Education
Discover dynamic education programs and curriculum resources about the history of our city, state, and nation.
THE VOICES OF HISTORY, 2017 – 2018
Using a multitude of primary sources from the New-York Historical Society’s Museum and Library collections, students will experience history through the words and actions of the statesmen, rebels, mothers, and explorers who shaped our nation. Each course in the five-week series will examine the lives, influence, and perspectives of two individuals from a shared moment in our nation’s history. Students will examine letters, diaries, and speeches and consider how each person shaped American history through their unique and compelling voices.
Schedule and Requirements
Ages 14–17
Students must be the age required for their specific class by the date of the first class.
Fridays from 10 am – 12 pm
$175 per series, $825 for all five
Series 1: Industrialization & Immigration
September 15 and 22, October 6, 13, 20
Examine how two overlooked figures left big impressions on American culture during the United States’ industrial age. Immigrant photographer Jacob Riis awakened the middle class to the injustices experienced by poor immigrant families, and Emily Roebling committed herself to the completion of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
Series 2: Progressive Era
November 3, 10, 17, December 1 and 8
Discover how two individuals shaped the social conscience of Americans during the early 1900s. Fighting against monopolies, racism, and much more, Theodore Roosevelt and Ida B. Wells helped to define the expectations of a responsible American citizen.
Series 3: The Great Depression
January 5, 12, 19, 26, February 2
Discuss and debate the two distinct responses to America’s Great Depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who sympathized with Americans’ plight, favored aggressive government intervention. Former New York Governor Al Smith had a different vision grounded in private enterprise.
Series 4: WWII and the Modern Era
February 9 and 16, March 9, 16, 23
Celebrate the contributions of two groups of Americans who were instrumental in the American war effort. Fighting abroad, American GIs sacrificed safety and solace to protect citizens’ freedoms, while WAVE women mobilized on the home front.
Series 5: Civil Rights for African Americans
April 20, May 4, 11, 18, 25
Investigate two different approaches to the fight for civil rights. Lawyer Thurgood Marshall fought for justice in court, standing before the Supreme Court to overturn decades-old precedent. The Freedom Riders organized in Southern cities and held demonstrations on public buses.
For questions and registration, contact homeschool@nyhistory.org or (212) 873-3400 ext. 505.