Are you a grad student or new professional interested in teaching with primary sources?

Have you landed a job where you are teaching with primary sources?

Welcome to the TPS Collective!

A low commitment, high impact, supportive community of people who come together around this shared interest. We often work in fields such as archives, libraries, education, and museums and take an open community approach to resource sharing, professional development, and collegial support. There are no dues and no formal membership processes. Your presence is your qualification.

In the TPS Collective, there’s a place for everyone. Browse this page to begin to find yours.

Connect

Whether you’re looking for people at a similar career stage or seeking input from folks with more — or perhaps just different — experience there are several places to ask questions, find people to talk with, and hear about jobs.

Join the Listserv

The TPS Collective Listserv is open for anyone to join. You will see TPS-related job posts, information about events and professional development opportunities, and it can even be a place to seek or read advice from colleagues on pressing issues. Typical traffic is 1-3 messages per week.

With one click you join the listserv and you’re a part of the community.

Join the TPS Collective Listserv

Join the Slack channel

Low key conversation space where you can seek advice and engage with colleagues more casually. There are several subchannels here, and grad students and early career folks are encouraged to check out the #tps‑new‑professionals channel.

Email tpscollective at gmail dot com for the slack invite link.

Attend events

Browse a calendar of classes, workshops, webinars, and conferences related to the practice of teaching with primary sources. Many of the events are free or low cost. https://tpscollective.org/events

Participate

The TPS Collective offers virtual opportunities to participate, ranging from attending events to regular committee service. There is no request process for joining, simply sign up or show up. A selection of these opportunities are listed below.

TPS Fest

TPS Fest is a great entry point to the community and a fun way to explore TPS topics. Typically in July or August, this free annual virtual gathering brings together folks who teach with primary source material. A mix of workshops, presentations, and conversation, TPS Fest is for anyone who wants to jump in and learn with other TPSers of all types of experience.

In addition to attending, there are opportunities to volunteer as a Zoom helper, notetaker, or chat moderator. We welcome your participation in the Brown Bag specifically for folks who are newer to TPS work.

Information about attending and volunteering is on the TPS Fest page.

TPS Community Calls

Community calls happen periodically throughout the year and offer similar opportunities for attendance and participation as the TPS Fest. Keep an eye on the listserv (join above) for announcements about community calls, including how to attend or get involved.

Learn

Whether you’re teaching your first primary source instruction session or preparing to present for an interview, explore the TPS Collective website.

Individuals in the Teaching with Primary Sources community are actively developing practical and scholarly knowledge for the community. The TPS Collective website gathers this impressive wealth into a collection of resources we encourage you to explore.

If you’re looking for a few options to start with, we recommend:

Questions?

Check out the full listing of ongoing TPS Collective activities for additional ways to get involved.

Have questions? Want to learn more? Reach out to the TPS Collective outreach team (Kelsey Brown, Yuqiao Brigitte Cao, Matt Herbison, and Heather Smedberg) at tpscollective at gmail dot com.