Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Understanding Historical Photos"

History Explorer Podcast: Investigating Portraiture

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:54:16 GMT

In this episode of the History Explorer podcast series, Curator Shannon Perich discusses how portraiture can be used in historical research. Shannon presents three historical portraits (including Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother), describing the historical context of each, while also providing information on how curators and researchers look for clues within historical photography. The resource includes audio and image enhanced podcasts, a teachers guide and student worksheet, and related images.

History Explorer Podcast: Portraiture and Identity

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:54:45 GMT

In this episode of the History Explorer podcast series, Shannon Perich, curator in the Photographic Collection at the Museum examines three unique photographic portraits, showing how portraiture and the creation of an image between sitter and photographer, can be used to express many ideas, beyond that of simply a picture of an individual. The resource includes both an audio and image-enhanced podcast, a teachers guide and a student worksheet.

Whatever Happened to Polio? Homepage

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:30:04 GMT

This website uses images, artifacts, oral histories and interactive resources to tell the story of the polio epidemics in the United States and the struggle to find a vaccination to prevent them. The exhibition is divided into four parts covering the effects of polio on communities, families and medicine, the social, scientific and medical legacies of the disease, how the virus works and how a vaccine was developed, and the state of the global campaign to eradicate polio today. This exhibition will help students learn the important connections between science and history.

Understanding and Using Primary and Secondary Sources in History

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:57:03 GMT

Learning to use primary and secondary sources correctly takes practice. In this classroom activity, students will understand the difference between primary and secondary sources. After class discussion and a written assignment based on primary sources, students will also be able to explain the importance and limitations of using primary sources for historical research. This activity is included in the online exhibition entitled The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem.