Seminar and Institute Information

Application for Spring 2008 Seminars are now closed. Please check back for information concerning Fall 2008 Seminars.

For more information concerning seminars, please contact: Bethany Jay at bethany@usingessexhistory.org or Rebecca Zimmerman at rzimmerman@essexlincs.org

Upcoming Seminars for Spring, 2008
Teachers must be accepted for Spring cohort (Applications closed 12/19/07)

“Local History in a National Context”
Wednesday, February 6, 2008 (National Archives, Waltham, MA.)
Salem State College Professors, Brad Austin and Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello, use the National Archives’ incredible American history resources to show teachers how broad political, social, and cultural movements are reflected in the stories of local towns and cities. After this discussion, teachers have the opportunity to examine a variety of federal records from the National Archives’ vast collection, which they can use in their own activities.

“Governing in New England and the United States”
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 (Beverly Historical Society, Beverly, MA.)
Professors Austin and Duclos-Orsello lead teachers in a discussion of the political development of government in New England and the United States from the colonial era through the ratification of the Constitution. Educators then take part in an exciting hands-on lesson. Participants tour the Beverly Historical Society and examine relevant North Shore papers and artifacts.

“Working in New England and the United States”
Saturday, April 12, 2008 (Lawrence Heritage State Park, Lawrence, MA.)
Professors Austin and Duclos-Orsello discuss how labor in New England changed from the home-based industry of the colonial era through the region’s maritime heyday and on into the industrial era. Following this discussion, the seminar focuses on the Industrial Revolution in Essex County as teachers are introduced to an array of classroom-ready resources on the mill industry that dominated the Merrimac Valley in the late 19th century.

“Populating New England and the United States”
Saturday, May 3, 2008 (Andover Historical Society, Andover, MA.)
The residents of New England and the United States are the focus of this seminar as Professors Austin and Duclos-Orsello discuss changes in the region’s population from the colonial through the Civil War era. Educators will be provided with images of a variety of artifacts which directly relate to residents of local communities, and tell the story of their experiences as well as interweave local and national history.

Summer Institute 2008
"Governing in New England"
(continuation of Spring Seminars' cohort)
July 7 - 11, 2008