Primary Sources

Teachers, need a primary source to create a lesson in the classroom? Students, need a source for a research project?

Here, we've listed the primary sources featured in our Unit Plans. Click on a primary source to go to its page, where you may find additional images, transcriptions of the text, a citation guide for including the source in a bibliography, or ways to purchase copies of the source for the classroom.

HSP's collections are not limited to the primary sources listed here. To see all that HSP has to offer, come visit us or explore our collection online through the Digitial Library and the Discover online catalog.

Some sources have handwriting that is difficult to read. If you need help decoding handwriting, check out this guide from Ancestry.

By Topic

An Indian Squaw King Wampum Spies This print depicts political cartoon against Quaker Government; King Wampum is Israel Pemberton 18th century, Colonial period, Government and civics, Native American, Pennsylvania	Indian Family From an engraving in "Nya Swerige," by Thomas Campanius Holm, published at Stockholm, A.D. 1702 18th century, Colonial period, Native American
Kort beskrifning om provincien Nya Swerige uti America : som nu förtjden af the Engelske kallas Pensylvania This woodcut depicting Indians and Swedes engaged in trade was carved by Tomas Campanius. He never visited America but created the image from descriptions written by his grandfather who lived in New Sweden from 1643 to 1648. The inaccuracies of this image include circular headdreses, the depiction of war at point blank range, palm trees and three varieties of dwellings. 17th century, Colonial period, Native American, Pennsylvania	School Savings Banks This excerpt on “School Savings Banks” (pages 209-214) was written by Sara Louisa Oberholtzer in the Transactions of the National Council of Women of the United States, assembled in Washington, D.C. The meeting was held February 22 to 25, 1891, and its proceedings published in Philadelphia that same year. 18th century, 19th century, Economics, Education, Women
Letterhead: World’s and National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, School Savings Bank Department This letterhead was used by Sara Oberhotlzer in her work on the School Savings Banks under the auspices of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. It includes the quote "The inculcation of thrift insures wiser living and decreases pauperism, intemperance, and crime." 20th century, Economics, Education, Women	The Value of School Savings Banks This booklet by Sara Oberholtzer, superintendent of the School Savings Bank moment, consists of quotes from educators attesting to the importance of the school savings banks for students and their communities. 20th century, Economics, Education
Will the Federal Suffrage Amendment Complicate the Race Problem? Broadside published by the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage citing 1910 Census data to show that women's suffrage will not be affected by African American population numbers. 20th century, Civil Rights, Women	Map of Speaking Tour of the Congressional Union for Women's Suffrage Map of the routes of envoys sent by the Congressional Union for Women's Suffrage to appeal to the voting women of the West. 20th century, Civil Rights, Women
U.S. Suffrage Map Stamp, 1915 This 1915 stamp shows each state's status of women's suffrage. 20th century, Civil Rights, Women	Pennsylvania Men's League for Woman Suffrage, Votes by County This image is a map of the state of Pennsylvania and illustrates how each county in the state voted on the subject of women's suffrage in 1915. 20th century, Civil Rights, Women
Why We Picket Flyer Broadside published by the National Women's Party informing women of why they should picket the White House to fight for women's suffrage.	Marshall Green and Susan, alias Marcia Davis, Philadelphia, 1826 This document, found in pages 17-20 of the manumission papers, describes the case of Marshall Green. Green obtained permission from his owner, Dr. Bouchell, to leave Maryland and go to Pennsylvania to get his children. When Green did not return to Maryland, he was pursued and arrested. Dr. Bouchell died before Green was returned. The court ruled that Green could not be arrested under the fugitive slave act since he did not escape or flee, but had the consent of his owner to go to Pennsylvania. 19th century, Abolition, African American, Slavery