There are many uses for timelines. For example, they can be used for comparing and contrasting immigration patterns, presenting chronological events on a particular topic, or planning an experiment.

In several of the American Memory collections there are timelines that give chronological accounts of important events in history. You may wish to use these as examples and have your students create their own timelines based on a specific theme. You can also view a sample timeline of The Arkansas Traveller.

An interactive timeline can be made with computer applications such as TimeLiner and Inspiration. Most word processors allow insertion of graphics, and can produce pleasing timelines, too!

In this activity, you will be creating a timeline using the pre-selected images below or images you choose from the American Memory collections.

1

Alexander Graham Bell Speaking on the Phone, 1892.

The Alexander Graham Bell Family Papers

2

Alexander Graham Bell's design sketch of the telephone, ca. 1876.

Wrds and Deeds in American History

3

Photograph of Silver Dart.

The Alexander Graham Bell Family Papers