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Primary Source Sets

Looking for primary sources to use in the classroom, but don’t have the time to do a deep dive into Michiganology? Education staff at the Michigan History Center did the hard work for you. We prepared standards based, curated sets of primary sources for an array of topics for you to use in the classroom.

Michigan Birdseye Maps (1866 - 1889)

11 sources

Help students explore their community from the past. Birdseye maps show businesses, industries, and lanscapes.

Dig into Michigan Birdseye Maps
A section of an illustrated map of Jonesville. The city is shown from a birds eye perspective. There a roads, buildings, and a train on the map.
Dig into Michigan Birdseye Maps

Indigenous Lithographs

1821-1937

Look at images of Indigenous delegates to treaty negotiations

Indigenous Lithograph Primary Sources
Woman sitting in chair
Indigenous Lithograph Primary Sources

War Letters

1861-1945

What did soldiers write home about? Have a look in these letters home.

War Letters 1865-1945
Man in uniform looking directly at camera
War Letters 1865-1945

Michigan Experiences in the Civil War

1861-1865

Many different people from Michigan participated in the Civil War.

Michigan Experiences in the Civil War (1861 – 1865)
Photo of partial profile of a man sitting down
Michigan Experiences in the Civil War (1861 – 1865)
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