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Primary Source Sets

Meaningful inquiry through primary source sets supports the development of essential historical thinking skills and connects students directly to history.

Primary source sets are curated resources around one theme or question. Meaningful inquiry through primary source sets supports the development of essential historical thinking skills and connects students directly to history. The primary source sets developed by the New Hampshire Historical Society complement the range of topics covered in the “Moose on the Loose.”

Each set of photographs, documents, maps, and objects offers multiple entry points for investigating a piece of New Hampshire’s past. See the Analyze It! section on this website for investigation frameworks for each type of primary source.

Using Primary Source Sets in the Classroom

Discover fun and innovative ways to improve students' close-looking and close-reading abilities while using primary source sets that focus on New Hampshire icons.

Amoskeag Manufacturing Company

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Once the largest textile mill in the world, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in Manchester was one of the great industrial giants of its day.

Franklin Pierce

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Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. He was the only president to come from New Hampshire.

Mount Washington

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At 6,288 feet, Mount Washington is the highest mountain in northeastern North America.

Old Man of the Mountain

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Officially named a state emblem in 1945, the rugged “face” of the Old Man was widely embraced as a miraculous symbol of the character of the state of New Hampshire.

John Stark

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One of the most revered figures in New Hampshire history, John Stark was a Revolutionary War general and the author of what became the state motto, “Live free or die.”

Franklin Leavitt Maps

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The whimsical depictions of Franklin Leavitt's eight White Mountains maps contributed to the region’s legends and lure.

The NH State House

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The NH State House is the center of state government. Recently celebrating its 200th anniversary, it is the oldest state house in continuous use in the United States.

Weirs Beach Veterans Campground

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The Weirs Beach campground in the Lakes Region was once the national headquarters for veterans' organizations.

White Mountain Art

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Artists painting in the White Mouintains fueled the rise of the tourist industry and helped create an American style of art.