Primary Sources Institute Sheds Light on California’s Place in American History
Cotsen teachers deepen their understanding of California history at primary sources institute presented jointly by the Huntington Library and the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West
The Cotsen Foundation for the ART of TEACHING was once again a proud sponsor of California’s Place in American History, a primary sources institute held at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens this summer.
From July 27th through August 5th, 11 elementary school teachers gathered at The Huntington for two weeks of immersive lectures examining California’s history within the wider context of American history. A diverse array of primary sources from the 19th and 20th centuries were used to support the presentations and deepen the learning. The participating teachers hailed from seven schools and three districts including Long Beach Unified, Pasadena Unified, and Whittier City. Nearly half of the participants were alumni of Cotsen’s ART of TEACHING program.
Coordinated by Sonia Mehrmand (The Huntington), Professor William Deverell (University of Southern California), Professor David Igler (University of California, Irvine), and Cotsen alumnus Raul Almada (Instructional Specialist at Whittier City School District), this year’s Summer Teacher Institute offered participants a stronger focus on lesson planning than in previous years.
The institute kicked off with an introduction on primary and secondary sources by Dr. Catherine Allgor (The Huntington) and a discussion about the history of California’s missions and native population led by Professor Steven Hackel (University of California, Riverside). The opening day also included a special presentation on the Gold Rush.
Over the next week, participants heard from a variety of scholars and experts, including the aforementioned Almada, Deverell, and Igler, as well as Professor Jessica Kim (California State University, Northridge), Dan Lynch (University of California, Los Angeles), and Professor Allison Varzally (California State University, Fullerton). The topics of discussion included the impact of the Pacific Ocean on the development of societies, California’s role during the Civil War, Manifest Destiny and the development of the west, and the complex history of the political and economic relationship between California and Mexico. Many of the presentations were aided by engaging and evocative primary sources that could also be used in support of K-6 lessons.
During the second week of the institute, Almada, an ART of TEACHING fellow from 2007 to 2009, worked closely with teachers, providing examples of how to use primary sources in their own lessons, where to access the vast collection of primary sources offered by both The Huntington and the Library of Congress, and how to use primary source analysis tools. With Almada leading the way, teachers had the opportunity to collaborate with one another, share best practices, and plan lessons.
Among the highlights of the institute were tours of The Huntington’s Conservation Lab, a science exhibit, as well as a brief visit through the Huntington Ranch.
With the start of the new academic year, the Cotsen Foundation for the ART of TEACHING is delighted by the prospect that the teachers who participated in California’s Place in American History will return to their schools armed with new approaches and tools.