Uncategorized « Digital Commonwealth News & Announcements

For this post, we’d like to revisit a collaboration between Boston Public Library and the Digital Commonwealth Inc. nonprofit. In 2022, BPL and DC Inc. applied for and received grant funding to hire an Education Fellow, with the goal of increasing usage of DigitalCommonwealth.org resources in the classroom. Lara DeRose worked with local educators, agencies, and other stakeholders over the course of her yearlong fellowship. We spoke with Lara about her work and how primary sources in social studies can benefit kids across Massachusetts.

An 1890 photograph titled, "Encyclopedia dedication at the Stony Brook School" — This photo captures an encyclopedia dedication at the Stony Brook School… maybe we should start having classroom smartboard dedications!

Can you give us the elevator pitch for what you’ve designed? Researching Massachusetts teachers’ needs, we discovered that many of Digital Commonwealth’s resources connected to local history embedded in the elementary history and social science standards. There is also a dearth of curriculum resources for those early grade levels, as districts focus their resources on math and literacy in elementary school. In response, we built a model third grade unit that would teach students to properly research and interpret primary and secondary sources while having fun learning local history. While this work was successful, curriculum development is arduous, and not a pathway that will be successful without a dedicated team or individual responsible for developing high quality, research-based educational curricula that can be tailored to MA communities. This process must be ongoing.

The current standard for curriculum units used in MA classrooms is very high, and a partnership might be the best option[…]. While hiring an individual with proficiency in instructional design, educational technology and content creation is a possibility, this might limit the ability to perform other important outreach activities. Clear roles and responsibilities should be defined within this team or for the individual connecting them to particular “fresh” content that has been or is being added [to the repository]. Collaboration with stakeholders, such as community librarians, museums, and grade level educators, will increase [the] success and use of these materials. Continuous feedback and updates from educators will ensure that the curricula remain relevant, engaging, and effective, allowing for iterative improvements over time.

Is there anything else in the country like what you’re designing – nevermind for free?!

Since we met with DESE [Mass. Department of Elementary & Secondary Education] last summer, they have acknowledged the lack of high quality instructional materials for elementary social studies. They have recruited several curriculum development groups that are releasing a few “Investigating History” grades 3 & 4 sample lesson plans to pilot this year. I see this as an opportunity for Digital Commonwealth to “crosswalk” their resources with the release to share how teachers can use Digital Commonwealth in conjunction with Investigating History. Digital access to Investigating History is free to all Massachusetts teachers.

Does local history/localized education have much of a role in schools nowadays?

Yes, local history is part of the frameworks educators are required to teach. Learning about local history can give students context when moving on to state, national or international topics and a deeper understanding of civics. Students will not only have a better understanding of social studies themes like “change over time” but local history topics will also increase families’ appreciation of their regional history and their local government.

What have been your favorite aspects of the work to this point?

My favorite aspect of this work was exploring primary sources in Digital Commonwealth from local museums. As a former history teacher, I love collecting the individual stories that will connect students to history. This year I often fell down rabbit holes exploring photographs, artifacts, and letters. I am excited to stay connected with Digital Commonwealth, sharing and supporting opportunities for outreach.

A map titled, "A map of New-England, being the first that ever was here cut, and done by the best pattern that could be had, which being in some places defective, it made the other less exact; yet does it sufficiently shew the scituation of the country, and conveniently well the distance of places" — Here’s just one of the dozens of New England maps dated to before the 19th century you can find on DigitalCommonwealth.org!

Dr. Matteo Caradonna administers polio vaccine

In the last blog post, we mentioned that with more people being vaccinated, crowds would once again be gathering. Not so fast, said COVID.

As we enter our third pandemic year now with the fierce Omicron variant infecting even fully vaxxed individuals, we need to re-adjust our activities once again. Additional booster shots will probably become the norm in the months and years to come. More vaccine drives and clinics will be held. Our featured image at left shows an Everett Public School student begin vaccinated against polio in 1954.

In 2021, changes at Digital Commonwealth have also been in the works. New collections have been on pause while conversion to an enhanced storage platform is in process. As Digital Commonwealth nears the 1 million item mark, this upgrade is essential.

Our longtime Membership & Conference Manager Glynda Benham has retired and new Operations Manager Anne Callahan has joined Digital Commonwealth. Thanks, Glynda for your expertise and fantastic management of both in-person and virtual annual conferences. Enjoy your well deserved retirement! Welcome, Anne!

This blog welcomes a new contributor, Barbara Schneider of the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries. Barbara retired from full-time work but continues at the Law Libraries on a per diem basis. Barbara currently serves on the Outreach and Education Committee. She’s got some intriguing posts planned in the next several weeks. Welcome, Barbara! Have fun exploring Digital Commonwealth.

As for me, I’m stepping away from the blog but will remain on the Outreach and Education Committee, chaired by colleagues Andrew Begley and Matt Amory. I’ll continue to post on social media, finding and sharing hidden gems within the treasure chest that is Digital Commonwealth.

Anne Berard, Member Outreach & Education Committee

Reference & Outreach Librarian, Milford Town Library

by Anne Berard, Reference & Outreach Librarian, Milford Town Library, member Digital Commonwealth Education & Outreach Committee

When I first saw the name of the recently added collection, Knapp Family Financial Records from the Jamaica Plain Historical Society, I must admit I was expecting something else altogether. I thought I might find wills, codicils, estate documents, tax filings and the like. Imagine my surprise and delight to find instead an intimate and workaday glimpse into the life of a middle class family from JP during the first half of the 20th century.

While I’ve never met the Knapps of 15 Holbrook St., by perusing their receipts for life insurance premiums, their notices from the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston, billing statements from the Centre Street Public Market, and their deposit books from the Eliot Savings Bank of Roxbury, I somehow slid into their lives. George, Emma, Robert, Daisy are there in the details. Robert’s Navy Plaid Suit, cleaned at Lewandos, with starched vest. A Degree of Pocahontas Resolutions of Respect from the Baboosic Council # 7 of Roxbury issued in Daisy’s memory.

Aside from the sartorial and emotional elements in these records, there is much economic detail here proving that the inflation rate has always a part of consumers’ lives. For example, in 1910 for the grand sum of $116.05, you could buy two tables, five chairs, a bureau, a bed, and a rocker from Jordan Marsh Company. Today, those same items would cost thousands of dollars.

I encourage other history geeks like me to spend some time with the Knapps, looking through these records, living vicariously on Holbrook St. for a little while. So much is different in 2021 from 1921. Still, the necessities: food, shelter, clothing, utilities and plaid suits remain the same.