History Explorer Results (74)
Related Books (19)
Resource Type(s):
Reviewed Websites, Reference Materials
American women have always worked, but their work in the home is often unpaid and invisible. One way to see this work is through what women wore.
This labor—cleaning, cooking, child rearing, and other care work—fused with notions of what it meant to be a woman and shaped Americans’ ideas ab
Resource Type(s):
Artifacts, Primary Sources
In 1906 Ng Shee Lee packed her clothes and belongings in this trunk and left China for America. It was a difficult trip. She slept next to the noisy engine room; arriving tired and sick in San Francisco she was met by the devastating 1906 earthquake. Ng Shee then made her way alone by train across C
Resource Type(s):
Artifacts, Primary Sources
Mr. Lee only wore these slippers in his home or with his traditional Chinese clothes on special occasions. The slipper sole was thick, flat, inelastic, and shorter than the upper sole to give enough spring for walking. For much of his early life, the Chinese New Year was Lee’s only day of rest fro
Resource Type(s):
Artifacts, Primary Sources
Demand for inexpensive, mass-produced women’s clothing spurred the rise of early garment factories. The ILGWU was formed in 1900 by bringing together several smaller local unions to fight to end sweatshop production, higher wages, and improve working conditions in the cities where the garment fact
Resource Type(s):
Artifacts
Many Chinese men travelled to the United States and became gold miners following the discovery of gold in California in 1849. Woks such as this one were made in China, but brought to California in the 1800s and used by Chinese immigrants. As the mass influx of travelers arrived from a variety of
Resource Type(s):
Artifacts
After a young lady learned to embroider a sampler, she might attend a female academy to make a silk embroidered picture. This was a more challenging technique that became popular in the early 1800s. Subjects included classical, biblical, and historical scenes, as well as mourning pictures.
Resource Type(s):
Reference Materials
This display explores the active and largely overlooked role played by women throughout World War I, both as a part of the preparedness effort before 1917 and afterwards as uniformed members of both the U.S. military and civilian voluntary organizations. In a larger historical context, the exhibi
Resource Type(s):
Reference Materials
The Museum’s Textile Collection contains over four thousand patent models. The collection includes many examples of carding machines, spinning machines, knitting machines, rope making machines, looms, baskets, carpets, fabrics, and sewing machines. Even the simple clothespin is well represented
Resource Type(s):
Primary Sources, Interactives & Media
A short video, this one is great as a lesson opener! "Star-Spangled Souvenirs" is the first episode in the NMAH webseries "Founding Fragments." Join host Tory Altman for a behind-the-scenes look at some of our most intriguing and little-known objects. Hear personal interviews with curators
Resource Type(s):
Interactives & Media, Worksheets
In this episode of History Explorer, curators Bart Hacker and Margaret Vining discuss the roles that women have played in the military throughout history, their research, and the 2013 announcement of a policy to allow women in combat. The resource set includes a teacher guide, student works
Reading Level:
Early Elementary School,Late Elementary School
A brief account of the life and accomplishments of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Reading Level:
Middle School
It is 1942 and 10-year-old Anjali's mother has joined India's freedom struggle. Anjali gets unwillingly involved in the turmoil. She has to give up her biases against the Dalit community, or the so-called untouchables, and sacrifice her foreign-made clothes for khadi. When her world turns upside dow
Reading Level:
Pre-School,Early Elementary School
The true story of the night when good friends Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt shared a daring moonlit flight in Amelia's plane and a swift, open-aired spin in Eleanor's car.
Reading Level:
High School,Adult
A detailed biographical resource that presents personality traits, health issues, friends, habits, and quotations about the First Ladies, from Martha Washington to Hillary Clinton which details the impact these women have had on our American history.
Reading Level:
High School,Adult
Take a look at each First Lady and her effect on the job of First Lady and examine the ways the role of First Lady has changed over the years.
Reading Level:
Late Elementary School,Middle School
A collection of portraits of America's First Ladies recounts the lives and contributions of such figures as Bess Truman, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Eleanor Roosevelt, and is complemented by large-size photographs.
Reading Level:
Middle School,High School,Adult
Details of the Smithsonian exhibition featuring gowns and clothing, personal belongings, White House and campaign memorabilia which examines the duties and role of the presidential wife.
Author:
Carl Sferrazza Anthony
Reading Level:
High School,Adult
Author Carl S. Anthony likens the First Ladies to a select sorority in this splendid history that defines the political and social power inherent to the position of First Lady.
Reading Level:
Late Elementary School,Middle School
A look at the First Ladies and biographies of those highlighted.
Author:
Arthur John L'Hommedieu
Reading Level:
Early Elementary School
A photographic chronology of the process of creating blue jeans, from the harvesting of the cotton, to the sewing of the fabric.