Chronicling America: "Rights and Responsibilities" for National History Day
    Library of Congress Serial and Government Publications Division & the National Digital Newspaper Program
    September 11, 1:00 pm ET | Webinar information & registration

    Digging In with TPS-MTSU: Rights and Responsibilities
    Middle Tennessee State University
    September 12, 4:00 pm CT | Email Kira Duke to register

    A great video from PBS about the many benefits of student participation in National History Day.

    h/t   Mary Johnson  

    Éirinn go Brách

    Tyler Anbinder, professor emeritus at George Washington University, has a new book out entirely rooted in wonderful primary source materials. In Plentiful Country: The Great Potato Famine and the Making of Irish New York, the myth of the poverty-stricken Irish immigrant being a drain on American society is dispelled all because of a treasure trove of bank records. The records of the Emigrant Savings Bank, housed at the NY Public Library, show that even day laborers were averaging $150 in their savings accounts -- equivalent to about $6000 today!  

    How can primary sources be used to disprove other stereotypes? 

    Why is this set of data significant to American history?

    What other primary sources can be combined with this bank data to get a clearer picture of the lives of Irish immigrants to America?

    How are the reactions to the 19th century mass emigration of Irish to America similar to events happening today? 

    Irish Americans Free to Use and Reuse

    Herald of the Times, and Rhode Islander, January 18, 1847 -- Famine! 

    No Irish Need Apply, 1862 

    What Irish Boys Can Do

    The Irish Republic Newspaper, 1867-68, Chicago

    Irish American Song

    Irish Colonists in New York, 1906

    Where the blame lies, 1891 (anti-immigration cartoon)

    Immigration Challenges for New Americans

    Adaptation and Assimilation

    Irish-Catholic Immigration to America

    Immigrant Laborers in the Early 20th century, audio recording.

    Irish Contributions to the American Culture

    The Immigrant Experience: Down the Rabbit Hole

    US Census Records

    Only a small portion of the Emigrant Savings Bank Records have been digitized, but they are fascinating! The bank records span from 1841 through 1923. 

    Immigration: The Irish, New York, PBS Media

    EPIC: The Irish Immigration Museum

    Irish-American Heritage Museum

    When America Despised the Irish: The 19th Century Refugee Crisis

      3 - 5    6 - 8    9 - 12    13+    Social Studies/History    museum    Irish  

    https://www.loc.gov/item/2018696738/

    Hi everyone! The Office of History, Art, and Archives at the U.S. House of Representatives has compiled primary sources from our collections for National History Day 2023: Frontiers in History. Feel free to share with your colleagues and students, and let us know what you think!

    https://history.house.gov/Education/NHD/NHD-Resources/ 

      6 - 8    9 - 12    Social Studies/History    primary sources    National History Day    NHD  

    Hey all! The 2020-2021 NHD theme is "Communication in History, The Key to Understanding," and our Iowa coordinator just put out a list of state topics with accompanying primary sources (from our State Historical Society of Iowa's Primary Source Sets) to give students a head start. 

    Does your state have any topic lists or primary sources to share that can help NHD students from around the country pick a research topic this year? Please share!  6 - 8    9 - 12    Social Studies/History    NHD    National History Day    Communication    Primary Sources  

    Got your attention with that one, didn't I? 

    With good reason, I might add!  Today I want to introduce you to Eugene Jacques Bullard, a young man of Creek and African-American heritage from Georgia.  Mr. Bullard was born into the Jim Crow South of west Georgia.  His father was nearly lynched, his brother WAS lynched.  Mr. Bullard, the Black Swallow of Death, won the Croix de Guerre. 

    Intrigued? I hope so. Bullard wanted to be a pilot, but in World War I the US would not allow it. So, he stowed away to France where he joined the French Air Corps.  Bullard distinguished himself, winning the nickname The Black Swallow of Death and the Croix de Guerre for his service at the Battle of Verdun.  Back in America, Bullard was relegated to a series of menial jobs but performed them with the grace and honor inherent in him. 

    Mr. Bullard would be a fabulous National History Day topic. There are several wonderful books about Bullard -- including "The Black Swallow of Death" and "All Blood Runs Red."

    Portrait of Eugene Bullard

    Portrait of Bullard with his plane

    Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Blog

    PBS -- Two Lives of Eugene Bullard

    Trigger warning, this article talks about lynching and racism. Eugene & Hector Bullard

    6 - 8 9 - 12 Social Studies/History NativeAmericanHistory AfricanAmericanHistory WorldWarI

    If you have had the pleasure of visiting the Smithsonian American Art Museum then you may have seen the ethereal sculptural works of Edmonia Lewis. The Death of Cleopatra is one of her most well-known pieces.  What the Art Museum does not tell you is her history. 

    Lewis was the descendant of Native Americans and African-Americans.  She attended Oberlin College.  And, she changed the white, male world of fine arts forever.  Lewis ILLUSTRATED some of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poems in MARBLE!  Stunning!

    She truly represents the theme: Breaking Down Barriers! 

    Smithsonian Magazine article

    Overlooked No More NY Times Obit

    Lewis' Iconic Works

    PBS Video -- She Inspires

    Some Longfellow links to link!

    https://www.loc.gov/item/2012647200/

    Evangeline

    Tales from Longfellow

    The Poems

    6 - 8 9 - 12 13+ Social Studies/History Art/Music English/Language Arts MuseumsandArchives Womens History Native Americans African Americans

    I was listening to National Public Radio the other day and heard a wonderful Story Corps interview.  (NPR is a great source for NHD topics!). 

    Susan Ahn Cuddy was being discussed. She was a Korean woman who enlisted in the US Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  The Navy did not want to let her join, but Susan Ahn persisted.  She became the FIRST Asian-American woman in the US Navy and the FIRST FEMALE Gunnery Sergeant in the US Navy! Cuddy married in 1947 and both she and her husband were involved in intelligence.  Susan Ahn Cuddy would also work for the Library of Congress! 

    Her story would be a fantastic NHD project this year! 

    Biography: Cha, John Willow Tree Shade: The Susan Ahn Cuddy Story (2002)

    US Navy Blog

    Opening the Navy to Asian-Americans

    Homefront Heroines

    LA Times video obituary

    6 - 8 9 - 12 Social Studies/History Bilingual Education/ESL AsianAmerican WomensHistory

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