Using Primary Sources

Most students study history using only secondary sources—articles, reference books, and textbooks—all written at some point after the actual event. Secondary sources tend to interpret or analyze historical events.

Primary sources, on the other hand, were created during the time period being studied. They reflect the individual viewpoint of a participant or observer. Primary sources include autobiographies, diaries, e-mails, interviews, letters, minutes, news film footage, official records, photographs, raw research data, speeches, art, drama, music, novels, poetry, buildings, clothing, DNA, furniture, jewelry, pottery, etc. These sources enable the researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period.

Today, the Internet provides access to a wealth of primary resources. In earlier years, one would have had to travel great distances to various libraries and museums to gain access to this information.

The American Library Association’s Reference and User Services Association has posted an article titled Using Primary Sources on the Web, which can be used as an exercise in critical thinking. It provides information on

• Finding primary sources
• Evaluating primary sources (including, among other things, understanding the purpose of the website where the primary sources are displayed and the credentials of the person who created the website)
• Citing websites appropriately

Repositories of Primary Resources contains links to Internet sites for primary sources all over the world. Want to find a digitized photo of a street scene in Colorado in the mid-late 1800s? Do you want to find crime reports for the United States in 1935? Do you want to see an original score written by Beethoven? Do enough searching on this site and you will find such information.

The Library of Congress is in the process of digitizing many of the important documents in American history. As of the writing of this blog entry, they have posted documents from 1763-1877.

These are just some of the many sources for primary resources on the Internet. For a particular topic of interest, do an Internet search using the subject of your search (e.g., Civil War women) plus the words “primary source.”

The Civil War

After more than 150 years, there is still a debate about the cause of The Civil War. Did it start because of slavery or because of state’s rights? After studying the subject, gifted students might choose sides of the controversy and defend their opinions.

There are some excellent websites to consult when studying the Civil War.

• Civil War Trust: Saving America’s Civil War Battlefields—This site includes maps, apps for your smartphone, resources for teachers and students, and Civil War blogs.
• The Civil War: 150 Years (Part of the National Park Service website)—Includes upcoming events, information on more than 70 parks in the National Park System that have resources related to the history of the Civil War, a database of those who served in the war, news stories from the time, and the history of African Americans in the war.
• North Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial—This site has adopted three themes—freedom, sacrifice, and memory— which are explored across all aspects of the war.
• Civil War 150 (from The History Channel)—Offers an interactive experience that provides interesting information about who fought in the Civil War, weapons that were used, how people died, the five deadliest battles, paying for the war, West Point warriors, and other topics too numerous to list.
• Civil War Battlefield Medicine—General medicine, surgery, and primary sources.
• Pictures of the Civil War (from the National Archives)—Photographs of civilians and civilian activities; military personnel, equipment, and activities; and the locations and aftermaths of battles. Because wet-plate collodion negatives required from 5 to 20 seconds exposure, there are no action photographs of the war.
• Civil War Photos—Over 1,200 Civil War images. Also included are numerous documents and maps.
• Selected Civil War Photographs (from the Library of Congress)—1,118 photographs of military personnel, preparations for battle, and battle after-effects.

Immigration Studies for Gifted Students

Gifted students will find the controversial and relevant topic of immigration especially interesting. I have tried to find websites on the subject that are politically neutral and offer more facts than opinion. These sites are divided into historical immigration and current immigration.

Historical Immigration

• Immigration and U.S. History presents an overview of four centuries of immigration in the United States.
• Digital History gathers together a multitude of research items. You will want to spend time clicking through the various resources on the left side of the page.
• The Library of Congress: Immigration this website links educators to primary sources from the Library of Congress' online collections.

Current Immigration

• The Urban Institute offers much statistical information on current immigration, including where immigrants are settling and information about children of immigrants.
• Migration Policy Institute: Country and Comparative Data presents an incredible amount of data. From where are immigrants coming? To which countries are they moving? Which countries are accepting people applying for asylum, and how many do they allow each year?
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is the official website to check when wanting to enter the United States legally. Readers will discover the various ways that a person can enter the U.S. and how the application process works.

Possible Questions for Study

• Why do people immigrate to other countries?
• What factors are considered when immigrants choose a destination country?
• In what ways has immigration been a positive influence?
• In what ways has immigration been a negative influence?
• How has the view of immigration changed or stayed the same over the years?

Learn about Firefighting—Past, Present, Future

Just about any topic that a student is interested in is worth pursuing. When helping a young person figure out how to study a particular interest, brainstorm together all the possible connections. Here is one example.

Firefighting has always fascinated young children. Firefighters dress in special clothes, ride in special vehicles, and perform unusual tasks. They save people and structures. They are our heroes at a time when there is an absence of heroes. If your child is interested in this subject, there are many ways you can help her learn more.

There are firefighter museums all over the country. Check out the Fire Museum Network. Do an Internet search for “firefighter museum” in your hometown or any place where you plan to travel. Visit these sites and see if they have any special programs for kids.

Learn about the history of firefighting at websites such as Escape Through Time, created by NOVA.

Local fire stations often allow visitors to tour the facility, talk with firefighters, and find out what their days look like. Schedule a visit with your young people.

Find out about firefighting worldwide. How is firefighting managed differently and how do the jobs of firefighters vary in different countries?

Explore the future of firefighting robots at websites such as Popular Science.

YouTube has many videos that you can watch about firefighting. You can search on fire fighting robots, firefighter training, firefighting tools, forest fire, fire fighting airplanes, and fire boats to name a few. (Notice that firefighting can be spelled as either one or two words, so try both with your searches.) If you have young children, screen the videos to make certain that they are appropriate.

Branch out and think of subjects related to firefighting—clothing, vehicles, tools, types of fires, types of firefighting, famous fires, fire departments, layouts of fire stations, life at a fire station, special training for firefighters, ways to keep your home safe, what to do in case of a fire, ways to put out different types of fires, and how firefighters protect themselves. Brainstorm as many ideas as possible. The Internet is filled with helpful resources.

Encourage kids to make their own creations focusing on firefighters. Perhaps they could make a book or develop a game to teach others about firefighting. Or, they might draw pictures, write stories, or created their own fire fighting robot.

Maritime History

The study of maritime history is a great way for students to learn about the history of ships and about inventions and discoveries that enabled explorers to travel farther and farther from home. It also helps young people to understand the political, economic, and personal motivations that explorers had to travel to different parts of the world. There is excellent information on the Internet that will enable students and teachers to study this subject. Below is just a sampling.

The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia has created Exploration through the Ages, which contains a wealth of information for students in grades 3-12. There are visual images, text, bibliographies, and interactive activities that cover centuries of exploration and trade.

A section of The National Maritime Historical Society website is titled Just for Kids. Here you will find a variety of informational pages and activities, including vessel types, the commerce of historical shipping, famous mariners, underwater archaeology, professions and occupations of the sea, the historical stories of kids who went to sea, games, and puzzles.

San Francisco Maritime (National Park Service) provides insights into the role of women in maritime history.

The BBC presents A History of Navigation, charting the course of maritime navigation "from the days of rough reckoning to the ground-breaking technological advances of the late 1700s." An animated slide show is used to present the information.