The Everything is a Primary Source Project

Everything is a Primary Source

The Everything is a Primary Source Project is a collaborative, open-source digital archive of oral history based on reactions and relationships to popular culture.

Each entry into the archive begins with a conversation recorded during one of our Your History Through Pop Culture exhibits, also known as “podcast karaoke.” These are held at a variety of different venues, and can be booked for your school, library, museum or business to be carried out in person or virtually.

The next step is to post the primary source in its appropriate category at everything-history.com, and supplement it with a short essay, contextualizing the book, movie, album, show, toy, game, gadget or whatever else might be the subject. This will usually be done by us, but these essays could be your way of collaborating.

Each recording typically covers just one or two of the nine critical thinking questions that are asked in order to decide what an artifact tells us about time and place. This leaves room for teachers and their students from all over to contribute by recording their own thoughts on the subject until all of the questions are answered.

You can even take part without typing or talking. Each entry will have a space for you to include your pictures of related primary sources that help to further make the time period and place in question clearer.

Teachers and their classes are able to use the archives as reliable secondary sources while the entries are under construction, and absolutely when they are completed. And while some topics might be reserved for older students, the Everything is a Primary Source Project will always have something for everyone.

The Everything is a Primary Source Project promotes history, media and digital literacies, cultural appreciation, and collaboration between people of different ages, geography and backgrounds. Ultimately, it demonstrates how fun it is to learn about history through pop culture.
Start your collaborative journey at everything-history.com