Students will begin to form their own opinions based on evidence and original sources. Primary sources humanize history. Students are fascinated by the human emotions and the values and attitudes of the past reflected in personal writings. Primary sources add color and excitement to history as they link students directly to individuals from the past. The use of primary sources develops important analytical skills.
History trains students to gather, sift, and evaluate evidence.
Students learn how bias and point of view affect evidence, what contradictions exist within a source, and how reliable their sources are. Development of these skills are important to students in all aspects of their lives, including historical research. We will be pleased to help you schedule a visit to the State Archives. Here are some suggestions to help you plan your visit. Class size is limited to ten students per visit.