Documents of Gettysburg
During the 2017-2018 school year, the Gettysburg National Park Education office produced a 6 part video series using primary source documents related to the battle of Gettysburg. The videos were originally broadcast on Facebook live. Each of the 6 videos has been embedded on this page along with documents with information and activities related to each video.
The video series explores different primary source documents of people and events related to the battle of Gettysburg. Explore mini-lessons on presidential photographs, maps of the battlefield, letters from soldiers, battle reports, a letter from a nurse, and medical reports. The videos are filmed at various locations around and near Gettysburg National Military Park.
Like the Gettysburg National Military Park for Teachers, Students, and Families Facebook Page for more information ,to view previous videos, and to watch upcoming Facebook live videos.
The videos in this series are designed for students in grades 4 through 8.
Focusing on Primary Sources
Each video focuses on primary source documents related to events at Gettysburg. The National Archives provides free resources for educators to assist students in analyzing primary source documents. The analysis worksheets provided are divided by type of primary source and by the ability level of students.
Click here to view the National Archives set of document analysis worksheets.
Each video is accompanied by the actual documents with background information and discussion questions for both before and after viewing.
Video #1
Primary Source Document :
1860 Adams County Pennsylvania Census
Discussion Questions Document : Video #1 Discussion Questions
Video #2
Primary Source Documents:
Official report on the battle by William Wheeler
Letter home describing the battle by William Wheeler
Discussion Question Document: Video #2 Discussion Questions
Video #3
Primary Source Documents:
Excerpts from Surgeon Jane’s_Casebook
Excerpts from letters home by Cornelia Hancock
Discussion Question Document: Video #3 Discussion Questions
Video #4
Primary Source Documents:
Cope Map of the battlefield of Gettysburg
Elliott’s Map of the battlefield of Gettysburg
Discussion Question Document: Video #4 Discussion Questions
Video #5
Primary Source Documents:
Power Point of photos of Presidential visits to Gettysburg
PDF version of photos of Presidential visits to Gettysburg
Discussion Question Document: Video #5 Discussion Questions
Video #6
Primary Source Documents:
20th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment monument image
1860 Boston Massachusetts Census Record
Discussion Question Document: Video #6 Discussion Questions
Click here to go to a previous blog post on using monuments at Gettysburg
a primary sources
