Education
The NYC Department of Records and Information Services, which preserves and provides public access to the historical and contemporary records of New York City government, is working to expand the resources available to educators and students through the Municipal Archives and Library.
Our educational offerings include a virtual program that can be scheduled in advance, as well as downloadable curriculum aids incorporating both historical and contemporary materials from our collections.
Looking for something else for your class? E-mail us to explore what is available.
Programs
The Brooklyn Bridge: Landmarks of Today and Yesterday
Grades: 2nd - 6th
The Municipal Archives at the New York City Department of Records and Information Services invites teachers and students to participate in an educational program about the Brooklyn Bridge, drawn from our rare archival collection of material on its design and construction. Students will learn about the history and unique engineering of the bridge in a fun and interactive way, fostering a better understanding of the Bridge and its relationship to the city's infrastructure and transportation. This program can be presented virtually via Zoom, at your school, or as part of a school trip to our landmark building in Lower Manhattan. If you are interested in this program, please complete our sign-up form.
Uniting the Boroughs: The Triborough Bridge Exhibit
All grade levels.
Explore this free exhibit at our Lower Manhattan offices, which explores the history of the Triborough Bridge and its role in uniting Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens in a rapidly modernizing city. Educators may use our teacher's guide to lead your students through an informative tour and scavenger hunt.
Resources
Citizenship & Elections: The Importance of a Ballot
Grades: 9th - 12th
This lesson guide explores the history of voting rights and processes in New York City. It includes historic images and audio from the Municipal Archives and Library, as well as guiding questions that encourage students to interact with these voting materials in an educational manner and emphasize the significance of their own vote in the electoral process.
Community Activism in New York City's Chinatown: The Chinese-American Fight for a Better Life
Grades: 11th - 12th
This resource explores the history of New York City’s Chinese immigrant community, from the influx of Chinese immigrants to the west coast of the United States during the mid-1800s to the approximately 500 garment factories of New York City’s Chinatown in the 1980s. Students will explore primary sources such as letters, newspapers, and photographs illuminating the struggles and triumphs of Chinese-Americans in their pursuit of a better life in New York City.
Creating Change: LGBTQ+ Activism in 1970s & 1980s NYC
Grades: 8th - 12th
This resource explores LGBTQ+ activism in NYC during the 1970s and 80s, focusing on the fight for equal protection for the LGBTQ+ community under the law. Students will explore a variety of audiovisual resources, including footage of gay liberation demonstrations from the NYPD surveillance films archive, to develop an understanding of civic participation and its effectiveness in enshrining legal protections for the LGBTQ+ community.
Exploring 20th Century Education in NYC: Asian Americans' Academic Experiences
Grades: 9th - 12th
This resource is designed to engage students in the complex interplay of the historical, social and cultural factors that influenced the educational experience of Asian-American communities in New York City during the 20th Century. Using school nationality cards, memos, a report and video, students will gain insight into Asian communities’ interaction within the U.S. education system, appreciating the ongoing challenges faced by them.
Invisible But Essential: History of Electrification in New York City
Grades: 6th - 8th
It’s nearly impossible to imagine life in New York City without electricity. This resource explores the early development of electricity and the profound ways it transformed daily life. Through unique primary sources—like photographs and letters—you’ll discover how electrification has shaped the lives of everyday New Yorkers over the past 140 years.
Grades: 8th - 12th
This resource provides information about gathering, synthesizing, and writing a story for inclusion in the WomensActivism.NYC archive. Students will read inspiring stories on the digital platform, learn how to interview a woman who inspires them for a personal account of their life, and then craft the information from the interview into a meaningful entry to the archive.