Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "From Many, One: Maria Isabel Solis Thomas, Shipyard Worker"

The PQ.17 Tragedy: Alan Harvie, Engineer, and John “Sarge” Ransome, Deck Department

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:22:11 GMT

Alan Harvie and John “Sarge” Ransome served about the SS Honomu sailing the Murmansk Run to the Soviet Union. Listen to their story, and then study the supporting primary sources to answer the discussion questions. This resource is part of a series called “Maritime Voices: Merchant Mariners and Shipyard Workers Remember WWII,” which includes four perspectives on non-military service during World War II.

This resource includes a teacher guide, student worksheet, downloadable audio, images of supporting primary sources, and discussion questions.

Building Ships for Victory, 1917-1945

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:50:43 GMT

Students will learn how the United States mass produced huge merchant fleets to support the soldiers fighting overseas in this section of On the Water: Stories from Maritime America, an online exhibition. Students will understand that merchant seamen and ships played a vital role in winning both world wars of the 20th century, and learn about the men and women who built the ships and risked their lives sailing them while playing a vital and unheralded role in the American war effort.

World War II

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:24:47 GMT

Students will learn how Americans joined the Allies to defeat Axis militarism and nationalist expansion. Sixteen million Americans donned uniforms in this section of the online exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. The millions more who stayed home comprised a vast civilian army, mobilized by the government to support the war effort. The world-wide conflict that led to the emergence of the United States as an economic and military superpower is divided into sections that allow students to focus either on a specific aspect of the war, or the conflict as a whole. The sections included are titled: Axis Aggression, America Enters the War, Mobilizing for War, "You're in the Army Now", Battle of the Atlantic, The Mediterranean Theater, Storming Fortress Europe, The Pacific Theater; So Others Might Fight; Morale Boosters and Victory and Peace. A non-flash version of the site is available: World War II.

On the Water Collection Search

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 07:17:33 GMT

This interactive collection search contains objects that are featured in the exhibition On the Water: Stories from Maritime America. Representing a broad sweep of American maritime history, these objects were collected over more than a century and reflect broad patterns of technological, economic, social, and cultural change.

Changing Gender Roles on the World War II Home Front

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:17:46 GMT

Kick-off a research project on gender roles on the World War II home front with two brief video clips and a selection of primary sources. Once students have analyzed the photographs and wartime advertisements, begin a research project on women during World War II. This lesson plan (which includes background information and full-color primary sources) was produced to accompany the exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.