OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

A key goal of the project was to involve minority students in this study of the city's ethnic history. Yet, minority studies should not be limited to minority students. The research interns were a diverse group who developed into a cohesive unit. Rarely have interns at the Archives exhibited such teamwork and devotion to both their topic and their co-workers. The project provided an invaluable educational experience for the interns as well as fine research results. It was gratifying to work with such a motivated group of students who were excited about the work they were doing. [See Appendix B: Participants.]

The interns contributed to an increase in public awareness of the city's heritage by assisting with the NEH-sponsored Teachers' Institute on Teaching History With Original Sources which was held at the Archives in July. The interns organized a bus tour of Baltimore based upon their research on the 1870 parade and participated in the teacher's study of the event held at the Metropolitan Church. There, the interns even engaged local residents by describing their mission during a picnic lunch in the neighborhood. We expect the teachers also to share their new knowledge of the city's history with their classes.

The project also successfully incorporated volunteer help. Four students from local high schools participated in the research, assisting the college interns. They demonstrated that high school students can undertake complex archival research tasks when properly supervised. One student volunteered over 300 hours of her time during the course of the project. The college interns provided the necessary guidance for their younger colleagues who proved to be very adept and were a great asset to the program. The college interns also benefitted from the advice of Agnes Callum, a genealogist, author, and specialist in Maryland's African American history. Ms. Callum was a consultant on the research project and the teacher's institute.

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