Primary Source Sets
Through the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) grant, the State Historical Society of Iowa developed free and downloadable Primary Source Sets to help K-12 educators meet the Iowa Core Content Anchor Standards for Social Studies. These Primary Source Sets address national and international history as well as Iowa-specific history. Educators are encouraged to explore sets beyond a particular grade level – great sources are available at all grade levels that can be tailored for students.
- Compelling and supporting questions guide each Primary Source Set
- An introduction, with an Iowa focus, offers an overview for each set
- Source-dependent questions (available for each source) are provided to aid student understanding
- Transcripts and grade-appropriate text excerptions are available for ease of use
- Search the Primary Source Sets by grade level Content Anchor Standards, subject or time period
Educator Toolkit
Need help using primary sources with your students? Download the extensive Primary Source Toolkit (K-12), which is filled with tools, worksheets and alternative activities for educators to customize for their classrooms.
In partnership with Read.Inquire.Write., a Library of Congress TPS grant recipient, the State Historical Society of Iowa is excited to share resources to support primary source-based inquiry and argument writing in social studies.
Images credited to the State Historical Society of Iowa in these primary source sets are provided solely for educational use. Requests for copies and permissions to use for other purposes should be directed to History.Research@iowa.gov.
Watch this How-To Video to to learn how to use the sorting tool below.

Agriculture in a Global World Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930), Contemporary United States (1968 to the present), Science and Technology, US History, World History

Cold War Postwar United States (1945-early 1970s), Law & Government, Science and Technology, US History

Cold War: Vietnam Postwar United States (1945-early 1970s), African Americans, Geography, Science and Technology, US History, World History

Environmental Impact Contemporary United States (1968 to the present), Geography, Science and Technology, US History

Industrial Revolution Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1820s), Expansion and Reform (1801-1861), Science and Technology, US History

Innovation in Agriculture Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1820s), Expansion and Reform (1801-1861), Science and Technology, US History

Innovation in Transportation Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1820s), Expansion and Reform (1801-1861), Science and Technology, US History

Iowa's Corn and Agriculture Industry Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930), Postwar United States (1945-early 1970s), Contemporary United States (1968 to the present), Geography, Law & Government, Science and Technology, US History, World History

Iowa’s Connection to the World Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930), Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945), Postwar United States (1945-early 1970s), Science and Technology, Social Movements, US History, World History

People at Work Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900), Postwar United States (1945-early 1970s), Contemporary United States (1968 to the present), Science and Technology, US History

Population and Land Use Contemporary United States (1968 to the present), Science and Technology, US History, World History

Railroads in Iowa Pt. 1 Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900), Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930), Geography, Science and Technology, US History

Railroads in Iowa Pt. 2 Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900), Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930), Geography, Science and Technology, US History

Rural Life in a Modern Age Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930), Science and Technology, US History