Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times

July 14 - Life at the Center of the Storm: Massachusetts and the American Revolution
Dr. Dane Morrison from Salem State College will use Robert Gross' classic text, The Minutemen and Their World to talk about life in Massachusetts during the early Revolution. While John Adams was debating in the Continental Congress and Paul Revere was making his famous ride, what were average Massachusetts citizens doing? This seminar will make use of the wonderful resources at the Museum of our National Heritage in Lexington to examine this important topic.

July 15 - The Union in War Boston University's
Dr. Nina Silber will use her book Daughters of the Union: Northern Women Fight the Civil War to talk about the ways in which the war fundamentally changed how American women lived and related to one another and their government. This seminar will make use of the collections at the Marblehead Grand Army of the Republic Museum.

July 16 - "Go West, Young Man" (and Woman!)
Even before John L. O'Sullivan coined the term "manifest destiny," the west occupied a unique place in American culture. During this seminar, independent scholar Dr. Beth Ladow will examine the westward migration of millions of Americans in search of opportunity, escape, or freedom. During the afternoon, we will use the resources of the Peabody Essex Museum to examine the role of the west in American memory and culture.

July 17 - "Local People": Everyday Americans and The Civil Rights Movement
Using Charles Dittmer's Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi, Dr. Jamie Wilson from Salem State College will examine how average Americans played a critical role in the Civil Rights movement. This seminar will take place at the National Archives and Records Administration - Northeast.

July 18 - "The fictional Classroom" - Using Literature to Teach History
English scholars Dr. Arthur Riss and Dr. John D. Scrimgeour from Salem State College will team up for this year's methodology session. During the morning, Dr. Riss will discuss techniques for using literature as a primary source while the afternoon's teacher talk will feature Dr. Scrimgeour and a discussion of creative writing assignments to do with your students. This seminar will make use of Salem's own literary and historical treasure, The House of the Seven Gables.

As always, the Using ESSEX History Summer Institute is a FREE 3 credit graduate course and is offered through Salem State College. Teachers who complete the necessary coursework will receive 30 PDPs and a $1,000 stipend. Apply to the Summer Institute!

The Application Deadline is Monday, April 7, 2008.