02
October
2023
Presidential Primary Sources Project Reaches New Record of 15,545 Students in 2023
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
In its 2023 season, the Presidential Primary Sources Project reached over 15,545 students. Connecting over 350 classrooms across 47 states to National Park Service rangers and presidential historians across the country, the Presidential Primary Sources Project offers high-quality distance learning opportunities.
The project is a partnership between the Internet2 Community Anchor Program (CAP), the National Archives, and the National Park Service. Focused on analyzing primary sources, the series of 46 program sessions allows students to interact directly with experts at historic sites and presidential libraries through live videoconferencing.
Growing consistently since its inception, the program saw record attendance in 2023, surpassing its previous recorded high of 12,000 students in 2021 by over 3,000. Therese Perlowski, CAP’s program manager, attributes the success to the program’s partners and the impressive quality of their presentations. “The staff at the National Parks, National Archives, and Presidential Libraries offer incredibly engaging experiences that make historical analysis accessible and fun,” Perlowski said.
Teachers share that Presidential Primary Sources Project programs offer “interesting stories and facts that would be hard to uncover without the experts” and are able to “connect students to the past in ways that would be otherwise impossible.” With a focus on critical thinking, the sessions provide valuable historical context and tools for independent analysis in understanding the office of the presidency, civic engagement, and the lasting legacies of our nation’s leaders.
2024 Schedule Coming Soon
The upcoming 2024 schedule aims to provide the same high-quality information through a diversity of perspectives, as the program continues to add new Presidential libraries and National Park sites. Watch the project website for more information and registration details – coming soon! You can also access the recorded programs on YouTube or follow us on social: @PresidentialPSP and @PresidentialPrimarySourcesProject.