Teacher Resources

Student Visits

Using primary sources can be highly rewarding but requires a different skill set than using secondary source materials. The State Archives invites you to bring your class to the Research Center and will work with you to identify relevant materials students can examine that meet Alaska Content and Performance Standards for Government and Citizenship, History/Social Studies, Library/Information Literacy, and Cultural Standards.

Important: We require two weeks advance notice for class visits.

Set up a visit by filling out our online form.

Our facility is ADA compliant. Should you require additional assistance, please let us know. To add a museum tour to your visit contact the museum's Education Associate at (907) 465-1016.

Alaska History Day

Alaska History Day, led by the Alaska Humanities Forum, is the state affiliate for the yearlong Nation History Day contest. Students in grades 6-12 learn critical thinking, problem-solving skills, research and reading skills while building self-esteem and confidence using primary resources.

Visit the Alaska Humanities Forum and National History Day to find out more.

The theme for the 2020 National History Day contest is Breaking Barriers in History.

Teaching with Primary Sources

Primary sources are the evidence of history. Original records and artifacts created by participants or observers at the time historical events occurred offer “unfiltered access to the record of artistic, social, scientific and political thought and achievement during the specific period under study, produced by people who lived during that period. Bringing young people into close contact with these unique, often profoundly personal, documents and objects can give them a very real sense of what it was like to be alive during a long-past era.”

Additional resources:

• Library of Congress, Teacher's Guides and Analysis Tool
• Library of Congress, Using Primary Resources

Citing Primary and Secondary Sources

The two acceptable citation styles used for National History Day projects are Chicago and MLA. For help with questions about citations, you can check out the Chicago Style or MLA Style guides from your local library or visit the Library of Congress's examples for Citing Primary Sources.

Alaska History Digital Resources

For more digital resources try the following websites, listed in alphabetical order:

• Alaska's Digital Archives
• Alaska State Museum, Online Exhibits
• Alaska State Library, Online Exhibits
• Alaska History Topics, SLED Statewide Library Electronic Doorway
• Alaska Film Archives, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library
• Discover Alaska's History, Alaska Historical Society
• Project Jukebox, UAF Oral History Program
• Library of Congress Digital Collections
• National Archives Digital Collections
• UAA/APU Consortium Library, Primary Sources: Where to Find
• Juneau-Douglas City Museum, Educational Resources
• Alaska District History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Alaska's History, Alaska Public Lands Information Centers
• Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area, Curriculum Resources
• United States History: Research Guide: Primary Sources, UC San Diego

Curriculum Resources

• Alaska Native Knowledge Network, Curriculum Resources Available Online
• Library of Congress, Teachers
• National Archives DOCS Teach, the online tool for teaching with documents
• National Archives, Educator Resources
• National History Education Clearinghouse, Teaching Materials
• Sheldon Jackson Museum, Hands-On Learning Program
• Alaska State Museums, Teacher Resources
• Smithsonian's History Explorer, Lessons & Activities