Featured Primary Sources
American Indians
Nothing can enrich and enliven our understanding of the nation’s past, or dispel apathy about it, more powerfully than primary sources. The primary sources below open up a variety of viewpoints and have been chosen by master teachers specifically for use in the classroom. Affiliate School members can print a packet that includes an image of the document, photograph, or other resource, a transcript where applicable, and text to place the document in historical context. Additionally, you may want to search the Gilder Lehrman Collection itself for other resources to enrich your lessons.
Primary Sources from Other Sub-Eras
Columbus reports on his first voyage, 1493
Creator: Christopher Columbus Curriculum Subjects: Geography, World History Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+
De Soto’s discovery of the Mississippi, 1541
Creator: Johnson, Fry & Co. Curriculum Subjects: Art, Geography, World History Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+
John Winthrop describes life in Boston, 1634
Creator: John Winthrop Curriculum Subjects: Grade Levels:
Landing of Columbus, 1492
Creator: Martin, Johnson & Co. Curriculum Subjects: Geography, World History Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+
Sir Francis Drake’s attack on St. Augustine, 1586
Creator: Baptista Boazio Curriculum Subjects: Economics, World History Grade Levels: