Digital Spotlight: Science History Institute

The SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE digital collection focuses on chemistry, engineering, and life sciences.

Contents: This digital collection contains nearly 6000 digital objects including artifacts, photographs, advertisements, letters, rare books, and more. Users can search by key word and limit the search by date.

Classroom Connections: Librarians will find this collection useful for students projects. Students can search for public domain images that can be used in science or other types of projects.

Featured Digital Objects:
Wilson College Chemistry Club https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/w6634363x
Princess and Fairy, or, the Wonders of Nature https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/c821gk49n
Science on Stamps https://digital.sciencehistory.org/focus/science-on-stamps

To visit the collection, go to https://digital.sciencehistory.org/.

Digital Spotlight: Photo Archive

The PHOTO ARCHIVE at the American Center of Oriental Research contains thousands of photos from Jordan and the broader Middle East.

Contents: This photo archive includes images that represent Jordan’s past and present along with other photos from the Middle East. The project includes major archaeological and cultural heritage images.

Classroom Connections: The easy-to-use search tools provide easy access to the images. Users can search by theme, place, keywords, country, or collection. Use this collection for both social studies and humanities activities focusing on the Middle East region.

Featured Digital Objects:
Petroglyphs (search Rock Drawings)
Jane Taylor Collection (search Collection name)
Linda K. Jacobs Collection (search Collection Name)

To visit the collection, go to https://acor.digitalrelab.com/.

Digital Spotlight: Western History and Genealogy

The WESTERN HISTORY AND GENEALOGY digital collections from the Denver Public Library contains thousands of objects chronicling the development of Western America.

Contents: This online collection contains photographs, maps, broadsides, architectural drawings and other documents exploring the people, places, and events that shaped the American West. Topics include Native Americans, pioneers, railroads, mining, western towns, and Buffalo Bill. Users can search or browse by format or subject.

Classroom Connections: This collection is useful for students exploring the history of the American West along with social studies topics connected with famous people, cultural topics, and genealogy.

Featured Digital Objects:
Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show https://bit.ly/2Nh373b
Colorado Railroad Photos http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/railroad/
Native Americans https://bit.ly/2QrDCOv

To visit the collection, go to http://digital.denverlibrary.org/.

Digital Spotlight: Florence Nightingale Digitization Project

The FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE DIGITIZATION PROJECT is part of an International Digital Collaborative.

Contents: The collection contains more than 2300 handwritten or narrated letters by Florence Nightingale. Suggested search terms such as hospitals, military medicine, nursing, rural health services, and workhouses are provided. Users can search all the collections or a specific collection such as the American Nurses Association or the British Red Cross.

Classroom Connections: Use this digital collection as an excellent example of a biographical collection. Or, use it to focus attention on the value of original letters in historical research.

Featured Digital Objects:
Hospital Design https://bit.ly/2Nfgz7D
Sanitary Engineering https://bit.ly/2QoP4KU
Statistics https://bit.ly/2DQnjJZ

To visit the collection, go to http://hgar-srv3.bu.edu/web/florence-nightingale

Digital Spotlight: Benjamin Franklin Papers

The BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PAPER from the Library of Congress contains the papers of statesman, publisher, scientist, and diplomat Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790).

Contents: The collection contains around 8,000 objects spanning 1726 through 1907. It includes materials related to Franklin’s diplomatic roles along with his work as a scientist and inventor. Of particular note is his correspondence with many well-known contemporaries.

Classroom Connections: The website contains a teacher resource guide and primary source sets. Expert resources are also available for teachers building curriculum materials.

Featured Digital Objects:
Treaty of Paris - https://www.loc.gov/item/mss21451009/
Letter about Bifocals - https://www.loc.gov/item/mss21451024/
Letter about Bald Eagle - https://www.loc.gov/item/mss21451024/

To visit the collection, go to https://www.loc.gov/…/benjamin-frank…/about-this-collection/.

Digital Spotlight: Children's Historical Lit Collection

CHILDREN’S HISTORICAL LITERATURE COLLECTION from the University of Washington contains thousands of digital objects related to the history of children’s books.

Contents: This comprehensive collection includes books from the 18th through the 20th century. A wide range of book types include alphabet books, chapbooks, dictionaries, hornbooks, and spelling books. From manners and etiquette to natural sciences and health, the collection explores all subject areas.

Classroom Connections: Students will enjoy exploring the books that children their age read in the 18th through the 20th century. Looks for ways to connect these historical primary sources with topics throughout the curriculum including science, math, and health. Ask students to compare and contrast life and learning in two different time periods.

Featured Digital Objects:
Health and Hygiene - https://goo.gl/iHZZT9
Manners and Social Etiquette - https://goo.gl/W7L3Dt
Natural Sciences - https://goo.gl/rbvgj2

To visit the collection, go tohttp://content.lib.washington.edu/childrensweb/index.html.

Digital Spotlight: Qatar Digital Library

QATAR DIGITAL LIBRARY is a free digital collection exploring the modern history and culture of the Gulf region.

Contents: Users can choose to explore the archives or read articles from experts. Exploring the archive provides access to over a million items. The expert articles can be filtered by topic, location, and time period. The See, Watch, Listen option provides a quick look at interesting topics. A list of popular topics is provided along with a search tool with filters.

Classroom Connections: Use this website as a starting point for an exploration of the Gulf region. Ask students to choose a topic, place, or time period of interest from the expert section to jumpstart their exploration.

Featured Digital Objects:
Introductory Articles https://goo.gl/BzsvhD
History of the English East India Company https://goo.gl/Ue7RnZ
Science and Medicine https://goo.gl/KwpWio

To visit the collection, go to https://www.qdl.qa/en.

Digital Spotlight: Pioneering Women of American Architecture

PIONEERING WOMEN OF AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE profiles fifty women how have made significant contributions to architecture in America.

Contents: The easy-to-access collection is organized alphabetically by last name, chronologically by lifetimes, and pictorially through architectural drawings and photographs. Each entry includes background information, a well-researched biographical article, illustrations depicting the architect and her work, and a bibliography.

Classroom Connections: Teachers will find that high-quality articles to be useful for informational reading activities. Consider using the collection while studying pioneering woman across disciplines.

Featured Digital Objects:
Van Rensselaer https://goo.gl/J1UYGo
Huxtable https://goo.gl/CEJUnD
Maxman https://goo.gl/Qpn5vx

To visit the collection, go to https://pioneeringwomen.bwaf.org/

Digital Spotlight: The Big Top Show

THE BIG TOP SHOW GOES ON is an oral history project focusing on the culture associated with the circus.

Contents: This oral history project was developed to preserve the voices associated with the tradition of the American “Big Top” circus. The collection contains interviews, video segments, classroom activities and additional resources.

Classroom Connections: Classroom activities aimed at grades four through six are available in the PDF format. Students will enjoy watching the videos associated with the project. The additional resources section contain an excellent set of links to extend the experience.

Featured Digital Objects:
Activities https://library.okstate.edu/…/circus/big-top-classroom-act…/
Popcorn the Circus Comic http://dc.library.okstate.edu/…/collect…/circus/id/212/rec/5
Videos https://library.okstate.edu/oralhis…/…/circus/big-top-videos

To visit the collection, go tohttps://library.okstate.edu/oralhistory/digital/circus/.

Digital Spotlight: National Film Registry

NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY SELECTIONS is a YouTube collection from the Library of Congress.

Contents: The collection contains thirty five films that have been identified by the Library of Congress as “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

Classroom Connections: Ask students to watch part of a film and discussion how it reflects the time period when it was produced.

Featured Digital Objects:
Popeye the Sailor https://www.loc.gov/item/mbrs00068306/
St. Louis Blues https://www.loc.gov/item/mbrs00063365/
Memphis Belle https://www.loc.gov/item/mbrs00009301/

To visit the collection, go to https://goo.gl/P8bKkL.

Digital Spotlight: National American Woman Suffrage Association

THE NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION COLLECTION from the Library of Congress contains materials related to the suffrage movement of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Contents: Containing over 100 digitized documents, the collection includes many primary sources related to Carrie Chapman Catt along with other members of the movement. Documents include books, pamphlets, photographs, poetry, speeches, and proceedings of conventions.

Classroom Connections: Teachers will find this collection filled with insights into the day-to-day activities of the association and people that led the suffrage movement. Ask students to select a document that reflects a particular aspect of the movement such as arguments for the amendment or speeches in support of women’s rights.

Featured Digital Objects:
Are Women People?
https://www.loc.gov/item/15013348/
An Appeal to the Women of the United States
https://www.loc.gov/item/tmp80018697/
Solitude of Self
https://www.loc.gov/item/93838358/

To visit the collection, go to https://www.loc.gov/…/national-americ…/about-this-collection

Digital Spotlight: National Museum of African American History and Culture

The NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE features a digital collection of 37,000 items.

Contents: This large digital collection contains historical artifacts, documents, photographs, and media related to African American history and culture. Users can access the collection by topic, date or era, name, object type, or place. Students may wish to begin with an exploration of topics such as American South, American West, Civil Rights, Clothing and Dress, Communities, Education, Family, Literature, Military, Music, Photography, Politics, Religious Groups, Segregation, and Slavery.

Classroom Connections: Work with history teachers to weave this collection into particular eras of American history or historical themes such as Civil Rights.

Featured Digital Objects:
Civil Rights https://goo.gl/cvUicu
Post Cards https://goo.gl/ToC86Z
1850s https://goo.gl/2WCUSz

To visit the collection, go to https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/collection.

Digital Spotlight: Maps of North America

MAPS OF NORTH AMERICA from the New York Public Library contains nearly 2000 historical maps.

Contents: From national park illustrations to city and state maps, this comprehensive digital collection features a wide variety of historical maps from the 17th to the 20th century. This varied collection includes railroad and road maps, Underground railroad maps, and city plans.

Classroom Connections: This large collection spanning three centuries contains a wealth of historical information particularly useful to social studies teachers. Use these maps to provide insights into specific locations and periods in North American history. Involve students in comparing maps of the same location in two different time periods.

Featured Digital Objects:
Underground Railroad Map
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/…/d64f0a80-4db6-0133-78…
Yellowstone National Park
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/…/510d47e2-12ce-a3d9-e0…
New England Map (1690)
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/…/510d47da-ee52-a3d9-e0…

To visit the collection, go to https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/c…/maps-of-north-america

Digital Spotlight: The Art of American Advertising

THE ART OF AMERICAN ADVERTISING features advertisements from 1865 to 1910.

Contents: In addition to a searchable digital collection, users can also explore nine exhibitions focusing on national markets, advertising products, trade catalogs, trade cards, souvenirs and novelties, scrapbooks and collectibles, the art of “posting”, brand name management, and a marketing revolution.

Classroom Connections: This collection is useful for activities across the curriculum. Art teachers will want to involve students in evaluating the artwork, while history teachers can use the images to provide insights into particular time periods. Divide classes into small groups to explore specific exhibitions. Involve younger students in “then and now” comparisons.

Featured Digital Objects:
Gallery https://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/artadv/gallery.html
Trade Cards https://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/artadv/trade-cards.html
Souvenirs & Novelties https://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/artadv/souvenirs.html

To visit the collection, go to https://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/artadv/.

Digital Spotlight: Nuremberg Trial Project

The NUREMBERG TRIAL PROJECT features thousands of primary source documents from the trials of military and political leaders of Nazi Germany.

Contents: This open-access collection includes both images and full-text versions of thousands of objects including trial documents, evidence file documents, trial transcripts, and photographs. In addition to search tools for locating specific documents, resources related to the Nuremberg trials can also be accessed by trial issue, people, and evidence files.

Classroom Connections: The collection would be a valuable resource for teachers exploring the topics of history, ethics, genocide, and war crimes. Ask students to examine a particular defendant or witness to gain insights into a particular incident.

Featured Digital Objects:
Malaria Experiments http://nuremberg.law.harvard.edu/search/…
Poison Gas Experiments http://nuremberg.law.harvard.edu/search/…
Karl Brandt http://nuremberg.law.harvard.edu/search/…

To visit the collection, go to http://nuremberg.law.harvard.edu/.

Digital Spotlight: Colonial North American Project

COLONIAL NORTH AMERICAN PROJECT shares archival and manuscript materials related to the 17th and 18th century in North America.

Contents: With over five thousand items, this digital collection includes primary source documents related to social life, education, trade, finance, politics, revolution, war, women, Native American life, slavery, science, medicine and religion. The collection also provides essays related to specific people, documents, and themes such as politics, and female laborers.

Classroom Connections: Integrate this collection into the history curriculum. Connect specific documents with thematic student inquiries such as slavery, war, and education.

Featured Digital Objects:
Diaries of Benjamin Guild http://colonialnorthamerican.library.harvard.edu/…/show/9178
John Hancock Books http://colonialnorthamerican.library.harvard.edu/…/…/hancock
The Winthrops http://colonialnorthamerican.library.harvard.edu/…/winthrops

To visit the collection, go tohttp://colonialnorthamerican.library.harvard.edu/.

Digital Spotlight: City Readers

CITY READERS from the New York Society Library is a project sharing the borrowing records of library users from 1789 to 1805.

Contents: Users can browse or search more than 100,000 records of books, readers, and borrowing history from the New York Society Library’s Special Collections. Users can also explore featured content including visualization tools, circulation records, female records, founding fathers, and library catalogs.

Classroom Connections: Use this amazing collection to teach students about the use of library records in history. These records provide unique insights into library users and their reading habits along with information about books and their readers.

Featured Digital Objects:
Visualizations http://cityreaders.nysoclib.org/About/visualizations
Female Readers http://cityreaders.nysoclib.org/Gallery/60
Founding Fathers http://cityreaders.nysoclib.org/Gallery/46

To visit the collection, go to http://cityreaders.nysoclib.org/.

Digital Spotlight: Women Working

WOMEN WORKING, 1800-1930 is digital collection including Harvard Library associated with women’s history.

Contents: This collection includes books, diaries, records, magazines, catalogs, manuscripts, photographs, and other items associated with life in the 19th and 20th century.

Classroom Connections: This collection includes resources associated with women’s workplace regulations and conditions, home life, commerce, recreation, health, and social issues. Users can explore materials with a keyword search or by format. The collection also features notable people.

Featured Digital Objects: A teacher resources section highlights resources that can easily be connected to the social studies and history curriculum.

To visit the collection, go to http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/ww/.

Digital Spotlight: Dennis Collection of Stereoscopic Views

DENNIS COLLECTION OF STEREOSCOPIC VIEWS is a massive collection of stereographs spanning the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century.

Contents: This amazing collection of over 40,000 photographs includes locations from around the world. Users can search by topic, place, genre, and other categories.

Classroom Connections: Librarians will find this public domain collection useful when connecting photographs to historical places and events. Mine the collection for photos matching specific topics in the history curriculum. Ask students to select a photo as the basis for a history project focusing on a particular time and place.

Featured Digital Objects:
Loading Cotton in Alabama https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/…/510d47e0-bc26-a3d9-e0…
Klondike Camp https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/…/510d47e0-2bf7-a3d9-e0…
Women Prospectors https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/…/510d47e0-2c0d-a3d9-e0…

To visit the collection, https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/…/robert-n-dennis-colle…

Digital Spotlight: Immigration to the US, 1789-1930

IMMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES, 1789-1930 explores the aspirations, acculturation, and impact of immigrants through a wide range of primary source documents.

Contents: Part of Harvard University Library’s open collections programs, this digital collection features historical materials from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. In addition to browsing for digital objects, users can explore materials by topic including the immigrant diaspora, new lives, and restricting immigration.

Classroom Connections: History and social studies teachers will find a wealth of useful resources in this collection that connect directly to the standards. Of particular note are the many acts and other legal documents associated with immigration. In addition, students will enjoy the diaries, photographs, and other documents related to the everyday lives of immigrants.

Featured Digital Objects:
The Chinese Exclusion Act http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/exclusion.html
The Statue of Liberty http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/statueofliberty.html
California Gold Rush http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/goldrush.html

To visit the collection, go to http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration.