The development of new vaccines and antibiotics in the 20th century was viewed as a miracle of modern science, and one of many important breakthroughs of the time in understanding and treating illness. Jonas Salk, an American medical researcher, was hailed as a hero in 1955 for developing the polio vaccine. He refused to patent his discovery which would have made him a millionaire. Instead, he wanted to save as many lives as possible including millions of children who were at highest risk of catching polio.
Directions
Use the magnifier to read the article “Salk Vaccination Clinic Goes Off Smoothly; 1410 Kids Given Shots” and answer the questions in the box below.
Library of Congress
“Salk Vaccination Clinic Goes Off Smoothly; 1410 Kids Given Shots,” April 21, 1955, The Lincoln Times. Library of Congress
Questions
Annotate this Image
Directions: Use the annotator to read the article “Has the Salk Vaccine Solved the Polio Problem?” and answer the questions in the box below.
- What does the headline of the article make you think about or notice?
- Why do you think the journalist chose to begin this news article like a narrative or story?
- Why might this reporter have included so many statistics in this news story? What purpose does it serve to include them? What information can we derive from all the numbers?
Source: “Has Salk Solved the Polio Problem?” Jan. 16, 1955, Evening Star. American Archive
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Your Annotations
Puzzler
Directions: Take a look at the different sections of the photograph one by one and answer the question that accompanies each section. At the end, you will see the completed image.
Source: Library of Congress
Cropped Image 1
What do you think each of the four men in this picture are doing? Do you think the two men interacting are associated with the others?
Cropped Image 2
In this image, the people are looking closely at the cylindrical object in the lower left. What do you think the object is and why are the people staring at it (studying it)? Based on their outfits, what do you think their roles are?
Cropped Image 3
Describe the object that the men are pushing on.
Cropped Image 4
Look carefully at this image — what do you think is happening to this man?
