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Posted by: Danna Bell
I also understand that a lecture, textbook, or slideshow will not engage students in the same way as a primary document. I am thrilled to begin as Teacher in Residence at the Library of Congress for 2017-2018.
Posted in: Lesson Ideas, News and Events, World History
Posted by: Danna Bell
This year marks the centennial anniversary of both the U.S. entry into World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution, the events that led to the fall of Russia's tsarist government and the eventual birth of the U.S.S.R. By analyzing reports in historic newspapers, students can explore the Great War’s role as a possible catalyst in starting the revolution and U.S. responses to the rise of communism in Russia.
Posted in: Industrial United States, World Wars and the Great Depression (1914-1945), World History
Posted by: Danna Bell
As St. Patrick's Day approaches, some young students might immerse themselves in the eye-catching images often associated with the holiday in the U.S.: shamrocks, green clothing, and the occasional pot of gold. This is a perfect opportunity to introduce students to a corner of the actual country of Ireland through primary sources.
Posted in: Holidays, World History, Young Learners
Posted by: Danna Bell
Following the Allied victory in World War I, the United States entered a period of rapid change, experiencing changes both in its stature as a global leader and changes from social experiments, including universal women’s suffrage and the prohibition of alcohol. One widely discussed topic of this time was “Americanism,” the idea that certain unique qualities, traditions, and ideals set apart the United States.
Posted in: Industrial United States, World Wars and the Great Depression (1914-1945), World History
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
The West African country of Liberia shares special historical ties to the United States, dating back to its founding in 1822 by former slaves and free-born blacks from the United States under the sponsorship of the American Colonization Society (ACS).
Posted in: African American History, World History
Posted by: Danna Bell
I am in charge of recommending collections from Colombia, Venezuela, as well as material on Latin American art for the Library; and I work on the Archive of Hispanic Literature on Tape, a collection of audio recordings of prominent poets and prose writers, which the Hispanic Division began curating in the early 1940s. I have been working on an effort to digitize and bring online access to some of these literary audio archives.
Posted in: Interviews with Experts, World History
Posted by: Danna Bell
I have never been to Syria. I had only read about and seen images of the ancient ruins in Palmyra. I knew the 2,000-year old Greco-Roman structures were falling apart and had been for centuries. I had, however, no personal experience with them. But late last month, when news reports detailed their destruction, I found myself very upset, and tried explaining why to my children.
Posted in: World History
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
"Imagine giving your students free, unlimited access to treasures from cultural institutions from around the world. Perhaps your students would examine an ancient manuscript up close for small but important details. Afterward, they might learn more about its significance from an expert, or search for additional items from the same time or place." The World Digital Library can help make that vision a reality! Since we published that post about the WDL two years ago, the site has been updated and its collections have increased dramatically.
Posted in: News and Events, World History
Posted by: Stephen Wesson
The medieval English charter known as Magna Carta was intended as a local political document, created to make peace between England's King John and his barons in the early thirteenth century. However, it carried within it powerful ideas about the limits of government and the importance of individual liberty, and its influence has spread across the centuries and around the globe.
Posted in: Constitution, Government and Law, News and Events, World History