Students and staff left Dickinson’s campus bright and early Wednesday morning at 7:30 AM. We arrived in the nation’s capital around 10:30 AM. Starting at the National Mall, our first stop was the Lincoln Memorial. The students got to explore the brand new museum that rests beneath the giant marble monument, getting a look at the process of how the structure was constructed.

Professor Pinsker gave talks in front of Lincoln and at the base of the monument. Next, we walked to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial where Professor Pinsker led a discussion on the monument’s legacy today. The students were able to walk around a bit, observe the memorial, and look out across the Tidal Basin at the Jefferson Memorial. Following some packed lunches courtesy of the Dickinson Caf, the bus was loaded up and we drove through the city. We spent a large portion of the afternoon inside, sheltered from the heat and sun. We went to the National Archives where significant American documents were on display. The students saw the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the 19th Amendment.

They also got to explore the countless exhibits that display other important documents and records that span across American history. After we wrapped up at the Archives, we drove just a few blocks down the road to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Although some of the students had previously visited the museum, all of them were in awe of the sheer scale of the museum. Standing at eight stories tall, the museum housed countless artifacts spanning from the very beginning of the Atlantic Slave Trade to modern-day movements and culture. Everyone spent most of their time walking through the history section, but several of the students got to see the art, music, television, and sports sections housed upstairs. Needless to say, everyone was impressed by the museum. Afterwards, we all traveled to the Emancipation Memorial, or the Freedman’s Memorial. Here, Professor Pinsker described Frederick Douglass’ speech given at this statue, and answered several questions about the decisions behind the depictions of Lincoln and a slave in the memorial. We ended the night with a group dinner at Mr. Henry’s Pub and some great laughs. We left after everyone finished their meal and travelled back to Carlisle. We arrived at the dorm around 9:30 PM, and everyone said goodnight, tired after a long but amazing day filled with learning and sight seeing.

To start the final week of classes, students discussed the election of 1864, looking at Frederick Douglass’s “Mission of the War,” Anna Dickinson’s “Perils of the Hour,” and the Gettysburg Address. During the break, students met with the two grad TAs to decide positions for this week’s Lincoln and Douglass debate.

After a subtext lecture with Professor Mealy and a quick lunch, students headed to their first debate prep session. They worked on familiarizing themselves with Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’s arguments over the best way to end slavery, honing their arguments for Friday. In the final few hours before close reading essays and videos were due at 7, students worked to fine-tune their arguments. Once everything was submitted, staff and students celebrated with a trip to Massey’s for some ice cream. With work for the day completed, some students relaxed by watching a movie. Overall, it was another day full of learning, and the students felt proud of themselves for completing their close reading assignments!

 

 

 

Sunday was a quieter day for the students. They mostly just worked on their essays and videos. Luckily the weather was good and the wildfire smoke had cleared, so everybody got to spend some time outside. Many students also grabbed a coffee or smoothie at Denim. Overall, it was another great day at the House Divided Seminar.

On Saturday morning, the students filled the Dickinson vans for a field trip to Gettysburg, just 30 miles south of Carlisle. Starting at the Eternal Peace Monument, Professor Wingert gave a detailed description of the first day of the battle, July 1, 1863. Professor Pinsker also spoke at the monument, telling a story about a man who shook hands with Civil War veterans in the 1930’s who is still alive today. He did so to highlight the relative recency of the conflict which seemed to truly fascinate the students. Continuing the journey through the massive battlefield, we drove through McPherson Ridge and the Lutheran Theological Seminary where the students got to briefly see the copula that Union General John Buford used as a crow’s nest to observe the Confederate troops. Next, we stopped at the Virginia Memorial which honors Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Here, the students asked countless thoughtful questions about the battle and about Lee’s complicated legacy in America today. After that discussion, we kept moving through the battlefield, passing well known locations like the Peach Orchard, the Wheat Field, and Devil’s Den. The students then learned the story of the heroic 20th Maine Infantry Regiment at Little Round Top, a location that allowed the students to view most of the battlefield from up high. Both Professors talked about the second day of the battle and the strategies used by both Union and Confederate Generals.

The final stop on the actual field was at Cemetery Ridge. Here, Professor Wingert concluded the battle with a detailed description of the third day of the fighting, July 3, 1863. The outdoor tour of Gettysburg wrapped up at the Gettysburg National Cemetery where Professor Pinsker discussed President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The students were given an opportunity to walk around and read numerous graves, including the mass graves of unknown soldiers that gave their lives to preserve the Union.

We then travelled to the visitor’s center where we all ate lunch in the cafeteria. Afterwards, we visited the museum and students were able to read more about the Civil War and the battle itself while standing face to face with artifacts from the war. The afternoon finished with a viewing of the short film about Gettysburg and the impressive Cyclorama painting of the battle itself. Back in Carlisle, the students spent the night relaxing and working on their close reading essays and videos. Although many of the students had already visited Gettysburg, the day was amazing and was filled with great questions and fascinating new insights on the battle.

We wrapped up our first week of classes with a discussion of Lincoln’s secession crisis, looking at his first inaugural address and his House Divided Speech. Later in the morning, students reviewed the outlines for their video and essay assignments. After lunch, students met with the League of Women Voters.

They led a discussion about the importance of civic engagement at the local level and current challenges to voting rights. We finished off the session with a quick game of Jeopardy, with questions ranging from the Constitution to past US Independence Day celebrations. Next, students headed back to the dorm for a Kahoot game on Civil War-era slang. After the first game, we played a few more rounds to test our knowledge on general US history and Hamilton. To wrap up the night, some students continued to work on their essays, while others watched the movie Gettysburg in preparation for our field trip tomorrow. 

Similar to other mornings, day four started with breakfast and class sessions in Denny Hall. As Abigail Adams prompted her husband in 1776, the students tried to “remember the ladies,” and dedicated their learning to American feminism. They examined Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Declaration of Sentiments, written in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention. They also discussed Sojourner Truth’s famous woman’s rights speech given in 1851. With a lecture on suffrage and other topics in feminism from Professor Mealy, the students finished the morning with a subtext discussion led by Professor Pinsker.

After a lunch in the HUB, the students met outside of Old West. They were given the Dickinson and Slavery tour led by myself and my fellow undergraduate interns, Sarah and James. We started by unraveling the story behind Dickinson College’s founding and its relationship with slavery. We then walked the students through the very complicated- and very controversial- Supreme Court case Dred Scott v. Sanford, dissecting Dickinson’s involvement in the landmark decision. Later in the tour, the students learned about significant black figures on campus during the Reconstruction era such as janitors like Henry Spradley and Robert Young, and food vendors Noah and Carrie Pinkney.

 

We ended the tour with a stop at the House Divided Studio, telling the students various stories about Dickinson’s connection with major American historical events like the Civil War and the Underground Railroad. The students then had the chance to explore the exhibits in the studio, getting to touch and read facsimiles of various crucial documents. Throughout the entire tour, the students asked wonderful questions and seemed incredibly eager to learn more about Dickinson’s complex legacy regarding slavery. After the tour, the students ended their afternoon with an admissions session led by the Vice President for Enrollment Management, Greg Moyer.

 

Here, the students absorbed information regarding the college search and application process. After some downtime and dinner in the Caf, students met with grad TA’s Sarah and Andrew to brainstorm ideas for their close reading assignments due after the weekend. With some productive conversations, the students headed to bed, ready for yet another day of learning in the morning. Overall, it was a great day filled with much new knowledge and a good amount of fun, too.

Today, students learned about abolition in their morning classes, examining Frederick Douglass’s “Fifth of July Speech” and Frances Harper’s “Bury Me in a Free Land.” After a quick lunch, we headed on the bus to Harrisburg to visit the Pennsylvania capital. After being wowed by the dome, we sat down for a discussion with an assistant for one of the state’s senators.

In the Q&A session, we all discussed the importance of local government, what the day-to-day looks like while working in the capital, and the complexities of compromise. Afterwards, we went on a tour of the entire building, seeing the Senate chamber, House of Representatives chamber, and the Supreme Courtroom.

Before heading home, we stopped at A Gathering at the Crossroads, a memorial that highlights African American history in Harrisburg. It contains statues of Thomas Morris Chester, Jacob C. Compton, William Howard Day, and Frances Harper. After dinner, the students started to brainstorm for their essays and relaxed by watching a movie. 

On their second day at campus, the students really got into the groove of things here at Dickinson! After an exciting lecture on the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence, the students went on a tour of the Cumberland County Historical Society! During the tour, the students learned the importance of local history and viewed cool historical artifacts such as a letter from Alexander Hamilton, one of Molly Pitcher’s pitchers, and a great many antique clocks.

 

 

Thank you so much to the staff at CCHS for giving such a great tour!

 

 

After returning to campus, students participated in a seminar on college admissions and learned the best strategies to get into their preferred school. In the evening after group dinner in the caf, the students brought the complicated Abraham Lincoln puzzle at least halfway to completion and also enjoyed the Home Run Derby yet again. Everybody got some rest in before our busy day visiting the Pennsylvania State Capital in Harrisburg tomorrow.

For the first full day, the students at the Knowledge for Freedom Seminar grew more comfortable with Dickinson’s campus as they started with breakfast at the HUB or at the Denim coffee shop. They arrived for a morning filled with lectures and discussions at Denny Hall. Before class, the students were required to read Phillis Wheatley’s “On Being Brought from Africa to America” (1773) and letters exchanged between Abigail and John Adams in 1776.

At Denny, the students learned about the Enlightenment with Professor Pinsker, gaining an understanding for the context of their readings.  Following a quick snack break, the students moved to a different classroom to discuss Subtext with Professor Mealy. After their morning classes, the students went to the HUB to enjoy lunch with one another and with the staff. Back in Denny yet again, the students spent a portion of the afternoon in a technology workshop. Staff from the IT department helped the students with any technological obstacles, such as getting on the campus wifi.

Additionally, students were able to complete an online orientation for the Kline Fitness Center, which they are welcome to use in their free time. The afternoon wrapped up with a guided tour from admissions. The students were shown many different buildings on campus to help them get familiar with the space during their time here. They also learned about the many perks Dickinson College offers its students. Later, the students went to the HUB for dinner with the staff. In the evening, students and staff headed to Massey’s Frozen Custard for a treat following a great first day. The night finished with a spike ball tournament outside, some studying in the common room, and a streaming of the Home Run Derby. In all, it was a fantastic first day and a wonderful time.

Over the course of the next two weeks, the students at the Knowledge for Freedom Seminar will immerse themselves in the rich history of our nation during the celebration of its 250th year. Through lectures, field trips, and interactions with staff, the students will gain a deeper understanding of American history and how to emerge as a leader in our society. Here is where we will capture the students in action during their time at Dickinson College.

Arrival

Classes

Relaxing

The College Experience

Field Trips

Cumberland County Historical Society

The Capitol in Harrisburg

The Dickinson and Slavery Tour

 

Gettysburg

Washington, D.C.

Week 2