Cultures of Independence: Historical Society of Pennsylvania and Partners Announce Summer 2015 Teacher Institute

As part of its renewed commitment to K-12 education, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and its partners are now accepting applications for their newest teacher institute. 

Open to all K-12 educators, Cultures of Independence: Perspectives on Independence Hall and the Meaning of Freedom will raise awareness of how Independence Hall has been involved in the ongoing process of creating a nation and civic life, not just in the magical moment of July 4, 1776.  

During two, weeklong institutes, 72 teachers from across the country will be immersed in a process of discovering and developing strategies for teaching the ongoing history of American independence.  Dr. Charlene Mires, author of Independence Hall in American Memory, will be the scholar-in-residence. More information regarding the institute’s schedule of events, speakers, and workshops may be found here. 

About Cultures of Independence

Independence Hall in Philadelphia is a place Americans think they know well. The eighteenth-century landmark appears in textbooks as the setting for the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Today the centerpiece of Independence National Historical Park and a World Heritage Site, it has been safeguarded and preserved as a testament to the ideals in these founding documents. 

However, as a public building and living landmark for more than two centuries since the American Revolution, Independence Hall also has served as a focal point for celebrations, demonstrations, and the ongoing process of creating a nation and civic life.

Cultures of Independence will immerse 72 teachers in this complex history, providing direct access to these stories and experiences and, through them, reach hundreds of students. The impact of the workshop will extend further as the lessons these teachers develop are used by other teachers to supplement their textbooks not only in teaching “the founding moment” but also in exploring issues of abolition, slavery, immigration, and ethnicity throughout American history.  

The institutes are offered by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in conjunction with the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, Independence National Historical Park, National Archives at Philadelphia, National Constitution Center, and the Philadelphia History Museum. Cultures of Independence has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence with additional funding from Independence National Historic Park and through HEAD for the Future, an HSP-Wells Fargo partnership. 

Who:

• Cultures of Independence is open to all K-12 educators who wish to make history relevant to learners by integrating historic scholarship, primary source research, and material culture study into their classroom. HSP hopes to draw educators from the across the country. 

Where: 

• Cultures of Independence will take place in Philadelphia at Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center. On select days, participants will tour or research in other historical institutions in the city. 

When: 

• The institute will be offered twice:  June 21-26 and July 26-July 31, 2015. 

Cost: 

• There will be no fee for this program, and all participants receive a $1,200 stipend to help defray expenses.

How to Apply: 

• Application information may be found here. The application deadline is March 2.

About the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia
The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia is a civic project to increase understanding of one of America’s greatest cities. From abolition and the American Revolution to yellow fever and zoos (with cheesesteaks, rowhouses, and hundreds of other topics in between), the digital Encyclopedia and its print volume will offer the most comprehensive, authoritative reference source ever created for the Philadelphia region. philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/

About the Historical Society of Pennsylvania 
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a provider of education and information for the people of Philadelphia and beyond. With over 21 million documents – including manuscripts, graphics, and ephemera – HSP serves more than 4,000 researchers who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources online at hsp.org. HSP offers extensive online resources including digital collections, curricular materials, and hosts educator workshops, public programs and lectures throughout the year. hsp.org  

About Independence National Historic Park
The park's education center, the Independence Park Institute (IPI), connects participants of all ages to the resources and stories of Independence. Students delve into subjects ranging from the Liberty Bell to Benjamin Franklin through hands-on, interactive school programs. Resources for teachers include lesson plans, field trip planning materials and professional development. nps.gov

About the National Archive at Philadelphia
The National Archives at Philadelphia maintains the historically significant records of the Federal Agencies and Courts, in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, dating from 1789 to the present. These historical records, as well as select federal bankruptcy records, are open to the public. archives.gov/philadelphia/

About the National Constitution Center 
The National Constitution Center is the first and only institution in America established by Congress to “disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a non-partisan basis in order to increase the awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.” The Constitution Center brings the United States Constitution to life by hosting interactive exhibitions and constitutional conversations and inspires active citizenship by celebrating the American constitutional tradition. constitutioncenter.org/

About the National Endowment for the Humanities 
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at neh.gov.

About the Philadelphia History Museum 
Reopened to the public in September 2012 with the completion of a total interior renovation, the Philadelphia History Museum unveiled redesigned galleries to showcase its outstanding collection of historical objects, art, and artifacts. The Museum, founded by City Ordinance in 1938 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution in Philadelphia, is housed in an historic 1826 building at 15 South 7th Street, designed by John Haviland as the original home of the Franklin Institute. The Museum provides historical context for issues of contemporary urban life using its premier collection of over 100,000 objects, paintings, and photographs in exhibitions, programs, and interactive media. philadelphiahistory.org/

For additional information, contact Vincent Fraley, Communications Manager at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania at (215) 732-6200 ext. 233. HSP is located 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA. For general information, call (215) 732-6200, or visit HSP’s website at hsp.org.