Massachusetts Historical Society [MA]

Description

The Massachusetts Historical Society is an independent research library and manuscript repository. The society holds millions of rare and unique documents, many of which are vital to the study of national history and are national treasures. Examples of society treasures include architectural drawing by Thomas Jefferson and correspondence between John and Abigail Adams.

The society offers a research library, educational programs, lesson plans complete with primary sources from the society, and teacher workshops. The website offers visitor information, information regarding the educational resources offered by the website, an online catalog, and a collection of online primary resources. In order to contact the society via email, use the "contact us" link located at the top of the webpage under the "About MHS" tab.

Alabama Department of Archives and History [AL]

Description

The Alabama Department of Archives and History preserves the history of Alabama, maintaining an extensive archive of primary and secondary source material from and on the history of Alabama as well as a museum which features exhibits and hosts events regarding Alabama history.

The Department offers lecture series, guided tours of the museum and archives, and interactive media for children. The website offers educational resources including worksheets, interactive online activities, resources for teachers, and links to other online historical resources. The website also offers online exhibits, a virtual tour of the archives, and historical information about Alabama.

Old Saybrook Historical Society [CT]

Description

Founded in 1958, Old Saybrook Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating, preserving, and maintaining collections in the archaeology, art, furniture, genealogy, and historical records of the town of Old Saybrook. In addition, the society works to encourage the preservation of historic sites and the appreciation of the history of Old Saybrook. The society seeks to increase the appreciation of the history of Old Saybrook through exhibits, videos, tours, and lectures.

The site offers information about current exhibits, the archives, educational programs, and research services offered by the society.

Prince George's County Historical Society [MD]

Description

The Prince George's County Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and raising awareness of the history of Prince George's County, Maryland. To this end, the society maintains an extensive archival collection, which is housed in the Frederick S. DeMarr Library and is available to the public by appointment. The society also is active in the preservation of historical sites throughout Prince George's County.

The site offers a bookstore, information about the archives, a calendar of events, and links to other online historical resources.

Ripley County Historical Society

Description

Ripley County Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of Ripley County, Indiana, from the first settlers to the present day. The Society maintains an exhaustive library of local history which is open to researchers for a nominal fee.

The Society also maintains a museum and a reconstructed log cabin from the mid 19th century.

The site offers basic information about the society and instructions on how to contact the society for research.

St Joseph Museum [MO]

Description

The St. Joseph Museums, Inc., is a non-profit organization encompassing local museums dedicated to the research, preservation, interpretation, exhibition, and teaching of St. Joseph and the Midland Empire’s history and cultures. It pursues this mission through collections analysis, ethnographic research, preservation of material culture, interpretive exhibitions, and educational programming. The St. Joseph Museums, Inc., is comprised of the Black Archives Museum, the Glore Psychiatric Museum, the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, and the St. Joseph Museum.

Planning a Class Trip to Washington, DC?

Date Published
Article Body

The National Archives Learning Lab in the new Boeing Learning Center offers free, two-hour, hands-on sessions for middle schoolers. These sessions promise to transform the way they look at our Constitution and our history. Students in grades six through nine assume the roles of archivists and researchers, work in replicas of National Archives research facilities, and interact with primary source documents. The program requires reservations and includes pre-visit preparation materials.

Visit the National Archives website for further information about visiting the Washington, DC, facility.

Collecting Histories: Preserving and Cultivating African American and Women's Histories

Description

Attendees at this lecture will join two Chicago-area archivists, a public historian, and an historian of women in a conversation about collecting, preserving, accessing, and using papers of African Americans and women. Following 10–15 minute presentations by the speakers, drawn from their own projects and institution's missions, they will engage in a panel discussion with each other and audience members on what local research institutions and community organizations are doing to collect and make accessible manuscripts and other primary sources that will fuel future historical narratives.

Sponsoring Organization
Newberry Library
Start Date
Cost
Free

Teaching with Documents and Works of Art: An Integrated Approach

Description

This two-and-a-half day workshop will provide a varied program of lectures, demonstrations, collaborative work, and analysis of documents and works of art to introduce teachers to the holdings of the National Archives and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Workshop attendees will participate in and develop classroom activities that utilize both visual images and primary source documents as teaching tools in ways that sharpen students’ skills and enthusiasm for history, social studies, and the humanities. The content focus will be on Westward Expansion and the Civil War.

Contact name
Potter, Lee Ann
Contact email
Registration Deadline
Sponsoring Organization
National Council for the Social Studies, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Archives and Records Administration
Target Audience
K-12
Start Date
Cost
$200
Contact Title
Head of Education and Volunteer Programs at the National Archives and Records Administration
Duration
Three days
End Date

Primarily Teaching: Using Historical Documents in the Classroom

Description

Primarily Teaching is designed to provide access to the rich resources of the National Archives for educators at the upper elementary, secondary, and college levels. Participants will learn how to research the historical records, create classroom materials based on the records, and present documents in ways that sharpen students’ skills and enthusiasm for history, government, and the other humanities. Each participant will search the holdings of the National Archives for documents suitable for classroom use and develop strategies for using these documents in the classroom or design professional development activities to help classroom teachers use primary source documents effectively.

Contact name
Primarily Teaching Staff
Sponsoring Organization
National Archives and Records Administration
Target Audience
Advanced elementary, middle school, and high school teachers of history, social studies, and geography
Start Date
Cost
$100
Course Credit
Graduate credit from a major university is available for an additional fee.
Duration
Five days
End Date