Individuals from 1900-1950 began to find that they had time for activities other
than work. Various factors, such as gender, ethnic background, socioeconomic status,
age and region of the country affected what these activities were. Create an album
of leisure time activities that makes a statement about this time period and at
least one of these factors.
Each group must think of a thesis for an album that will be included in
the exhibit 20th Century Leisure Time Activities. The album may
explore a single activity over the entire time period (such as card playing),
a single group of people over the entire time period (such as women or people
in the Midwest), or leisure time in general in a specific decade or two (such
as leisure time activities of the twenties).
The album should consist of at least 20 images or memorabilia facsimiles
(ex. posters, music scores, tickets). These images must be appropriate to
the time period and support the thesis.
Each item must have a short description that shows its relation to the
thesis. The descriptions can take the form of historical fiction, as long
as the history is correct. For example: women in the twenties had more freedom
to participate in sports than in earlier times.[thesis] This is an album of
my great grandmother in the 1920s. Here is a picture of granny at age 7 in
1910 watching her brothers play basketball. Here is a picture of granny age
17 as a member of the girls’ intramural basketball team at Michigan High.
(Pictures are not of your granny but are historically accurate.)
The thesis of the album should be on the front page. Include a sheet that
lists the members of the group and a group bibliography. The bibliography
must follow MLA format and must show scholarship. There should be at least
10 sources, one of which must be American
Memory.
