A new World War II Primary Source Set from the Library of Congress supports teachers, librarians, and students in examining the people, places, and events of the war through primary sources from the Library’s digital collections. The eighteen-source set features newspapers, photographs, posters, maps, oral histories, letters, and other materials created during the period. A background essay provides historical context, teaching ideas, and links to additional Library of Congress resources.
These sources offer opportunities to explore some of the central questions and experiences of World War II from multiple perspectives. Americans contributed to the war effort as soldiers and civilians, workers and volunteers, and community members.
We hope this new source set will both be a useful and insightful way to explore World War II through the voices, images, and experiences preserved in the Library of Congress collections, and inspire students’ further inquiry and deeper investigation.
