Project Grant ZPP28397222

POCUMTUCK VALLEY VOICES: A HISTORY MUSEUM SHARING ITS COMMUNITY?S UNDER-REPRESENTED STORIES OF AMERICA?S DIVERSE HISTORY [POCUMTUCK VALLEY VOICES IS A SUITE OF FOUR ACTIVITIES THAT INCREASES THE PUBLIC?S UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN HISTORY, PARTICULARLY LESSER-KNOWN NATIVE AMERICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORIES, TYING CLOSELY WITH THE A MORE PERFECT UNION INITIATIVE: 1) A CROSS-CULTURAL EXHIBIT OF GIFTS GIVEN BY A MOHAWK HUSBAND OF A COLONIST TO HER FAMILY, WHICH PROVIDES A WINDOW INTO LASTING AND COMPLEX RELATIONSHIPS AMONG NATIVES AND COLONISTS; 2) AN EXHIBIT ON ONE OF THE US?S FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN REGISTERED NURSES WHO BECAME AN ACTIVIST; HER LIFE IS A WINDOW INTO NATIVE AMERICAN 20TH C. EXPERIENCES; 3) NEW RESEARCH ON AFRICAN AMERICAN AND AFRO-INDIAN VETERANS OF THE COLONIAL WARS, TO BE SHARED ONLINE AND IN AN EXHIBIT THAT EXPLORES THEIR ROLE IN THE GAINING OF INDEPENDENCE; AND, 4) VIDEO VERSIONS OF IN-PERSON EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON NATIVE AMERICAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCES WILL BE CREATED TO SUPPORT TEACHING DIVERSE HISTORIES. THE PROJECT WILL SAVE 7 STAFF AND SUPPORT 5 CONSULTANTS.] [PURPOSE: THE GRANT TO THE POCUMTUCK VALLEY MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION WILL HELP CREATE EXHIBITS ON AFRICAN -AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE IN THE POCUMTUCK VALLEY OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, RETAIN SEVEN JOBS AND CREATION OF FIVE CONSULTANT POSITIONS.  ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE PROPOSED PROJECT. TITLED ?POCUMTUCK VALLEY VOICES? WILL INVOLVE FOUR ACTIVITIES TO ADVANCE THE PUBLIC?S UNDERSTANDING OF THE LESSER-KNOWN NATIVE AMERICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORIES. 1) THEY WILL EXPAND AND REINTERPRET MEMORIAL HALL MUSEUM?S EXHIBIT OF AROSEN?S GIFTS TO HAVE MORE VISUAL PROMINENCE AND TO ENGAGE VISITORS IN THE REAL-LIFE STORY OF AROSEN, HIS WIFE, EUNICE, AND THEIR INDIGENOUS AND ENGLISH FAMILIES. 2) THEY WILL INSTALL A NEW EXHIBIT IN THE MUSEUM FOCUSED ON THE LIFE OF SUSIE YELLOWTAIL IN TANDEM WITH AN EXISTING EXHIBIT OF THE NURSING SCHOOL SHE ATTENDED. 3) THEY WILL INCORPORATE AN INTERACTIVE STORYMAP & NBSP;TO FOCUS ON THE EXPERIENCES OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN THE COLONIAL WARS. 4) THEY WILL CREATE VIDEOS ON SUBJECTS SUCH AS THE ROLE OF WOMAN, IMMIGRATION AND DIVERSITY IN LOCAL HISTORY, WHICH WILL BE MADE WITH EDUCATORS AND AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE AND THEIR EDUCATION WEBSITE AMERICAN CENTURIES.  EXPECTED OUTCOMES: TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL HISTORY BY EMPHASIZING THE LESSER-KNOWN NATIVE AMERICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN PAST OF THE REGION, TO REJUVENATE THE MUSEUM?S OUTREACH CAPACITY.  INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: GENERAL PUBLIC, HUMANITIES SCHOLARS, STUDENTS, AND THE POCUMTUCK VALLEY MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION WILL BENEFIT FROM THE GRANT.  SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS. ]