Marking the sesquicentennial anniversary of the end of the Civil War the Genius of Freedom exhibition, on view  November 11, 2014–June 26, 2015 at the Library Company of Philadelphia, examined the strategies developed by Northern blacks to claim an equal place in the post-slavery nation. While Reconstruction battles in the South occupied much of the nation’s attention, African Americans in the North found that local laws and social customs often still left them on the fringes of citizenship and success. Northern blacks thus sought to empower their communities through political protest and uplift initiatives that emphasized equality, self-reliance and pride.

The exhibition and its accompanying programming are supported by funds from the Pennsylvania Abolition Society and the Independence Foundation.

The zipped lesson plan folders provided below include individual image files and editable MS Word documents for your convenient use in the classroom.

Lesson #1

Adorn-a-Parlor
By Liz Taylor
Tags: Upper Elementary, Middle School, Families, Homes, Women’s history, African American leaders, Social history
Lesson 1 – Adorn a Parlor – COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 1 – Adorn a Parlor zipped

Lesson #2

Heroes of the Colored Race
By Terry Ann Wildman
Tags: Upper Elementary, Middle School, politicians, Congress, heroes, civil rights, African American leaders, Frederick Douglass, Robert Smalls, Blanche Bruce, Civil War
Lesson 2 – Heroes of the Colored Race COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 2 – Heroes of the Colored Race zipped

Lesson #3

Northern Blacks and the 15th Amendment
By Terry Ann Wildman
Tags: Upper Elementary, Middle School, 15th Amendment, Civil rights, Voting rights, Reconstruction, Pennsylvania politics
Lesson 3 – Northern Blacks & 15th Amendment COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 3 – Northern Blacks & 15th Amendment zipped

Lesson #4

Comparing Depictions of African Americans at the Centennial Fair
By Amy Cohen
Tags: Middle School, High School, Centennial Exhibition, African Americans in art
Lesson 4 – Comparing Depictions of AfAms COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 4 – Comparing Depictions of AfAms zipped

Lesson #5

Douglass Monument
By Charlene Weigel
Tags: Middle School, High School, Frederick Douglass, Memorials
Lesson 5 – Douglass Monument COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 5 – Douglass Monument zipped

Lesson #6

Memorials
By Liz Taylor
Tags: Middle School, High School, Frederick Douglass, Memorials
Lesson 6 – Memorials COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 6 – Memorials zipped

Lesson #7

Exploring African American Albums
By Liz Taylor
Tags: Middle School, High School, Women’s history, Social history, Historians
Lesson 7 – Exploring African American Albums COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 7 – Exploring African American Albums zipped

Lesson #8

The 15th Amendment & Congo Square
By Amy Cohen
Tags: Middle School, High School, Centennial Exhibition, 15th Amendment, Civil rights, Voting rights, Colonial slavery, Yellow Fever
Lesson 8 – 15th Amendment & Congo Square COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 8 – 15th Amendment & Congo Square zipped

Lesson #9

Two Views of Black Suffrage
By Abby Brazina
Tags: Middle School, High School, Voting rights, 15th Amendment, Reconstruction, Pennsylvania politics, Black conventions
Lesson 9 – Two Views of Black Suffrage COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 9 – Two Views of Black Suffrage zipped

Lesson #10

William Still & the Underground Railroad (UGRR)
By Liz Taylor
Tags: Middle School, High School, William Still, Underground Railroad, Vigilance Committee, Fugitive slaves, Slavery
Lesson 10 – William Still & UGRR COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 10 – William Still & UGRR zipped

Lesson #11

Octavius Catto & Streetcar Desegregation
By Amy Cohen
Tags: Middle School, High School, Civil rights, 15th Amendment, Voting rights, Desegregation, Discrimination
Lesson 11 – Catto & Streetcar Desegregation COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 11 – Catto & Streetcar Desegregation zipped

Lesson #12

Examining Distinguished Colored Men
By Amy Cohen
Tags: Middle School, High School, Frederick Douglass, African American leaders
Lesson 12 – Examining Distinguished Colored Men COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 12 – Examining Distinguished Colored Men zipped

Lesson #13

Henry Highland Garnet & “A Copperhead Victory”
By Charlene Weigel
Tags: High School, Henry Highland Garnet, Reconstruction, Abolition movements, Black conventions, Civil War
Lesson 13 – Garnet & Copperhead Victory pdf
Lesson 13 – Garnet & Copperhead Victory zipped

Lesson #14

The Shackle Broken by the Genius of Freedom
By Charlene Weigel
Tags: High School, Civil Rights Act of 1875, African American legislators, Reconstruction, Civil rights, Congress, African American leaders
Lesson 14 – Shackle Broken by Genius of Freedom – COMPLETE.pdf
Lesson 14 – Shackle Broken zipped

Teacher Biographies

Abby Brazina teaches eighth grade American History in the Pennsbury School District in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Amy Cohen taught social studies for twenty years and is currently the Director of Education for History Making Productions, a Philadelphia-based documentary film company.

Liz Taylor teaches ninth grade World History, tenth grade African American History and twelfth grade Social Science at J.R. Masterman High School in Philadelphia.

Char Weigel taught history and interdisciplinary courses at The Shipley School for 13 year, as well as finance and economic courses at the college and MBA levels. She is currently involved in historical research projects.

Terry Anne Wildman taught fourth grade social studies for ten years in the Philadelphia School District. She is currently a part of the Adjunct Faculty at Temple University, working with students in the Education Department.