Special Collections seeks to connect educators with local history. State history begins in 4th grade and various classes in Social Studies and History are taught through 12th grade. The following resources try to match archival resources with Alabama's specified curriculum standards, with the hope that educators can supplement their curriculum with examples from local Huntsville/Madison County History.
A full list of curriculum standards can be found through the Alabama Department of Education:
2010 Approved Standards
2024 Draft Standards
This a two-sheet transcription of an oral history told by Sallie Payne in 1954 of her experience during the Civil War, nearly 90 years before. It tells how a contingency of men related to General Sherman’s march to the sea were sent down towards the Tennessee Valley, keeping up with Sherman’s modus operandi during his March, meaning a large amount of pillaging and murder. This oral history shows a side of the war that is only touched upon in schools, how civilians were treated, and the infamous March to the Sea, which is seen as dark spot in American history today. A part of this archival material that may be unsuitable for certain classrooms is a paragraph that refers to the murder of men as they passed on their way through Madison County.
Run time: 6 minutes
The content on the Teacher Resources pages originated from a Special Collections intern who conducted a survey of Madison City School history and social studies teachers in Fall 2024. Survey findings can be found here: