Local history

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/local-history

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the disciplinary focus?The study of history within a specific, often small-scale, geographical context
2. What is the methodological diversity?Employs documentary evidence, oral histories, archival research, and comparative analysis
3. How do people learn about their town’s past?They look at old documents like land deeds, tax records, and diaries, and they also listen to stories from older residents.
4. Why is local history important for a community?It helps people feel connected to their town, shows how the town grew, and can guide decisions about buildings and parks.

Documentary Evidence: Primary and secondary written or visual materials used to reconstruct past events and societies.
Oral History: The collection and study of personal recollections of historical events or personal experience.
Local Lore: A comprehensive, interdisciplinary study of all aspects pertaining to a specific locality.