Jenn's+Local+History+Project

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==Learning Activity 3-D-2: Local Documents, Data, and Cartoons==

1) **Populism and the Farmers’ Alliance** (3 Documents): [] This site includes The Grangers: Declaration of Purpose, The Farmers' Declaration of Independence, and the Platform of the Populist Movement. The first two documents will be useful as part of the assignment I am creating for my final project because they explain the origins and goals of the Grange Movement and farmers (which made up much of the Grange Movement). It centers on the importance of agriculture, fair trade, and a government that allows these individuals to be successful. The Populist Movement of the late 19th-early 20th century also closely aligns with the principles and ideas of the Grange Movement.

2) **2011 Wayne County Fair Schedule** (Document): [] site provide the schedule of events from this past year's Wayne County (located in Ohio) grange fair. I think this source could possibly be useful in taking a look at the types of events (a lot of 4-H farm showing, community, and agricultural related activities) that take place. Also, this could be used to compare to schedules (I am trying to find some!) of other grange fairs across the country, as well as the types of events that have taken place at these fairs over the years to see how they may have changed over time.

3) **Which Is Better for the National Grange?** (Political Cartoon): [] I found this political cartoon among a lesson plan that had already been assembled related to the Progressive Movement in the U.S. during the late 1800s-early 1900s. The cartoon appears on the 8th page of the document and is titled Which Is Better for the National Grange and it depicts many of the political and economic issues that members of the Grange movement were concerned about. I think this will prove to be useful as part of my Local History Project as students can use this as a source that demonstrates the concerns and areas of interests that fueled the start of the Grange Movement, as well as how these ideas were represented in visual mediums.

4) **Grange Event-Maine Farmer** (Letter): [] This letter comes from 1937 Maine. A young man is writing to a young woman whom he met at a Grange event as well as discusses his life as the member of a farming family. I think that this source would be useful as part of my local history project because it shows how the Grange brought with common interests and backgrounds together (much like the county and grange fairs to today). I think that the letter, which is between two teenagers, would really connect with students and gives them an insight now only to farming life in the early 1900s, but to the start of family, friends and traditions, which is the basis for many Grange events that still exist today.

5) **Centre County Grange Fairgrounds Calendar 2011**: [] This calendar provides an recent overview of the events and activities that took place at the local Centre County Grange Fairgrounds. I think this document may be helpful as source that shows the use of the location as a community center. The variety of events can be used as a way to compare the events that take place at our local grange with those events that take place throughout the state and nation, as well as those that have taken place at grange grounds historically.

Learning Activity 4-D-1: Local Photos and Posters
This poster is from the LOC collection and is a poster titled "Gift for the Grangers." It features scenes of family life and the life of farmer. It is bright and colorful and portrays a positive view of the Granger movement. I think this will be a great visual resource for my students as part of my local history project assignment.
 * 1) Gift for the Grangers (Poster/Ad): [] **

This site features several pictures from throughout the history of the North Haverhill Fair. The information was put together in 1994 to celebrate the fair's 50th anniversary. I think the photographs are wonderful examples of the types of events that took place at the fair. Some of the activities and exhibits that I see in the pictures remind me so much of what I still see when I visit the Centre County Grange Fair today. I think these photographs (as well as the information provided) will be helpful resources for my students.
 * 2) History of the North Haverhill Fair Association (Photographs):** ** [] **
 * 3) Farmers 1870s-1890s (Poster): [] **

At this site there is another example of a poster that promotes the life and contributions of farmers. (as well as the Gift for the Grangers listed above). There are also examples of bulletins for picnics and gathering by member's of the farmers alliance, which is closely associated with the People's Party, the Populist Movement, and the Grangers. I think these are helpful in demonstrating the importance of community and family as part of the Grange movement historically, which can still be seen today!

I thought this site was interesting, so I wanted to include it. The website is for the Sherborn Grange Fair, which is in Massachusetts. In addition to information about the fair, etc. it also includes a poster about a dinner that was held as part of the fair this past September titled "Plow to Plate Dinner." The event featured locally grown, raised, or prepared food, such as cheese, meat, and vegetables. The poster, although from 2011, shows agricultural and traditional ties that date back to the origins of the Granger Movement.
 * 4) Plow to Plate Dinner (Poster): [] **

This website features a number of photographs from all areas and types of events held at the Centre County Grange Fair. This would be very useful in examining the types of traditions, activities, and customs that still exist at a Grange event today.
 * 5) The Grange Fair: An American Tradition (Photographs): [] **

Very similar to the above website, this site provides a gallery of photographs from more recent years of the Centre County Grange Fair.
 * 6) Grange Fair Photo Gallery (Photographs): [] **

This site of historic images from Hunterdon County in western New Jersey features several pictures of grange fair tents. This is particularly interesting, as one of grange fair unique characteristics is that many were encampments where families would come and stay for the entirety of the fair. These early pictures of fair tents would be so neat to use as a topic for comparison to how current tents are decorated and used at the Centre County Grange Fair, which is the last remaining encampment fair in the country. As the majority of my students and their families spend a week at the Grange Fair in late August every year, I think many of them would really enjoy tracing the changes regarding the tents and encampments over the years.
 * 7) Historic Images of Hunterdon County (Photographs): [] **

This site is rich with Granger posters, photographs, and images of memorabilia. I think many of these resources could be useful as part of my local history project.
 * 8) Glimpses of the Grange Through Time (Posters): [] **

==Learning Activity 5-D-1: Local Audio and Music==

This week's sources (music and audio recordings) were a tough find and not exactly what I had in mind, but here is what I was able to locate...

1) Segment 1 & 3: "Tom Summerhill on Agrarianism in the 19th Centry New York" (Audio Recording): []
 * This audio recording discusses the life in rural New York during the 1800s. This may be used as part of my project to hear more details and information about the life of farmers during this time period.**

2) State College High School Marching Band Performance-Centre County Grange Fair 2009 (Video/Music/Song): []
 * This is a YouTube video clip of a local high school band performing at at recent Grange Fair. I thought this may be used in order to make the connection to the themes of community, music, and local involvement that have been prevelant in Grange events since the group started.**

3) Grange Communities: RevCom Hood River (Video/Audio Recording): []
 * This video features a description of the Grange communities, including how they developed and what their role was. The video, which is also narrated seems to be a recording of some type of community class or presentation.**

4) Meet the Miller's: An Oregon Farm Family (Video/Audio Recording): []
 * This video, with audio and narration, gives an overview of life for a modern American farming family. I thought this could possible be helpful as a source for students to see what life is like for farmers in other regions of the nation in comparision to what they are familiar with here in Pennsylvania.**

5) Song Lyrics from Grange Meetings: [] Song was a regular feature of meetings. Two popular ones were: "The Plow, the Spade and the Hoe," sung to the tune of "Columbia:" //The Farmer’s the chief of the nation,The oldest of nobles is he,How blest beyond the others his station,From want and from envy how free,// //His patent was granted in Eden,////Long ages and ages ago,////Oh the farmer, the farmer forever, Three cheers for the plow, spade and hoe!"// "Rally Round the Grange," sung to the tune of "Rally Round the Flag:" //We will rally round the Grange,////We will rally once again,////Shouting the Farmer’s cry of Freedom,////We will rally to the Grange,////Our rights to maintain,////Shouting the Farmer’s cry of Freedom, The Patrons forever, hurrah, then hurrah!// //Down with th’ oppressor, up with our star,////We will rally to the Grange,////Our rights to maintain,////Shouting the Farmer’s cry of Freedom.// 6) They Call the Wing Mariah Song Lyrics: []
 * This informational site includes an overview and history of the Grange Movement. Among that information, I also found the mention of music being an aspect of Grange meetings, and they lyrics above were provided. I was not able to find any recordings of these songs. These lyrics, however, could be a resource for students to analyze the main ideas and goals of the Grange movement.**
 * These song lyrics are to another song that has been associated with western settlement in the late 1800s, farming, and the agrarian lifetyle.**

==Learning Activity 6-D-1: Local Video and Maps==

There were limited online videos about the Grange Fair, however, there are videos available that could be purchased or perhaps rented from the local library pertaining to this local tradition.

1) **Centre County Grange Fair & Encampment (Videos):** [] This website provides three short videos about the Centre County Grange Fair. This may be used as part of the project to show some of the unique traits and activities that still take place at this specific Grange event today.

2) **Our Town: Grange Fair (Video):** [] This video includes details about a WPSU (in association with PBS) titled "Our Town: Grange Fair." This video would have to purchased or rented for students to use as part of their project, but based on the description and comments, it looks like a great collection of the events and traditions of the Centre County Grange Fair.

3) **Grange Fair: An American Tradition (Video/DVD):** [] This is a link to purchase a video titled "Grange Fair: An American Tradition." While, once again, this video cannot be viewed online, it is an 86 minute video focusing on the Centre County Grange Fair. Students could use this as part of the local history project as a way to examine how the event is portrayed and represented in video format to be shared with others from around the state and country that may have never experienced the fair or any Grange events.

4) **Centre County Grange Fair & Encampment (Maps):** [|http://www.grangefair.net/visitors_guide.html#maps] This site first directs you to a Google Maps image of the Centre County Grange Fair. There are also then links available for more detailed maps such as tent and camping areas, points of interest, buildings, barns and amusement rides. This would be helpful as part of the project in considering the scale or the fair and the activities and events that are included.

5) **Maine: The History of the Grange (Video):** [] This brief video which is part of a longer film on the history of Maine, focuses on the role of the Grange in the early communities of the state. It discusses Grange buildings, events, and the history of the movement in Maine. This could be used as part of the local history project as a point of comparision between the Centre County Grange Fair, the goals of the Grange movement, and Grange events in other parts of the nation.

==Learning Activity 8-B-1: Local History Project ==

My final project for this course focuses on the Grange Movement, both the history of the movement, as well as examples of community involvement and events up through current times. The attached Power Point Presentation is designed in a manner to show to my students while introducing and assigning this project. This includes a brief introduction to the Grange Movement, an explanation of the Living History Museum Project, the requirements of their project, as well as examples of resources for different types of primary sources related to the Grange Movement. It also divides the project into sections or smaller tasks, that students would then work their way through as they completed the project in its entirety.
 * Introduction:**


 * Project:**

Power Point Presentation: Project Rubric:

I really enjoyed created this project and learning more about the history and local tradition of a very important event in my local community: The Centre County Grange Fair. Most of my students also have family ties, dating back generations to the Grange Fair. As I teach and live in a rural community, it was very neat to see the variety of resources and primary source materials, both at a local and national level that are available for this topic. I think that students would really enjoy this project and the opportunity to research a topic that so many of them have a connection to. Also, the final student products, (as intended) would be great contributions to a community event, display, or museum.
 * Conclusion**:


 * Works Cited Page for Final Local History Project: [[file:Works Cited.doc]]**

==Additional Notes and Resources==

Add any additional notes or sources here.