Below are linked scans of original source documents for your classroom lessons provided by the University of Michigan, Library of Congress, and the Maryland Historical Society and other sources that K-12 teachers are free to download, reproduce and share with their students for educational purposes. If you are interested in further reproduction, please contact the source listed.
- 1813 payment invoice to Mary Pickersgill for Fort McHenry flags (MDHS)
- Key’s handwritten manuscript of lyrics (MDHS & mythology alert)
- 1814 Sept. 17 — first broadside print of the song, titled “In Defence of Fort McHenry”
- 1814 Sept. 20 — first newspaper publication of “In Defence of Fort McHenry” (LoC)
- 1814, c. Oct — first sheet music publication of “The Star-Spangled Banner”
(UM Clements) - 1843 Jan. 13 — Notice of FS Key’s death on 11 January 1843 (newspaper)
- 1844 Oh Say, Can You Hear (abolitionist verse) from Signal of Liberty (newspaper) Ann Arbor Public Library
- 1912 “Dawn’s Early Light” — painting by Percy Moran (mythology alert)
- 1918 Service Version sheet music (Library of Congress)
- 1931 law making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official U.S. national anthem
(US Government Document, copyright free, mythology alert)
Sources:
Ann Arbor Public Library
LoC = Library of Congress
MDHS = Maryland Historical Society
UM Clements = University of Michigan William L. Clements Library