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On Saturday October 3, The Autry will close at 3pm for a private event.
A modified Family Play Space will be located in the lobby until October 6.

A collage of historical archives: old photos, handwritten letters, a vintage sewing machine, gloved hands handling artifacts, and an African American woman holding a baby in a sepia portrait.

Archives and Archivists

Resource Type
Lesson
Grade Level:
3–5, 6–8, 9–12
Discipline:
Social Studies
Topic:
Women, Object Analysis, Archives

Self-Paced Lesson

The provided videos, questions, and supplemental activity explore the role and responsibilities of an archivist. They highlight the specific tools archivists use, the questions they ask while researching, and provide case studies where the archivist explains her approach to specific archival items and themes.

Standards

Common Core

  • Reading Standards for Informational Text
    • K-5, 6-12
  • Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies
    • 6-12

CA HSS  Historical and Social Sciences Analysis Skills

  • Historical Research, Evidence, and Point of View
    • K-5, 6-8, 9-12
  • Historical Interpretation
    • 6-8

Teaching Tips

We have provided two different options for the video-based activity:

Option 1: Students watch the videos and answer the corresponding questions

  • Complete Part I – “Videos and Questions”
  • This option directs students to specific answers
  • May be more appropriate for younger students

Option 2: Students watch the videos, answer the corresponding questions, and fill out the “Archives & Archivists” table

  • Complete Part I – “Videos and Questions” and Part II – “Archives and Archivists Table”
  • This option requires students to explore broader themes
  • May be more appropriate for older students.

Additionally, we have provided a supplemental activity, Part III - “Be an Archivist Activity,” where students can put the archivist tools and questions they have been exploring to use by analyzing an archival photograph. Have the students complete this activity after watching the videos.

We have provided an Answer Key below which includes suggested answers for the video questions, the “Archives and Archivists” table, and the “Be an Archivist Activity.”

Lesson Resources

Part I – Videos and Questions

Part II – Archives and Archivists Table

Part III – Be an Archivist Activity

Answer Key – Parts I, II, III

Videos

Meet an Archivist + At the Heart of Every Story is an Archive: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1060638033

  • Meet an Archivist and At the Heart of Every Story is an Archive introduce the functions of archives and archival materials.

Detective Work: https://vimeo.com/518772212

Songs from the Past: https://vimeo.com/518767781

  • Detective Work and Songs from the Past explore specific archival objects and the archivist’s questions and strategies. If you don’t want your students to watch all the videos, have them watch Meet an Archivist, At the Heart of Every Story is an Archive, and either Detective Work or Songs from the Past.

 

Additional Resources

More information on the photograph from Part III - Who is this Woman?

Educational Programs at the Autry are sponsored by:

Molly and Neal Brockmeyer · David F. Eisenberg · The Georgina-Fredrick Children's Foundation · The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation · Christy McAvoy · Robert E. Ronus · Brenda and Gary Ruttenberg · The Steinmetz Foundation · Virginia F. Stevenson · Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation

Land Acknowledgment

The Autry Museum of the American West acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). We recognize that the Autry Museum and its campuses are located on the traditional lands of Gabrielino/Tongva peoples and we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.

Autry Museum of the American West

4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462
In Griffith Park across from the Los Angeles Zoo
Map and Directions

Free parking for Autry visitors

MUSEUM AND STORE HOURS
Tuesday⁠–⁠Friday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

DINING
Food trucks are available on select days, contact us for details at 323.495.4252.
The cafe is closed temporarily until further notice.