Primary Source Set: The 1920s

TEACHING WITH PRIMARY SOURCES—MTSU
Primary Source Set: The 1920s
Historical Background
The 1920s brought great changes to American culture, society, and
politics. The “Roaring Twenties,” as the decade was called, saw the
popularization of jazz, flappers, speakeasies, and bootleg liquor, as
well as major advances in women’s rights. African American cultural
expression (such as jazz) started to appeal to mainstream America,
even as Jim Crow laws restricted the rights of African Americans.
Economically, the 1920s began as a time of prosperity, but ended
with the disastrous stock market crash in October 1929.
In the 1920s, America experienced extreme prosperity for most of
the decade. Borrowing on credit and buying on installment plans was
hugely popular during this decade, as was trading on the stock market. The stock market crash of 1929 was the end of the prosperity
and brought about the beginning of the Great Depression.
The influence of the temperance movement led to the passage of the
eighteenth amendment to the Constitution, which enacted Prohibition throughout the United States. This change brought about many
unintended consequences, including bootlegging, speakeasies, and a
rise in organized crime.
Governor Edwin P. Morrow signing the Anthony
Amendment--Ky. was the twenty-fourth state to
ratify, January 6, 1920
Suggestions for Teachers
Women gained suffrage in the U.S. during this decade, as well as
greater freedom in the social sphere. Women began to participate
more in sports, dress in different manners that asserted their independence and newfound agency, and exercise their political agency as
well.
The Library of Congress has several great resources
for the teaching of 1920s culture, society, and politics. There are several related primary source sets
(here, here and here) as well as collections like Prosperity and Thrift: The Coolidge Era and the Consumer
Economy, 1921-1929.
The African American experience during this time was fraught with
highs and lows. Race riots continued throughout the country, but the
Harlem Renaissance began during this same time. African Americans
also founded the American Negro Labor Conference, Opportunity
magazine, Negro History Week, and the Atlanta Daily World during
this decade. Black Americans continued to fight for new roles as well
as create organizations in which they could stand together against racial discrimination.
Using the images in this primary source set, students
can compare and contrast the cultural and political
gains of women and African Americans during the
1920s. You can also incorporate sources from popular culture, such as music recordings and magazine
advertisements, to discuss the role of popular culture
in society and how it relates to economic and political
trends.
Additional Links:

Prohibition (PBS)

TPS-MTSU newsletter: The 1920s

Jazz (PBS)

Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-1929 (American
Memory Timeline)

Tennessee State Library and Archives– The 1920s and the
Great Depression

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow: The Harlem Renaissance
(1917—1935) (PBS)

African American History Timeline 1901-2000
(BlackPast.org)
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Prohibition
Latest thing in flasks. Mlle.
Rhea, dainty dancer who is
now in the city as part of
the Keiths program inaugurates the garter flask fad
in Washington [1926]
Moonshine still recently confiscated by the
Internal Revenue Bureau photographed at the
Treasury Department [between 1921 and
1932]
[How does she come to
him?] [1938]
A fair haul by the liquor squad [1922]
Bud Getchin's tenyear-old has a
scared-rabbit look-he knows that he is
confronting them
Revenues [1920?]
[Policeman standing alongside wrecked car and cases
of moonshine] [1922]
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Women
Careers for women compiled and edited by
Catherine Filene [Prospectus] Boston. [1920]
The evening world., January 28, 1922, Final Extra,
SECTION FOR WOMEN, Page 4, Image 16 [pdf]
Col. Sherrell, Supt. of Public Buildings and
Grounds, has issued an order that bathing suits
at the Wash[ington] bathing beach must not be
over six inches above the knee ... [1922]
Richmond times-dispatch., September 26, 1920, Image
53 [pdf]
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Sports
[Jacob Ruppert, Gov. Al Smith & wife at opening of Yankee
Stadium, 4/18/23 (baseball)] [1923]
“Jewels” [1920]
Rosedale Girls Basketball team [1924]
Mouse-trap armor for caddies - here is
the newest safety device seen on California links [192-]
[Miss Vivian Marinelli giving lesson in dancing the Charleston to basketball players of Washington,
D.C.'s Palace Club: Jones, Conway, Grody, Saunders, Kearns, Glascoe, and Manager Kennedy] [1926]
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The African American Experience
Opportunity : selected issue and articles from 1926.
[1926]
Victor records; vocal blues, religious spirituals, red hot
dance tunes, sermons, novelties. [1929]
First colored world series, opening game Oct. 11, 1924, Kansas City, Mo. / photo by J.E. Mille[r], K.C. [1924]
Recordings from the 1920s from the National Jukebox:
The 1920s was a time of musical exploration and experimentation. New genres were emerging and flourishing across the country, as well as new dances
and attitudes/styles to go along with them. This playlist includes various
songs recorded in the 1920s that showcase the different genres that were gaining popularity during this decade.
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The African American Experience
Flag, announcing lynching, flown from the window of the NAACP
headquarters on 69 Fifth Ave., New York City. [1936]
[Harlem Rent Parties] [1939]
Meet the Mamma: A Musical Play in Three Acts
[1925]
The Appeal., September 23, 1922, Image 1
[pdf]
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World War I and its Effects
[Burial of Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Va.;
President Harding standing beside casket, Nov. 11, 1921]
What are you doing for him now? [1919,
pdf]
Recording: Governor James M. Cox. "A world war has
been fought, historic, unprecedented. For many, many
months civilization hung in the balance. In the despair
of dark hours it seemed as though a world dictator was
inevitable. The very soul of America was touched with
the fear that our liberties might be taken away." [date
unknown]
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Finance and the Stock Market Crash
[Crowd of people gather outside the New York Stock
Exchange following the Crash
of 1929] [1929]
Brochure from John Wanamaker. [1926-29]
Anna Kelton Wiley Papers. Homemaker-Consumer Life in
Washington, D.C., 1922-23. [image 12 of 41]
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Finance and the Stock Market Crash
The only home of a depression-routed family of nine from
Iowa [1936]
Washington, Yakima. Monument to Depression. Unfinished hotel standing in center
of town. Construction abandoned after collapse of 1929 [1939]
The Washington times., November 21, 1920, FINAL EDITION, Society and Drama, Image 17.
[pdf]
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Citations: 1920s
Teachers: Providing these primary source replicas without source clues may enhance the inquiry experience for students. This list of
citations is supplied for reference purposes to you and your students. We have followed the Chicago Manual of Style format, one of
the formats recommended by the Library of Congress, for each entry below, minus the access date. The access date for each of these
entries is 02/04/16.
“Governor Edwin P. Morrow signing the Anthony Amendment--Ky. was the twenty-fourth state to ratify, January 6, 1920.” Photograph. Frankfort, Ky: Gretter Studio, January 6, 1920. From Library of Congress, Miscellaneous Items in High Demand. https://
www.loc.gov/item/97510716/.
“Moonshine still recently confiscated by the Internal Revenue Bureau photographed at the Treasury Department.” Photograph. Washington, D.C.: National Photo Company, between 1921 and 1932. From the Library of Congress, National Photo Company Collection.
https://www.loc.gov/item/89706121/.
“Latest thing in flasks. Mlle. Rhea, dainty dancer who is now in the city as part of the Keiths program inaugurates the garter flask fad in
Washington.” Photograph. Washington, D.C.: National Photo Company, January 26, 1926. From Library of Congress, National Photo
Company Collection. https://www.loc.gov/item/90709355/
French, Herbert E., photographer. “A fair haul by the liquor squad.” Photograph. Washington, D.C.: National Photo Company, September 23, 1922. From Library of Congress, National Photo Company Collection. https://www.loc.gov/item/2002697174/.
“[How does she come to him?]” Herman Spector. From Library of Congress, American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers'
Project, 1936-1940. 1938. Manuscripts/Mixed Material. http://www.loc.gov/item/wpalh001589/.
“[Policeman standing alongside wrecked car and cases of moonshine].” Photograph. November 16, 1922. From Library of Congress,
National Photo Company Collection. http://www.loc.gov/item/89709481/.
Yohn, F. C., artist. Bud Getchin's ten-year-old has a scared-rabbit look-- he knows that he is confronting them Revenues. "It's All Moonshine" by
V.H. and R.R. Cornell, Collier's, 65:8 (Jan. 17, 1920).” Illustration. 1920. From Library of Congress, Cabinet of American illustration.
http://www.loc.gov/item/2010718708/.
The Evening World. “Fashion Review Section.” New York, N.Y. January 28, 1922. From Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030193/1922-01-28/ed-1/seq-16/.
Filene, Catherine. Careers for women compiled and edited by Catherine Filene [Prospectus] Boston [1920]. Advertisement. Boston. 1920.
From Library of Congress, American Time Capsule: Three Centuries of Broadsides and other Printed Ephemera. http://www.loc.gov/item/
rbpe.07905000/.
French, Herbert E., photographer. “Col. Sherrell, Supt. of Public Buildings and Grounds, has issued an order that bathing suits at the
Wash[ington] bathing beach must not be over six inches above the knee...“ Photograph. Washington, D.C., National Photo Company,
1922. From Library of Congress, National Photo Company Collection. http://www.loc.gov/item/90708909/.
Duff-Gordon, Lady (Lucile). “Flyaway Dance Dresses;” Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, VA, Times Dispatch Pub. Co., September 26, 1920. From Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/
sn83045389/1920-09-26/ed-1/seq-53/.
“[Jacob Ruppert, Gov. Al Smith & wife at opening of Yankee Stadium, 4/18/23 (baseball)].” Photograph. Bain News Service, April
18, 1923. From Library of Congress, Bain Collection. http://www.loc.gov/item/ggb2006011176/.
Allardice, Jessie D., photographer. “Jewels.” Photograph. October 5, 1920. From Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. http://www.loc.gov/item/2011649819/.
“[Miss Vivian Marinelli giving lesson in dancing the Charleston to basketball players of Washington, D.C.'s Palace Club: Jones, Conway, Grody, Saunders, Kearns, Glascoe, and Manager Kennedy].” Photograph. National Photo Company, February 15, 1926. From
Library of Congress, National Photo Company Collection. http://www.loc.gov/item/89714359/.
“Mouse-trap armor for caddies - here is the newest safety device seen on California links.” Photograph. 192-. From Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. http://www.loc.gov/item/2011649820/.
“Rosedale Girls Basketball team.” Photograph. National Photo Company, 1924. From Library of Congress, National Photo Company
Collection. http://www.loc.gov/item/npc2007012781/.
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Victor records; vocal blues, religious spirituals, red hot dance tunes, sermons, novelties. Catalog. Camden, N.J., RCA Victor Co. 1929. From
Library of Congress, Prosperity and Thrift: The Coolidge Era and the Consumer Economy, 1921-1929. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/
query/r?ammem/coolbib:@field(NUMBER+@band(amrlr+lr03)).
Cullen, Countee. “Poet on Poet,” Opportunity. Magazine article. New York, National Urban League. 1926. From Library of Congress, Prosperity and Thrift: The Coolidge Era and the Consumer Economy, 1921-1929. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/
coolbib:@field(NUMBER+@band(amrlgs+op2)).
“First colored world series, opening game Oct. 11, 1924, Kansas City, Mo. / photo by J.E. Mille[r], K.C.” Photograph. 1924.
From Library of Congress, William A. Gladstone Collection of African American Photographs. http://www.loc.gov/item/2002719389/.
Byrd, Frank. [Harlem Rent Parties] Personal Narrative. New York City, New York, 1939. From Library of Congress, American Life
Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940. http://www.loc.gov/item/wpalh001365/.
“Flag, announcing lynching, flown from the window of the NAACP headquarters on 69 Fifth Ave., New York City.” Photograph.
1936. From Library of Congress, Miscellaneous Items in High Demand. https://www.loc.gov/item/95517117/.
Hurston, Zora Neale. Meet the Mamma: A Musical Play in Three Acts. Play Script. 1925. From Library of Congress, Copyright Deposit
Drama Collection. http://www.loc.gov/item/hurston000001/.
The Appeal. St. Paul MN, Northwestern Pub. Co., 1922. From Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016810/1922-09-23/ed-1/seq-1/.
“[Burial of Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Va.; President Harding standing beside casket, Nov. 11, 1921].” Photograph. November 11, 1921. From Library of Congress, National Photo Company Collection. http://www.loc.gov/item/96509696/.
Heagney, Billy. What are you doing for him now? Sheet Music. New York, The Winlee Music Co., 1919. From Library of Congress,
World War I Sheet Music. http://www.loc.gov/item/2014561844/.
Cox, James M. speaker. The World War. Sound Recording. (n.d.), From Library of Congress, American Leaders Speak: Recordings from
World War I and the 1920 Election, 1918-1920. WAV. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/nfor:@field
(DOCID+@range(90000031+90000032)).
“[Crowd of people gather outside the New York Stock Exchange following the Crash of 1929].” Photograph. 1929. From Library of
Congress, New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection. http://www.loc.gov/item/99471695/.
Ten Financial Commandments. Brochure. 1922 – 1923. From Library of Congress, Prosperity and Thrift: The Coolidge Era and the Consumer
Economy, 1921-1929. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/coolbib:@field(NUMBER+@band(amrlm+mk06)).
The Effect of Budgeting on the American Home. Brochure. 1926 – 1929. From Library of Congress, Prosperity and Thrift: The Coolidge Era
and the Consumer Economy, 1921-1929. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/coolbib:@field(NUMBER+@band
(amrlm+mc09)).
Lange, Dorothea, photographer. “Washington, Yakima. Monument to Depression. Unfinished hotel standing in center of town.
Construction abandoned after collapse of 1929.” Photograph. August 1939. From Library of Congress, Farm Security Administration/
Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives. https://www.loc.gov/item/fsa2000004297/PP/.
Lange, Dorothea, photographer. “The only home of a depression-routed family of nine from Iowa.” Photograph. August 1936. From
Library of Congress, Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives. https://www.loc.gov/item/
fsa1998021802/PP/.
“Editorial Page.” The Washington Times. Washington, D.C., Times Pub. Co., November 21, 1920. From Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1920-11-21/ed-1/seq-17/.
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