The Primary Source Librarian

Dedicated to Excellence in Teaching with Primary Sources

Shmoop to the Rescue!

Mary, The Primary Source Librarian | December 11, 2008

I just discovered another strangely-named website that history and literature teachers may find amazingly helpful. It’s called “Shmoop.” Shmoop (still in beta) explains its purpose here: “Shmoop wants to help you become a better lover (of literature and history). See many sides to the argument. Find your writing groove. Understand how lit and history are [...]

Ida M. Tarbell–My New Hero

Mary, The Primary Source Librarian | December 1, 2008

I recently read a 2008 book by Steve Weinberg called Taking on the Trust: The Epic Battle of Ida Tarbell and John D. Rockefeller*. In particular, one chapter of the book–”Unearthing Skeletons”–caught the attention of this “Primary Source Librarian.” That’s because Ida Tarbell (1857-1944) changed the entire field of journalism through her use of primary [...]