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Dalton News
Students Visit Archive to Study Statue of Liberty's Inscribed "New Colossus" Poem and Poet
15 Seniors in Power & The People: New York City History visited the American Jewish Historical Society and Union Square to learn about Emma Lazarus, the poet whose "New Colossus" is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, and the history of protests in that area of town.
Prior to our visit, the students conducted a close reading of "The New Colossus" and learned about the development of the poem's connection to immigration after it was placed on the Statue in 1903. At the American Jewish Historical Society, students met with Executive Director Annie Polland, who gave them an insider's tour of the collections housed there and facilitated a workshop to learn more about Emma Lazarus and the world in which she lived. Students looked at a variety of obituaries about Lazarus to discuss her immediate and long-term legacy, and thought about how her interactions with a variety of immigrant groups in New York City informed her writing of "The New Colossus."
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The field trip concluded with a visit to Union Square, a two-block walk from the Archives, and a look at how several protest movements used that space to advocate for their vision of American society, including Frederick Douglass, labor organizers, and early 20th century suffragists.
Photos and story from High School History teacher Shira Kohn
Photos and story from High School History teacher Shira Kohn
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