Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World,

From the Journal Gazette and Times-Courier:

"Eastern Illinois University's Booth Library will host a reception and program for the exhibit "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World," on Wednesday January 12th, 2011.

The reception begins at 7 p.m. in the Marvin Foyer. Following opening remarks, Fred Krebs will perform in "An Evening with Benjamin Franklin" in the West Reading Room, the university said.

The exhibit, "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World," tells the story of the man who began his life as a poor printer's apprentice and ended it as a revered elder statesmen known throughout the world for his wisdom, wit, and resourcefulness.

The exhibit will be on display until Feb. 25."

To read the full article, click here.

Horace Mann and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Fellowship Program

Each summer in Springfield, 50 teachers are given behind-the-scenes access to educational resources and historians at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum as part of a fellowship program. The program is jointly sponsored by the Presidential Library and Museum and the Horace Mann Company. The program covers the cost of round-trip transportation, as well as lodging and meals while in Springfield. Fellows will tour New Salem State Historic Site where Lincoln lived as a young man, the Lincoln Home, the Old Illinois State Capitol where Lincoln made his "house divided speech, the Lincoln-Herndon Law Office, and Lincoln's Tomb. Attendees will broaden their knowledge their knowledge of the Sixteenth President through lectures, workshops and group discussions.

The 2011 program will accept 25 teachers for the June 19-24 session and another 25 for the July 10-15 session. Teachers may select their preferred session date. Note to AHTC teachers: These dates do not conflict with the AHTC Mini-Summer Institute on Immigration or the AHTC Summer Institute on the History of Illinois. The deadline for this fellowship has been extended to February 12, 2011.

Apply online at :
http://alplm.pmailus.com/pmailweb/ct?d=Ouyu7gAWAAEAAAl6AASSFw

January and February Events at the University of Illinois

Hello, AHTC teachers!
Welcome back from Winter Break! The University of Illinois Office of the Vice Chancellor for Public Engagement has released a calendar of events to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. These events, spanning January and February, include a day of service, a fireside chat and film screenings. Of particular interest is the January 22nd event celebrating the winners of the MLK Writing Contest. The Urbana High School String Alongs and the Franklin Middle School Step Team will perform. Additionally, students from Garden Hills and King Schools will perform "We are the World." Artwork and writing from local students who entered the 2011 Martin Luther King Writing Contest will be displayed at the University of Illinois Main Library for the month of February. To see the complete calendar, please click here.

The 69th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

Hello AHTC teachers,
Today, on the 69th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, I'd like to direct you to a few websites to learn more about the day. To follow up on Saturday's theme of oral histories and personal narratives, I would suggest that you head to the History and Culture section of the National Park Service website which tells the story of the event, but it also contains testimony from survivors and copies of the newsletter circulated on the USS Arizona. The "For Teachers" section contains, at the very bottom of the page, a link to an 195 page .pdf Teacher Tool Kit which contains selected primary and secondary sources to supplement your curriculum.
National Geographic's archive of survivor stories has been taken down, but the "Multimedia Map and Interactive Timeline" is an excellent way to get a feel for the events of December 7th. Adidtionally, searches on YouTube or the Internet archive can net you news footage and radio announcements from 1941, as well as footage of FDR's famous response. Pearl Harbor History contains some unsupported claims that should be read carefully, but also has an excellent collection of news clips, songs and speeches relating to the attack. In the craziness of the end of the semester, it is easy to overlook the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, but I hope you all take a moment or two in class today to mention this important date.

The AHTC Honors Our Country's Veterans

At 11:00 of the the eleventh day of the eleventh month or 1918, an armistice was signed between the Allied Forces and Germany. Celebrated as Armistice Day for many years, the holiday was expanded to include the veterans of all wars in 1954. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans day honors all who have served their country through military service in wartime or in peacetime.

Please take a moment to read more about Veterans Day here and explore History.com's slideshows and videos here. Additionally, the Library of Congress has collected pictures and personal testimony that speak to the wartime experiences of veterans and people on the homefront during World War I. Explore those here.

eBlackCU Symposium- Next Weekend

Hello All,
I know that you have been interested in eBlackCU.net and that many of you enjoyed learning more about it from Noah Lenstra and his interns at the Summer Institute last July. For those of you who are unfmailiar with the project, eBlackCU is developing a comprehensive online database about African-American history in Champaign-Urbana. For more information, please hear over to the website. You can also read more in our May 24th, 2010 blog post.

eBlackCU is hosting a campus- community symposium next weekend, November 5th and 6th, from 9:00am to 5:00pm and will feature discussion and information on digital technology and campus-community interactions. November 6th will feature round table discussions on the uses of digital technology for community groups, social service agencies, community centers and educators and will be attended by more than 40 local organizations, including both the Champaign and Urbana Libraries, WILL, the Early American Museum, the NAACP and the Ministerial Alliance. Additionally, Urbana High School Librarian Matthew Murrey and David Adcock,Director of Urbana Adult Education will be speaking.

To learn more about the event, see a schedule, and to register, head to: http://eblackcu.net/portal/symposium

A flyer for the event is located here.

Time Magazine Online Archives

Hello AHTC teachers!
I'd like to direct your attention to a really neat online tool. Time magazine has digitized their archives from their founding in 1923 to the present. Beyond viewing all of the covers for the last 87 years, you can keyword search for articles or covers. Additionally, the website has covers sorted by categories such as 'Religion' or 'Presidents." You can also sort through the collections, which are selected covers and article excerpts on a specific topic. They provide an excellent overview of Time's coverage of a topic chronologically. The website has some great features, including browsing tips and a section highlighting the first mention of people who went on to be quite famous.

The archive is fun to idly browse but it can also be a great tool for finding primary sources, examining news coverage of a specific event, looking at how coverage changed over time. There are tons of different ways to use this resource, and we'd love to hear what fun things you find or what great ways you find to use this in your classrooms!

Time Archive