In 2015, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) launched HSP Encounters, a new digital resource comprised of an ever-growing number of genealogical and biographical databases.

HSP Encounters is an ongoing project in which records and materials deemed of high research value are digitized and made available to Friends of HSP online, in searchable form. Historical essays incorporated in the system describe each database as well as establish historical context for the records contained. 

In 1971, Congress resolved that each August 26 would be Women's Equality Day to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment.  While not all schools are back in session yet, this day is the perfect time to think about whether your American history curriculum includes women and their contributions. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has several unit plans about women’s history you may use.

There are several documents that are integral to and synonymous with US history: The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, The Emancipation Proclamation.  They can be found in every textbook, and students are often forced to memorize parts of them, but how often are students encouraged to think critically about these documents?