Digital Collections for the Classroom

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19th Century, 20th Century, Activities, Grades 4 and Up, Grades 6 and Up, Grades 8 and Up

Population Growth in Chicago

Elevated view of a city neighborhood showing rows of tightly packed two-and-three story houses with a church and many industrial smoke stacks on the horizon.

Kathleen Thompson
May 2, 2023

19th Century, 20th Century, Classroom Materials, Collection Essays

These Are the Women Who Saved the Cities

Black-and-white bust photos of Jane Addmas (left) and Janie Porter Barrett (right). Addams is a middle-aged white woman wearing a high-necked black dress. Porter Barret is a younger light skinned Black woman wearing a high-necked dress decorated with buttons.

Kathleen Thompson
May 1, 2023

16th Century, 17th Century, Classroom Materials, Collection Essays

Spanish Golden Age Nobility Documents

Two-page spread of an open book. On the right is a full-page illumination depicting a plumed helmet above a crest on a shield. The shield is split into four parts. Clockwise from the upper left: an armed knight on top of a tower, leaves surrounding a green rectangle crossed by a diagonal orange line, five black pots within a square surrounded by black Xs on a gold background, and a pattern of gray, black, and orange and gold checkered horizontal lines. The image is bracketed on both vertical side by a floral border. The image on the left also has vertical floral borders. These bracket two illuminations stacked vertically. The upper illumination shows Jesus (white) floating in a halo above a gold tomb. Three white men wearing armor cower away from him. The lower illumination shows a white man on a rearing white horse with sword raised. A figure wearing orange lays under the horse's feet.

Elizabeth A. Neary
April 13, 2023

16th Century, 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, 20th Century, Classroom Materials, Collection Essays

Movable Mayhem: Pop-Up Books through the Ages

Sheets of paper layered one behind the other to create a 3D scene of buildings as if they rise up a hill. At the bottom is a body of water with fountains and a decorative balustrade running along its edge. Above this is a large neo-Romanesque house. Above this is an even larger rectangular building with grand entrances on each side, domes on the corners, and many flags. Above this is a cathedral-like building with tall windows filled with light and many domed towers. A US flag flies from its central, largest dome. The buildings are surrounded by lush plants.

Dr. Suzanne Karr Schmidt, Newberry Library
March 3, 2023

19th Century, 20th Century, Classroom Materials, Grades 4 and Up, Grades 6 and Up, Grades 8 and Up, Lesson Plans

The Carrington Store

Black-and-white photograph of a two-story building standing alone and fronting a street with horse drawn vehicles. The first floor has a covered awning over the sidewalk labeled "E.H. Carrington Groceries" and has advertisements for a variety of products. Six well-dressed people stand under the awning.

Hilary Mac Austin and Kathleen Thompson
January 31, 2023

20th Century, Classroom Materials, Grades 8 and Up, Lesson Plans

Blockbusting

Single page of cursive text in pencil. The text describes the author's experiences and advocates for better housing access for African Americans in Chicago

Hilary Mac Austin and Kathleen Thompson
December 16, 2022

15th Century, Classroom Materials, College Prep, Skills Lesson

Skills Lesson: Anatomy of a Manuscript Page

Page of an illuminated medieval manuscript. A border of leaves and flowers surrounds Latin text handwritten in black. There are two small images within the text. In the upper left the Virgin Mary holds Jesus inside of an illuminated "O." In the lower left, a person with a halo and a blue cloak holds a goblet.

Joe Stadolnik, PhD
December 12, 2022

15th Century, Classroom Materials, College Prep, Skills Lesson

Skills Lesson: Reading Middle English in Manuscript

Detail of lines of Middle English text on vellum

Joe Stadolnik, PhD
December 12, 2022

15th Century, Classroom Materials, College Prep, Lesson Plans

Contexts for the Book of Margery Kempe

Colored drawing of a nun (St. Bridget) writing at a writing desk. An angel whispers in her ear while a monk prays next to her. Above her head is a dove descending from a burst of light representing the Holy Spirit. On either side of the dove are depictions of Jesus Christ. On the left, God the father (an older man with a beard) holds him after he was taken down from the cross. On the right, the Virgin Mary holds him as a baby. All the figures are white.

Joe Stadolnik, PhD
December 5, 2022

20th Century, Activities, Classroom Materials, Grades 4 and Up, Visual Literacy

Latinx Discrimination

Black-and-white sign on a wall reading "We Serve White's Only; No Spanish or Mexicans." Originally from the Russell Lee Photograph Collection, Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin.

Hilary Mac Austin and Kathleen Thompson
November 9, 2022