History 268: 
Oberlin History as American History
Fall 2002

Professor Carol Lasser
Tues./Thurs. 9-10:50
King 239

Course Objectives

This course has several overlapping objectives:

First, it seeks to explore Oberlin's distinctive history in the context of American history, understanding and evaluating the past of this special multicultural community in relation to national narratives; probing, refining, and perhaps at times challenging our understandings of American history;

Second, it invites students to undertake research in the materials of local history in order to both understand and contribute to the work available on of Oberlin's past;

Third, it assists students in integrating new digital technologies into the ways in which historical research is conducted and the ways in which historical materials are presented;

Fourth, it provides the opportunity for Oberlin College students exploring Oberlin history to partner with the students in one of the American history classes at Oberlin High School taught by Mr. Kurt Russell. This partnership is intended to enrich the experience of Oberlin College students in "doing" history in collaboration with an important stakeholder in that history--young residents of the town of Oberlin; it also aims to provide a rewarding and engaging research experience for our high school partners.

To these ends, the course combines analysis of primary and secondary readings with an introduction to the ways in which historians and teachers have begun to bring electronic media into their classrooms. Students are required to undertake an original research project, and are strongly encouraged to do this project in conjunction with the high school students in our partner class. Only those students participating in the public school partnership are eligible for four hours credit, however students opting for the high school partnership are not required to take the course for four hours credit.

Organization of the Course

For the first half of the semester, the class will meet twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursday from 9 to 10:50. Note that the class will meet in a variety of locations: a computer lab, the Oberlin College Archives, the Oberlin Historical and Improvement Organization, and, for those who choose to participate in the school partnership project, at Oberlin High School.

After Fall Break, the class will hold scheduled meetings as a group only on Tuesday October 29, and for class presentations on Tuesday December 10 and Thursday, December 12. Participants in the public school partnership will meet during all other class period with their high school teams. Students who choose instead to do individual research projects will meet with for class on November 7 and December 3. Students doing individual projects are expected to use all other scheduled class times for project purposes--and this does not include sleeping late! Students doing individual research projects will be asked to document their use of scheduled class times.

Assignment Due Dates
Note: All assignment due dates are also noted on the schedule of classes with further description of content of assignment

An Important Note on Readings Assigned for History 268

There are no required texts to be purchased for this course. All readings will be available either on the web, through ERes (Electronic Reserve), or from traditional reserve. To access ERes, you may connect from OBIS, or you may use the following url: www.oberlin.edu/eres.

I encourage you to print out the reserve materials and your web readings, read them carefully, and bring to class your marked readings. You will also want to take notes on this material. You will probably want to buy a loose leaf binder in which you will create your own "course reader," and save your copies of the reading assignments. Additionally, each student will receive, gratis, a copy of Lasser and Merrill, SoulMates: the Oberlin Correspondence of Lucy Stone and Antoinette Brown . You are expected to do all assigned readings and come to class prepared to discuss them.

 

 

We will need to make arrangements to sell you photocopies of required readings extracted from Robert S. Fletcher, A History of Oberlin College (1943)

General Information

Schedule of Classes

Assignment Due Dates

Final Project Options

Class Home Page