The Wyoming Partnership for Civic Education and the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center (AHC) Simpson Institute for Western Politics and Leadership collaborated to present a workshop on “The Hollywood Ten” to Wyoming secondary school teachers on incorporating primary source-based instruction into their classrooms. The workshop was held at the American Heritage Center October 8 through 10, 2009. Funds for the workshop were provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The participants had the opportunity to gain a historical perspective about events that occurred in Hollywood during the Second Red Scare of the 1940s and 1950s by examining primary source documents that make up the collections documenting the Hollywood Ten and the University of Wyoming textbook controversies. These primary sources are housed at the AHC. “It is always a fascinating experience to deal with documents of high interest” noted Cheyenne teacher Don Morris.

Teachers Paula Volker (Natrona County High School) and Inga McCoy (Kelly Walsh High School) look over a primary source document in the American Heritage Center's collections documenting the Hollywood Ten and blacklisting that occurred during the 1940s and 1950s.

In addition to hands-on research, the educators learned the historical background of the Second Red Scare, the constitutional issues involved, and the media involvement from presentations by UW History Professor William H. Moore, UW Law Professor Step Feldman, and UW Communication and Journalism Professor Michael Brown. “This was very enlightening and made the era and the rationalization for these events very clear;” commented Sally O’Brien, a teacher at Kelly Walsh High School. Keith Reynolds, archives specialist at the AHC demonstrated a lesson plan based on primary sources for the teachers. Each of the participating teachers received a six-part CD series containing a number of the files including ones that make up the AHC’s collections on the Hollywood Ten. “I love the CD’s” O’Brien said. “I will explore them and the AHC website thoroughly.” The educators will use these files to create lessons on First Amendment and historical issues, which they will then pilot with their students.

Two 1930s songbooks from Workers Theater Movement era. Songbooks, scripts, playbills, and more from this era can be found in the Will Lee Papers at the American Heritage Center.

The American Heritage Center is the University's repository of manuscript and special collections, rare books, and the university archives.  Its collections focus on Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain West (including but not limited to politics, settlement, and western trails), environment and conservation, the mining and petroleum industries, air and rail transportation, the performing arts (particularly radio, television, film, and popular music), journalism, US military history, and book history. 

Students and scholars from around the globe use these collections for research--last year researchers traveled from 45 states and 12 nations.  The AHC also sponsors a wide range of scholarly and popular programs including lectures, symposia, and exhibits.  Housed in the Centennial Complex on the campus’ east side, access to the AHC is free and open to all.  For further information contact the AHC at 766-4114.