In partnership with Lehman Library staff, Dr. Allen Dieterich-Ward has developed an exciting approach for introducing students to Public History through the development of museum-style exhibits as part of his survey course on U.S. History until 1877. Throughout the semester, groups of students are responsible for envisioning, researching, developing and presenting an exhibit related to course themes.
These displays are judged during the final week of classes by outside experts that have included historians (such as Steve Burg, Director of Shippensburg's Applied History Graduate Program), archivists (such as Karen Daniel of the Lehman Library), and museum curators (such as Karin Bohleke of the University Fashion Archives and Museum). Projects are divided into steps – Proposal, Outline, Rough Draft – with specific instructions based on the guidelines of various professional organizations, including National History Day.
Students have conducted research for the projects at the Shippensburg Historical Society, the Fashion Archives, and the National Museum of Civil War Medicine as well as through online databases and at the Lehman Library.
In addition to providing an important introduction to the field of Public History, the Museum Exhibit Project demonstrates a number of important pedagogical outcomes including increased student engagement with course themes, primary source analysis, and student self teaching. Because winning exhibits are then displayed in the library during exam week, this provides an important outreach opportunity to engage with the wider campus community. Finally, beginning this year, students will have the opportunity to create a web portfolio of their project that will be available online through the Lehman Library’s new exhibits webpage.
The two battles known collectively as “The Battle of Saratoga” fought in September and October of 1977 changed the course of the American Revolution for the American colonies. The British Army, forced to retreat on October 7th surrendered to American forces ten days later. With this victory, the Americans not only defeated the British Army but also gained the support of the France as an ally. This battle victory was a major turning point in the war for independence with America ultimately winning its independence and becoming a free nation. Featured in this multi-media exhibit were the people, the places, the timeline and the significance of the Battle of Saratoga in gaining America’s independence from British rule.
Group members: Amanda Heavner, Drew Hagerich, Abby Huber, Mary Kane, and Frank Fox
Prior to the Civil War, most medical care took place in the home. There were few public hospitals and only a handful of trained doctors. At the onset of the Civil War surgeons, doctors, and nurses were forced to adapt the system to the best of their ability. Despite their efforts, more soldiers succumbed to disease and infection than actual combat. However, out of this turmoil also came success. The field of nursing became a way for women to contribute to the war effort and in some cases obtain a salary. New hospital designs ensured a better survival rate for soldiers. The establishment of the ambulance corps made the transportation of wounded soldiers more efficient not only during the Civil War, but subsequent wars as well. Finally, the founding of aid societies by women and designed to provide supplies and comfort to wounded soldiers, led to the creation of the American Red Cross, which continues to provide humanitarian aid worldwide. Through the efforts of these courageous men and women, the field of medicine was able to make these significant advancements to cope with times of warfare.
Group members: Katie Kitner, Nate Reese, Jamie Heatherly, Vanessa Schneider, Allison Fignar, and Brittany Van Sciver
The French and Indian WarLasting from 1753/4 until 1763, the French and Indian War is the name given to fighting that took place in North America as part of a global conflict known as the Seven Years’ War. This conflict saw the French and her colonists and Native American allies in the new world fighting against Great Britain and her colonists, as well as a few Native American allies. As a fight for control of global empires was waged between the two sides, the territory between the coastal settlements of the British and New France to the north and west soon turned into a battle zone, as armies fought over the contested territory. What started out as a conflict in the backcountry of modern Pennsylvania (around Pittsburgh) soon spread throughout North America and over to Europe, and from there the globe. At first the French and their Native American allies were able to pull off a series of victories over the British, but by 1756 the British, under William Pitt as Secretary of State, were able to defeat the French and reap the rewards of victory: New France (Canada) for themselves and forcing Louisiana from France to Spain, driving the French off of the continent and establishing British control over the vast majority of eastern North America.
The local Native Americans located in the Cumberland County region were the Susquhannocks and the Iroquois. These tribes were able to cooperate, if somewhat forced into it, with the colonial government in Philadelphia, and would sometimes receive the help of the local governments with issues such as squatters on their lands as well as trade. However, these groups divided themselves during the French and Indian War, with the Iroquois fighting alongside the British, while the other tribes mainly sided with the French. In fact, tribes from as far away as Ohio, who had sided with the French, would enter into the Cumberland Valley to raid British settlements and farms.
Most of the white settlers in the region were Scots-Irish immigrants who left the home country in the pursuit of a better life in the Americas. Following a fall in linen prices in Ireland, as well as high rent, poor harvests, and religious strife, these settlers arrived in Philadelphia or New Castle, Delaware and moved into the interior of Pennsylvania, along the Susquehanna River and into what is now Cumberland and Perry counties. These settlers gained a reputation as roughnecks and fighters, both against the colonial authorities and the Native Americans in the area.
Despite the treaties that the Pennsylvania government in Philadelphia made with the local Indian tribes, many white settlers moved and settled on lands that had not been signed over. For a time, the lands to the west of the Susquehanna River and to the north of the Kittatinny, or Blue Ridge, Mountains were off limits to white settlers. This land, in what is now Perry County and at the time governed from Carlisle, would see settlement from intruding settlers, often referred to as “Squatters”. Before the French and Indian War, there was cooperation between the local Iroquois Indians and the authorities in Carlisle with removing these illegal settlers from the lands they occupied. One such occurrence took place on May 22, 1750, when a group of settlers living on “some of the best hunting land” for the Indians were evicted from their cabins, which were burned to the ground (H H Hain). Such cooperation continued until the French and Indian War began, when the peaceful existence changed into open warfare when the Indians sided with the French in 1753.
With the onset of the French and Indian War, and following the British defeats at Fort Duquesne and Fort Necessity (also known as the Battle of the Great Meadows), the settlers of Cumberland County were worried about Indian raids into their settlements. Having petitioned the Governor for help, the settlers of Cumberland Valley established a series of five forts for their protection, with two of these forts being Fort Morris in Shippensburg and what would later be called Fort Louther in Carlisle. Besides these main forts, smaller forts and blockhouses were created on private property to defend those who lived too far away from the few towns in the area. Some of these included McCormick’s Fort near Newburg and George Robinson’s Fort, also known as Fort Robinson, outside of modern-day Loysville in Perry County along Shermans Creek.
During the French and Indian War, many of the smaller forts and blockhouses in the area were attacked by Native American raids. Attacks took place in the Cumberland Valley as over on the other side of the Kittatinny Mountains as well. Fort McCormick had a raid take place nearby in 1757. The raids had some settlers move into Shippensburg or Carlisle, with some even evacuated as far away as Lancaster or along the Susquehanna River. Attacks took place in what is now Perry County as well, with Indians coming from the west as well as from just south of Shamokin. One such raid took place in 1756, when the Woolcombers, a Quaker family, stayed away from Fort Robinson because they felt safe. The entire family, with the exception of the young son, was tomahawked to death in their home, while the boy ran to Fort Robinson to raise the alarm. In all, countless raids were carried out in both Cumberland and Shermans Valleys.
Raids in the area were not limited to Indian attacks on white settlements. Towards the end of the war and for a time afterwards, a group of Scots-Irish settlers from modern Dauphin County raided Native American settlements themselves, feeling the colonial government was not adequately protecting them. They took part in several killings of the local Susquehannock (or Conestoga) Indians in what is now the Susquehanna Valley, killing 14 of the remaining 16 members of the tribe in what was called the Conestoga Massacre. Seeing the government’s seeming favoritism of Indians over whites, they marched on Philadelphia in 1764. They were stopped outside of the city by British regulars and Philadelphia militia, raised by Benjamin Franklin. Franklin negotiated with the Paxton Boys and was able to bring an end to the crisis.
Group members: Scott Switaj, Aaron Schafer, Kyle Marquartt, and Jennie Iler
During The Golden Age of Piracy (1689-1718), numerous pirates preyed upon merchant ships throughout the New World. The British Parliament had passed laws making smuggling acceptable and desirable in North Carolina and the other American colonies. Pirates, such as Blackbeard attacked lightly armed merchant ships, seizing the contents and sometimes killing those who resisted. The shallow sounds and inlets of North Carolina’s Outer Banks became a haven for many of these outlaw pirates, including Blackbeard.
Perhaps Blackbeard’s Blockade of Charleston Harbor, South Carolina in 1718 is his most significant accomplishment as a pirate. In his ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard entered Charleston Harbor, plundered five merchant ships, and took a number of hostages. He demanded not silver or gold, but a chest of full of medicine to treat his men. When the city delivered the chest of medicine, Blackbeard released his hostages and withdrew from the harbor.
Even though England later passed a law making it illegal for piracy to continue, Blackbeard paid no attention to the new laws and continued to carry on business as usual. As his violent raids increased, the governor of North Carolina sent troops to hunt him down. He was shot and stabbed more than 25 times before finally dying.
This multi-media exhibit mainly features information about Blackbeard -- his flag, his fleet, his photos, his legends.
In early American history, women were placed in the domestic sphere with the duty of raising pious, religious, upstanding citizens who would further the cause of the new Republic. Often times, women were denied the pleasures associated with “self” and possessing one’s own identity apart from the husband, family, and home. Women were denied a lot of rights that their husbands and other men enjoyed and sought to have the same “equal rights” afforded to them by the U.S. Constitution.
When preparing to declare independence from a nation, it is the job of those attempting to “dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another” to create an ideal, a reason for others to follow them -- a reason for a person to risk everything they have, something that is worth fighting for, dying for, even if the possibility of success is nearly impossible. The founding fathers of the United States of America determined they could construct not only a revolution but also a country based on the ideals of liberty. So they started by writing the Declaration of Independence, followed later by the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States of America.
These documents form the foundation for promised liberty for Americans and are features of this exhibit. While viewing this exhibit, viewers had the opportunity to try signing their signature using a quill pen and inkwell that were typically used by our forefathers in signing the important historical documents of liberty.
Another feature of the display consisted of several pieces of political propaganda of our country’s struggle to the path of liberty and freedom. Included are the “Bostonians Paying the Excise Man” and the “Obelisk under the Liberty Tree” in Boston.
Group members: Rachel Bard, Will Earp, Chris Hill, Ludivina Marquez, Amanda Pine and Pat Turnick
In 1813 the commander of Ft. McHenry asked for a flag so big that the “British have no trouble seeing it from a distance.” He asked Mary Young Pickersgill to make the flag for him and when it was finished it measured 30 by 42 feet.
During this time, Francis Scott Key was a lawyer in Georgetown, just a few miles from Washington D.C. In 1814, the British captured Washington and set the Capitol on fire; Key witnessed the destruction. The British had captured Key’s friend, Dr. William Beanes. Key and another man set out to save Dr. Beanes’ life. They told the British that the doctor had saved British soldiers who had been wounded and they agreed to free him. However, they wouldn’t let him leave because the three men had overheard the British making plans to attack Baltimore. So they were placed under guard on a British ship.
It was from this ship that Francis Scott Key watched the bombing of Ft. McHenry. There was a lot of smoke and haze, but when daylight came, he could see the flag was still waving. He was so inspired he began to write a poem on the back of a letter he had in his pocket. He later finished the poem and showed it to his brother-in-law who took it to a printer and had copies of it made. Two of these copies survive today. Newspapers started printing it and people began singing it to a familiar tune.
The star Spangled Banner was adopted as our national anthem on March 3, 1931. The flag which flew over Ft. McHenry is now at the Smithsonian in the Museum of American History.
This exhibit featured biographical information on Francis Scott Key, parchment with the text of The Star Spangled Banner, photos and text of the Battle of Baltimore, and an American flag.
Group members: John Aichele, Ed Costa, Bill Libor, Spencer Shirk, and Eric Waisanen
Following a series of “intolerable acts” imposed on the colonists by the British and several skirmishes as the British tried to regain control its subjects, the colonists declared their independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. Although America was born, the British weren’t ready to give up. In August of the same year, Americans were defeated in New York by the British at the battles of Long Island, Harlem Heights and White Plains.
British troops under the command of General William Howe fought with George Washington’s troops at the Battle of Princeton; this battle resulted in the Americans capturing Princeton and chasing General Howe back to New York. Washington and his troops wintered at in Morristown, New Jersey. The stage was now set for the unfolding of the Philadelphia Campaign to begin in the summer of 1777.
This exhibit features a map of the Philadelphia Campaign which shows all the locations for the various battle grounds and troop encampments: Head of Elk, Brandywine, Battle of the Clouds, Paoli Massacre, Germantown, Fort Mifflin, White Marsh, Philadelphia and Valley Forge. In addition, biographical information is provided on the major generals – both the British and American. Brief statistics are provided for each of the battle sights or encampments. A timeline is provided for the entire Philadelphia period: June 1777 to February 1778.
Group members: Kate DiNolfi, Kyle Grizzard, Antwan Miller, Jesse Smith, Justin Sotdorus, and Hilary Snyder.
On April 19, 1775 the American colonists marched out to face the British regulars across the village green in Lexington, Massachusetts in what has been recorded in history and all the textbooks as the “Shot Heard Round the World.” What has not been recorded is day on which James Smith (“Black Boy Jimmy”) and his three hundred men (The “Black Boys”) revolted against the British near historic Fort Loudon. This day, March 9, 1765 actually marked the first revolt against the British, but was overshadowed by the event at Lexington which occurred 10 years, one month and eleven days later. Hence, the group has titled their exhibit, “The Shots Not Heard Round the World.”
After the conclusion of the French and Indian War (1761-1763), Great Britain had a large war debt and began to tax the colonies to increase its intake of revenue. This exhibit features the various taxations the British imposed on the colonists, the timeline of the Boston Tea Party, and the role of the Sons of Liberty. Initially, the colonists did not want to separate from the rule of Great Britain; however; after being continually taxed and denied representation in parliament, the colonists planned The Boston Tea Party as a social response to the unfair taxation by the British.
The success of the Underground Railroad can be attributed to the secret signs, routes and the secrecy of the Underground Railroad society, along with the help of brave individuals who risked their lives to help slaves escape to freedom. Secret signs were heard in the song lyrics that were being sung, and were seen in the patterns of quilts that were hanging on porches or fence posts, or in lanterns marking “safe houses.” The routes which slaves used along the way to freedom were the linchpin of the Underground Railroad and were known only by the members of the Underground Railroad society. Brave individuals including Harriet Tubman, a former slave who had run away and returned to rescue others; Thomas Garrett, a Quaker businessman who aided by housing slaves as they were on their way to Canada; and Frederick Douglas, a fugitive slave who published the North Star, an abolitionist newspaper; risked their lives to help many slaves escape to freedom.
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