The Illinois School Code requires that the teaching of history in the state's public educational institutions include a study of the role and contributions of American blacks and other ethnic groups. A related objective states that instructional materials should accurately depict and reflect the diversity of American society and the contributions of various racial and ethnic groups. In this document guidelines are offered for the evaluation and selection of such materials. Use of the guidelines is recommended for teachers, school administrators and board members, and community groups. In addition, it is hoped that textbook publishers will use the suggestions in the document in the creation of new materials. Considerations that should be involved in any analysis of the philosophical, written, and pictorial content of instructional materials and in the development of curricula are outlined. The process by which ethnic content can be analyzed is explained. Examples of errors in multiethnic literature are cited, and analytical and corrective procedures are demonstrated. Questions are suggested for evaluation of the general content and quality of materials under consideration. (GC)