Camping While Black: African American Experiences in Iowa Summer Camps, 1925-1950
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, IA, United States
In the 1900s, summer camp was a quintessential part of American childhood. But not everyone had equal access to c camp. Explore the ways Black communities in the Midwest created opportunities for their children to attend residential summer camps with Dr. Sarah Eikleberry, Associate Professor and Assistant Chair in the Department of Kinesiology at St. Ambrose University.

Great Americans Award Program
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | Smithsonian National Museum of American History, United States
The Great Americans Medal is awarded for lifetime contributions embodying American ideas and ideals. Explore the stories of each honoree through biographies and recorded interviews with David M. Rubenstein. Their inspiring stories empower people to create a just and compassionate future by exploring, preserving, and sharing the complexity of our past.
Previous honorees include Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Secretary Madeleine K. Albright, General Colin L. Powell, USA (Retired), Thomas J. Brokaw, Cal Ripken Jr., Billie Jean King, Paul Simon, and Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.

Engaging Differences - Key Principles and Best Practices
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | National Institute for Civil Discourse, United States
Want to move our country towards a more perfect union? Start with engaging in conversations across differences to find common ground. This document provides several key principles and best practices that are essential to connecting across divides, including:

Empathy instead of vitriol
Listening for Understanding instead of hearing to overpower
Humility instead of all-knowing.

As you read them, consider reflecting on those that speak to you, or recall a compelling personal experience.

Around the World with World101
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | World101 from the Council on Foreign Relations, United States
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, World101 is celebrating #CivicsSeason with a TikTok trip around the world!
Make your way to World101’s TikTok channel and follow us before Tuesday, June 14th when we will be wheels up on our 193-part TikTok series, exploring all the countries that comprise this interconnected world we share. It’s our way of showcasing #GlobalCivics and why understanding the forces, actors, and history that shape modern global affairs is an essential part of twenty-first century citizenship.
For curious first-time fliers, World101’s TikTok channel is home to hundreds of fun, fact-checked micro-lessons about the world and how it works. Our viral video posts are remixes of World101, an award-winning learning platform from the Council on Foreign Relations that uses multimedia and jargon-free language to introduce students of all ages to the fundamentals of foreign policy and international relations.

Diverse Voices in Invention
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | Smithsonian National Museum of American History, United States
Behind every invention, there is a story. Discover those stories here.
From Chinese-born scientist Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu who changed what we know about the atomic world to Garrett Morgan – known in his time as “the Black Edison” – this blog from the Lemelson Center explores how invention and innovation—past, present, and future—influence our lives.

Reform Movements in America
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, United States
A resource developed in partnership with the Library of Congress, asks how can citizens of a country affect change for the common good? The French commentator on American society in the 1830s, Alexis de Toqueville, observed that Americans are very quick to join together to promote whatever causes they favor, and there was certainly evidence around him. Reforms on many issues — temperance, abolition, prison reform, women’s rights, missionary work in the West — fomented groups dedicated to social improvements.
Students will reflect on the following questions:
What factors motivated antebellum reformers to take action?
What were the common strategies antebellum reformers used?
What did antebellum reformers achieve?

Learning about MLK, Racism, and Activism (for Educators and Caregivers)
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | National Museum of African American History and Culture, United States
If the complex concept of race, the deep history of racism, and the importance of activism is challenging for adults to understand — how do we share these stories and lessons with children? Use this guide to learn more about how children understand race and start conversations and activities about Martin Luther King, racism and activism.

Refugees in America
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, United States
A resource developed in partnership with the Library of Congress, asks should the United States accept refugees?
Since its earliest days as part of the United States, Iowa has a long history of being a destination for those from other countries to find a new home. Such newcomers are called immigrants. A special class of those are people fleeing wars, persecution or other dangers from their former homes. These immigrants are termed “refugees.” Like the larger class of immigrants, Iowa has confronted both the challenges and opportunities of accepting new arrivals as permanent residents
Students will reflect on the following questions:
How has America helped refugees in the past?
What has been Americans’ attitude towards refugees?
What are the possible risks associated with helping refugees?

Civil Rights: Before, During and After the World Wars
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, United States
A resource developed in partnership with the Library of Congress, asks should you fight for a country that is fighting against you? “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.” That is the official motto of the state of Iowa. Liberties and rights refer to our freedoms to pursue our own goals, but they must balance those with the rights and liberties of others. Rights and liberties often deal with restrictions on what the government can do, but they also include what we can or cannot do to others.
Students will reflect on the following questions:
What is the story of the disenfranchised Iowans who contributed to Iowa’s effort during World War I?
Did their contribution to the war effort influence society’s beliefs about each of these groups of Iowans?
Did the public support these disenfranchised groups and their contributions to the war effort, or did they continue to treat these groups poorly?

African Americans and the Civil War
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, United States
A resource developed in partnership with the Library of Congress, asks, “how should the African-American story of the Civil War be told?” While slavery was the major issue separating the North and South, it was not slavery itself that sparked the conflict. The South wanted to secede from the Union, and the North refused. While President Abraham Lincoln personally opposed slavery, he recognized that it was legal under the U.S. Constitution at the time. He also recognized that few in the North were ready to go to war to free the slaves. For Lincoln and the northern majority, preservation of the Union was the foremost goal.
Students will reflect on the following questions:
How did President Abraham Lincoln and Congress’ approach to handling slavery evolve throughout the Civil War?
What contributions did enslaved people and free African Americans make to the Union war effort?
After a Union victory and the close of the war, what possibilities did the future hold for all African Americans?

Reflecting on the Reconstruction Era
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, Des Moines, United States
A resource developed in partnership with the Library of Congress asks, “did the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War result in freedom, equality and civil rights for African Americans?” The Reconstruction Era lasted from the end of the Civil War in 1865 to 1877. Its main focus was on bringing the southern states back into full political participation in the Union, guaranteeing rights to former slaves and defining new relationships between African Americans and whites. While very little fighting occurred on Iowa soil and Iowa had never legalized slavery, black migration of former slaves into the region and the national focus on civil rights forced Iowa to reconsider its own racial relations.
Students will reflect on the following questions:How free were African Americans during Reconstruction?Were African Americans considered equal members of society and treated as such?How much political power did African Americans have during Reconstruction?

Reconstruction and Its Impact on Human Rights
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, Des Moines, United States
A resource developed in partnership with the Library of Congress asks, “was Reconstruction a success?” The Reconstruction Era lasted from the end of the Civil War in 1865 to 1877. Its main focus was on bringing the southern states back into full political participation in the Union, guaranteeing rights to former slaves and defining new relationships between African Americans and whites. While very little fighting occurred on Iowa soil and Iowa had never legalized slavery, black migration of former slaves into the region and the national focus on civil rights forced Iowa to reconsider its own racial relations.
Students will reflect on the following questions:
How did the presidential election of 1876 end Reconstruction?
How did the U.S. Supreme Court originally interpret the Constitution’s Reconstruction amendments?
How did the South restore white supremacy after the fall of Reconstruction?

Women's Suffrage Movement
2099-01-01 00:00 (Pacific/Niue) | State Historical Museum of Iowa, Des Moines, IA, United States
A resource developed in partnership with the Library of Congress asks, “why did it take so long for women to get the right to vote?” Sex and gender are two different concepts. Sex refers to biological differences while gender relates to the roles and expectations culture assigns to each group. Every culture struggles with adjusting the roles of men and women to secure a just and harmonious society. Several factors like religion, science, tradition and technology influence gender roles. By tradition, men had near exclusive domination of politics in the United States, but that began to change in the 19th century with increasing urbanization, educational opportunities for women and changes in home responsibilities.
Reflect on the following questions:
What attitudes about their gender and expected role in society did women need to overcome to gain the right to vote?
What tactics did suffragists use to convince society they deserved the right to vote?
What impact did the 19th Amendment have on women and their government?

The Impact of George Washington Carver's Travel to Iowa
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, United States
This webinar discusses how Iowa was a turning point in George Washington Carver’s life. Happenstance brought him to Iowa with a here-and-there education, but he was a determined, educated young man when he left for Tuskegee University.

Emir Abd el-Kader’s Life, Legacy and Connection to Elkader, Iowa
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, IA, United States
This webinar focused on Elkader and its fascinating namesake Emir Abd el-Kader, known as the so-called “George Washington of Algeria”. Watch to learn more about Emir Abd el-Kader’s life, legacy and his impact on Iowa.

Rediscovering Heroes, Heroines & Helpers on Central Iowa's Underground Railroad
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, United States
Learn about the Underground Railroad in Iowa, with a focus on the Jordan House in West Des Moines, as well as the Forever Free program which introduces the heroes, heroines and helpers of the Underground Railroad in central Iowa.

Learn About the History of Redlining in Iowa
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, IA, United States
In this episode of Iowa History 101, “Redlining in Iowa,” experts Kendyl Larson and Felicite Wolfe discuss the history of redlining in Iowa and its impact.

Black Migration In Iowa
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, IA, United States
In this session, genealogist Ricki King presents a journey of Iowa’s Black history, starting with Iowa’s statehood, that illustrates some of the reasons why families and individuals moved to Iowa, moved around Iowa, left Iowa, returned to Iowa and then left again.

Immigration to Iowa Screening
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | State Historical Museum of Iowa, United States
This program addresses immigration to Iowa in the 19th and 20th centuries with Jeff Bremer, associate professor of history from Iowa State University.

Exhibit Conversation Guide: "Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience."
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | National Museum of African American History and Culture, United States
Take a trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture with a niece, nephew, child, or another young person in your life this summer and use this conversation guide as you walk through the exhibit, Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience. This guide is a tool caregivers and educators can use to facilitate conversations and connections to art in the Reckoning exhibit with children.
Through art and photography, Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience. demonstrates the struggle Black Americans have faced in their pursuit to enjoy the fundamental rights and freedoms promised in the United States constitution. In the face of systemic and direct racism and violence, the resistance and resilience of Black Americans have inspired hope and created change. Black artists document and challenge racial and social inequity through their work, inspiring viewers to resist inequalities, remember the past, and rise up in spite of the pain to continue the quest for justice.

For Educators + Students: What’s YOUR Civic Superpower?
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | New American History, United States
Civic Season is about finding your Civic Superpower! This includes motivating young people to make space for more telling stories from the past, more voices from the present, and more input on what an annual tradition for civic participation could look like. When Civic Season kicks off in June 2025, you can explore a multitude of offerings and activities filtered by topic, location, and format, designed to support your own personal exploration into history and democracy. These learning resources include digital content to support schools, students, and communities participating in virtual and place-based events. What role will you play? How will you tell your story? We can help!

Visit Freedom House Museum in Alexandria, Virginia
2099-01-01 00:00 (America/New_York) | Historic Alexandria, 1315 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Visit the newly reopened Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street. This site is what remains of a large complex dedicated to trafficking thousands of Black men, women, and children from 1828 – 1861. This Museum honors the lives and experiences of the enslaved and free Black people who lived in and were trafficked through Alexandria, Virginia and now includes three floors of powerful exhibits that showcase Alexandria’s Black history and the Black experience in America. Slavery, race-based laws, and racial terror erased and diminished African American history and contributions from the national narrative; however, this Museum seeks to reframe white supremacist history. The Museum is open Thursdays and Fridays 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sundays and Mondays 1 – 5 p.m.

#Legography for Storytelling and Civic Engagement
2099-01-01 00:00 UTC | New American History, United States
This summer we are partnering with our friends at the History Co:Lab to encourage everyone to discover their Civic Superpower and participate in using Legography (Legos + photography) to share how you explore during the Civic Season. Using Lego mini-figures, or any other small toy or action figure, snap a photo as you visit a local museum, historic site, or another community event! Share your story with us via social media using #CivicSeason #BuildAWorldOfPlay and tag where you explored. Need more details for inspiration? Check out our Civic Season learning resources and scroll down to the Extend activity! Follow our explorations @newamericanhist

Autio Historical Travel Companion
2099-01-01 00:00 (Pacific/Niue) | Autio, United States
The Autio App has thousands of location-based audio stories all across America. Learn something new about your community, or places thousands of miles away, when you download the app and try your first 5 stories free.

Rep Ep 5: Tell The Truth, Truth
2099-01-01 00:00 (Pacific/Niue) | At Your Service Imprint, United States
Do we even need representation? What does “telling the truth” actually mean and why do we do it? Does objectivity exist? Can our biases work in our favor? These questions have come up over and over again throughout the journey of Rep, and in this chapter, we face them head on.
Our story guides include comedian and actor Hasan Minhaj, journalist Aymann Ismail, writer Najma Sharif and others.

Rep Ep 3: Muslim Cool
2099-01-01 00:00 (Pacific/Niue) | At Your Service Imprint, United States
Conceptualized by Dr. Su’ad Abdul Khabeer, the journey of Muslim Cool takes us on an exploration of Knowledge of Self through the lens of hiphop, Islam, and Blackness. The stories we tell through our names, music, and the identities formed around us. Storytellers include Dr. Su’ad, Maimouna Youssef aka “Mumu Fresh,” Brother Ali, and Ilyasah Shabazz. Come for the music. Stay for the perspective you never thought you’d hear.
