Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 1 Truman’s Machines A ugust 15 th , marks the opening of an exhibit featuring President Truman’s “machines”. The display features a twenty-foot, 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan 7 passenger Presidential limousine and the 1955 Chrysler President Truman purchased after leaving office. The fully-equipped vehicle was driven by Mrs. Truman from 1955 until 1958. Weighing in at 4,160 pounds, the car was equipped with every possible option available at the time. In October, the two 1941 Chryslers Senator Truman purchased will be added to the exhibit. Students will be able to see vintage cars, learn what options were available, and how much Harry paid for his autos. The exhibit will also showcase related automobile memorabilia. Students will enjoy comparing automobile styling, size, and price to what we motor in today. Truman Presidential Museum & Library Mark Adams, Tom Heuertz and Judi O’Neill -Educators Bring your students to experience the newly renovated Truman Presidential Museum & Library. After a $22 million restoration, we are ready to welcome teachers and stu- dents. Call to book your guided tour (4 weeks notice please) by contacting Nancy at 816/833-1225 ext. 243. Student admission is $2.00. One adult will be admitted free of charge for every 10 students. Teaching materials are sent when you book your student tour. Exhibit Tours 2001-2002 Where else can students go back in time and take on the role of President Truman, his advisors, and press correspondents as they face an actual dilemma? Here at the Truman Museum, students work in presidential advisory groups as they formulate a U. S. response to one of (Continued on page 9)
Transcript
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 1
Truman’s Machines
A ugust 15th, marks the opening of an exhibit featuring President
Truman’s “machines”. The display features a twenty-foot, 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan 7 passenger Presidential limousine and the 1955 Chrysler President Truman purchased after leaving office. The fully-equipped vehicle was driven by Mrs. Truman from 1955 until 1958. Weighing in at 4,160 pounds, the car was equipped with every possible
option available at the time. In October, the two 1941 Chryslers Senator Truman purchased will be added to the exhibit. Students will be able to see vintage cars, learn what options were available, and how much Harry paid for his autos. The exhibit will also showcase related automobile memorabilia. Students will enjoy comparing automobile styling, size, and price to what we motor in today.
Truman Presidential Museum & Library Mark Adams, Tom Heuertz and Judi O’Neill -Educators
Bring your students to experience the newly renovated Truman Presidential Museum & Library. After a $22 million restoration, we are ready to welcome teachers and stu-dents. Call to book your guided tour (4 weeks notice please) by contacting Nancy at 816/833-1225 ext. 243. Student admission is $2.00. One adult will be admitted free of charge for every 10 students. Teaching materials are sent when you book your student tour.
Exhibit Tours 2001-2002
Where else can students go back in time and take on the role of President Truman, his advisors, and press correspondents as they face an actual dilemma? Here at the Truman Museum, students work in presidential advisory groups as they formulate a U. S. response to one of
(Continued on page 9)
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 2
New Permanent Exhibition Opens Fall 2001
“Harry S. Truman: The Presidential Years,” an interactive exhibit covering 10,500 square feet, will showcase the major issues and decisions that Harry Truman faced as Chief Executive. Your students will view artifacts, videos, and hear recordings that focus on the decision to drop the atomic bomb, the Cold War, the 1948 Whistlestop Campaign and much more. In two decision theaters, visitors will electronically voice their opinion on some of the tough choices Truman made. Learn what an American serviceman made from the parachutes that dropped food into his Japanese POW camp. See what television looked like in the early 1950s. Read the pamphlet How To Survive An Atomic Bomb. This permanent exhibit promises to be an exciting learning experience for your students. Teaching materials with lots of activities, especially created for elementary, middle and high school students will be mailed when you book a guided tour.
Dr. Michael J. Devine has been selected as the Director of the Truman Presidential Museum & Library. Dr. Devine brings with him an educational background having taught 18th and 19th century U.S. history at the University of Wyoming. Concurrent with his teaching, Devine was Director of the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming from 1991 – 2000. He served as the Director of the Illinois Historical Preservation Agency/Illinois State Historical Society and was the Illinois State Historian from 1985-1991. His national publications range from American foreign policy to the history of the West. In 1991 he served as a Senior Fulbright lecturer in Korea and in 1998 served as an American History Professor at the Johns Hopkins University Graduate Center for Chinese and American Studies in Nanjing, China. Truman educators welcome his leadership as we continue to provide educational services for both students and teachers.
New Director
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 3
Truman educators can in-service Missouri and Kansas teachers either at the Truman Museum or in your district. We recently conducted teacher workshops for Shawnee Mission, Hickman Mills and Columbia social studies teachers. We have a variety of hands-on activities we can offer which relate to the assessment content and skills standards.
Teacher In-service Opportunities
Step into the Changing Exhibition Gallery to view the wonderful photographs of White House photographer, Abbie Rowe. Watch as the interior of the President’s home is gutted and restored because President Truman noticed seriously sagging floors, felt the chill of drafts, and heard curious noises. Truman had been warned of the rodent problem but he was not prepared for the deplorable and unsafe living conditions of the White House. Abbie Rowe began his government service as a manual laborer for the Bureau of Public Roads. By chance, he snapped a photo of Eleanor Roosevelt in 1938 and she made mention of the picture in her daily newspaper column. Mr. Rowe later appealed
to her for a job change. He, like her husband, suffered from the effects of polio which made it difficult for him to do manual labor. Eventually Abbie Rowe was given a job as a photographer for the National Park Service. In the early 1940s, he was assigned the job of photographing President Roosevelt as he went about his business away from the Executive Mansion. Over time, Rowe’s job would include capturing on film official White House functions as well. Before his death in 1962, he would photograph the activities of five Presidents. The Abbie Rowe collection provides visual images that enable us to see the transformation of the White House from being unsafe and dilapidated to being the elegant home and symbol of the most powerful person in the world that it is today.
Restoring the White House, 1948-1952: Photographs by Abbie Rowe
on Exhibit until December 2, 2001
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 4
Teacher WorkshopsTeacher WorkshopsTeacher Workshops America in the Dangerous Years – The Cold War: 1945-1962 October 5th and 6th (Friday night and Saturday) The Truman Library, Johnson County Museum, the National Archives and Records Administration-Central Plains Region, and KU’s International and Area Studies program are sponsoring this educational event. Teachers will be introduced to the historiography of the Cold War and will be given teaching resources. They will also visit a backyard bombshelter and Cold War exhibit on display at the Johnson County History Museum. (Optional one hour of graduate credit available) The Legacy of Korea October 25th (Thursday night), 26th, and 27th This conference, sponsored by the Truman Museum and UMKC commemorates the 50th anniversary of this hot war from the Cold War era. Leading historians from around the world will present many sides. Teaching materials will be distributed. The Truman Museum will pay for your substitute teacher on Friday the 26th if you attend the entire conference. (Optional one hour of graduate credit available). To register contact Becky Fye at 816/833-1225, ext. 236. Remembering World War II December 7th and 8th (Friday night and Saturday) Join other educators on this 60th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. Presenters will include educators, archivists, and veterans. Teaching methods and materials will be given out to teachers. Focus will be on the attack on Pearl Harbor, D-Day, Rosie the Riveter, and the decision to drop the atomic bomb. World War I Coming November 9th 2002. Jointly sponsored by the Truman Museum and the Liberty Memorial Museum.
Student Intern Program
The Truman Presidential Museum & Library has an internship program for college students. The interns have a great opportunity to explore various career opportunities in a hands-on experience. Recently, Truman State University senior, Raegan Hutsell, worked with educators and archivists. Raegan helped research and create teaching activities for the new permanent exhibit, “Harry S. Truman: The Presidential Years.”
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 5
Truman Presidential Museum & Library Teacher Workshops
The Truman Presidential Museum & Library, in cooperation with other institutions, will offer the following teacher workshops this summer and fall. Enrollment is limited to 75 participants. Teachers will be given a variety of hands-on teaching materials, including many primary sources, to use in their classrooms. America in the Dangerous Years: The Cold War, 1945-1962 Dates & Times: October 5th (Friday evening 5:30-9:00) and October 6th (Saturday 8:30-4:30) Locations: Friday evening – Johnson County Museum , Saturday – Truman Presidential Museum & Library Credit: One graduate hour available Course Requirement: Attendance for the entire workshop and a 1-2 page reflection paper. Workshop Fee: $50.00 (Baker University graduate credit available for an additional $55.00 – on-site enrollment) This workshop, sponsored in cooperation with the Johnson County Museum, International and Area Studies at the University of Kansas, and the National Archives and Records Administration-Central Plains Region, will explore the implications of the early years of the Cold War for the U.S. and the Kansas City region. Teachers will interact with a variety of guest presenters and tour the Cold War exhibits at both the Johnson County Museum and Truman Presidential Museum.
Remembering WW II Dates & Times: December 7th (Friday evening, 5:30-9:00) and December 8th (Saturday, 8:30-4:30) Location: Truman Presidential Museum & Library Credit: One graduate hour available Course Requirement: Attendance for the entire workshop and a 1-2 page reflection paper Workshop Fee: $50.00 (Baker University graduate credit available for an additional $55.00 – on-site enrollment) On this 60th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, teachers will talk with survivors of that Sunday morning and with Kan-sas City’s Rosie the Riveter; explore D-Day, and address Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb. This workshop is spon-sored in cooperation with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and the National Archives and Records Administration-Central Plains Region. I am enrolling for the following course(s): _____ America in the Dangerous Years - The Cold War, 1945-1952 (October 5th and 6th) _____ Remembering WW II (December 7th and 8th) • You must attach a check for $50.00 payable to Truman Library Institute for each workshop. Sorry, no purchase
orders. • Any refund request must be received by Tom Heuertz at Truman Museum no later than 7 days prior to the work-
shop. • You will be sent a more detailed workshop schedule at a later date. Workshops are limited to 75 teachers.
Name _________________________________ School _____________________________________ School address ____________________________________________________________________________________ E-Mail _______________________________ Tel: ________________ Fax:___________________ Grade levels/courses you teach ____________________________________________________________________________________
Mail this registration form and your check to: Tom Heuertz, Truman Presidential Museum & Library, 500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, MO 64050-1798
Contact person: Tom Heuertz (816-833-1400/253 or 1-800-833-1225/253) <[email protected]>
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 6
Yes, Harry Truman was seen by his contemporaries as a sharp, dapper dresser. He
seldom “dressed down”. Even as a young man plowing the
family’s farm fields in Grandview, Mo., Harry would dress in more formal attire than neighboring farmers.
What presidential fashion craze did he popularize?
Honolulu tailor Ellery Chun’s Hawaiian print shirt, created in
1931 and popularized by Pacific bound WWII
servicemen. Some saw these shirts as a rebellion against the
drab military and business attire of the time. Harry’s
favorite vacation spot was Key West, Florida and while
relaxing he would wear loud, colorful shirts. The Truman Library has some of these
shirts in preservation storage today. In fact, if you enjoy
casual Fridays at your work place you can thank the Hawaii
Chamber of Commerce for introducing “Aloha
Week”(1947) and then “Aloha Friday” in the 1960s.
Key West, Florida. April, 1950.
Harry Truman – The Fashion Setter?
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 7
Truman Presidential Museum & Library 2001—2002 Educational Programs
Grades Program Description
8-12
White House
Decision Center
Students role play President Truman and his advisors as they face major decisions in post WWII history. A five module experiential curriculum with a day at the Truman Museum. A unique, skill building experience. (contact Tom)
K-12 Footlocker
This footlocker contains Truman related artifact replicas and teaching activities – teacher can check out a footlocker free of charge for up to two weeks. Contact Judi to pick up a footlocker or arrange for a classroom presentation.
4-Adult
Truman Presidential Museum & Library
web sites www.whistlestop.org
www.trumanlibrary.org
These award winning sites contain 30,000 pages of primary documents, photographs, cartoons, and teaching activities for many audiences.
4-9 Truman Places Map This is a cooperative group or individual activity where students locate KC area sites linked to Harry Truman on a colorful map. A good map interpretation skill lesson. (contact Judi)
4-12
Guided tours
Call for a docent led tour. Related teaching activities are available. The admission fee for school groups is $2.00 per student with one free adult per 10 students. Please call 4 weeks in advance. (contact Nancy Myers at 1-800-833-1225 ext. 243)
6-12 National History Day Students compete in four categories at the local, state, and national levels. See article on page 10 of this issue of Teacher Talk. (contact Mark)
8-12 Spy’s Dilemma This is a cooperative group or individual activity where students serve as members of Soviet spy rings reading and analyzing once secret U.S. documents. (contact Tom)
8-12
Top Secret: WWII
Students in this cooperative group or individual activity act as U.S. World War II intelligence agents classifying documents related to U.S. actions in the closing months of the war. (contact Tom)
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 8
Telephone: 816/833-1400 or 1/800-833-1225 24-hour teacher information line extension 384
2001-2002 Educational Programs Continued from Reverse
8-College
Student Research Files These primary documents cover 52 topics – available at Truman Museum, UMKC, Longview Community College, Graceland University-Independence Campus, and through the Mid-Continent Library system. (contact Tom)
8-Adult Thomas Hart Benton Mural
A slide presentation explaining the concept and creation of this masterpiece by the famous Missouri painter. (contact Ray Geselbracht at ext. 263)
Teachers Teacher Talk This newsletter, containing Truman Museum related news, is published during the school year. (contact Tom)
Teachers E-Talk This monthly e-mail bulletin presents the latest educational news. Send your name, e-mail and school to <[email protected]>
Teachers Video Library Teachers may borrow videos for two weeks. You can see the list of available videos online. (contact Judi)
Teachers In-Service We offer a variety of teacher in-service programs at the Truman Presidential Museum or in district schools. (contact Tom)
Teachers Workshops
These teacher workshops will be offered during this school year. (contact Tom for the registration form) • Thursday/Friday, October 25th–27th – Korean War
Symposium (1 hour of college credit available, to enroll contact Becky Fye at ext. 236)
• Friday night/Saturday, October 5th & 6th – America in the Dangerous Years – The Cold War: 1945-1962 (1 hour of college credit available)
• Friday night/Saturday, December 7th & 8th – World War II + 60 (1 hour of college credit available)
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 9
CONFLICT AND CONSEQUENCE: THE KOREAN WAR AND ITS LEGACY
EXHIBIT OPENS JANUARY 17, 2002
Created onsite by our own expert staff, this exhibit will offer a glimpse of the Korean War (Truman’s most difficult decision) through the eyes of individuals directly involved in setting policy or whose lives were personally impacted by the horrible reality of war. Raise student interest in and awareness of the sacrifices thousands were called upon to make at the onset of the Cold War so that Korea is no longer the “Forgotten War”. Exhibit ends May 15, 2002.
(Continued from page 1)
these situations: the 1948 Berlin Blockade by Russia, the desegregation of the armed forces in 1948 or the North Korean invasion of South Korea in 1950. The curriculum composed of pre and post visit classroom modules as well as the experience at Truman, is designed for students in grades 8 and higher. The WHDC experience incorporates such skills as leadership, decision making, cooperative group work, written and oral communications, and the interpretation of primary documents. The WHDC resembles the west wing of the White House. Truman educators are now taking reservations for the 2001-2002 school year for students in history, government, sociology, student council, leadership courses, ROTC, etc. If you would like a teacher packet of WHDC materials, contact Tom Heuertz, the WHDC director, by phone at 1-800-833-1225 ext. 253. You can also e-mail him at <[email protected]>.
High school students serve as presidential advisors to Harry Truman at the White House Decision Center.
White House Decision Center
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 10
The National History Day program is an exciting education program designed for students in grades 6-12. All types of students participate in History Day–public, private, parochial, and home--school students; urban and rural students. Throughout the school year, students conduct research of primary
and secondary resources to prepare presentations based on an annual theme. The annual theme is broad enough in scope to encourage investigation of topics ranging from local and state history to national and world history. The program begins in September, at the start of the school year. Curriculum and contest materials are distributed to History Day coordinators and teachers throughout the country. During the 2001-2002 school year, National History Day invites students to research topics related to the theme, "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History." The theme is broad enough in scope to encourage investigation of topics ranging from local to world history. To understand the historical importance of their topics, students must ask questions of time and place, cause and effect, change over time, and impact and significance. They must ask not only when events happened but also why they happened and what impact they had. What factors contributed to their development? Regardless of the topic selected, students must not only present a description of it, but also draw conclusions about how their topic affected individuals, communities, nations, or the world. Students investigating this year’s theme should think of the theme in broad terms, as the distinctions among revolutions, reactions, and reforms may be blurred. Revolutions and reforms are themselves often reactions to particular situations or events, and they in turn inspire reactions. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the word revolution means "the overthrow of one government and its replacement with another" or "a sudden or momentous change in a situation." It defines reform as an "improvement" or "action to improve social or economic conditions without radical or revolutionary change." Whether revolutionary or gradual, such changes often inspire opposition, as some people seek to slow or even to reverse them. Consequently, some topics will warrant students focusing on revolution, reaction, AND reform, while other topics may allow them to focus on just one or two aspects of the theme. Students should cover all aspects of the theme relevant to their topics. The theme is a broad one, so topics should be carefully selected and developed in ways that best use students’ talents and abilities. Whether a topic is a well-known event in world history or focuses on a little-known individual from a small community, students should be careful to place their topics into historical perspective, examine the significance of their topics in history, and show development over time. Studies should include an investigation into available primary and secondary sources, analysis of the evidence, and a clear explanation of the relationship of the topic to the theme, "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History." Then, students may develop papers, performances, documentaries, and exhibits for entry into National History Day competitions. For teaching materials and student guides contact: In Greater Kansas City, Missouri: Mark Adams, (816) 833-1400 ext. 267 Rest of Missouri: Diane Ayotte, (573) 882-0189 In Kansas: Letha Johnson, (785) 272-8681 ext. 306 National History Day: www.nationalhistoryday.org
Think history is boring? Try National History Day and think again!
It’s not just a day . . . it’s an experienceIt’s not just a day . . . it’s an experienceIt’s not just a day . . . it’s an experience
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 11
EDUCATORS JOIN LIBRARY STAFF This past summer, the Truman Presidential Museum & Library added a new word to its vocabulary—externship. In May, we were approached by the Northwest Missouri Tech Prep Consortium and the BE2: School-to-Career Partnership asking if we were interested in being part of the Educator Summer Externship Program. Once we found out what this program was all about, we said yes! The Educator Externship is a two-week workplace experience during which educators participate in a variety of activities and projects at a workplace other than school. Through this experience, educators will: • Gain new insight into workplace needs, skills and communities that they did not have before; • Develop renewed enthusiasm for translating new insights into their classroom teaching plans; • Develop new ideas from the shared and collaborative externship experiences; • Prepare a curriculum project based on their externship experience to integrate into their core
curriculum. Four Kansas City area teachers were placed at the
Library, three from Raytown South High School in Missouri and one from Washington High School in Kansas City, Kansas. During their stay, they worked on a variety of projects to benefit our education programs, web site, volunteer training, and Truman Library Institute activities. Their enthusiasm made the externship program a success for us and we definitely hope to participate again next summer.
“I enjoyed my experience and I plan to
take back valuable and usable
information to my “real job”.
– Cathy Harrison
“I can truly say that this experience has
brought inspiration to me professionally
and I cannot wait to take this knowledge
back to my students.” – David Allie
“It has been a wonderful informative
experience that I know will carry over into
my teaching.” – Tammy Steele
“You have set up a perfect atmosphere
for them (interns) to contribute to the
Library…” – Dennis Lawrence
Summer 2001 Raytown teachers serving as externs at the Truman Museum, from left Cathy Harrison, Tammy Steele and David Allie. (Not pictured, Dennis Lawrence from Washington High School, Kansas City, Kansas.)
To explore externship possibilities at the Truman Presidential Museum & Library, contact Donna Denslow, Coordinator of Volunteer & Intern Services at 816/833-1400, extension
229.
Truman Presidential Museum & Library’s Teacher Talk Page 12
New Director Page 2 Teacher Workshop Registration Page 5 Participate in National History Day Page 10 Externships Page 11
“ The papers of the presidents are among the most valuable
sources of material for
history. They ought to be
preserved and they ought
to be used. ”
Harry S. Truman
In this issue . . .
Please circulate this publication among your colleagues!
Harry S. Truman Library Institute for National and International Affairs 500 West U.S. Highway 24 Independence, MO 64050-1798
