What are Historical Sources? — Faculty of History
A source is anything that has been left behind by the past. It might be a document, but it might alternatively be a building or a picture or a piece of ephemera – a train ticket perhaps or a plastic cup. They are called 'sources' because they provide us with information which can add to the sum of our knowledge of the past. Sources only become historical evidence, however, when they are used by a historian to make a point. What they are evidence of will depend on what the historian is trying to say. Where do sources come from >>
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Asia-Pacific | 'Fake photo' revives Kim rumours
Fresh speculation was sparked about the health of North Korea's "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il, amid suggestions that an image of Mr Kim was doctored. The image was one of several released on 5 November, appearing to show Mr Kim inspecting two military units. No proof of the date of the images was provided. An analysis by the UK's Times newspaper highlighted possible incongruities around the leader's legs in the photo. It gave new life to suggestions Mr Kim may be seriously unwell. "They go into ostrich mode so readily - because they have given no clue about what would happen without him," North Korea expert Aidan Foster-Carter told the BBC. Unlike the previous handover of power from the Great Leader Kim Il-sung to his son - which was planned and made public decades in advance - there has been no public announcement about who will succeed Kim Jong-il, 66. Propaganda battle His disappearance sparked suggestions he was undergoing brain surgery for a stroke or even that he had died. 'Old trick'
Web of Stories
Learning from the Source: Comparing Reports of the Battle of Little Bighorn - TPS-Barat Primary Source Nexus
Have students collaborate to compare U.S. newspaper coverage of the Battle of Little Bighorn with eyewitness accounts from Native Americans who were there. Ask them to compare descriptions of the battle as well as characterizations of opposing forces. Remind students to look for and note differences in tone, particularly as defined by word choice. You may also ask students to consider which sources in each group seem more or less reliable or how the sources might have influenced the information that was shared or both. Be sure to emphasize that students should support their conclusions with direct evidence. Little Bighorn Battle Coverage: New York Times editorial, July 7, 1876 Little Bighorn Battle Coverage: The Louisiana Democrat. Little Bighorn Battle Coverage: National Republican. Little Bighorn Battle Coverage: The Anderson Intelligencer. Little Bighorn Battle Coverage: National Republican. “Sitting Bull Tells the Story of the Fight” New York Times (May 7, 1881)
Talking History
Native Warriors on Both Sides of the Battle of Little Bighorn – Education Updates
As part of our document spotlight series, today we bring you primary sources related to the Battle of Little Bighorn. One hundred and forty-one years ago, from the evening of June 25, 1876, to dusk on the 26th, General Armstrong Custer and his troops engaged in battle with the Sioux and Cheyenne at the Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana Territory. As was often the case from the colonial through the expansion eras, Native Americans aligned on both sides of the battle; although in this case, only a few Army Scouts were involved with Custer. Access Primary Sources in the National Archives Catalog: Sioux & Cheyenne Leaders at the Battle: U.S. Several detailed accounts of this event and events following can be found across the internet, including: Like this: Like Loading...
American Journeys: Eyewitness Accounts of Early American Exploration and Settlement
Document Analysis Worksheets
Español Document analysis is the first step in working with primary sources. Teach your students to think through primary source documents for contextual understanding and to extract information to make informed judgments. Use these worksheets — for photos, written documents, artifacts, posters, maps, cartoons, videos, and sound recordings — to teach your students the process of document analysis. Follow this progression: Don’t stop with document analysis though. The first few times you ask students to work with primary sources, and whenever you have not worked with primary sources recently, model careful document analysis using the worksheets. Worksheet for Understanding Perspective in Primary Sources - For All Students and Document Types This tool helps students identify perspective in primary sources and understand how backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences shape point of view. Understanding Perspective in Primary Sources Former Worksheets These worksheets were revised in February, 2017.
