Discovering the Past to Preserve for the Future: The National Archives and American Economic History

High school history students rarely get the chance to view history up close and personal. The National Archives and Records Administration provides students with an opportunity to embrace primary sources that are crucial to understanding our nation’s history. Additionally, the preservation of records sheds light on what types of records are deemed as historically important. The study of the National Archives and Records Administration and the records it contains will give students a deeper sense of appreciation for how Americans store and maintain historical memories. The curriculum unit will enable students to become better historians through their critical analysis of interesting primary sources. Student interest should be high with the choice of documents relating to American economic history that speak to contemporary issues.