If you select this topic, you may wish to create additional exercises to add to this limited set.
1. The National Archives and Records Administration Digital Classroom is designed to help classroom teachers use primary source materials effectively. How useful would it be for a high school teacher?
*2. The Library of Congress American Memory Site contains an unusually large number of special collections of primary source material in a variety of formats. Many of these collections are intended to be used by high school teachers to add substance to complement text book teaching. Examine a particular collection and discuss its utility for a particular group of teachers and students. Also consider ease of use.
3. The several presidential libraries [and museums] contain the archives for recent presidents. Select a particular presidential library and evaluate its utility. Audience? Services? Does the library seem objective or does it present the president in a very favorable light?
4. The Smithsonian Institution is our national museum [really a collection of museums]. Create a brief profile based on the Institution's website and then examine one museum or collection of interest. Comment on the audience for this collection and the collection's utility?
5. Increasingly, government agencies are placing digital
archives on the web. Examples include the National
Park Service, the Bureau of Land
Management, and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. Evaluate one of these collections. Comment on ease
of use, audience, and appeal.
6. A college student wonders if NARA has any original material on the Mexican War. What can you find? Useful for a college paper?
7. A graduate student is working on a dissertation involving George Patton and needs help with archival materials. What can you find?
8. An enthusiastic high school student is interested in images of WWII aircraft from official government sources. Would the National Air & Space Museum be a good place to begin? Other government sources?
9. A high school student writing a paper on the National Guard would like to include some primary source historical material. Federal government sites?
10. A civil engineering student is interested in somewhat detailed information about the building of the Hoover Dam. What can you find? How useful for student research?
11. An elementary school teacher wants accurate information on
the history of the "Star Spangled Banner." What can you
find?
12. Evaluate the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art's website, considering audience, ease of use, and appeal.
13. The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage is responsible for a notable folklife festival and considerable ethnographic research. Evaluate the quality and utility of their website. Comment on audience and unique resources.
14. Allen Weinstein is the ninth Archivist of the United States. He was a controversial candidate for this important position. Why? Create a succinct biographical profile.
15. The Clinton Presidential Library is the newest one. Characterize reviews and comments about this library that focus on collections and services.
16. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is relatively recent, but has had quite an impact. Evaluate the website with some emphasis on available services and collections as well as likely audience.
17. There are man useful historical sites supported by state and local government as well as other non-profits. Raid on Deerfield: the many stories of 1704 is an excellent example of what can be done. Evaluate this site. To what degree might it serve as a model for others?
