Reading into History: An Illustrator at Work and Our First Anniversary!

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Jaya Saxena

By Rachel Walman

This past Sunday, May 19^th, the DCHM Reading into History family book club discussed the graphic novel/biography Around the World and got to meet its wonderful author and illustrator, Matt Phelan. We were especially lucky because Matt brought his sketchbooks that he kept while planning the book. He taught us so much about how he creates emotions in readers through images. He draws small panels when he wants readers to go through them quickly and imagine action moving fast. He draws larger panels when he wants readers to linger on an idea, feeling, or action. Matt even did an illustration demonstration for us! Take a look!

This is Thomas Stevens. As you can see from Matt’s writing, Stevens was the first man to travel around the world by bicycle. He rode 13,500 miles! You can read Stevens’ story in Around the World. Our group also got to visit the DCHM gallery and see the Nellie Bly board game made in 1890, which she designed herself. Check it out! It was a really great afternoon.

Collection of the New-York Historical Society

Now we are already gearing up for June! On June 19^th, we will meet for a wrap event that marks our first anniversary! Can you believe it’s been a year already? June 19^th is also an important African-American holiday called Juneteenth, so there will be a lot to celebrate at the wrap. There will even be special snacks!

Our June book is Home is With Our Family by Joyce Hansen. This book follows Maria Peters, an African-American girl living in New York’s Seneca Village in the 1850s. Maria is about to turn thirteen and she has a lot to worry about. Rumors abound that her neighborhood is going to be destroyed so the city can build a “Central Park,” and Maria’s new friend and neighbor Anna has a secret that could endanger the whole Peters family. Hansen paints a rich portrait of African American life in one of New York’s forgotten communities of free blacks. At the event, we will do something totally new: we will take a walk outside in what was once Seneca Village. Remains of the neighborhood can be found right inside the west 85^th street foot entrance to the park…if you know where to look. And we do!

A note for all those planning to attend summer book wraps: make sure you check out the family programs calendar! June, July, and August wraps all meet on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. We will go back to having Sunday wraps from 3 to 5 pm in October. As always, email familyprograms@nyhistory.org if you have any questions. See you around the galleries!

Leave a reply Posted in Reading Into History Book Club | Tagged Anniversary, Around the World, Board Game, Book Club, Central Park, Drawing, Home is With Our Family, Illustration, Juneteenth, Jyce Hansen, Matt Phelan, Nellie Bly, Reading into History, Seneca Village, Thomas Stevens

Blast From the Past: Dogs for Defense

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Jaya Saxena

By Liz Stern

During World War II, people all over the country participated in some sort of war effort. If they weren’t actually overseas fighting for our country, they may have been working in factories producing ships, growing vegetables to feed people, or collecting scrap metal.

But did you know that dogs volunteered too? After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the American Kennel Club and “Dogs for Defense” began to advertise for dog owners around the country to donate their pets to serve in the war effort.

Dogs for Defense, Inc.

In the beginning of this program, more than 30 breeds were accepted but then this narrowed to German Shepherds, Belgian Sheep Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Farm Collies and Giant Schnauzers. They were all part of the “K-9 Corps.”

Training for this elite group of animals was extensive. In addition to basic commands, these dogs needed to get used to muzzles, gas masks, military vehicles and gunfire. More than 10,000 dogs were trained during these years, all donated by families that wanted to contribute to winning the War.

Most dogs became sentry dogs. This job involved warning soldiers on patrol when danger approached. They worked with the Coast Guard patrolling beaches to protect against enemy submarines. They also worked with hundreds of other military units defending the units.

U. S. Coast Guard

Scout or patrol dogs worked with soldiers to detect snipers or ambushes. It was really important for these dogs to alert their handlers with soundless growls so no one else could hear them.

About 150 dogs were trained as messengers. They needed to be comfortable working with two different trainers since they would travel silently between them to transfer important information.

Mine dogs, or M-dogs, were specially trained to detect trip wires, booby traps and mines. These dogs were sent to North Africa to work.

The dogs that were sent to the Pacific front were very effective because the jungles there made it difficult to protect against surprise attacks. Having sentry dogs greatly reduced this risk. Overall, the dogs that served on active war duty boosted the morale of the soldiers and reduced their stress levels during patrols.

Here is Fritzi Dangberg in Nevada (1907-1946). She’s holding the German Shepherd puppies she contributed to the Dogs for Defense program in World War II. The photo is ca. 1942.

Don’t miss the WWII & NYC exhibit at the New-York Historical Society which closes May 27…you can learn a lot more about what we were doing here on the homefront during the War. After the War was over, the dogs were re-trained that every human was friendly and returned to their civilian homes. Today, all the dogs that work in the military are professional dogs and not “borrowed” from family homes, but the dogs that served during WWII taught us that their value is unique and important.

Sources:

K. M. Born, U.S. Army Quartermaster Foundation, http://www.qmfound.com/K-9, May 16, 2013.

Leave a reply Posted in Blasts from the Past | Tagged American Kennel Club, Coast Guard, Dogs for Defense, K-9 Corps, Military, Mine Dogs, Sentry Dogs, WWII & NYC

Blast From the Past: Ten-Foot Cops

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Jaya Saxena

Blast From the Past: Ten-Foot Cops

By Stacey Martin

Have you ever seen a “ten-foot tall cop?” You have if you’ve ever seen a mounted police officer!

There are plenty of them patrolling the busy streets of New York City. As of 2011, the New York City Police Department’s mounted unit has 79 police officers and 60 horses, all specially trained to work in the city.

Charles U. Combes,” artist: David Edward Cronin, 1891, Charles U. Combes (or Combs) served as sergeant in the First New York Mounted Rifles of the Seventh New York Cavalry during the Civil War, and afterward joined the New York City Police Department, New-York Historical Society

Before cars became ubiquitous on the city’s streets early in the twentieth century, the NYPD had approximately 800 horses on staff! But are police horses still important in the twenty-first century? The NYPD certainly thinks so. Police officers on horseback are much more effective than officers on foot when dealing with crowds, as they can see over large groups of people. They are also much more visible, which reduces crime. A police officer on a horse can weave through busy traffic, go the wrong way on a one-way street, and can cover long distances in search and rescue operations.

NYPD Mounted Unit History

Horses are naturally very skittish—to most, a plastic bag blowing in the wind is terrifying—so all NYPD horses go through extensive training at school. There, horses become used to the unexpected sights and sounds they might encounter on the job, such as hissing flares, plastic tarps, even smoke bombs. Police officers also learn how to ride and care for their assigned horse at the school, which is located in Pelham Bay Park. Not every horse passes the final test, though. For every horse accepted into the Police Department, five others are turned down.

So how much does it cost the city to employ these four-legged cops? Each horse costs $4,000, much less than a new car. Their food and bedding costs $10 a day, much less than a tank of gas. The NYPD has even developed a custom grain for the horses to eat that is packed with nutrients and minerals the horses need to stay strong and alert.

In 2011, a brand new stable opened along the Hudson River in Chelsea for some very lucky mounted unit horses. The facility includes a heated training ring, spacious stalls, and a custom horse shower.

To read more about the NYPD mounted unit, I recommend the picture book Finnegan and Fox: The Ten Foot Cop by Helen L. Wilbur and John Manders, this week’s featured Little New-Yorkers story.

I’ve been learning a lot about the NYPD mounted unit while preparing to read Finnegan and Fox at Little New-Yorkers, so imagine my excitement when I left for my lunch break yesterday and saw a mounted police officer on 76^th Street! I told him I was teaching children about mounted police officers and he let me pet his horse. Trooper. I got to feed Trooper a carrot and pose for a photo. He even gave me official NYPD mounted police badges to show the kids. My interaction with the officer made me realize another important reason for the mounted unit’s existence: public relations. It gives everyday people, especially children, a reason to chat with a police officer. Who doesn’t want to pet a pretty horsey?

Stacey with a mounted officer and Trooper

These are the badges the office gave me. Left: Official NYPD badge. Right: NYPD mounted unit badge

Source:

Jacobs, Andrew. (2006, April 18). A New Crime Fighter, for $10 in Hay and Oats. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com

Leave a reply Posted in Blasts from the Past | Tagged Blast from the Past, Finnegan and Fox, Helen L. Wilbur, Horses, John Manders, Little New-Yorkers, Mounted Police, NYPD, Ten-Foot Cop

Special Event: Writing About “The Big Apple”

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Jaya Saxena

By Liz Stern

When creative people get together, great things happen. Four creative kids can tell you that first-hand. They met with songwriter and musician David Grover to create an original song. They brainstormed and collaborated to write a song about…what else? NEW YORK!

Catherine McCarthy, Jack Freiser, William Freedman and Lucy Kleinschmidt – all musicians themselves – wrote and performed this song with Grover:

The Big Apple

Chorus:

We love the Big Apple…the Big Apple

New York is our home

It’s the place to be

It’s the place to see

Verse:

Big flashing lights…Broadway nights

East Side, West Side and Washington Heights

Central Park…with dogs that bark

It’s a city that wakes up when it gets dark

We love New York to the top of the Empire State…

To the bottom of our hearts!

Chorus:

We love the Big Apple…the Big Apple

New York is our home

It’s the place to be

It’s the place to see

Leave a reply Posted in Special Events | Tagged Big Apple, Catherine McCarthy, David Grover, Jack Freiser, Lucy Kleinschmidt, New York, Song, Songwriting, William Freedman, Workshop

Author Event: Katie Yamasaki Reads Fish For Jimmy at DCHM

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Jaya Saxena

By Rachel Walman

Until May 27^th, visitors to the New-York Historical Society can experience the WWII & NYC exhibition that has taken over most of the Museum’s main floor. The exhibition explores the experiences of New Yorkers of all different backgrounds during the war. In honor of this exhibition, Katie Yamasaki will read from her beautifully written and illustrated book, Fish for Jimmy: Inspired by One Family’s Experience in a Japanese American Internment Camp, on May 18^th at 1 pm. The event will be free with Museum admission.

As a preview to her event, Ms. Yamasaki answered our History Detectives author questions We hope you enjoy the interview and that you come to hear her read, see photos of her family, and get your book signed on May 18^th!

DiMenna Children’s History Museum: What were you like between the ages of 9 and 12?

Katie Yamasaki: Between the ages of 9 and 12 I was very busy and very athletic! I loved to do gymnastics and play soccer at that time. I also loved drawing and paper maché sculpture at school. I was with friends from my neighborhood and my cousins most days after school and every weekend. If I could describe myself with one word, it would be active!

DCHM: What is your favorite time period in American history? Why?

KY: My favorite time period in American history is probably the 60′s- I am very inspired by all of the social and political resistance movements that were happening at that time.

DCHM: What is your favorite place in New York City? Why?

KY: My favorite place in NYC is probably the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge, Jacob Riis Beach or Brooklyn Bridge Park. I also love the front steps of the Brooklyn Museum. I love all of those places because they always feel like you are surrounded by lots of breezy, fresh air and people who are taking a moment away from their busy lives to enjoy some open space. The fountain in front of the [Brooklyn] Museum is a very joyful place as well with kids splashing and playing all summer long. That brings many people joy.

DCHM: What made you want to write Fish for Jimmy?

KY: For as long as I can remember, I felt that there needed to be more stories about the Japanese Internment. I grew up knowing that it happened, and knowing that it happened to my family. That said, I never had a teacher from kindergarten-12th grade who even acknowledged that it happened. I feel that Fish for Jimmy needed to be told, not only to share an underreported part of history, but also to make connections between violations to our civil liberties of the past with those of the present. I also wanted to tell a story that shows the courage and resilience of children during times of war.

DCHM: What three words best describe Fish for Jimmy?

KY: Honest, Suspenseful, Family

If you have any questions about this program, email familyprograms@nyhistory.org. See you there!

Leave a reply Posted in Special Events | Tagged Fish for Jimmy, Japanese American Internment Camp, Katie Yamasaki, Little New-Yorkers, WWII, WWII & NYC

Baby Pigeons Visited DCHM, Had a Blast!

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Jaya Saxena

By Rachel Walman

The May 4^th Meet the Fledglings program was a huge success thanks to the Wild Bird Fund and the 70+ visitors who came out to meet some of NYC’s most notorious residents- baby pigeons!

The event began with a fascinating presentation by Rita McMahon of the Wild Bird Fund. First, she spoke about the different birds that live in our city. Did you know that Ibises have made nests in the East River? Or that a Snowy Owl has been sighted at Jones Beach? Rita also told us about some birds that have been rehabilitated by the Wild Bird Fund. One great success story was Gully the Laughing Gull who came to the WBF with a broken leg. When Gully’s leg healed enough, he had to use it; so he learned to run on command when his trainer clapped! “Finally, Rita talked about when and when not to rescue a bird, which is also explained well on this “I Found a Baby Bird,Now What?“ flyer that the Wild Bird Fund passed out at the event. Here is Rita giving the presentation:

Then it was time to feed the birds! Each child who came got to feed some baby pigeons a piece of puppy chow or give them seeds from a special feeder. The WBF volunteers helped, and they could tell when the birds were getting full by feeling under their wings. Take a look at how the feeding happened!

After the birds were full, everyone made nests for future baby bird patients at the WBF. All we needed to make a nest were:

- one-foot-square piece of soft, natural fabric

- one pint-sized plastic mesh berry box

- one crew sock

- one pair of kids’ safety scissors

We centered the fabric square over the berry box and pressed it down. Then we cut off the leg part of the sock and placed that at the bottom of the box. That’s all! This nest is soft on the sides and has some scratchy fabric at the bottom for the birds to sink their feet into so they don’t tip over. All the kids donated their nests to the Wild Bird Fund. Here are some photos of the process and finished products.

All in all, everyone had fun, and it was a great way to honor John James Audubon and our exhibition, Audubon’s Aviary. If you haven’t visited the exhibition yet, you have until May 19^th to do so. See you around the galleries!

All photos are by Valeska Stupak

Leave a reply Posted in Special Events | Tagged Audubon's Aviary, Birds, East River, Feeding, Ibis, Jonse Beach, Meet the Fledglings, Nests, Rita McMahon, Snowy Owl, Wild Bird Fund

Reading into History’s May Book: Around the World by Matt Phelan

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Jaya Saxena

by Rachel Walman

May is here and it’s time for a new book club read! Reading into History is now reading our first graphic novel, Around the World, by Matt Phelan. Phelan is a Scott O’Dell Award winning author and illustrator. Around the World tells the stories of three nineteenth-century world explorers.

First, there was Thomas Stevens, a coal miner who bicycled around the globe. Second, there was Nellie Bly, a woman reporter who raced around the world by steamboat in record time…that is, she beat the record of fictional character Phileas Fogg from Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in Eighty Days. Last there was General Joseph Slocum who was the first person to travel around the world by himself on a 36-foot sloop.

Each intrepid explorer’s story tell us a lot about changes in technology and society in the late 1800s. If you come to the book wrap on May 19th at 3 pm, you’ll get to discuss this book with fellow readers, meet Matt Phelan and see him demonstrate his illustration techniques, see Museum artifacts related to the book (we have a Nellie Bly board game!) and get your book signed!

Read our interview with Matt below, read his book, and come see us on May 19th!

DiMenna Children’s History Museum: What were you like between the ages of 9 and 12?

Matt Phelan: Between the ages of 9 and 12 I spent most of my time in my basement workshop. I made puppets, masks, stop-motion animation models, and of course drew pictures. My dad had an early video camera and my brother and I made our own movies, too.

DCHM: What is your favorite time period in American history? Why?

MP: I really love everything about the 1920s and 1930s: the music, architecture, fashion, movies, and books.

DCHM: What is your favorite place in New York City? Why?

MP: The Tenement Museum in the Lower East Side. You really get a feeling for the time period by just walking through that old apartment building. Central Park is my favorite if I just want to go for a walk.

DCHM: What is your favorite object at the New-York Historical Society?

MP: The Nellie Bly Board Game (of course)!

DCHM: What made you want to write Around the World?

MP: I had read the first-person accounts of each of these adventurers at different times over several years. I was deeply impressed by the scope of these travels and the fact that each person overcame huge obstacles to reach their goal. I find these stories very inspiring and the people endlessly fascinating.

DCHM: What three words best describe Around the World?

MP: Determination. Courage. Fortitude. I think Thomas Stevens, Nellie Bly, and Joshua Slocum possessed all three.

All Reading into History book wraps are free with Museum admission, and no RSVPs are required. For more information about the Reading into History family book club, visit the club page on our website or email familyprograms@nyhistory.org

Leave a reply Posted in Reading Into History Book Club | Tagged Around the World, Board Game, Book Club, Interview, Joseph Slocum, Jules Verne, Matt Phelan, Nellie Bly, Reading into History, Thomas Stevens

Special Event: David Grover Shares His Songwriting Process

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Jaya Saxena

By Liz Stern

We live in a musical city. There are orchestras playing in halls, bands playing in the park and musicians trying out their craft in the subway. Sometimes I think even the honking, the whistles and the crowds sound like music!

A very special musician is coming to play in the auditorium here at the New-York Historical Society this Sunday, May 5. David Grover is the former lead guitarist for Arlo Guthrie. For more than 40 years he has used his music and lyrics to teach children about the important things in life – holidays with family, planet preservation and respecting each other. He’s performed in many great places, including the White House!

Before his 12:30 concert, which is free with Museum admission, he is leading a very unique and special songwriting workshop for a group of young songwriters. I know they are very excited. It turns out David is looking forward to it even more!

“Performing and singing is totally fun and connecting with kids live is the best. But for all that, there is nothing that compares with just using your imagination, talent and brains…you can create a song everyone can hear and it’s a song that would never have existed without your effort and caring.”

When I think about a song and the songs that I’ve loved over the years, they all are like poetry (something I love to write). The songs that appeal to me also have an intriguing instrumental component to them. I really like to listen to David’s guitar playing with his lyrical words. Putting it all together seems daunting to me, but not for David. Here’s what he said about writing songs:

“The man who taught me the most about writing had a saying about songwriting: There are 10,000 rules…and there’s also not any rules.

He believed (as do I) that it’s okay to break any rule as long as you know what the rule you’re breaking is.”

David wrote a song called Get On Board. He wrote it when he was in Phoenix, Arizona, and met some people at “Kids at Hope” who wanted to put words from their organization’s mission statement into a song. David really connected to a phrase they used a lot in their communications about every kid being important. The phrase was “No Exceptions!”

“I liked the thought and I also thought, ‘That would be a tough song to write if had to rhyme the word exceptions and have it make sense.’ So of course I had to try. After going through a few (hundred) words like: depression, confession, impression, (I knew we were in a) recession, and many people had professions and got out their aggressions. Anyway you get the idea. Those were maybe one tenth of the words I went through, but go through them you must. It’s fun! It’s better (and harder) than any crossword puzzle in the world, and makes Scrabble look like Candy Land.”

Take a look at some of the handwritten notes from David’s songwriting process. And then look at his final lyrics. Finally, listen to the beautiful song that was created. This is so inspiring! I hope you will be inspired!

SONG NOTES #1

SONG NOTES #2

Get On Board words & music D Grover

Get On Board there’s a train a leavin’

Get On Board we’ve got room for you

rich or poor young and old together

Get up here and get in line

Sing Hallelujah and clap your hands.

Hallelujah every Girl and Boy

Hallelujah every Woman and Man. No one gets left behind

No Exceptions .. It doesn’t matter where you come from

No rejections … We’ll take you just the way you are

This connection feels like perfection and we’re headed down this road feelin’ ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT

There’s a world we’ve got to build together

There’s a world that needs a guiding hand

We can learn to learn from one another

If you see a hand toss them a line

Sing Hallelujah and clap your hands.

Hallelujah every Girl and Boy

Hallelujah every Woman and Man. No one gets left behind

No Exceptions .. It doesn’t matter where you come from

No rejections … We’ll take you just the way you are

This connection feels like perfection and we’re headed down this road feelin’ ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT

Get On Board .. Get On Board

C 2009 Two Monkeys Music

02 Get On Board

[We have a few more spots for talented songwriters between the ages 9-12 for Sunday’s workshop. Please email familyprograms@nyhistory.org if you know of a child who likes to write songs!]

Leave a reply Posted in Special Events | Tagged Arlo Guthrie, Concert, David Grover, Get On Board, Music, Songwriting, Workshop

Special Event: Our Museum is for the Birds!

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Rachel Walman

Have you seen the birds around the New-York Historical Society? , we have Audubon’s Aviary, a third of our collection of John James Audubon’s original watercolors for his revolutionary work of ornithology, Birds of America on view until May 19^th. These beautiful birds on paper are not to be missed….and neither are the real things!

At the Meet the Fledglings program at 2 pm on May 4^th, the Wild Bird Fund will bring live baby birds to the Museum for families to learn about! The Wild Bird Fund and their birds will teach families about wildlife conservation and let us feed the fledglings in their charge — then participants will give back by making tiny nests for future injured baby birds. Best of all, the program is free with Museum admission and no RSVPS are required. Just show up!

We interviewed Wild Bird Fund volunteers about the amazing work they do. Read on and get excited for this once-in-a-lifetime program!

DiMenna Children’s History Museum: What is the Wild Bird Fund?

Wild Bird Fund: The Wild Bird Fund is the first rehabilitation facility to which New Yorkers can bring injured and sick wildlife to be helped and, hopefully, returned to the wild. Last June, after years of operating out of apartments, the WBF opened a storefront facility at 565 Columbus, north of West 87^th Street. People bring us animals now from all five boroughs, often by subway.

DCHM: Why does New York City need a Wild Bird Fund?

WBF: We’re a critical stop on the East Coast migratory flyway. Our parks and waterways host 350 species of birds and many mammal and reptile species. This city is very hard on wildlife: 90,000 birds are killed by NYC’s buildings every year, and 90% of the animals brought to us were hurt directly or indirectly by humans. We’re treating about 1,400 animals a year, from baby squirrels to wild swans. At least half are returned to the wild; others go to sanctuaries or a gentler death.

DCHM: What is your favorite kind of New York City bird?

WBF: There are so many to love and admire—red-tailed hawks, mourning doves, egrets, swallows—but the true, true New York City bird—loyal to its mate; street-smart; curious about people; glorious in flight—is the pigeon. We love the lowly rock dove.

DCHM: Where is the best place in the city to see a wide variety of birds?

WBF: Central Park during spring and fall migrations has a particularly diverse mixture of residents and visitors, as do most of the city parks, to different extents. As oases within a concrete jungle, the parks are rich with bird watching opportunities: bird numbers are concentrated. Seashores and waterways are good places to look as well.

DCHM: What kinds of baby birds will you bring to the DiMenna Children’s History Museum on May 4th?

WBF: That will depend on who’s been brought in, but we’d bet on baby pigeons, maybe starlings…

As always, if you have any questions about the Meet the Fledglings program on May 4^th, please email familyprograms@nyhistory.org. We hope to see you there!

Special Event: Robert Forbes Inspires Young Poets

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Liz Stern

Happy Earth Day everyone! As a part of our celebration here at the New-York Historical Society we asked our families to write poems about animals and other things we love here on Earth.

We were inspired by our special guest, Robert Forbes, who joined us yesterday in the beautiful Klingenstein Library to share his poems about animals.

Mr. Forbes read poems that address the most pressing animal questions! Who will win the inchworm sprint? Will the egret find his way out? Why is the lizard not fussy?

We had other pressing questions as well: “Why are the animals wearing clothes?” asked one young audience member. While someone else wondered if it was because they were cold, Mr. Forbes explained how he loves to use his imagination when writing poems, and Ronald Searle the illustrator, also uses his imagination when drawing the animals. All of Mr. Forbes’ poems were illustrated by Ronald Searle. After Mr. Forbes wrote his poems, he would send them to Mr. Searle and await the results. He would send back a big package filled with drawings that brought Mr. Forbes’ poems to life.

One parent asked if Mr. Forbes ever changed a poem after he saw an illustration. Mr. Forbes answered that he thought Mr. Searle was so good at bringing his imaginative poems to life, that he has never altered his words.

At the event, we had a poetry wall where adults and children could write and post some of their own work. Do you have a poem you’d like to share? You can write a poem at home and bring it in for free kids’ admission by downloading the form here.

Let’s see what our young poets contributed to our Poetry Wall on Sunday…