News in American History
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Spokane group performs interactive play to commemorate the centennial of Washington’s giving women the vote.
That Woman & Big Noise was performed at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture on May 16th as a prelude to the upcoming centennial celebration of women’s suffrage set to take place next year in Washington State. The interactive stage play centers on the stormy relationship between two women who were instrumental in the Washington suffrage movement – Emma Smith DeVoe, of Tacoma, and May Arkwright Hutton, of Spokane.
With tension and humor and a little help from the audience, these larger-than-life characters shared their struggles for independence and showed that we must work together to accomplish change.
Bios: Writer Sandra Hosking is Co-Playwright-in-Residence at Spokane Civic Theatre and editor of Inland NW Homes & Lifestyles magazine. Performer Claire Rudolf Murphy is author of more than 15 books for children, and Penny Lucas is regularly seen on Spokane-area stages.
This event was sponsored by a Teaching American History grant administered by Educational Service District 101 and Eastern Washington University.
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Academic History & Public History: As part of the 2009 Roll on Columbia TAH grant, the MAC hosted a talk on April 23rd for area educators by Gonzaga University’s Robert Carriker. The talk was titled, Two Ways to Teach Lewis and Clark: Academic History & Public History. Involved with the Lewis and Clark commemoration activities at both the state and national level, Carriker encouraged teachers to reflect on several advances in scholarship that took place during the four year period beginning in 2003. Classroom teachers can be more confident that ever that the journals of the expedition are an absolutely invaluable source. Part one of the informative and fun presentation looked at the journals as a teaching tool: what do they contain, how do they contradict, who wrote them and who edited them? The focus of part two was on the diverse approach taken by the State of Washington during the bicentennial to bring the meaning of the Corps of Northwest Discovery to citizens who have a great interest in, but little real knowledge of, the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The presentation was sponsored by a Teaching American History grant administered by Educational Service District 101 and Eastern Washington University.
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“William Henry Harrison and the Continuing American Revolution” was the title of a lecture given by historian Robert M. Owens on Thursday, March 12th, as part of the Teaching American History grant program. Thirty teachers and students took the opportunity to learn more about America’s early history by attending this informative lecture. Robert M. Owens is an assistant professor of history at Wichita State University. He is the author of Mr. Jefferson’s Hammer: William Henry Harrison and the Origins of American Indian Policy and several scholarly articles on Native Americans and the Old Northwest. He received a Ph.D. in history from the University of Illinois. The presentation was sponsored by a Teaching American History grant administrated by Eastern Washington University and Educational Service District 101. It took place at the northwest Museum of Arts & Culture. -
The Bible Quilts of Harriet Powers was a presentation by Antoinette Botsford that took place at the MAC on February 18th. The program focused on former Negro slave Harriet Powers (1837-1911) who is remembered for two extraordinary quilts. Both are appliquéd story quilts made up of individual squared based on stories from the Bible, interwoven with African folklore and cosmological themes. One of the quilts also includes a number of historical events that occurred during Powers’ lifetime.
Storyteller Antoinette Botsford wove a story of Powers’ life and spiritual philosophy as reflected in her quilts, and spoke directly about the quilt makers unique artistic vision, her connection to African folk arts, and the survival of ancient beliefs and traditions. Botsford told something of the Underground Railroad, the hardships of slavery, and the support systems used by slaves and former slaves to help one another through their difficulties both during and after the American Civil War.
A professional storyteller since 1988, Antionette Botsford holds a Ph.D. from UCLA in theater history and is chair of the Oral History Project on Orcas Island, Washington, an activity that ties workshops she offers in writing and telling stories from personal histories. The program was sponsored by a Teaching American History grant administered by ESD 101 and EWU and by Humanities Washington through its Inquiring Mind service.
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Right on the heels of a heated presidential election which included a female nominee for vice-president, historian Ellen Carol Dubois, on November 20, 2008, took fifty people back to a time when women could not vote, let alone hold public office. Dr. DuBois’ November lecture focused on how women in the Northwest struggled for the vote over several decades; a good reminder as we prepare for the centennial celebration of Washington’s suffrage. The lecture was sponsored by the Teaching American History grant by ESD 101 and EWU. -
Elders from four regional tribes joined the MAC on November 15, 2008 for a special evening to explore the history of the museum’s nationally recognized American Indian Collection. The evening began in the Living Legacy of the museum’s nationally recognized American Indian museum staff and volunteers were on hand to discuss the significance, planning, and process of presenting the chosen collections in a gallery setting. The tour was accompanied by the Frog Island Singers drum group from the Kalispel Tribe. The exhibit tour was followed by a panel discussion, “Celebrating the MAC’s Living Legacy: A History of its American Indian Collection”. Panel members included the Tribal Elders Francis Cullooyah (Kalispel Tribe) and Pauline Flett (Spokane Tribe); historian Jack Nisbet and the MAC’s Senior Curator of Collections Laura Thayer. The discussion was facilitated by Michael Holloman, Director of the Center for Plateau Cultural Center. The program was free to the general public thanks to the Teaching American History grant by ESD 101 and EWU.
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Teachers’ Night at the MAC on Thursday, October 2, 2008. The annual open house for all area K-16 educators, administrators and staff was enjoyed by over 100 participants who took advantage of free admission, refreshments, gallery tours, special speakers, hands-on art and history experiences, and a change to preview this year’s educational programs and curriculum.
Attendees also had a chance to listen to historian Bruce Levine talk about the South’s plan to free and arm slaves during the Civil War. Bruce Levine is the James G. Randall Professor of History at the University of Illinois and has authored a number of books on the Civil War exploring the complex ways in which economic change, class, structure, and culture interacted to shape that era. Dr. Levine’s most recent book is entitled Confederate Emancipation: Southern Plans to Free and Arm Slaves during the Civil War.
This event was free and made possible through the generosity of the Spokane Teachers’ Credit Union and ESD 101 and EWU though its Teaching American History grant. -
A History Day Teacher workshop took place at the MAC on Saturday, September 20, 2008. Over fifty teachers attended to learn how historical biography, primary documents, and artifacts could be used to teach history. They also learned about the National History Day program and received this year’s theme and contest information.
The workshop keynote speaker was author and naturalist Jack Nisbet who shared his own research on explorer and botanist David Douglas. Anyone who has walked outside in the Pacific Northwest has seen plants, trees, animals, and birds named by or after the Scottish naturalist. Less well-known is the effect that the region had on the man. In his presentation, Jack examined how Douglas’ interactions with fur traders and tribal families unveiled aspects of both the human and natural landscape we live in today. The workshop was funded through the Teaching American History grant administered by ESD 101 and EWU. -
National History Day In Washington State
Eastern Washington Regional Contest
National History Day is a program of learning that encourages students in grades 6-12 to become active historians. Students select a topic that interests them that relates to an annual them. This year the theme is, "The Individual in History". They then conduct primary research at local libraries and archives and from that research develop a product that is judged at the regional level. The product can take the form of an historical essay, performance, documentary, or museum-quality exhibit. Students compete with their entries at regional, state, and national events. History Day projects also can be used to fulfill the Dig Deep Classroom Bases Assessment in Social Studies.
The Eastern Washington Regional event is sponsored locally by the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture and Eastern Washington University. -
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Roll on Columbia Teachers Attend Williamsburg Institute
What does it mean to be an American citizen? How many times have we been asked that question by either our social studies teacher or a politician? This past August nineteen teachers and two university professors were given the opportunity to explore the meaning of that question in a place where it was fiercely debated over 200 years ago – Williamsburg, VA. Thanks to the Teaching American History grant, Roll on Columbia, grant participants and their EWU faculty advisors, Michael Conlin and Liping Zhu, experienced an intensive six-day workshop based in Williamsburg that also included visits to Jamestown and Yorktown.
The days were long and the weather was hot and humid, but the experiences were priceless. We slept in colonial housing and ate in colonial taverns. We saw tobacco being grown and harvested. We debated the issues of slavery and of freedom from English rule. We attended the trial of a woman accused of witchcraft and listened to a Black Baptist minister speaks of his congregation. We had an opportunity to speak with both General George Washington and Lady Dunmore, wife of the colonial governor of Virginia. One of our groups was even challenged to a duel after calling the Marquis d’Lafayette a lap dog of General Washington’s. And after fifty-two hours of instruction, we left with more classroom materials than we could pack in our checked luggage and keep from paying the overweight fines.
Best of all, each one of us left with a more personally refined and heartfelt answer to the question, “What does it mean to be an American citizen?”
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Freedom Moves West 2008 Summer Institute
The 2008 Summer Institute was held June 16th though June 20th. Twenty participating teachers travelled to Seattle and spent time at the National Archives working on their classroom research topics. The group also had a great time visiting the Boeing Plant in Everett, Washington, the Klondike Gold Rush Museum, the Underground tour of Seattle and going on a harbor tour. Teachers were given the opportunity to explore ways that identified the early settlements of Seattle, and later the industrial expansion of the West Coast. The trip ended with a short stop at Mount Rainier National Park and a talk by Dr. Liping Zhu on the early history of our National Park System. These activities were part of Year Three, “Documents and Ideas” of the Freedom Moves West grant.
- Exciting Tales of Outlaws and
Lawmen
Western historian and author Drew Gomber offered an entertaining and engaging lecture on tales of the “real” Old West at the MAC on April 3rd. He described a place where outlaws and lawmen like Wyatt Earp, Billy-the-Kid, and Butch Cassidy lived out their lives in the Reconstruction West.
Drew Gomber lives in the heart of “Kid” country near Lincoln, New Mexico, and has studied Billy-the-Kid and the 19th century Lincoln County New Mexico War like few others. Appearing in over 50 documentary films – Gomber has become one of the more recognizable faces on television. He has appeared regularly on the History Channel, most notably in its series: “Wild West Tech,” and has also worked for A&E, Biography, The Discovery Channel, and the BBC. A Podcast of his talk can be downloaded at http://podcast.northwestmuseum.org .
Sponsored by the Teaching American History grant administered by EWU and ESD 101.
- Women’s History Month Celebrated at
the MAC
Author Susan G. Butruille gave an engaging performance on Abigail Scott Duniway March 27th at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. Her portrayal was complete with humor, poignancy, and an occasional song. An 1852 Oregon Trail emigrant, Duniway helped win voting rights for Washington women and accompanied the great Susan B. Anthony on a speaking tour of the state she once considered a “Canada for Women.” Along the way Duniway confronted prejudice, prohibitions, preachers, national suffrage leaders, the liquor industry, her own temper and her brother. A book signing followed the program.
Sponsored by the Teaching American History grant administered by EWU and ESD 101.
- The Walla Walla Treaty of 1855
On March 6, 2008, thirty-five area teachers attended a workshop on the Walla Walla Treaty and how it impacted local Indian tribes and tribal lands through a study of maps, oral accounts and primary documents. This was a free workshop taught by Dr. Sally Thompson from the Regional Learning Project at the University of Montana Center for Continued Learning. It was a valuable learning experience about a local historic event.
- Why Save a Language
On March 6, 2008, Educators and interested patrons were fortunate to attend a presentation on “Why Save a Language” which consisted of a short film on the topic followed by a panel discussion with representatives from local Tribal language programs. This program was facilitated by Dr. Sally Thompson from the Regional Learning Project at the University of Montana Center for Continued Learning which produces multi-media resources for the study of Native American history. Thompson has a distinguished record as a consulting anthropologist to tribes, documenting contemporary and traditional cultural practices on tribal lands.
- Teaching American History Grant
Participants Celebrate a New Year.
Friday evening, February 22, 2008 marked the kick-off of a very thrilling year for Teaching American History Grant participants. They celebrated the event, hosted by the MAC, by gathering syllabi and books, getting to know one another, and enjoying a delicious meal. Other highlights included a tour of the museum exhibits and an informative primary research lecture by Rose Krause of the Joel E. Ferris Archives. The evening was great and a promise of exciting things to come in 2008.
- More than sixty people
attended the lecture and opening of the MAC’s newest Western
History Exhibit, Samuel Colt: Arms, Art and Invention
February 2nd.
Noted firearms scholar, author and guest curator Herbert G. Houze presented a program on Samuel Colt’s brilliant influence on American industry and advertising. Houze has written countless articles and authored over 20 books devoted to American firearms. This lecture was part of the opening day’s festivities for this major traveling exhibition from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, in Hartford Connecticut. This exhibit will continue through April 27, 2008 at the MAC.
- Making History Come Alive by
Implementing Classroom-Based Assessments
November 15, 2007
Approximately 70 teachers from the ESD 101 region attended this workshop at University High School in the Central Valley School District. Caleb Perkins, Director of Social Studies, from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, reviewed the reasons why Classroom-Based Assessments (CBA’s) are being required in classrooms in the state of Washington as well as new information on the new report required from districts indicating participation in CBA’s.
Three Central Valley teachers reviewed the process for compiling resources, topics and ideas to teach to the Constitutional Issues CBA rubric. They also shared lesson plans designed to teach the CBA’s as well as tips on student essays and scoring. Evaluations indicated that the attendees appreciated the information and the way it was delivered by the teacher-presenters.
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Annotated Bibliographies
November 7, 2007
The Annotated Bibliographies workshop was attended by 23 people. Breakout groups were formed and instructions given for the correct way to write annotations. Rules and regulations were discussed regarding plagiarism and the importance of not violating copyright laws.
Freedom
Moves West Grant - Final Project Weekend - Year 2
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Teachers’ Night at the MAC
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Teachers, administrators and staff “got to know MAC” during this free, fun open house at the museum. Attendees previewed exhibits and curriculum materials, met with museum education staff, picked up free materials from the Smithsonian Institution, toured the historic Campbell House, learned how to create artifact boxes from EWU pre-service teachers, and enjoyed a wonderful evening in a beautiful setting. The highlight of the evening was watching a riveting performance of a scene from the play “National Pastime”. The scene portrayed a meeting between baseball player, Jackie Robinson, and Brooklyn Dodger manager, Branch Rickey, as Rickey tries to determine if Robinson is the best person to break the color barrier in professional baseball. The evening was sponsored by Spokane Teachers’ Credit Union, ESD 101 and EWU through a Teaching American History grant and the Smithsonian Community Grant program funded by the MetLife Foundation.
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National History Day Teacher Workshop: Conflict and
Compromise in History
Saturday, September 29, 2007, Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture
This free workshop explored ways that educators could use the national History Day model of teaching in the classroom. It also introduced teachers to the great Smithsonian exhibit: Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers and included a tour of the exhibit. There was a special presentation by Dr. Cathryn Claussen of Washington State University titled “Conflict and Compromise in Sports History: Title IX”. Free clock hours and lunch were included and 30 teachers from throughout eastern Washington attended. The workshop was sponsored by ESD 101 and EWU through a Teaching American History Grant, and the Smithsonian Community Grant program funded by the MetLife Foundation.
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William Layman speaks at the MAC
An audience of 75 people, including Grant teachers, attended a lecture September 13th given by William Layman on the history of the