Drawn from MHS collections, our primary source sets promote learning in U.S. history and civics and are supported by teaching activities and guiding questions.

primary source sets
 

 

Theme
hexagonal stamp printed on aged paper and featuring Mandarin Chinese symbols in Black ink with a border or dragons. Red marks also appear on the page.
Opium Smugglers: Boston's Merchants and the China Trade, 1790-1850
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faint cursive writing on aged, yellowed paper
Emancipation in 18th century Massachusetts
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printed text on a yellowed paper; the top reads "In Congress July 4, 1776, a Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America"
Analyzing the Meaning and Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
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A broadside printed on aged paper, titled "The Man is NOT BOUGHT!!" and subtitled "He is still in the SLAVE PEN in THE COURT HOUSE!!"
Anthony Burns and the Fugitive Slave Act
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Funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Mass Cultural Council, the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati, and an anonymous grant supported this project.

Questions or suggestions? Contact us at education@masshist.org.