4 Exploring Baltimore History Through Primary Sources

Before Class Assignment: Explore and Become Familiar Using

Bring any questions you have to discuss with the class!

The In-Class Activity: Exploring Baltimore History Through Primary Sources

Learning Objectives:

  • Use the UBalt Special Collections & Archives to locate primary sources
  • Analyze primary sources
  • Distinguish primary sources from secondary sources
  • Create research questions using primary sources focused on Baltimore history

Instructions

Step 1: Before class you were given a few resources to explore. Bring any questions you have about these resources to class to discuss with the instructor and your classmates. Today you’ll learn to investigate primary sources together—the more questions the better!

Step 2: Your instructor will introduce the Exploring Baltimore History Through Primary Sources activity and then separate everyone into up to five groups. Each group will have an item (a primary source). Use your item and the finding aid for its collection to answer the activity questions 1–3.

Step 3: The class will come together to describe and share what they learned about their primary sources. The class can discuss, ask questions about each item, and offer feedback for additional questions.

Step 4: Back in your small groups, you will answer question 4 and discuss research questions using the item. Also, begin to consider other sources you might use in such a research project.

Step 5: As a class you will discuss your research questions and search strategies; review resources in the archives and the library; and ask any lasting questions.

End of Class: Don’t forget! Download your answers so that you can turn them into your instructor for credit.

Use the form below [1] to answer questions while analyzing your primary source item. Work with your group and read all directions carefully.

Group 1:

 

Gil Scott-Heron performs onstage at the Afro-American (AFRAM) Exposition, Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore MD
Gil Scott-Heron performs onstage at the Afro-American (AFRAM) Exposition, Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore MD. August 8, 1976. Photo ID: rbcae76s0293. Source: Robert Breck Chapman Photographs, R0102-RBC. University of Baltimore Special Collections & Archives.

Group 2:

 

Nobody Asked You! And They Won't, Until You Tell Them To, Poster, circa 1975.
Nobody Asked You! And They Won’t, Until You Tell Them To, Poster, circa 1975. Source: Movement Against Destruction Records, R0062-MAD. University of Baltimore Special Collections & Archives.

 

Group 3:

 

Group 4:

 

‘Before,’ 1947. The rear of four row houses before the removal of wooden fencing and dilapidated structures from the backyards. Photo ID: cpha0140. Source: Citizens’ Planning and Housing Association (CPHA) Collection. University of Baltimore Special Collections & Archives.

Group 5:

 

“Registration Month” Proclamation in Baltimore, March 1958. Source: League of Women Voters of Baltimore City Records, R0061-LWV, University of Baltimore Special Collections & Archives.

 

 

  1. The questions in this exercise are based on the LOC tool. “Primary Source Analysis Tool,” Getting Started with Primary Sources, Library of Congress, accessed January 21, 2021, https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/getting-started-with-primary-sources/guides/ ↵
definition

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Primary Sources Online: Baltimore 20th Century History Copyright © by Laura Bell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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