Embedded Files
Look on the the lower part of the Library's Homepage for a link to the Exhibitions Homepage. This page includes both current exhibits that may be explored on site at the Library of Congress and online plus all past exhibits which have been preserved as digital exhibits for online exploration. From the Exhibitions Homepage you can browse through the titles to find topics you are interested in.
If you use the search box on the Exhibits Homepage your results list will be limited to only items that are within one of the Exhibits either current or past.
There are three advantages to limiting your searching to the Exhibitions section of the Library of Congress. First, these primary sources have been selected and curated by some of the best educators and librarians in the country giving you a jump start in your own search. Second, primary sources found in Exhibits will generally display as large images that may be copied or downloaded for classroom use. Sometimes searches from the loc.gov home page will take you to sources with a copyright restriction stating, "Full online access to this resource is only available at the Library of Congress." On the other hand, a search in Exhibitions using the exact title of the primary source you found before often results in a larger image that may be downloaded. Please note that the larger image you download is restricted to educational use and may not be republished on your own website. A third advantage to Exhibit searching is that Exhibitions include excellent secondary source information that places the primary sources within a historic and cultural context.
Political Cartoon Example
Political Cartoon Example
Recently, in a search for a political cartoon about President Obama from the Global Search engine at loc.gov, we found a thumbnail image of a cartoon that depicted Obama being sworn in as President. A second search using Google (Obama Cartoon site:loc.gov/exhibits) revealed an Exhibit titled Timely and Timeless Recent Editorial Cartoons that included a larger image of the same cartoon.
The first result displayed a thumbnail image only with this comment: Full online access to this resource is only available at the Library of Congress. The second result using Google was classroom ready! If you click on the thumbnail image on the Exhibit page to enlarge it, you will find a printer icon in the bottom right hand corner that enables you to print or save a pdf version of this image which works well on a computer screen or a classroom smartboard. You may not publish this on your own website.
READ ABOUT IT!
READ ABOUT IT!
The Teacher Blogs listed below describe ways that teachers can use the primary sources displayed in online Exhibits in a classroom. Browse these blogs and follow their links to remarkable treasures to augment your inquiry teaching.
Write About It (in Canvas Discussions Tutorial 4)
Write About It (in Canvas Discussions Tutorial 4)
- Use the Advanced Google search strategy to locate a primary source in one of the Library of Congress Exhibits that relates to your curriculum or personal interests. Example: In your browser navigation bar type: Statue of Liberty site:loc.gov/exhibits. Share the title and URL of that primary
- What questions or advice to other teachers do you have about searching and using Exhibition primary sources in a classroom or PD workshop?
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