Gilder Lehrman Institute, 2007
This year’s Teaching American History grant participants have a unique opportunity. We are so pleased to be able to participate in a 5-day American History Institute in New York City! This year’s theme for the Gilder Lehrman Institute is 19th and 20th Century Immigration and Urbanization. What better place to analyze the immigrant experience than in the original American melting pot?
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This year we were very lucky to participate in the Immigration and Migration institute in NYC. I learned more about Immigration and NYC than I thought possible. The lectures were very good and I am positive that I will use many of them in my classroom. I learned tons of new strategies for teaching immigration to my students with this grant.
The walking tours through The Village, Little Itlay, Chinatown, and SoHo were very interesting and very useful. The landmarks in NYC were great and the expirence is something that I will never forget.
This summer the PACETAH grant participants traveled to New York City to study immigration, migration and urbanization! Learning to navigate and decipher the NYC subway system was a little tricky at times, but fun and educational!
Our time spent at the New York Historical Society was enlightening with the interactive lecture provided by Professor Kenneth Jackson and the pedagogy sessions provided by Bob DiLorenzo. One thing that Professor Jackson was quick to point out was that NYC is the most tolerant, multi-racial, multi-cultural city. Also, did you know that the NYC subways were built by ditches being dug as opposed to the subways in London which were built like burrowed holes? We learned that there are 22 million people in NYC and its suburbs! That is a whole lotta people in such a small space… and 8 million of them are in NYC! We visited the Lower East Side which is considered to be the quintesciental neighborhood as well as where most of the immigrants came upon arrival to NYC. Now most immigrants are going to Queens and the Lower East Side is becoming a trendy.
A hundred years ago, NYC was known for its “needle trades” and most of ladies” clothing was made in NYC! Housing has always been a problem in NYC, but could you imagine living in a tenement apartment? 325-350 sq. feet ….an 8 x 8 bedroom???? Tenement means 3 or mote different families housed in one place…when the immigrants came, there were many people living in one small tenement apt. just so they could afford to pay the rent. Prior to 1879 there were no bathrooms, windows, or fire escapes required in these apartments. Imagine trotting out to the backyard where the outhouses were in the dead of winter! Brrrrr!
In the afternoon sessions, we learned how to analyze primary sources and ways to help our students analyze them. We also took three walking tours (boy, did my feet hurt …how many miles did we walk??
) during our stay in Manhattan. We visited Greenwich Village, Chinatown, Little Italy, and the Jewish East Side. It was referred to as the Big Onion Walking Tour — why???? —– because there are many layers of ethnic diversity in the Lower East Side! I must say that for me the educational highlight of the trip was Ellis Island. The Silent Voices display was very moving and spoke loud and clear as to the immigrants” experiences. I took so many pictures of all the displays at Ellis Island that I will share with my students and I know they will be amazed by this historical place!
This was an opportunity that I am so thankful to have participated in…thanks to Danna and the PACETAH grant!
This was my first year to participate in the grant and I am very thankful to have had the opportunity. Since I teach World Geography, the issue of immigration, emigration, migration, and urbanization is a common theme in dealing with all areas of the world, especially the United States. New York City is the perfect place to start when teaching the concepts of the above listed issues.
, will serve as an awesome first hand experience when discussing NYC and immigration with my students. I look forward to beginning a new year with my new knowledge and ideas!
I learned a lot, more than I have time to discuss here. Mr. DiLorenzo showed us interesting and useful ways to utilize primary sources in the classroom that will stimulate discussion and student learning.
The walking tours, while tiring
I have to say this summer was fantastic! NYC was truly an awsome experience. I had been as a tourist before, but actually learning the background information of this truly unique city was and enligtening experience.
Our mornings for the first three days were spent at the NY Historical Society listening Dr. Jackson who provided us with information. The afternoons were spent with Mr. DiLorenzo learning how to take the information and use it in our classroom. I came with a lot of USEFUL ideas for my classroom.
We took three walking tours provided by Gilder-Lehrman and the NY HIstorical Society. We actually stood in a tenement house which truly amazed me. The tour of the neighborhoods gave me so much background information. It is no longer just “a beautiful building”; I know how, why and when the neighborhoods came into existence.
We went to Ellis Island and were advised to take a guided tour. It was the most useful way to look at the property. I could not have gotten some of the information from just strolling around.
I feel like this trip gave me a chance to experience in small quantities almost everything that NYC has to offer. I went to a play, a musical, strolled Broadway, rode the subway, the bus and in a Taxi. I ate in Little Italy, tour China town (where I was taken into a secret room to buy purses thinking I might be sold into white slavery) and much more.
I would like to express my gratitude to Dana and my administrators for allowing me to participate in this grant. I am well on my to becoming a content and experience rich teach which makes me a more interesting teacher in my classroom!
We traveled to New York City to study immigration and migration in the 19th and 20th centuries. In an interesting way we became New York City migrants as we became totally immersed in the culture of NYC for a week. We lived in Midtown Manhattan in Furnel Hall at Columbia University in tiny dorm rooms with community baths and subways. We learned how to use the subway system to travel to our “workplace.” We attended lectures at the New York Historical Society for the first three days of our stay. We walked along the streets with native New Yorkers asa they commuted to work, took their children to school, exercised their dogs or jogged the neighborhoods. We were the outsiders in a strange place much as the immigrants we studied had been.
One of the highlights was a visit to Ellis Island which has been extensively renovated. It was interesting to see the artifacts of these earlier immigrants. Through the windows of the great hall one can see the Statue of Liberty. Imagine the feelings of the new arrivals: after weeks in cramped quarters on board a ship they had passed the statue to arrive in New York and their new country only to be transferred to a ferry to Ellis Island. Some families faced a long wait at Ellis Island and some faced separation from family members. Once cleared, they could buy a train ticket to anywhere just off the great hall.
We visited two restored apartments in a tenement building on the Lower East Side. All of the apartments had three rooms: a tiny bedroom (usually rented out to a boarder), a kitchen (where the family spent most of its time), and a master bedroom for the parents. Neither apartment had a bathroom. The earlier apartment had to go outside to an outhouse. The newer apartment had a toilet someplace on the floor to be shared with other families. Children could bathe in dish pans, but adults had to be a little more creative. There could be as many as 12 people living in these cramped 300 square foot apartments. Imagine the darkness of room lacking windows. Imagine the stuffiness with no breeze. The goal of most of the residents was to move, which many did once they had enough money. When the tenement was built the area was known as Little Germany. Later on the area was Little Italy. Today Chinatown is in the area.
Dr. Jackson explained that New Yorkers build a wall of privacy around themselves to insulate them from the crowds and the noise. There are environmental sounds everywhere but the people tend to be silent. The subway is usually very quiet even when packed full of people. The people were quite friendly, and offered us a lot of help in using the subway and would offer suggestions if they saw us looking at the subway map on the train. I was surprised by the trees along the streets and the beautiful flowerbeds within the sidewalks. There were some lovely gardens on rooftops.
I enjoyed the lectures by Dr. Jackson and found him to be very approachable. I also got some good ideas to use in my class from Mr. DiLorenzo. Our teachers accompanied us down the hall at the Historical Society to visit the Chelsea Jeans Exhibit. This is a section of a store a few blocks away from ground zero. The owner was approached by a woman who had lost her husband on 9/11. She wanted some of the ash from his store. He consented then realized that he had important history on his hands. The society moved his preserved section of store with its ash-covered items. It was interesting to hear the two instructors tell us where they were on 9/11 and how they felt then and how this has colored their view on current events.
Participation in the PACETAH grant has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had. We have had many opportunities to travel, but it has been travel for a purpose. I have collected close to 3000 photos I can show to my students of many historical sites. The pedagoguey over the years has enabled all of us to grow as educators. I am grateful for my experiences and the opportunity to share them with my students and fellow educators. Thanks, Danna, for all of your efforts and you awesome ideas to get us to the history.
New York, New York…what a great trip! This summer the PACETAH grant was fortunate to attend the Gilder Lehrman Institute in the big apple to study Immigration and Urbanization in the 19th and 20th centuries. Prior to the trip we took a class here in Amarillo, Immigration and Migration in Early America, which prepared us for Professor Jackson and Bob DiLorenzo’s lectures and pedagogy on Immigration. We started each day with a cramped ride on the subway from Columbia University to the New York Historical Society. (This was a great reminder to some us to appreciate the solitude and comfort of our vehicles in Texas!) Professor Jackson filled our mornings, we ran over to Central Park and Strawberry Fields during lunch, and Mr. DiLorenzo gave us great examples of ways to use primary sources in our classrooms in the afternoon.
Our evenings were spent running around the city trying to take in as many sites as possible. Little did I know I was with a group of track stars…we made it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Guggenheim Museum, Empire State Building, a harbor cruise around the southern part of city – out past Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Wall Street, Ground Zero, Little Italy, China Town and countless other attractions. We were exhausted each evening but still excited enough to go out and do it again the next night.
The last two days of class were “out in the field” taking different tours around the city. We left Battery Park and went out to Ellis Island and were able to spend some time in the museum. Next, we met another tour guide in Greenwich village to see historic sites like the Jefferson Market Courthouse and the Stonewall Inn. Our final day was spent taking a tour of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, (The tiny apartments that are still being used today are mind-boggling!)and ended in Chinatown, Little Italy and the Jewish East Side.
Whew! What an amazing trip. I am so thankful for the PACETAH grant and Danna for the opportunity to learn more of our history and travel to these wonderful cities and hopefully become a better teacher as a result. I plan to use all the information and pictures to make some great lesson this school year.
What an educational trip!!!! I had lived on Long Island in the borough of Queens when I was very young but remembered many of the places we saw. I last visited New York City in the summer of 1963 with a Key Club trip. At the time Ellis Island was in terrible shape.
Some of us went to Philadelphia on Sunday, our free day. To see Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’s home bring back memories of the Revolutionary period of the history of the United States.
The main focus of this trip was migration, immigration, and urbanization of the United States. Dr. Jackson’s lectures on New York City were most informative. We learned a great deal of background on the city from the Dutch occupation to recent times including why people came and the challenges they had to overcome once they got here. Bob DiLorenzo gave us great ideas in the use of primary sources in our classrooms and how to make it interesting in to our students. I will certainly utilize many of his ideas.
Visiting Ellis Island was truly a moving experience. We take for granted the rights, freedoms, and opportunities we have in our country, but that was not the case for most other countries. To think that people would leave everything they knew to come to the land of opportunity is mind boggling. I tried to put myself in the shoes of an immigrant as he waited in the long lines to be examined for disease, questioned about job opportunities, and to see if someone speaking and unknown language would determine that I would or would not “liable to become a ward of the state.” I didn’t know that Ellis Island was still in operation until the early 1950’s when I had lived in New York.
The walking tours were so interesting and informative. I had been to Greenwich Village and Chinatown before but knew so little about them. Little Italy is actually teeming with Chinese. The tenement museum really put Dr. Jackon’s lectures into reality. I don’t think there are very many of us who would go through the experience of no running water, no electricity, no central heat or air conditioning on a daily basis.
Lastly, it is a myth that New Yorkers are not friendly, and will not talk to you on the subway. Everywhere we went, people would go out of their way to give directions or actually show us the way to go. We talked to a lot of people on the subway, particularly when they found out we were from Texas. Many thanks to Danna for arranging our tour. I learned so much that I will use in my class (even though I teach Texas history) and pass on to other teachers in my school.
Attending this summer institute was very informative. Dr Jackson’s lectures increased my knowledge base for my unit on immigration. The hi-light for me was the experience of touring the dark, cramped tenemant building while hearing the story of the actual tenant; then relating the story of the tenant’n great grandson’s fate of 911 was spine tingling. It stirred emotions that will follow me back to to the classroom.
The entire experience of a week in New York was a learning adventure. Central Park was beautiful and I was amazed at how peaceful and tranquil it was while a hub of people ran, walked, biked, sunbathed; all seemingly, oblivious to one another. The subways were a real “shocka”. There were so many different people all just ‘doing’ life in their own world but all together.
I am very thankful for the experience.
What an experience! I felt that every minute of every day I was learning something new to take back to my classroom. I teach 11th grade U.S. History and The Gilder Lehrman Institute in New York City provided me an enourmous amount of information to share with my students. Dr. Jackson’s knowledge of New York City and American urbanization provided detailed information that will be helpful when discussing the Gilded Age with my students. I also really liked the SOAPS technique for analyzing primary documents that Mr. DiLorenzo used with his classes when he taught in the Broncs. I plan to use this strategy in the classroom.
I feel our experience in New York City was unique in that we were not just tourists, but we were historians and students. The knowledge of the City and the people and neighborhoods provided us a different viewpoint that was different than the common tourist. When I teach the Gilded Age and immigration this coming year, I will have a wealth of background information to share as well as the ultimate hands on experience of actually being there and seeing, touching, smelling and hearing New York City.
The evening cruise was incrediable because it allowed me to see just how huge Manhattan really is. I also loved the story that a woman shared with us while we were on the cruise. It was about her father’s real life experience as a Russian child immigrant that came through Ellis Island and was seperated from his parents for three days. Her emotions were reflective of her father’s emotions, which moved all that was listening. With her permission I plan to use this incrediable story with my students. It will make an enourmous impact on them as we study Ellis Island and immigration.
Standing in the Great Room of Ellis Island that so many scared, confused and excited immigrants stood so many years ago made a huge impact upon my heart. What courage they had to leave a home that was so familiar for a dream that took them across a deadly ocean to a strange place of uncertainity.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was the Tenement House Museum. The fact that I have seen for myself the homes that the earlier immigrants lived in will greatly enhance my teaching of this subject. I truly had no comprehension of what the tenement apartments were like and how crowded they were.
I feel that I was truly blessed with the wonderful opportunity to attend the Gilder Lehrman Institute in New York City. As a teacher I gained an enormous wealth of information and ideas to share with future students. This is my fourth year in PACETAH and my students are always excited to learn about what I have seen and done. My experiences make the classroom come alive. If I can’t take them to the places that we learn about, I can give them the next best thing, which is my personal experiences and photographs.
The trip to NYC was an experience that I will never forget and that changed me in many ways. There is nothing that can compare with the actual experience of standing on and walking in the same places where the history that we teach was actually made so very many years ago. This was my first trip to New York City, and I had no idea that it would actually influence my teaching in several ways. I have never paid much attention to primary documents, but now I cannot wait to use them in my classroom. I was very impressed with the primary documents that we were shown at the Gilder Lehrman Institute and see the importance of using primary documents consistently with my own students. Also, after being exposed to the historical sites, listening to the lectures at the New York Historical Society, and learning the stories told by our tour guides, I have a new enthusiasm and a rekindled love for teaching history.
The lectures at the New York Historical Society by Dr. Kenneth Jackson were very informative. It was also a treat to get to see the collections that were on display there. The Chelsea Jean display (clothing which had thick, untouched ashes from the 9-11 bombing) and learning the story behind it was very touching. The original Tiffany lamps and stained-glass windows were breathtaking. The exhibit on slavery was thought provoking. I particularly learned a lot from the pedagogy lessons taught by Bob DeLorenzo each afternoon.
The walking tours were great. Most visitors to NYC probably do not see the historical sites and hear the stories behind them, as we were able to do. My favorite site on the walking tours was the Tenement Museum. Actually being in those tenement apartments and learning about actual families who had lived there gave me a real connection to what their lives must have been like. I cannot imagine living with my family in a 350 square foot apartment with no windows, no running water, or no toilet. Of course, everything else that we saw closely tied as my favorite (especially Ellis Island).
I really appreciated getting a chance to learn to get around in NYC. Staying in the dorm at Columbia University was interesting, and then having to make our way here and there on the bus or the subway was a true education in itself. Dr. Jackson said there are 8 million people in NYC, and I think we talked to or ask help from all 8 million people. I was so surprised at how friendly and helpful everyone was to us. Once, some of us on a train mentioned that we teach history. Two young men actually left their seat and came over to talk “history” with us. They were from South America and knew more American history than you can imagine!
In short, (actually this entry is long) I want to thank Dana Beck and anyone else involved in planning this educational trip. It was fantastic, and I learned more than I can ever express! Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to expand my historical education in NYC!
New York is an amazing place to visit. Just being in the city is worth the trip by itself. On top of all of the cultural experiences we gained by visiting New York, we were also dazzled by the amazing base of knowledge, preparedness, professionalism, and downright hospitality of Dr. Kenneth Jackson! What an amazing fellow. Mr. DiLorenzo also proved to be a valuable resource for us West Texans as we explored our way literally and figuratively through New York. I cannot say enough about the value of the PACETAH grant and our ability as teachers to get out and see America on its own terms. By the way, the water in New York is fantastic.
I have just had the experience of a lifetime–I have seen the Statue of Liberty, researched my grandfather’s name on the Ellis Island rolls, sailed under the Brooklyn Bridge, visited Ground Zero, shopped in China town, eaten at Katz’s delicatessen, walked the streets of the Lower East Side and Greenwich Village, studied at the New York Historical Society, stood with awe in front of the exhibits at the Metropolitan Museunm of Art, gone to two Broadway plays, walked through Central Park–what more could a proud American do/want/or accomplish. I also made a trip to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin’s grave, et.al. It was one of the best educational experiences I have ever had. My students will be hearing, seeing, learning, and experiencing everything I have done for years to come.
I was always revel on that time spent in NYC and Columbia University. It was such a quality experience.
I had never been to New York City before this summer, so I was excited for close to a year about the trip. I was certainly not disappointed!
It was amazing to get to see things in person that I’ve seen since childhood in pictures and on television. We were able to see a tenement, visit the Empire State Building, enjoy a Broadway play, and stroll through such neighborhoods as Chinatown. My favorite thing by far, however, was Ellis Island.
To witness first hand what people went through to be able to call America home was humbling and breathtaking all at the same time. We were able to see many artifacts and photographs of people, their belongings, and the grounds, and it all helped to solidify information for me.
A smaller group of us went to Philadelphia on our first full day of the trip. It was a L-O-N-G day, but it was well worth it. We were able to visit so many things, such as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Betsy Ross’ home. That was an exciting day as well.
The New York trip was a fabulous educational experience! It had been many years since I had last been to Manhattan. I truly enjoyed the walking, educational tours. The main focus of the trip was migration/immigration. Visiting the old tenement apartments really put the immigrants’ experiences into a very real perspective. Dr Jackson’s lectures were very informative and enlightening.
Another part of the trip that was great fun was taking the train to Philadelphia. That was a first for me. I was so moved to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall! I truly enjoyed walking through the old cemeteries and finding the graves of some of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Going to Ground Zero was also a first, and it was as emotional as I thought it would be. All my experiences reminded me that America is the land of opportunity. I am more grateful than ever to be an American. God bless America and God bless our troops who keep us free!
New York was an amazing experience. I enjoyed the Gilder-Lehrman Institute, especially Bob DiLorenzo. He really did a nice job of showing how historical documents can be used and implemented into the curriculum. I really enjoyed staying at Columbia University. We were able to see some amazing sites even though we were only there for a week. I really enjoyed, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, The Empire State Building, Times Square, and the Corner Bistro. New York is a lot like Washington D.C. in the fact you can’t see everything in one week, you need at least a month. I want to thank Danna for allowing us to attend this Institute and for all her hard work putting the grant together and keeping it organized.
It is hard to put into words how much I enjoyed the trip to New York. I came away with a whole different perspective on the city and the people. The whole idea of the trip was to further our knowledge on immigration, and boy did that happen. After going to the conferences and taking the walking tours I realized that this country is truly a melting pot. The first misconception about New York was that the people were unfriendly. Not true. Once you starting talking with them the really opened up. I came to realize after visiting with people that a lot of them are immigrants today into this country. Seems like the figure they gave us was about 30%. One of the most interesting and fullfilling moments on the trip was the tour through the old tenement. Man those places were small. Non only that, but dark. It made me realize that life was tough back then. Guess the people adapted. No aircondtioning either. I will never the forget all things that I learned and people and places I saw. One other thing. Those New Yorker are in better shape than us. They walk everywhere. 10 blocks to them is nothing. It was to me, I was looking for the bus. Can’t leave out the subway either. What an experience. To tell the truth it was kind of neat. Guess if a person had to ride everyday it might not be as much fun. I am truly thankfull that I had the opportunity to make this trip. It gave me a whole new perspective on immigrants that came to this country.
Well, it has taken me a little time to get over the excitement of everything that I learned on the N.Y. trip. Since most of my family and friends are tired of hearing about the trip it is time for me to write about the wonderful educational experience. It feels like a book of knowledge has been opened and that it will change my teaching forever. Honestly, before the trip I gave little attention to immigration and migration, other than the westward movement and the slave trade. New York City gave me the opportunity to see first-hand the impact of immigration. Every time I got on the Subway our group seemed to meet someone from another country. Also, Little Italy, Chinatown, Soho, and Greenwich Village showed me the impact of immigration. I loved shopping in Chinatown. My girls loved their purses, and Alexie swears that her Louis Vuitton purse is real. Ellis Esland and the Tenement Museum really changed my thinking about immigration. I also loved staying at Columbia University. It is such a beautiful campus. Now, I will encourage my students to attend this college. Teaching is so far reaching. As a teacher, one can tell students about experiences and one never knows how it will inspire their students. Before the trip, I would have never encouraged anyone to go to New York City or attend Columbia University.
It was such a grand opportunity to hear Dr. Jackson and study teacher techniques from Dr. LoRenzo. I know I will study primary sources differently.
Finally, thank you Danna for making this opportunity a possibility. This kind of learning CHANGES teachers and it cannot be obtained by a textbook. Dr. Shaffer and Dr. Rhoades are so delightful. I enjoyed their knowledge. Also, it was so much fun to get to know all of the participants.
The trip to NYC was an incredible trip. I enjoyed every moment of the time spent in the Big Apple. First I enjoyed the stay at Columbia University. It gave an opportunity to see the life in the Ivy Leagues. I enjoyed of the trips that we made. I especially enjoyed the Tenement House Museum. It was great to see the structures for ones self. I also enjoyed Greenwich Village and the trip to the Financial District. While I have made several trips with students to these sites I find that the extra time I could spend at the main sites to be very enjoyable. I also saw Teddy Roosevelt’s House, Grants Tomb, Triangle Shirtwaist site and of course Ellis Island. One highlight was getting to spend some time in the Flat Iron building. The old ornate elevators were impressive. I also got to see the very exclusive Gramercy Park. One highlight was the trip through FAO Swartz toy store. I enjoyed seeing the opening of a movie at Radio City Music Hall. I did spend some time in the Diamond District. I also enjoyed making a sign honoring my daughter and son-in-law’s service in Baghdad. I held the sign up in front of the Fox News Studio. Steve Doocey (a great host on the Morning news show) turned around and held his thumb up. The family saw me at home. I enjoyed the supper where the beats used to meet. I also must mention the great pizza in Greenwich Village. One of my favorite is the time spent in the Metro Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum. My list can go on and on. I did enjoy learning the subway and found myself able to travel well in the island. I even got to go to Staten Island on a ferry after a rain storm. I enjoyed the trip to the Mets game on the R train. Wow my second baseball game. It was great!
The lectures by Kenneth Jackson were great. I learned a lot about NYC. His insight was very helpful. I also enjoyed Mr. DeLorenzo’s perspective of teaching in NYC. He told me that I was the first farmer that he had ever met. I remembered that because I stepped off the plane from NYC to driving trucks and combines for a month, in one of our highest yielding wheat harvests ever.
Thanks Danna I enjoyed this trip and learned much that I have and will use in teaching United States History. It was an event of a lifetime.