Featured Primary Sources
American Indian History
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.
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+
Proclamation of 1763
Creator: George III, King of Great Britain Curriculum Subjects: Government and Civics Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+
The Doctrine of Discovery, 1493
Creator: Pope Alexander VI Curriculum Subjects: Geography, Religion and Philosophy, World History Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+
The Massacre of American Indian allies, 1818
Creator: Curriculum Subjects: Government and Civics Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+