Linda Muller
Smithsonian Learning Lab Coordinator
Smithsonian Institution, Heinz History Center
Primary (5 to 8 years old), Elementary (9 to 12 years old), Middle School (13 to 15 years old), Adults, Post-Secondary
Language Arts And English, Science, Social Studies, Arts, Other
Hello, I am one of the Smithsonian Learning Lab Program Coordinators based in Pittsburgh, PA. My professional interests are focused on instructional technology and computer-based learning. I am also fascinated by history as it's presented in primary and secondary resources.
Linda Muller's collections
John Brown: Madman or Martyr?
A collection of materials related to John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry, VA on October 16, 1859.
Key words: Abolition, John Brown, slavery, Harper's Ferry, Civil war.
Linda Muller
10
My Nighstand
A collection of resources, some of which may be on my nightstand, that illustrate me.
Linda Muller
6
Cat Collection
This is a fun collection of cats from the Smithsonian Institution along with a photo of my favorite kitty, Lucky.
Linda Muller
18
Gettysburg Address
Why was the Gettysburg Address one of the most famous speeches in American history? This Collection contains images that illustrate how President Abraham Lincoln looked during this period in history; information that explains how Lincoln came to be in Gettysburg and images of where he delivered his famous speech; the Nicolay copy of the Gettysburg Address along with a video recitation of the speech; and, an image of the statue that memorializes the event that occurred at Gettysburg National Military Park, PA.
Linda Muller
14
Women's Suffrage
The Woman's Suffrage movement in America began in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention in an effort to allow women the right to vote.
Linda Muller
20
Theodore Roosevelt - "Bully for you!"
A collection of resources on America's 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt.
Linda Muller
11
Natural Resources of Pennsylvania
Which resources are naturally found in Pennsylvania? This collection of resources illustrates various natural resources found throughout Pennsylvania.
See if you can identify them and discuss what they are used for.
Linda Muller
15
Baseball: America's Favorite Pastime
A collection of resources depicting players, teams, and equipment used for America's favorite pastime.
Linda Muller
53
Japanese-American Internment
The resources in this collection depict what life was like for Japanese-Americans living in internment camps during WWII. Student may examine these resources as they address the following questions:
Why were Japanese-Americans moved into internment camps during WWII?
Do you agree with the government's argument that it was necessary for national security?
Did the government violate the rights of American citizens?
Do the events of and surrounding Japanese interment have relevance in America today?
Linda Muller
20
Pop Culture 1950 - 1999
What is pop culture? Which resources in this Collection do you think best defines pop culture for each decade? Which resources represent controversial issues? Which resources are timeless? Which resources do you think have a modern-day counterpart?
Challenge: use Pintrest to create a board of images that represent today's pop culture.
Linda Muller
28
Bill of Rights/Civil Liberties
A collection of resources that represent the amendments that make up the Bill of Rights.
Resource representations as they relate to the Bill of Rights or Civil Liberties are as follows:
1. Bill of Rights
2. Freedom of Religion
3. Freedom of Speech
4. Freedom of the press
5. Right to assemble
6. Have a militia
7. Right to bear arms
8. Soldier's quartering in private homes
9. Illegal search and seizure
10. Right to due process
11. Right not to testify against yourself in court
12. Right to a speedy trial
13. Right to counsel
14. Cruel and unusual punishment
15. Emancipation proclaimation
16. Election of government representation (Congress)
17. Right for all free men including blacks to vote
18. Right of the government to collect taxes
19. Prohibition
20. Women's right to vote
21. Repeal of prohibition
22. Gay rights
23. American's with Disabilities Act
Linda Muller
23
Child Labor in America
What would it have been like to be a child working during the period 1830-1930? Why did children have to go to work during this period in America's history? <br />
Resources in this Collection includes paintings, photographs, text-based sources, and a video depicting children working in a variety of industries across America.
Linda Muller
23
Lewis and Clark: an expedition across America
Who were Lewis and Clark? Where did they go? Why did they go? Who sent them? Who did they meet along the way? What dangers did they face? Did anyone help them?
This is a Collection of resources including images, videos, text, online exhibits, and a lesson plan that support Lewis and Clark's expedition across American in the early 1800s.
Linda Muller
32
Musical Instruments Across Time
A collection of musical instruments that span a wide variety of origins, cultures, and materials.
Can you guess where each instrument came from, what period in time it's from, who used it, and what family of instruments it belongs to?
Linda Muller
40
Creating Landscapes
With the resources in this Collection, students will be able to:
1. Analyze various landscapes presented in a work of art.
2. Understand the relationship between humans and the natural world.
3. Identify ways artists use viewpoint, scale, and detail to communicate ideas.
Linda Muller
17
Captains of Industry
This Collection features images of men who became, "Captains of Industry" in America during the 19th Century.
Some of these men you may be able to identify immediately and others you may not. Your challenge is to write 5-7 sentence about each man. Identify the industry to which each man is associated, the dates of his reign, net worth, and other interesting details.
Lesson variation: Discuss the term, "robber baron" with students and why or why not that term applies to each man pictured in this Collection.
Lesson extension: Have students identify 10 "Captains of Industry" in America today - Who are they? To which industry are they associates? What is their net worth? Are they considered to be modern-day robber barons? Why or why not?
Linda Muller
14
Roman Architecture: Arches and Columns
Roman architecture continued the legacy left by the Greeks. However, the Romans were great innovators and quickly adopted new construction techniques, used new materials, and uniquely combined existing techniques with creative design to create some of the worlds most amazing architectural structures.
Many Roman innovations were created in response to the practical changing needs of Roman society and were designed and built across the Roman world guaranteeing their permanence so that many of these great edifices still exist today.
Source citation: Cartwright, Mark. "Roman Architecture." Ancient History Encyclopedia. 2013. Web. 4 Jan. 2016.
Linda Muller
21
Famous Faces: A collection of portraits by Irving Penn
Irving Penn was one of the most influential photographers of the 20th Century. Throughout a career that spanned 70 years, Penn captured images in black and white and color across various genres including advertising, fashion, still life, and portraits.
This Collection features portraits Penn took of famous people who built careers in the arts, an article written about Penn in The Smithsonian Magazine (November, 2015), and a link to the Irving Penn Archives at the Art Institute of Chicago where Penn donated the bulk of his collection in 1995.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Resources in the Irving Penn Archives collections at the Art Institute of Chicago include a series of nude photographs which may be inappropriate for minors to view.
Linda Muller
24
Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War was a conflict between the United States and Spain that ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and resulted in U.S. acquisitions of territories in the Pacific and Latin America.
The war originated with the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain in 1895. Demand for U.S. intervention increased after the unexplained sinking of the U.S.S. Maine on February 16, 1898 in Havana Harbour.
The U.S. declared war on Spain in April, 1898 and attacked Spain's interests in the Pacific and Cuba. Realizing that she was outclassed by American military power, Spain surrendered from Cuba in July, 1898 - effectively ending the war. Later that year, in December, 1898, Spain signed the Treaty of Paris in which they renounced their claims to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam and transferred sovereignty over the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million.
Source citation: "Spanish-American War." History.com. A&E Networks. 2016. Web. 6 Jan 2016
Linda Muller
17
Trail of Tears
What was the Trail of Tears? What incidents led to the Trail of Tears? Who was removed from their native land? Where did they resettle? What was President Andrew Jackson's opinion on Indian removal? What was John Ross's opinion on Indian removal? What is your opinion on the event?
This Collection was created to be used as an introduction to the "Trail of Tears" event that occurred during the period of Westward Expansion. This Collection contains images of then President Andrew Jackson, John Ross, Chief of the Cherokee nation, and General Winfield Scott. It also includes Jackson's message to Congress, "On Indian Removal", the Treaty of New Echota along with a letter that Chief Ross wrote to the U.S. Congress denouncing the Treaty of New Echota which the government used as legal authority to remove the Cherokee from their native land.
Background Information:
In 1838 and 1839, President Andrew Jackson ordered the relocation of the Cherokee people from their native lands east of the Mississippi River to an area in what is known as present-day Oklahoma.
The Cherokee people called this forced migration the, "Trail of Tears" because of its devastating effects. The Cherokee people suffered hunger, disease, and exhaustion during their journey, resulting in 4,000 deaths out of the 15,000 Cherokees who were forced to relocate.
Source citation: "Trail of Tears." Africans in America. PBS Online. nd. Web. 7 Jan 2016.
Linda Muller
11
The Renaissance of Science
How can new discoveries lead to change? This Collection features images of men whose discoveries changed human knowledge and understanding of the world in which they lived.
Linda Muller
6
Cuban Missile Crisis: Confrontation and Resolution
What happened during 13 days in October, 1962 when the United States confronted the Soviet Union about their activities in Cuba? Who was responsible for instigating the Cuban Missile Crisis; the United States, the Soviet Union, or Cuba? How close did we come to nuclear war? How was the conflict resolved?
This Collection is created to be used as a case study of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It contains resources that outline events that occurred during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October, 1962, including an online presentation from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, images and a Smithsonian Channel video.
Students should examine the resources in the Collection then develop a written response to the questions posed at the beginning of this activity.
Linda Muller
9
Harlem Renaissance of the early 1900s
What historical, social, and cultural factors influenced the Harlem Renaissance?
Why did Harlem become the center of African-American arts during the 1920s and 1930s?
Linda Muller
20
