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Posted by: Colleen Smith
In my hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania the apartment I once lived in was one of several in an old, refurbished church building. It was a fascinating stone structure whose history I wanted to explore. This puzzle followed me a few hundred miles, all the way to the Library of Congress.
Posted in: Geography and Maps
Posted by: Michael Apfeldorf
Conservation of America’s natural resources was a major debate in the Progressive Era. Analyzing primary sources from the period allows students to reflect on these multiple perspectives and offers insight into historical and current debates on the topic.
Posted in: Development of the Industrial United States (1877-1914)
Posted by: Colleen Smith
The late 19th century inventor Herman Hollerith devised an electric tabulating system in response to the challenge of processing an increasingly large volume of data documenting a fast-growing nation. When students investigate Hollerith’s “mechanical clerk,” they encounter an engineering solution shaped by constraints, tradeoffs, and social reaction.
Posted in: Development of the Industrial United States (1877-1914), Science Technology and Math
Posted by: Michael Apfeldorf
A blog post discussing how analyzing primary sources from the Progressive Era can provide students with a useful way to reflect on how societal challenges have been depicted, debated and addressed.
Posted in: Development of the Industrial United States (1877-1914), Government and Law, Lesson Ideas, Primary Source Highlights, Teaching Strategies
Posted by: Colleen Smith
Classrooms often come alive when students encounter the unexpected: One particularly strange example is the Kentucky Meat Shower of 1876. To bring this mystery into your classroom, invite students to investigate reporting of the event from a historical newspaper.
Posted in: Literacy, Science Technology and Math
Posted by: Colleen Smith
On May 20, the Library of Congress will host the third of six webinars featuring the 2025 Literacy Awards Program winners and honorees. This webinar will feature Successful Practices Honorees whose work exemplifies Boosting Family Engagement Through Literacy and Learning.
Posted in: News and Events
Posted by: Colleen Smith
By framing conservation engineering through inquiry rather than explanation, students are positioned to uncover cross-cutting concepts for themselves. Primary sources provide a context for abstract ideas and demonstrate that scientific thinking is not confined to textbooks
Posted in: Science Technology and Math
Posted by: Colleen Smith
For teachers looking for resources to celebrate and honor Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, consider exploring a range of primary sources available through the Library's digital collections.
Posted in: Asian American History, Uncategorized