Teacher's PDP Workshops
at the National Archives in Pittsfield, MA
Using Historical Documents at the National Archives
- Archival Research and Document Analysis
- Census Records
- Immigration and Naturalization
- Canadian Border Crossings
- Genealogy in the Classroom
- Local History in Federal Records, Part I
- Local History in Federal Records: Who, What, Where, When, Part II
- Revolutionary War Records
- Military Records; Revolutionary War to the Philippine Insurrection
- Application of Research Methods
Archival Research and Document Analysis
Goals: Participants will be prepared to conduct archival research and perform document analysis and be able to assist their students with these skills.
Objectives: Participants will be able to determine whether to conduct research in a library or an archive. Participants will be able to plan and prepare for conducting archival research. Participants will be able to access information at the National Archives. Participants will be able to conduct document analysis.
Description: The first part of this workshop seeks to take the mystery out of how and why one would conduct research at an archive. Researchers must choose which institutions will have materials relating to their topic. Participants will learn the differences between libraries and archives, how to gain access to archival collections, and how archival collections are arranged. Learn what questions you need to ask yourself (and the archivist) before you visit the archives. Learn specifically how to locate and access records stored by the National Archives. Other archival resources will also be explored.
The second part of this workshop will explain how a researcher can get the most information out of an archival record or historical document by analyzing it. Learn how to distinguish between primary and secondary sources. Learn how to do document analysis and interpretation. Learn why document analysis is an important tool for students and researchers.
Census Records
Goals: Participants will learn what information can be found in Federal census schedules and how to access that information
Objectives: Participants will be able to locate individuals in Federal decennial census population schedules. Participants will be able to use that information to obtain other records, including Federal, state, and local. Participants will learn about the United States census records from 1790 through 1930.
Description: In the first part of this workshop, participants will learn the scope and content of census records, 1790-1930. These records are for the entire United States, not just the New England area. As the nation grew, so did the number and extent of questions asked in the censuses. Participants will learn what information is needed to begin a search in census records as well as learn the various indexing methods available to access these records. Participants will also learn alternative means of accessing data.
The second part of this workshop will consist of actually using the microfilmed census records located at the National Archives in Pittsfield under the direction of NARA staff. Participants will locate census records pertinent to their individual families and/or communities. Participants will see first hand the potential applications of censuses data to the study of a community or neighborhood at a specific point in time, or its evolution over a period of decades
Immigration and Naturalization
Goals: Participants will learn what information is found in Federal records relating to the subject, and how to access the information.
Objectives: Participants will be able to locate individuals in Passenger Lists and Naturalization records. Participants will learn how information in one record is related to information in another record. Participants will learn about the Naturalization process in the United States from 1790 to the present.
Description: In the first part of this workshop, participants will learn the scope and content of Passenger arrival records located at the National Archives in Pittsfield. These passenger lists date from 1820-ca. 1943 (and beyond for some ports) for the ports of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and more. Learn about the information contained in these records and how the information that was recorded changed over time. Participants will learn how to use various indices to access records, taking the mystery out of archival research. Learn about other methods of determining arrival port and date when the usual way does not work.
The second part of this workshop will explore Naturalization records located at the National Archives in Pittsfield. Participants will learn what information can be found in these records, and how this information is different before and after September 26, 1906. Learn who was naturalized and who did not have to naturalize. Learn where the records are if they are not at the National Archives in Pittsfield. Learn what information you need to know in order to access the records at the National Archives and at other repositories.
Canadian Border Crossings
Goals: Participants will become familiar with what information is contained in Canadian Border Crossing records and how to use them.
Objectives: Participants will gain knowledge of the history of the US-Canadian Border and learn what records are available and how to locate specific individuals within the files.
Description: The United States-Canadian Border was open until 1895. Participants will learn background information on why and when the border was closed and what records were collected during various time periods, beginning in 1895, such as Canadian-born immigrants not being recorded until after 1906. This workshop will show participants what microfilmed records are available at the National Archives in Pittsfield on Canadian Border Crossings and how to conduct research in them. Participants will receive instruction on how to find information on specific individuals and the kinds of information contained in these records.
Genealogy in the Classroom
Goals: Participants will become familiar with the basic methodology of genealogy and how to introduce students to family research.
Objectives: Participants will learn the basic concepts of genealogy research, such as where to begin, forms used by genealogists, where to conduct research for specific types of information, and internet resources.
Description: This workshop will show participants what genealogy entails and how to conduct basic genealogy research in various places and formats.
Examples include:
- Pedigree Charts and Family Group Sheets
- Where and what records are available
- Using Internet resources
- Conducting oral interviews
- Field Trips for students
Local History in Federal Records, Part I
Goals: Participants will learn what information may be found in Federal records relating to the local and New England history, and how to access the information.
Objectives: Participants will be able to locate individuals or specific businesses in a variety of Federal records. Participants will learn how to create "snapshots" of towns in New England using records of the 19th and 20th century located at the National Archives in Pittsfield.
Description: Congressman Tip O'Neil once said "All politics is local." The same can be said about history and even the Federal government. Federal government agencies in New England are staffed with citizens of New England, working in New England, conducing government business which concerns New England.
What businesses were in your town in the 19th century? Find a list of businesses, their products, and how much they were worth by using Civil War era tax assessment files. Find out more about businesses in your community using bankruptcy records and non-population census records.
Federal court proceedings in New England may have included people or businesses in your town. Learn how to find them using Civil Case Files (including patent infringement cases), Criminal Case Files, and Admiralty Case Files (including Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War Prize Cases).
Who was living in your town? What were their occupations? Were they immigrants? From what country? Did they own the house or rent? Did the men serve in the military? Find the answers to all these questions and more about your house, your street, your neighborhood, or your town using Census records.
Local History in Federal Records:
Who, What, Where, When, Part II
Goals: Participants will learn how to use Federal census records to analyze data and statistics of a community's development over time.
Objectives: Participants will build a local history based on information they find in the census.
Description: Participants will locate and analyze census information to outline changes in a community over time. For example, did the community change from an agricultural to industrial base, go from primarily native-born to immigrant population, and how did family structures change over time. Other resources for local history will also be discussed.
Revolutionary War Records
Goals: Participants will learn what information is found in Federal records at the National Archives in Pittsfield relating to the Revolutionary War and how to access that information.
Objectives: Participants will be able to locate individuals in various military service records, pension files and other documents of the era held by the Federal government.
Description: Participants will learn the scope and content of the wide variety of records relating to the American Revolution. These consist of records relating to military service, military applications, and more. Participants will learn how to access these records using a variety of indices.
Participants will also learn how to use some available indices to obtain military and pension records of individuals who served in the military between 1784 and circa 1898, and where to obtain records which are not available at the National Archives Pittsfield, MA.
Military Records; Revolutionary War to the Philippine Insurrection
Goals: Participants will become familiar with types of military records.
Objectives: Participants will learn what records document military operations, specific to each conflict as well as individual soldiers. Topics will include finding individual soldiers' records, regimental activities, and event timelines.
Description: This workshop will show participants which records and series are most likely to contain pertinent records and how to conduct research in them. Participants will receive instruction on how to find information.
Examples include:
- Compiled Service Records
- Pension and Bounty Land Warrants
- Muster Rolls
- Treasury Department and War Department correspondence
- Records of Forts and Military Posts
Application of Research Methods
Goals: Participants will be familiar with the process of conducting archival research and working with historical records and documents.
Objectives: Participants will determine which collections at the National Archives in Pittsfield have records relating to their topic. Participants will learn how to request and analyze historical records and documents. Participants will learn how to make the most out of a research visit.
Description: This is a hands-on workshop only for teachers who have attended previous workshops towards earning Professional Development Points! Prior to the workshop, participants will confer with archives staff to decide on a research topic and discuss records which should have relevant information. On the day of the workshop, participants will go through the process of registering and using original Federal records. Staff will be on hand throughout the session to answer questions and direct the participants appropriately.
Read more about Teachers' PDP Workshops, and see the PDP Workshops Schedule.
