The Western Illinois Museum is pleased to announce it has been awarded a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Midwest Region Program. The grant funds a project developed in partnership with Cuba High School Educator, Joe Brewer, titled, Building Bridges to the Past: Teaching with Primary Sources and Public History Collaborations. The $18,500 will be used to offer workshops to educators in the region to explore how primary source documents can enhance their lessons while introducing local history to area youth.
In 2022, Joe Brewer was one of a group of educators to participate in the Rural Experience in America program established by the National Council of History Educators (NCHE). This program is also funded by a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program. The Western Illinois Museum was one of the community partners that supported Joe’s classroom work. After seeing the strong response from students, Joe and Museum Director Sue Scott were inspired to bring what they learned to other educators in west central Illinois. Together they designed a workshop that will guide educators in how to use inquiry-based learning and incorporate local historical and civic resources such as the collection of the Western Illinois Museum, Western Illinois University Archives and Special Collections, local historical societies, authors, and community members. Introducing primary sources to his students, Joe found they developed a connection to the place where they live and fostered their active role in preserving the area’s history. Brewer commented, “As a teacher who experienced the transformative Rural Experience in America program, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of inquiry-based learning and community engagement. By tapping into local historical resources, we not only connect students with their rural roots but also pioneer a sustainable approach to teaching that addresses burnout, fosters joy, and instills a sense of responsibility in preserving our unique local histories.”
The grant funds will offer up to 25 regional teachers a stipend to participate in one day-long workshop at the Western Illinois Museum as well as receive ongoing support for the implementation of a project through three shorter lab sessions. In addition to learning how to introduce primary sources in the classroom, the program is designed to build a cohort of educators who are engaged in connecting their students to the history and culture of their communities.
To accommodate the busy schedules of teachers, the one-day workshop will be offered twice, first on Friday, April 19, and again on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Teachers will receive a $150 stipend, reimbursement for transportation costs, as well as $80 to cover the cost of a substitute teacher. Participating in the lab sessions will also be compensated. To sign up for the workshop, teachers are asked to complete a short registration form online, by mail, or by phone. For more information, contact the Museum at 309.837.2750 or info@wimuseum.org.
The Building Bridges to the Past: Teaching with Primary Sources and Public History collaborations is sponsored in part by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Midwest Region Program, located at Illinois State University. Content created and featured in partnership with TPS Midwest Region does not indicate an endorsement by the Library of Congress.
The Western Illinois Museum is located at 201 S. Lafayette Street, one block south of Macomb’s Courthouse Square. The building is fully accessible and free parking to the south of the Museum.
About Cuba High School and Educator Joe Brewer
Located in Fulton County, Illinois, Cuba High School’s mission is to provide a safe, positive, and innovative learning environment that challenges students to exceed standards set by the State of Illinois, help students develop personal responsibilities, and guide students to become successful members of the local community and the global society.
Joe Brewer is a dedicated educator with a 17-year tenure as a History and Social Science Teacher at Cuba Middle/High School in Cuba, IL. Joe has mentored over 15 future history educators and serves as the Union President of the Cuba Federation of Teachers, Local #3799. He has been an interviewee on topics such as the creation of the Rural Advisory Council in Illinois, the challenges of being a rural teacher, and the importance of building public history projects with students. Mr. Brewer has presented at numerous conferences including the National Humanities Conference, the Midwest Sociological Society, and the National Council for Social Studies. He manages a public history podcast with his students, The Forgottonia Project, that explores historical and contemporary issues in rural America. Mr. Brewer has an M.A. in Sociology from Western Illinois University and a B.S. in Social Science Education from Olivet Nazarene University. Joe lives in Cuba, IL with his wife, Jess (the art teacher at Cuba High School), two stepsons, and a small zoo of pets that provide welcome distractions after a busy day.