The Henry K. Oliver School 8th graders made a trip to the Lawrence History Center - Immigrant City Archives to learn about Archives.
Using the key word the students had discussed in class, Volunteers, Kathy Flynn & Gene McCarthy along with staff, Amita and Barbara, discussed archives, archivist, primary source, secondary source, artifact, bias, reliability, historical record with this very engaged, very knowledgeable student group. 
It was obvious to the volunteers and staff that these students were well prepared to explore the Archives of their own city with an real understanding of what we were sharing with them. 
The class was divided into two groups, one coming on September 30 and the other arriving on October 1, 2009. Starting with an overview in the Courtyard, the students and their teachers learned about the History Center - who founded it and why it was so wonderful that it is located where it is. They had an opportunity to look into the forge, the stable and the fire apparatus. 
Splitting into two groups, the students moved inside - listening the music of the gramophone, discovering Henry K. Oliver's photograph and completely involved in what they were seeing. 
Half the group started in the Cashier's office with the Essex Company vault and records and early maps and atlases. 
The other half started upstairs in the Research Room learning about city documents, oral histories and photographs and a whole lot more. 
Students learned about different points of view, an author's bias and how to think about the source and the reliability of the information. 
Primary source was a term that became very real to them when they saw the number of original documents relating to their own City - documents pertaining to the creation of their own City that are preserved at the History Center. 
The visit was much to short! Hopefully when the students return we will be able to work on a more individual basis. 
The History Center had a wonderful two days and we were most impressed with these terrific Oliver School students! 