Highlights from the Upstate Summer Institute, July 2004
Teachers participating in the Upstate Summer Institute worked with staff from a variety of cultural institutions. During the 10-day institute, class took place at the Pendleton Farmers Hall, American Legion War Museum in Greenville, Greenville County Museum of Art, History Museum of the Upcountry, Regional Museum of Spartanburg County, and Special Collections at Clemson University. In this picture taken at the American Legion War Museum, reenactor David Bell (and former TAH participant) provided insight about the lives of South Carolina soldiers that fought in the Spanish-American War.
Teachers also learned of new teaching strategies and best practices in the classroom. Thomas Riddle of Mauldin High served as the master teacher for the course and worked closely with cultural institution partners. In this picture, Martha Severens of the Greenville County Museum of Art leads a program in the gallery on ways of using art to teach history.
Teachers spent two days in Pendleton and learned some of the unique history of this town. Our group got a chance to do primary source research at the Pendleton District Commission. We were allowed to browse the storage area and pull documents of interest. It felt like we were rummaging through the town's attic! In this picture gathered around the table (from right counterclockwise) are Carol Uhl, Cynthia Welborn, Mark Bishop, Crystal Ledford, Jennifer Steadman, and Aaron Hylkema.
As the summer institute neared its end, teachers worked hard combing through primary sources and doing research for lessons. Teachers discovered some rare treasures while investigating primary materials located in Special Collections at Clemson University. Our group also met upstairs in the Nancy Thurmond Room to take part in other activities. In this picture, Fritz Hamer, Chief Curator of History at the South Carolina State Museum, gave a talk to teachers about a temporary exhibit on D-Day.