U.S. Capitol Historical Society Launches Innovative Electoral College Teacher Workshop in Ohio

In February 2024, USCHS took its civic education programming on the road, holding a teacher training workshop on the 1876 presidential election and the role of Congress in the electoral college at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums in Fremont, Ohio. This civic education programming was the first of its kind for the Society, and we were delighted to have an impressive group of 24 teachers representing 12 states nationwide attending the workshop.

An audience of teachers and the public enjoyed a debut stage reading of the new play Electionland, written by Jean Bordewich, produced by StoryWorks, and performed by local area actors. Following this was a full day of teaching workshops where USCHS staff showcased the updated “We the People” Hub of online teaching resources and presented new lesson plans and activities using primary resources from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the Library of Congress.

USCHS thanks NARA’s National Historical Publications and Research Commission for administering this new civic education initiative and to Society staff Eric Denyer, Education Specialist, Katey Ryan, Education Fellow, and Janna Deitz, Ph.D., Project Director, for their work in moving our civic education work ahead! We are excited to develop new ways to tell the story of Congress and its role in American government as part of our nation’s broader efforts in civic education.

For more information about the U.S. Capitol Historical Society and upcoming educational programs, please visit www.CapitolHistory.org.