The
Great Plains: America's Crossroads
July 5-July 11, 2009
Director: Elliott
West
University
of Colorado, Boulder
To many, the Great Plains are part of the Great Flyover,
whose landscape and history alike are flat and featureless.
But in this region in the middle of the nation, cultures
have mingled and clashed for thousands of years. We
will focus on the nineteenth century, though also examining
the first peoples and the continuing cultural exchanges
of the twentieth century. We will begin with the physical
setting, plants, and animals, and consider early humans
in both Native American traditions and anthropological/archeological
studies. Europeans arriving in the sixteenth century
accelerated the long history of change and evolution,
initiating more than three centuries of converging peoples
and cultures, new centers of power, flourishing trade,
calamitous epidemics, and cultural and material intrusions
from across the planet. We will visit Bent's Fort to
see a cultural crossroads illustrated through one family.
We will also examine cattle ranching, homesteading,
scientific explorations, and the depiction of the plains
in art.
Please find below important information regarding
The Great Plains: America's Crossroads Summer Seminar.
READINGS
Readings are sent by the Institute to participants of
the seminar. Readings MAY include:
- N. Scott Momaday, The Way to Rainy Mountain.
Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1969.
- Elliott West, The Way to the West: Essays on
the Central Plains. Calvin P. Horn Lectures in
Western History and Culture. Albuquerque: University
of New Mexico Press, 1995.
- Rachel Calof, Rachel Calof’s Story: Jewish
Homesteader on the Northern Plains. Ed. J. Sanford
Rikoon. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1995.
TRAVEL
The University
of Colorado web site will provide you with all the
necessary information whether your plans are to drive or
fly.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Workshop participants will be housed in on-campus residence
halls. Participants will have single bedrooms but will
share bathrooms and common space on each floor. Some
participants may choose to bring laptops. The University
provides sheets and towels only. Please note that participants
should plan to bring fans, shower shoes, alarm clocks,
shampoo, hangers, irons, hair dryers, etc. Participants
will have access to computer clusters, but many choose
to bring laptops and ethernet cords.
MEALS
Meals will be served on campus in dining halls shared
by other programs. All meals will be paid for by the
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
TEMPERATURE AND
CLOTHING
In July the temperatures range from the 60s in the evening
to the 80s and 90s during the day. Since it is difficult
to predict the weather, pack articles of clothing that
may be layered to accommodate a range of temperatures.
In case of rain, be sure to pack an umbrella. Dress
is casual during the day. Since you will be doing some
walking, be sure to pack a pair of comfortable walking
shoes and a head covering.
GRADUATE CREDIT
Pittsburg State University
(PSU) is pleased to offer graduate
credit to workshop participants at a tuition fee
of $199 per credit hour. Participants can receive three
graduate credit hours for the duration of the week.
For more information, including cost, please contact
Dr.
Kelly A. Woestman. Please note the enrollment deadline
is June 1, 2009. PSU has national NCATE
accreditation.
If you plan on transferring graduate credits please
ask your higher education institution if it will accept
transfers, especially toward degree programs.
ACADEMIC RESOURCES
The Gilder Lehrman Institute will arrange for computer
access and printer services to be available to participants
during the week. Throughout the workshop limited access
to campus computer labs and equipment for Internet research,
word processing, and printing will be provided. University
of Colorado at Boulder’s libraries will also be
available for research during evening hours. Classrooms
located at University of Colorado at Boulder will be
used for workshops. These classrooms are equipped with
the technological capabilities to accommodate presenters
using a variety of media.
STIPEND
Participating teachers will receive a stipend of $400
to help cover travel expenses. All participants should
arrive on Sunday before the start of each workshop and
attend all workshop sessions (through Saturday afternoon)
to receive full stipends. Participants who do not complete
the entire seminar will receive a reduced stipend. We
will present stipend checks to participants prior to
departure on Saturday. Stipends are taxable. Reporting
is the responsibility of the participant.
QUESTIONS?
E-mail seminars@gilderlehrman.org
or call 646-366-9666.
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