Learning at the National Heritage Museumtag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-16003042008-11-11T10:53:34-05:00Using Primary Sources to Reconstruct the PastTypePadLearningAtTheNationalHeritageMuseumhttp://feedburner.google.comArchaeology as a Primary Sourcetag:typepad.com,2003:post-573408592008-11-11T10:53:34-05:002009-03-03T12:56:51-05:00Primary Source/Item: Jacob Whittemore Archaeological Site (Images courtesy of the Minute Man National Historical Park) Primary sources are the raw materials that historians use to reconstruct the past. Archaeological evidence, a special kind of primary source, is not only raw,...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryEnduring Symbol: Lexington, the Birthplace of American Libertytag:typepad.com,2003:post-476120042008-08-12T08:00:00-04:002008-08-12T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source: 1915 Program and Lexington Town Meeting Minutes (Images courtesy of the Library at Minute Man National Historical Park and Cary Memorial Library) Lexington's town records include the handwritten Town Meeting Minutes kept by the town clerk (on right.)...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryConfrontation on the Common: Pitcairn & Gagetag:typepad.com,2003:post-469304402008-08-07T08:00:00-04:002008-08-07T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source / Item: newspaper and portrait (Images courtesy of American Antiquarian Society and Library of Congress) Two men in charge of the British Regulars on Arpil 19, 1775 were General Thomas Gage and Major John Pitcairn, commanders of the...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryConfrontation on the Common: Arms, Munitions & Medical Suppliestag:typepad.com,2003:post-468813462008-08-05T08:00:00-04:002008-08-05T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source / Item: map (Image courtesy of the John Carter Brown Library, Brown University) Among the types of images that can be used as primary sources are maps. This example entitled: "Plan of the Town and Harbour of Boston"...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryConfrontation on the Common: Militia, Minutemen & the Continental Armytag:typepad.com,2003:post-484197422008-07-31T08:00:00-04:002008-07-31T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source: Massachusetts Muster and Pay Rolls (Images courtesy of MA State Archives) Soldiers in Colonial and Revolutionary America took several distinct forms. The Minute Man National Historical Park describes the best known- the Minutemen- and how they were different...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryMeetinghouse: Clarke- Spiritual Leadertag:typepad.com,2003:post-475596042008-07-29T08:00:00-04:002008-07-29T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source: printed documents- books (Image courtesy of Cary Memorial Library) Jonas Clarke, the politically radical minister who preached resistance to oppression and sheltered outlawed patriots, is the best known of Lexington's little-known revolutionaries. His connections to the famous Hancock...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryJohn Parker: Businessmantag:typepad.com,2003:post-471924102008-07-24T08:00:00-04:002008-07-24T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source / Item: account book and journal (Images Courtesy of Historic New England) Captain John Parker of Lexington, commander of the town militia, was known as a temperate, disciplined, and rational man, who won the respect of his townsfolk...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryTaxes, Trade & Tensions: The Tea Acttag:typepad.com,2003:post-475620282008-07-22T08:00:00-04:002008-07-22T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source: Lexington Town Clerk Record Book (Image courtesy of the Lexington Archives) This page is from a transcription of the original town record book of Lexington's Town Clerk of 1773. As a result of The Tea Act, the entry...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryTaxes, Trade & Tensions: The Tea Acttag:typepad.com,2003:post-468348642008-07-17T08:00:00-04:002008-07-17T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source / Item: newspapers (Image courtesy of American Antiquarian Society) A newspaper article is a printed document, and can be a valuable window into everyday life, and how it might be affected by momentous events such as the Tea...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryTaxes, Trade & Tensions: The Stamp Acttag:typepad.com,2003:post-471909902008-07-15T08:00:00-04:002008-07-15T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source / Item: private records (Image courtesy of Massachusetts Historical Society) This image from microfilm is of a journal kept by Jonas Clarke of Lexington. Clarke was a beloved minister, who had the ability to influence the thinking and...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryTaxes, Trade & Tensions: The Sugar Acttag:typepad.com,2003:post-468842922008-07-10T08:00:00-04:002008-07-10T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source / Item: sugar loaf and nippers (Sugar Tongs, Iron, National Heritage Museum, Bequest of Frank T. & Janet W. Barnes, 2000.032.442) This artifact, featured in "Sowing the Seeds of Liberty," is an example of every day household items...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryLexington: Unlikely Home of Revolutionariestag:typepad.com,2003:post-484231102008-07-08T08:00:00-04:002008-07-08T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source: court records (Image courtesy of MA State Archives) The story of Lexington and the Revolution is surprising if one considers how law-abiding the residents of of the town were in the pre-Revolutionary period. Other towns had cases of...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryLexington: Farmingtag:typepad.com,2003:post-469805762008-07-03T08:00:00-04:002008-07-03T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source: landscape with stone walls (Image courtesy of J. Broggi) The primary source for landscape is the landscape around you. The ways in which humans have shaped the land has left its mark, and offer clues to past use...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryFamily, Home & Farm: Farmtag:typepad.com,2003:post-485450222008-07-01T08:00:00-04:002008-07-01T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source: Town Tax Assessment Manuscripts (Image courtesy of Cary Memorial Library) Colonial New England was made up of farm communities. Tax valuations and assessments can be helpful in determining types of land and livestock in use, and how they...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryFamily, Home & Farm: Hometag:typepad.com,2003:post-469851022008-06-26T08:00:00-04:002008-06-26T08:00:00-04:00Primary Source / Item(s): buildings and probate records (Images courtesy of MA State Archives and National Park Service) Many of the historic buildings preserved in New England have changed very little in 300 years, homes like the Samuel Brooks House...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryFamily, Home & Farm: Familytag:typepad.com,2003:post-471898062008-06-23T13:06:00-04:002008-06-23T13:06:00-04:00Primary Source / Item: vital records (Images courtesy of Concord Free Public Library and the VanGorden-Williams Library & Archives of the National Heritage Museum, F 74 .L67 H91 1913 v.2) Reconstructing a family history begins with genealogy. For almost all...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryWELCOME to our Blog: Learning at the National Heritage Museum- Using Primary Sources to Reconstruct the Pasttag:typepad.com,2003:post-468323162008-06-23T13:05:00-04:002008-06-23T13:05:00-04:00This weblog is a way for the National Heritage Museum to serve as host, authority, and facilitator of using primary sources to reconstruct the past. Please click on About the Learning Blog for an explanation of purpose, how to use...Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library