History Harvests
History Harvests are one way to try to collect and understand our diverse and complex local histories.
Often, local and state histories are simplified and/or stereotyped. Furthermore, much of the history of everyday lives has not been collected into traditional archives, libraries, or museum holdings—the places where historians typically find their research materials—but rather resides with everyday people, in the things they keep, the meanings they ascribe to those objects, and in the stories their objects tell.
Bring the History Harvest into your Classroom!
Consider adapting and bringing this assignment into your classroom.
Templates for a History Harvest Assignment:
If you choose to adopt the History Harvest assignment, please let us know so that we can coordinate.
How Can you Participate?
- Identify an interesting Historical Artifact that you or your family might have in your possession.
- Historical Artifacts might include letters, diaries, photographs, pamphlets, records, legal documents, memorabilia from events or campaigns (buttons, fliers, posters, programs, etc.), popular culture objects, artwork, graphic arts, textiles, signage, clothing, audio recordings, or other three-dimensional objects that you and your family think have historical and family significance.
- Attend and bring your artifact to a History Matters Community History Harvest.
- At a History Harvest, community members bring their artifact(s) to the History Harvest event, at which a team of historians are on hand to listen to and collect your personal and family stories and meanings associated with your objects. With your/your family’s permission, a photograph/scan of your artifact and account of our conversation, including what the artifact’s history and meaning are, will be recorded and archived at the Ft. Collins Museum of Discovery Archive. Your artifacts may become part of future curriculum and history research!
