The National Museum of American History’s Department of Education and Public Programs seeks three exemplary college students committed to making a positive impact on their communities to participate in the Freedom School fall internship program. Through this program, participants will:

• Learn the history of the Civil Rights Movement and the 1964 Freedom Summer campaign first hand through dialogue with people who were there and through other primary sources

• Meet with curators and educators to explore related material in the Smithsonian’s National Collection and visit local civil rights-related historic sites

• Explore, discuss, and debate the meaning and legacy of social justice, democracy, and leadership in American history

• Visit government offices, and advocacy organizations to discuss modern activism

• Share lessons-learned with local high school students

• Publish their research on the Smithsonian website for a national audience.

Did you know that art played a pivotal role in Poland’s 1989 Solidarity Movement?  Solidarity was a broad anti-bureaucratic, workers-rights movement in 1980s Poland that eventually became a powerful political force. In addition to publishing over 500 newspapers and broadcasting their message via pirate radio stations, the Solidarity movement used art, particularly posters, to communicate their revolutionary message,  and even created a new school of art—The Polish Poster School—along the way.  Special Collections has a treasure trove of hundreds of posters, handouts, and newspapers. There are copies of the iconic work of graphic designer Jerzy Janiszewski (who created a style of writing known as Solidaric)  as well as Tomasz Sarnecki’s well-known poster that features an image of Gary Cooper from the 1952 film “High Noon.”

View the finding aid for this collection, now available online, for more information about the Solidarity movement and the Solidarity materials held in the Library: http://aok2.lib.umbc.edu/specoll/Solidarity/index.php.

Want to come look at the records yourself? Contact Special Collections to set up an appointment at x52353 or speccoll@umbc.edu. We also hold open research hours on Monday through Friday, 1pm to 4pm, with additional hours from 4pm to 8pm Thursday nights.

This post was written by Theresa Donnelly

Update! Liz's Reflections Post-Graduation:

The Women's Center exists to assist all women in achieving their full potential in education, career and personal life through academic and intellectual growth, professional development and personal empowerment. One of the ways we work to achieve this mission is in our support services and programs for Returning Women (undergraduate students over the age of 25). The Women’s Center offers meeting space for these students in addition to scholarship opportunities.

Next year we are hoping to launch a mentorship program for Returning Women. To help raise awareness about this new pilot program, we’re highlighting some current Returning Women who are a part of the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Scholarship program. If you’re interested in learning more about the Returning Women’s meetings or scholarships, contact us at womens.center@umbc.edu.

Who are you?

Nicole Shah, Social Work major, senior year, Mosaic Center DEI Fall 2012, Conversation Partner ELI Spring 2012, Married Mom of 4  

What benefits have you experienced as a Newcombe Scholar?

Formal connection to the Women's Center and all of the support the center offers. Monthly returning student's meetings and having a network of students similar to me in my age and life situation(s) to lean on for support.   

What do you wish traditional students knew about being a non-traditional student?

That age ain't nothing but a number. Younger students and mature students have a lot to offer one another, don't be hesitant to reach out in class and on campus.  The common denominator is that we are all students at UMBC so choose to focus on that.  Once we graduate, we will be working with diverse groups of people so take advantage of learning how to do that now while in college.  

What do you wish the University and Professors knew about being a non-traditional student?

That returning students do not want special treatment, if we choose to tell you some of our extra responsibilities outside of campus it is because we need your support not your pity. There is a difference.  No two people are alike therefore keep in mind no two students are alike; there is not a one-size-fits-all approach.  

What is one piece of advice you would offer to new non-traditional students at UMBC?

It is in your best interest to get involved on campus. With families and work responsibilities it does make it more challenging, but it is possible.  Campus involvement definitely made my time at UMBC more rich and enjoyable.

History graduate student Shae Adams worked in Special Collections this Spring with the Joseph L. Arnold manuscript. She has provided us with this report from the scene!

Intern Shae Adams here with breaking news from your very own Special Collections: Something exciting is happening in Special Collections! (Ed. note: something exciting is always happening in Special Collections.) We are partnering with the UMBC history department to bring you a digitized history of Baltimore that you can access from the comfort of your living room. Over the course of the semester I have begun compiling and editing a manuscript written by the late Dr. Joseph Arnold, a former UMBC history professor. The manuscript provides an overview of the history of Baltimore from its founding in 1730 to the beginnings of suburbanization in the 1920s with plenty of dramatic events in between. Dr. Arnold’s work explores the heroism of Baltimoreans during the War of 1812, the bitter divisions within the city during the Civil War, alongside the triumphs and tragedies of immigrants determined to find acceptance in their new home.

The manuscript is currently in the editing phases. But progress has been made! Only a few months ago, the book existed only as a jumble of chapters and revisions arranged in archival boxes. Now the chapters have been reunited in a single document ready for final content editing. Through the continued partnership with the history department, Special Collections has high hopes that the manuscript will become an integral part in growing UMBC’s presence in the digital humanities following its online publication.

Stay posted for further updates on this story as it unfolds!

Thank you, Shae!