Teaching DigitalNC Tutorial DPLA

Using the Digital Public Library of America to Access North Carolina Sources

Screenshot of Digital Public Library of America homepage
National Archives and National Historical Publications & Records Commission logo

This tutorial, “Using the Digital Public Library of America to Access North Carolina Sources,” is one of a series produced by the North Carolina State Historical Records Advisory Board with funding from the National Historical Records & Records Commission.

The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) is a collection of millions of cultural heritage objects from libraries, archives, and museums across the country.

Medicine Pendant

Medicine Pendant
National Museum of Natural History

Lewis Hine Photo of Jewish Immigrant at Ellis Island

Lewis Hine Photo of Jewish Immigrant at Ellis Island
New York Public Library

Japanese at Internment Camp

Japanese at Internment Camp
Los Angeles Public Library

More than 400,000 of the resources are provided by North Carolina institutions.

Women Sorting Sliced Cucumbers

Women Sorting Sliced Cucumbers
East Carolina University

Civilian Conservation Corps Company 443

Civilian Conservation Corps Company 443
Haywood County Public Library

To access North Carolina sources, scroll to the bottom of the DPLA home page, and click on “Partners.”

Screenshot of DPLA footer with an arrow pointing to the Partners link

Click on “North Carolina Digital Heritage Center”

Screenshot of DPLA Partners page with an arrow pointing to North Carolina Digital Heritage Center

From here you can search all North Carolina collections. In this example the search is for sources related to World War I.

Screenshot of search bar on DPLA showing a search for World War I

To find a specific repository, scroll down the page to “Contributing Institution.” Click on “More.”

Screenshot of the search filters with an arrow pointing to More under Contributing Institution

A list of repositories that have materials related to the topic is displayed, along with the number of sources on the topic contributed by each.

Screenshot of the Contributing Institution list showing North Carolina repositories and their item counts

Choosing a specific repository will refine the search to that collection. In this example it is the New Hanover Public Library.

Screenshot of search results filtered by New Hanover County Public Library

Clicking on the image provides additional information about the source.

Screenshot of item detail page with metadata such as Contributing Institution, Description, and Subject circled

Clicking on the image again will enlarge it and provide options for viewing.

Screenshot of the enlarged image viewer for the Shipyard Canteen photograph

Take advantage of the wealth of North Carolina treasures found in the Digital Public Library of America.

SNCC Button

SNCC Button
North Caroiina Collection

Suffrage Map

Suffrage Map
Duke University Libraries

Speaker Ban Law Article

Speaker Ban Law Article
NC Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources

Book of Vegetable Dyes

Book of Vegetable Dyes
Western Carolina University

Cotton Press at Norfleet Plantation

Cotton Press at Norfleet Plantation
Edgecombe County Memorial Library

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