Cultures of Independence: Perspectives on Independence Hall and the Meaning of Freedom

A 2015 NEH Landmarks of American History and Culture
Workshop for School Teachers
Draft of 12/11/14

June 21-26 and July 26-31, 2015

All sessions held at the National Constitution Center (NCC), unless noted

Day 1: Sunday, June 21/July 26 (3 pm – 8:30 pm)
Theme:  What is the role of an iconic landmark in a culture?
3:00 Check In at hotel
5:00 Registration & Social Time
6:00 Dinner
6:45 Welcome to Philadelphia and the Institute
7:00 Introductions of participating teachers and workshop partners
7:30 Keynote on theme: What is the role of an iconic landmark in a culture? - Dr. Gary Nash,
Professor at University of California, Los Angeles

Day 2:  Monday, June 22/July 27 (8:30 am-5:00 pm)
Theme:  The Foundation of an Icon (physical building, Declaration, Capitol City)
Landmarks:  Independence Hall and Square
8:30 Registration and coffee
8:45 Introduction to day:  Beth Twiss Houting, Sr. Director of Programs and Services, Historical  Society of Pennsylvania
9:00 Lecture:   The “Building” of Independence Hall - Dr. Charlene Mires, Associate Professor of History and Director, Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities, Rutgers University-Camden
10:00 Break and walk to Independence Hall
10:30 Tour of Independence Hall and the Square - Jeffrey Collins, Education Program Manager and Volunteer Program Manager, Independence National Historical Park
12:00 Lunch on own
1:15 Independence National Historical Park Archives:  Sources for Preservation – Jeffrey Collins
2:45 Break/walk back to NCC
3:15 Projects:  Introduction to online resources curriculum project:  Beth Twiss Houting and Dr. Charlene Mires
4:30 Daily recap: How to connect what have learned to the classroom – Master Teachers

Day 3: Tuesday, June 23/July 28 (8:30 am-5 pm)
Theme: An Icon Develops 
Landmarks:  Liberty Bell, President’s House
8:30 Coffee
8:45 Overview:  The Appropriation of Independence Icons - Dr.  Charlene Mires
9:30 Lecture:  African Americans in the City of Independence - Dr. Randall Miller, William Dirk Warren `50 Sesquicentennial Chair and Professor of History, Saint Joseph’s University 
10:15 Break
10:30 Visit President’s House and Liberty Bell – Dr. Randall Miller
12:00 Lunch on own and travel to Historical Society of Pennsylvania
1:15 Lecture:  Abolition and the Liberty Bell – Dr. Emma Lapsansky, Adjunct Professor of History, Haverford College
2:15  Break
2:30 Document display:  Above listed documents and additional documents from the Pennsylvania  Abolition Society and the Female Anti-Slavery Society – Beth Twiss Houting
3:00 Project:  Research in HSP archives – facilitated by Beth Twiss Houting
4:30 Daily recap: How to connect what have learned to the classroom – Master Teachers

Day 4: Wednesday, June 24/July 29 (8:30 am-7 pm)
Theme:  How do different nationalities and other social organizations use the landmark in
forming their own identities?
Landmarks:  Monuments and murals on and near Independence Mall, such as the John Barry Monument in Independence Square
8:30 Coffee
8:45 Introduction to day – Dr. Charlene Mires
9:00 Lecture:  “Remember the women” – Holly Holst , Park Ranger, Independence National Historical Park
10:00 Break
10:15 Lecture:  Expressing and expanding national identity – Dr. Charlene Mires
11:15 Lunch on own and self-guided monument and mural walk, ending at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
1:00 Primary Source Workshop:  The First Civil Rights Act– Andrea Reidell, Education Specialist, National Archives at Philadelphia
2:30  Break
2:45 Project: Research time
4:30 Daily recap:  How to connect what have learned to the classroom – Master Teachers
5:00 Evening group entertainment

Day 5:  Thursday, June 25/July 30 (9:00 am-5 pm)
Theme: How does a landmark shape civic discourse?
Landmarks: Second Floor of Independence Hall, 1st Amendment Block
9:15 Report to Independence Hall – Second Floor
Overview:  Creating places for civic discourse on and around Independence Mall:  Dr. Charlene Mires
9:30 Use of Independence Hall for Civic Purposes – Jeffrey Collins
10:30 Break
10:45     Lecture:  Protest in Place- Dr. Tom Sugrue, David Boies Professor of History and Sociology; Director of the Penn Social Science and Policy Forum, University of Pennsylvania
11:45 Lunch on own and walk to Philadelphia History Museum
1:00 Workshop:  Historical Artifacts as Primary Sources – Dr. Cynthia Little, Contract Historian, Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent 
2:30 Daily recap: How to connect what have learned to the classroom – Master Teachers
3:00 Project:  Participants will have scheduled times to meet with Institute co-directors and Master Teachers for review of projects.  Teachers also may view the Philadelphia History Museums exhibits or return to INHP or HSP archives to do more research.

Day 6:  Friday, June 26/July 31 (8:30 am-3 pm)
Theme:  Looking back, looking ahead:  Independence Hall today and tomorrow
Landmarks:  National Constitution Center, Independence Mall
8:30 Coffee
9:00  Lecture:  Creation of Independence Mall – Dr. Charlene Mires
10:00 Break
10:15 Presentation:  The National Constitution Center as the new Town Hall- Staff, National Constitution Center  
10:45 Tour of NCC
11:45 Break for lunch on own
1:00 Project: Review of teacher progress and next steps
2:45 Final words – Dr. Charlene Mires and Beth Twiss Houting
3:00 Conclusion