Last Edited
Primary source collection highlighting
- The Mohawk Trail region of Western Massachusetts
(Franklin & Berkshire Counties) - Hampden & Hampshire Counties as neighbors in the region
Subtopics
- Environment/agriculture
- Community/civic life
- Industry/Transportation/Technology
- Events of historical significance
AUDIENCE & PURPOSE: This album is for use in my K-12 district as part of a TPS grant project to use local history in interdisciplinary work. I'll be sharing it in early March in a PD session and we'll use several of the sources in our introductory work together.
FEEDBACK SOUGHT: I'd like to identify the sources that seem most compelling for an activity like the CONNECTING WITH PRIMARY SOURCES one we did in our first meeting. The album is a work in progress generally and I'd be happy to accept other feedback and source ideas from network members.
Comments displayed by creation date
Replies displayed by creation date
Replies displayed by creation date
Edited
I am your neighbor just to the south in Enfield, CT! I love that you are making this album! I got inspired by our reading on looking at local history this week, and so I looked at some LOC materials for Hazardville and Thompsonville, Connecticut (two former villages that merged to become Enfield). I found historical photos of tobacco farmers and workers that were very interesting, along with some photos from downtown Thompsonville with a church. Great topic!
https://www.loc.gov/item/2018678659/
That's awesome - I'm very familiar with Enfield (just moved to Franklin County from Springfield last summer). We've got the tobacco farming in common - glad you found some images. I'm going to piggy back off those to look for some in MA. Thanks!
Edited
I was hoping someone would choose this topic. You focus on western MA is wonderful, as I think we too often go straight to the textile mills in places like Lowell. I look forward to watching and learning where you take this. I am am sort of your neighbor too - Acton, MA.
Thanks neighbor! I am interested to see how it goes, too, as I look for more interdisciplinary sources and think of our region a little more broadly.
Chronicling America has 22 Massachusetts newspapers digitized. You may want to check them out.
Michelle, this is a dynamite research tip that I often forget to check out. For anyone who is new to Chronicling America, to get a list of the Newspapers that have been digitized in this collection, you need to click on the Digitized Newspaper link on the Chronicling America homepage and these select your state. That will be the beginning of finding great local primary sources.
I will, thanks!
Testimonials
-
I love that there is new info on the site daily!
-
I had a wonderful time working with the Library of Congress and learning about all of the resources at my fingertips!
-
The TPS Teachers Network has an equal exchange of ideas. You know it's not a place where you're being judged.
-
My colleagues post incredibly fine resources and ideas....the caliber of the suggestions and resources make me feel that I take a lot from it. It's a takeaway. And I hope that I can give back as much as I get.
-
Going into this school year, I have a fantastic new resource for my own instruction and to share with my colleagues!
-
I am very glad that I discovered the TPS Teachers Network through RQI. Great resources can be hard to find out there on the internet!
