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War’s Effect on Culture: An Interactive, Intergenerational Look at American Art and History

Kenosha Public Library, Kenosha, WI

Project Director: Roxane Bartelt

Target Audience: Family, Adult, Teen, Children

Library Size: Over 100,000

Quote

“While patrons of all ages have been exposed to the Picturing America images many times before, we brought those images to life by immersing the audience in the culture of that time—specifically war’s effect on American culture throughout the country’s history. By using the Picturing America images participants learned about cultural changes brought on by war both during wartime and in the period following.”

Program Summary

The Kenosha Public Library (KPL) focused on three specific eras in our nation’s history—the time periods during and immediately following the Revolutionary, Civil, and First World Wars—to give the local community an idea of how war affects a nation’s culture and art. Utilizing a local re-enactor to provide an historical perspective to programming, as well as hands-on art projects and the library’s popular American Girl Club to involve community members of all ages, KPL invited a multi-generational audience to learn about cultural changes brought on by war both during wartime and in the period following.

Use of the Artwork

Each hands-on art project, conducted by KPL children’s services staff, was based on Picturing America prints appropriate to the time periods explored in programming. The library also created a timeline display, 40 feet in length and on display in the KPL children’s room, featuring Picturing America images alongside samples of language, clothing, food, literature, and design from the era in which the images were created. An MP3 player with a guided audio tour explaining each Picturing America image was also made available as well as accompanying illustrative matter for each time period. An I Spy game was also created, challenging youth to find clues throughout history while exploring the Picturing America images.  An art teacher at a local elementary school also worked with students to develop their own illustrations —inspired by the Picturing America images—representative of their current culture and community.

Programs and Ideas

The first program covered the colonial America and the Revolutionary War period and featured Ward Brown, a re-enactor and living historian who presented a costumed first impression of a character representative of a Revolutionary soldier. His presentation included a timeline of events that occurred during the Revolutionary War as well as maps and artifacts a soldier would have used during the time and information about how society at the time dealt with the conflict. He also explained his uniform including the weapons a Revolutionary War soldier would have carried.

Revolutionary War art project: After Mr. Brown’s Revolutionary War presentation, a creative project appropriate to the time period was offered including making quill pens and five-pointed stars. Children and their parents also created quilt squares on the topic “Freedom Is …”

The second program covered the Civil War time period. Mr. Brown presented a Confederate soldier characterization, while Steven Platteter, another re-enactor, presented a Union soldier characterization. The presentation included a timeline of events that lead up to and occurred during the Civil War, as well as information about how society at the time dealt with the conflict. His presentation also included maps and artifacts a soldier would have used during the time, and an explanation of the difference in their uniforms including the weapons a Civil War soldier would have carried. Gail Brown also presented an impression of a female character of the time. Mrs. Brown explained the layers of clothing a lady wore at the time.

Civil War art project: After Mr. Brown’s Civil War presentation, a creative project appropriate to the time period was offered, including making a Union kepi (hat) and enciphering a coded message for the Civil War program.

The third program covered the World War I time period. Mr. Brown presented a costumed first impression of a character representative of a World War I soldier. His presentation included a timeline of events that occurred during World War I, as well as information about how society at the time dealt with the conflict. His presentation included maps and artifacts a soldier would have used during the time. He also explained his uniform including the weapons a World War I soldier would have carried.

World War I art project: After Mr. Brown’s World War I presentation, a creative project appropriate to the time period was offered, including making periscopes and victory pins.

American Girl Club programs: KPL featured two programs based on the popular American Girl books.  The first was based on the story of Elizabeth and her life during the Revolutionary War era, and featured information on the time period and life in the original colonies. Participants also made home-made fans, sachets, paper chains, and butter. The second American Girl program was based on the story of Julie and her life in the 1970s after the Vietnam War, and highlighted some of the issues that Julie faced, including supporting Vietnam veterans and the changing rights and roles of women. Participants made tie-dyed bandanas and ponchos for themselves and their dolls.

Impact

Through our project we were able to provide a variety of programs and activities in order to reach as many people and ages as possible. The activities reinforced the information that was presented and opened dialogue among the family members to discuss the time period and how life was different from the present time. The programs also appealed to a variety of interests as they featured history, dress/costume, artifacts, and arts/crafts. The interactive timeline and I Spy game appealed to all kinds of learners—auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. The “Freedom Is … ” quilt allowed children and their parents and grandparents to express what freedom means to them on a personal level. It was interesting to note the contrast between the children’s artwork completed for the quilt and the artwork completed by the Stocker elementary students. The “Freedom Is …” quilt will be permanently on display in the Children’s Room at Southwest Library. Bookmarks featuring blocks from the quilt were printed and will be distributed through future programs featuring the Picturing America images.