The Opper Project: Using Editorial Cartoons in the Classroom

History Educators -

This site offers a well-organized and user friendly collection of
political cartoons. The curriculum is also relevant and useful.
Enjoy!

A note about intellectual property rights from the Opper Project: Our permissions are only for classroom use. Any other use, including posting on a student�s Website, requires additional permissions. That being said, all of the pre-1923 cartoons are in the public domain and could be used by students elsewhere. Please request that The Ohio State University Opper Project be credited as the source. - Rich Cairn

Dear Mr. Richard Cairn:

The Cartoon Research Library at the Ohio State University has
developed a website, the Opper Project (hti.osu.edu/opper),
which provides information on using editorial cartoons to understand history. These resources advise instructors, students,
and history enthusiasts about using editorial cartoons as primary
documents. Perhaps, this site could benefit the teachers you work
with on the Teaching American History Grant. Would you consider
forwarding the information about this site to instructors,
librarians, or others who may find it useful? Below is a more
detailed description of the Opper Project that could be easily
distributed. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or
concerns.

Thanks, Meredith Clark-Wiltz opper@osu.edu

The Opper Project website (http://hti.osu.edu/opper/) provides
instructors with the information necessary to introduce students
to using editorial cartoons as primary sources. Named after Ohioan
Frederick Burr Opper, the first great American-born cartoonist,
the Opper Project is an on-line collection of historic editorial
cartoons. The cartoons, which span over one-hundred years of
American history, are organized topically with associated lesson
plans. The cartoons are from the collection of The Ohio State University
Cartoon Research Library. Most are American, but some reflect the
views of international cartoonists on the America. There are some
famous cartoons here, but most of the images are not the ones
typically reproduced in text books and instructional materials.

All the cartoons are evocative and teachable, and the topics
available include a wide variety of central historical events and
periods, including Reconstruction, American Imperialism,
Immigration, several reform and rights movements, and American
involvement in international conflicts.

Rich Cairn, Director Emerging America Teaching American History Program Hampshire Educational Collaborative 97 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA 01060 rcairn@collaborative.org http://tah.collaborative.org 413 586-4900 x166 Empowering Teachers, Inspiring Learners