The Grandparent/Elder Project

Unit I: Lesson Two

Search the Decade Sources

What was happening in San Francisco at this time--during the decade from 1910 to 1919?

1. Have students access the American Memory collections and complete the following:

   1. To find information on this decade, go to the Learning Page.
   2. Click on "Getting Started." You will notice in the section on Pathfinders that searches may be made by time, people, events, places, and topics.
   3. Click on time.
   4. You will be presented with Historical Eras. Select the Historical Era that includes the years 1910-1919.
   5. Select one or two of these collections which appeal to you.
   6. Click on the title and search in this collection for the keyword San Francisco.

   Note: some collections will be more successful than others in this search.

2. Have students find something that interests them about San Francisco in the decade 1910-1919. Some items to consider are:

   • What did the city look like?
   • What buildings existed?
   • What events were happening?
   • Who were the important people?
   • What did people wear and do?

3. After the students complete the search, have them report to the class.

   • Explain what you found.
   • Explain how you found the item. Explain your search methods.
   • Explain why it is interesting to you.
   • Explain what it reveals about life in San Francisco (or California) in the decade of 1910-1919.