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
Glass bottle full of dry tea leaves positioned on its side so the handwritten label is visible
Boston 1773: The Destruction of the Tea
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Painting of violent altercation between red-wearing British soldiers holding rifles and unarmed civilians. A black man is shot in the center.
The Evolving Legacy of Crispus Attucks, 1770-1863
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Colored drawing depicting the King Street massacre; a group of British soldiers wearing red coats (right) face off against an unruly crowd an unruly crowd (left) wearing blue coats
Investigating Multiple Perspectives on the Boston Massacre
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Carved wooden sign with red, blue, and gold leaf accents
Massachusetts Loyalists: Revolution and Exile
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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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A framed portrait of a young woman with dark hair. She wears a blue dress with lace around the neckline, a pink wrap, a pearl choker necklace, and a pink ribbon in her hair.
Revolutionary Abigail Adams
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a sepia-toned photograph of a tall building and two women standing on the sidewalk outside of it
"A Great Public Nuisance": Boston's segregated schools in the mid-1800s
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A framed portrait of a Black woman wearing a blue dress with drawstrings at the neck and waist, a white fichu tucked into her dress at the neck, a white cap, and a gold beaded necklace.
Portraits of enslavement and freedom
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Poster printed on pink-toned paper, titled "TO COLORED MEN: 54th REGIMENT!" in large letters. Below, the phrases "AFRICAN DESCENT" "$100 BOUNTY" and "PAY, $13 A MONTH are also prominent in large letters.
Civil War Recruitment Posters
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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 black and white photo of a number of women marching in the street, wearing matching white outfits and dark sashes while crowds look on
Women Debate the Right to Vote
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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.