Primary Source Literacy Instructional Websites

Over the last 30 years, primary source literacy instruction has developed into one of the top five concerns for archivists, librarians, and instructors of history. This concern has resulted in the proliferation of websites and published materials that provide information, resources, and advice on how to best teach primary source literacy. Most websites offer lesson plans and tutorials, and many include access to digitized historical documents or links to those documents on other websites.

The following websites are considered some of the best and most comprehensive, providing definitions, lesson plans and activities, video tutorials, bibliographies, links to similar websites, and commentary by professionals in the field. It is likely that these sites will satisfy the most demanding needs of K-12 and college / university instructors in social studies and history.

Digital Inquiry Group (Stanford University)

The Digital Inquiry Group (DIG) is an independent nonprofit organization established by the team behind the Stanford History Education Group (SHEG). DIG is one of the premier Primary Source Literacy instructional support website in the United States, if not the world. The Group’s work focuses on the use of digital primary sources and includes lesson plans and assessment tools. The section entitled Reading Like a Historian offers excellent lessons and activities on the critical analysis of primary sources and some of the basics of historical research.

The Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Collective

The TPS Collective is an online hub that brings together resources, professional development, and support for those teaching with primary sources, including librarians, archivists, teachers, cultural heritage professionals, and anyone who has an interest in using primary sources in the classroom. The site is a collaborative effort with educators from around the country contributing materials. It’s a great place to find and download relevant lesson plans and learn new techniques. 

DocsTeach (National Archives and Records Administration)

This site draws upon the digitized historical records of the federal government. The original analog records are maintained by the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The site offers access to hundreds of digitized historic documents linked to lesson plans and activities. These lesson plans focus on learning methods of historical research, analysis, and interpretation. The site also provides online tools to help you create your own active learning lessons. 

Getting started with Primary Sources (Library of Congress)

This site from the LC is very similar to the NARA’s DocsTeach, providing access to digitized historical documents and linking them to lesson plans and activities focused on Primary Source Literacy. The site also reviews copyright law, how to find primary sources, and how to cite them properly.

History Teaching Institute (Ohio State University)

The History Teaching Institute (HTI) serves as the primary outreach unit of The Ohio State University History Department. The site focuses on support for K-12 teachers and works with them to develop curriculum and to incorporate the best practices of using technology in the classroom. The site provides lesson plans that cover various time periods and topics in United States, Modern Europe, and Asian history. Unlike most sites, this one includes educational videos that provide historical context for selected historical topics and time periods.

Primary Source Literacy (University of Southern California)

This site is nicely designed, easy to navigate, and covers all the basics of primary source literacy. It includes textual information and video tutorials. According to the site’s introduction, teachers' will gain an understanding of the primary source repositories and how to navigate them, you will learn what defines an archive and a rare book, you will be able to efficiently search and locate primary source materials - both physically and electronically - and you will be able to critically evaluate primary source materials by understanding underlying concepts such as biases, privilege, and archival silences.

Archival and Primary Source Literacy Toolkit (Purdue University)

This toolkit is designed to help both instructors and archivists plan and deliver an archival and primary source literacy section in a freshman composition course. These materials can be edited to fit the needs of instructors, students, and archivists. While this toolkit was successfully piloted in an English 108 course at Purdue University, educators should be able to adapt it to a K-12 audience.