced the Limited Test Ban Treaty—the first tangible check on the nuclear arms race.
In 1966, Kuwait stood at a crossroads of tradition and modernity. With oil revenues transforming the economy, the founding of Kuwait University marked a milestone in education, while political changes solidified the ruling family’s leadership. This article explores daily life, major events, and primary sources from a pivotal year.
An essential guide to locating primary sources for historical research, drawing on the expertise of Princeton University, the Library of Congress, and the University of North Carolina. Discover how to navigate archives, libraries, and digital repositories to find the raw materials of history.