Teaching Toni Morrison with Primary Sources
Teaching Toni Morrison with Primary Sources is a collaborative educational initiative connected to Beloved: Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison. Developed through support from the Teaching with Primary Sources Midwest Region Program, these guides use primary source materials to deepen engagement with Toni Morrison's three novels set in Ohio: Beloved, Sula, and The Bluest Eye.
About
Designed for educators, students, libraries, book clubs, and community readers, each guide invites participants to explore Morrison’s work through historical context, archival materials, discussion prompts, and reflective learning opportunities.
Whether encountering Toni Morrison for the first time or returning to her work in a new way, these resources are intended to support meaningful conversation, critical thinking, and community engagement.
Sponsors
The Teaching Toni Morrison with Primary Sources project was led by Ohio Center for the Book in collaboration with Literary Cleveland. The project was sponsored in part by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Midwest Region Program, located at Illinois State University. Content created and featured in partnership with the TPS Midwest Region does not indicate an endorsement by the Library of Congress
Teaching Guides
Beloved Teaching Guide
Explore themes of memory, freedom, motherhood, and history through primary sources, discussion prompts, and guided reflection connected to Toni Morrison’s Beloved.
The Bluest Eye Teaching Guide
Engage with themes of beauty, race, childhood, and identity through primary sources and guided exploration connected to Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye.
Sula Teaching Guide
Examine friendship, identity, community, and belonging through primary sources and discussion activities inspired by Toni Morrison’s Sula.
