A National Archives Foundation educational resource using primary sources from the National Archives

ATTENTION: Due to routine maintenance, some features of DocsTeach will be unavailable from 12pm ET on Friday, May 1 until 6pm ET on Sunday, May 3. Please do not create, edit, or add any activities or primary sources during this time. Students should not submit responses during this time. Any work drafted or submitted during this time may be lost. You will still be able to access saved activities and primary sources. We appreciate your patience.

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Bring History to Life

Help Students Form a Connection to the Past.

DocsTeach For Teachers, Students, and History Explorers

Access thousands of primary sources  — letters, photographs, speeches, posters, maps, videos, and other document types — spanning the course of American history. Borrow from an ever-expanding collection of document-based activities from the National Archives holdings by teachers around the U.S. and the world. Copy and modify activities for your students.

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activities available for members

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primary source documents available

Create your own activities using the online tools

It’s as simple as:

  1. Selecting a tool
  2. Choosing your primary sources
  3. Customizing instructions