American History/American Identity

FAIN: BC-50490-09

Idaho Humanities Council (Boise, ID 83702-6053)
Richard K. Ardinger (Project Director: May 2009 to June 2011)

Funding will support projects produced under the theme "American History/American Identity" including speakers bureau presentations, a summer institute for K-12 teachers, reading and discussion programs, programming to accompany the tour of the Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition, "Journey Stories," and a grant program for locally-based humanities projects in American history.

The Idaho Humanities Council proposes the following programs to explore the WTP theme we propose, entitled AMERICAN HISTORY/AMERICAN IDENTITY: (1) at least 50 Speakers Bureau presentations examining WTP topics; (2) interdisciplinary summer institutes in the humanities for K-12 teachers; (3) a reading/discussion series in 15 libraries exploring American identity; (4) programs complementing Smithsonian traveling exhibits that tour through Idaho annually; (5) special lectures and presentations; and (6) regrant projects related to WTP themes. History, particularly Idaho and American history, is a very popular subject for Idaho audiences. Many take pride and great ownership in their family roots in Idaho, their sense of history contributing to their sense of identity. Implementing this variety of programs will help reach a wide and diverse audience, meeting needs of many organizations and their unique constituencies.