Teaching with the U.S. Local History Collection

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We thank Candice L. Buchanan of the Library of Congress for this post.

The Library of Congress adds to the digitized collections regularly and often. A recent addition, the U.S. Local History Collection, represents communities across the nation and this collection will continue to grow as items are digitized or released into the public domain. Learning about local history offers students an opportunity to connect the familiar with the span of history in the wider world. 

Studying chronologies, business and organizational records, biographical sketches, and personal narratives can provide important context and perspective. Consider a location that resonates with students as a tie-in to a topic being covered in the classroom or associated with a more specific local or family history connection.

Search tips

Search the collection for the community or use the Locations index. It is important to look for both city and county level entries separately because items may only be filed under one or the other. State level publications may include county-by-county or city-by-city sections important to particular communities, so be sure to dig into those as well.

Search the collection by topic to examine how a subject was covered in different communities, or how that subject is unique and different from one town or county to another.

• For example, Memorial Day and July 4th are common themes for local publications. How were these days commemorated in different communities? During different years?
• Pastimes and activities may also be represented from the local angle. Look at concert, dance, exhibition, fishing, hunting, journey, vacation or any other favorite forms of entertainment.
• The establishment or anniversary of a town, new structure, monument, or park, or a major improvement, such as paving roads or installing electricity, was often commemorated. Search for anniversary, construction, dedication, inception, improvement, incorporation.
• Testimonials about experiences during major events may explain precise circumstances, technology of the day, and acts of heroism, as well as the culture, customs, perspectives, and cohesiveness of communities. Keywords might include earthquake, fire, flood, tornado.

Jurisdictions differ in the dates they initiated the maintenance of vital records, such as birth, death, and marriage. Though the original documents are maintained at the city, county, or state level, many of the oldest records have been transcribed or abstracted in published books. Look for books that feature these and other records of individuals from the community. Try search terms such as births, cemeteries, deaths, marriages.

Teaching ideas

• What topics are covered for the community?
• What stands out? Captures attention? Why?
• How has the community changed over the years?
• If students were to create a book about that community today, what would they want to write about? What photographs or illustrations would they include? Who would they interview?

To extend and deepen students’ learning, you might:

• Discuss the difference between original records and transcripts. See the States and Territories – Research Guides: Local History and Genealogy | Library of Congress to learn more about original Vital Records and Courthouse Records in each state and how to access them.
• Ask students to brainstorm: What types of original documents or publications might be consulted to fill in gaps for the years during which records were not kept?

Tell us about how your students have used local history publications!