This post was written by Stacie Moats of the Library of Congress.
Teachers and students alike most often associate the Library of Congress with national treasures. Yet you may be surprised to discover hidden gems in the Library’s collections relating to your hometown’s history! Digital collections featuring photographs, maps, historic newspaper articles, and even Congressional records offer unique opportunities for learners of all ages to discover and connect with primary sources through personally meaningful inquiry into state or local history.
You might start by browsing the Library’s primary source sets, which include 50 state-specific sets. For example, the primary source set for my home state of New Jersey features a page from an 1845 legal document relating to slavery in New Jersey and the documentary, “A Day with Thomas A. Edison, 1922