AMDOCS: Documents for the Study of American History

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Logo, AMDOCS
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Provides links to approximately 390 documents, most of which are related to the nation's political, diplomatic, military, and legal history. Arranged chronologically, the site begins with excerpts of Christopher Columbus' journal of 1492 and ends, at present, with President George W. Bush's May 1, 2003 address announcing the end of major combat operations in Iraq [update: documents reach from around 800 to 2007]. Includes speeches, statutes, treaties, court decisions, memoirs, diaries, letters, published books, and even a few songs. The site, created by Lynn Nelson, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Kansas, is valuable especially for high school and college students who need easy access to many of the canonical documents in American history.

Governor's Mansion [MS]

Description

The Governor's Mansion is a 1842 Greek Revival Mansion which has served as Mississippi's gubernatorial residence since its erection. Most furnishings are Empire style (1810-1830), although the site also contains French Restoration (1830-1850), Rococo Revival (1850-1870), and Renaissance Revival (1860-1880) pieces.

The mansion offers period rooms and guided tours. Reservations must be made for groups of 10 or more. As the residence may be closed for state events, it is suggested that visitors call ahead to confirm that tours will be offered on the day which they wish to visit. The website offers small galleries of furniture images arranged by style, as well as floor plans.

The Old Stone House Museum [VT]

Description

The Old Stone House Museum contains 25 rooms of exhibits on 19th-century life in Vermont. The museum consists of six buildings spread over 55 acres, with the largest being Athenian Hall, a stone dormitory. The dormitory was built between 1834 and 1836 by the nation's first African American college graduate and state legislator, Reverend Alexander Twilight. Other structures on-site include Twilight's own home and an English-style barn.

The museum offers self-guided tours, hands-on activities, educational programs, and living history outreach presentations. The website offers several scavenger hunts.

Andover Historical Society [MA]

Description

The Andover Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Andover, Massachusetts, founded 1646. To this end, the society operates the 1819 Amos Blanchard House and Barn Museum which illustrates the life of an early 19th-century (1820-1850), middle-class family. The barn contains a variety of vernacular tools. According to the society site, tour topics include "politics, religion, women's roles, economics, banking, youth, education, household management, and agriculture." Extensive archival materials are available for research at the Caroline M. Underhill Research Center.

The society offers exhibits, period rooms, guided tours, educational programs, hands-on activities, and archival access.

Old Governor's Mansion [GA]

Description

The Old Governer's Mansion in Georgia is one of the nation's first examples of High Greek Revival architecture in the nation. The mansion was completed in 1839, and served as the mansion of the governor of Georgia until the Civil War. The building was placed on the national register of historic places in 1973, and currently stands as a historic house museum.

The mansion offers visitors guided tours, curator's tours, interpretive events, and occasional special events. The website offers lesson plans and field trip guides, visitor information, a history of the mansion, a virtual tour, and information regarding upcoming events.

American Literature on the Web

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Image, "Ralph Waldo Emerson"
Annotation

Provides thousands of links to information on and texts by more than 300 American writers from 1620 to the present. Users can search in five chronological periods for links to timelines, author's sites, related resources, music and visual arts, and "social contexts." Also contains specific categories for electronic text collections, U.S. History, American Studies, poetry, movements and genres, Southern literature, women writers, literary theory, reference works, and "minority literature/multi-cultural resources," including categories for African-American, Asian-American, Jewish-American, and Latino/Latina writers. Authors represented include famous literary figures such as Louisa May Alcott (1832-88), Anna Bradstreet (ca. 1612-72), Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950), Emily Dickinson (1830-86), and Ralph Ellison (1914-94); important public figures, such as William Byrd (1674-1744) and Frederick Douglass (1818-95); and lesser-known figures, such as John Woolman (1720-72) and Amelia Edith Barr (1831-1919).

Offers images of many writers, links in Japanese, a section devoted to Canadian authors, a master list of authors in alphabetical order, and "two site-specific search engines" for word searches of this site and others. Last updated in December 2001, many links are no longer operable; however, as a gateway, it offers an abundance of usable links in a well-designed format for those needing resources on American writers and their times.

Fort King George Historic Site [GA]

Description

Fort King George is the oldest English fort remaining on Georgia's coast. The fort was in operation from 1721 until 1736, when it was abandoned. Later, in the 19th century, the location was used as a major export center for lumber. Today, visitors can explore the reconstructed Fort King George, as well as three sawmills and tabby ruins which showcase the history of the location as a lumber exporter. The site is also home to a museum.

The fort offers visitors guided tours, interpretive events, a brief historical film, and a variety of exhibits and special events. The website offers a link to the Georgia Teacher's Resource for Touring Historic Sites, specific lesson plans for touring Fort King George, a brief history of the fort, a 15-photo photograph gallery, an event calendar, and visitor information.

Totem Bight State Historical Park [AK]

Description

The park preserves 14 reconstructions of Native totem poles and a reconstruction of a community house or clanhouse. A house of this size could have housed 30 to 50 people. Although it is doubtful a clanhouse existed on this site (originally a fish camp), this design is representative of the type in many Indian villages built in the early 19th century.

The park is open to the public.

Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum [UT]

Description

Territorial Statehouse in Fillmore is Utah's oldest existing governmental building. In anticipation of Utah's statehood, early pioneer Brigham Young directed construction of the building as the state's capitol. Only the south wing was ever completed. The existing portion was finished in time for the December 1855 meeting of the Territorial Legislature, which was the only full session held in the old statehouse. In December 1858, the seat of government was returned to Salt Lake City. Today, the Statehouse reveals Utah pioneer culture and history, through artifacts and paintings. Two restored pioneer cabins and an 1867 stone schoolhouse are also located on the grounds.

The museum offers exhibits and occasional recreational and educational events.