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 collection was made for the marker placed outside of Fifth Avenue School in Huntsville, the first school integrated in the city following “Brown V. Board” in 1954. It features some files related to the creation of the marker, but also has some contextual pieces related to the integration, including a speech given by Gov. George Wallace in 1963 and newspaper clippings and court cases relating to Sonnie Hereford, the first black student who integrated into Fifth Avenue School. This collection is good to use to teach a familiar story with a local flavor to it.
This magazine examines current affairs in the city of Huntsville during 1963, an important time in Huntsville’s history. Redstone Arsenal is in full operation, Dr. Wernher Von Braun is leading the charge in the development of missile technology to support the space race, and Urban Renewal is in full swing, with infrastructure being built up and new homes being built to support the influx of transplants hoping to work in the burgeoning defense industry. This magazine offers a glimpse into how the Cold War Era political environment forced industry and technology, and how Huntsville played an important role in one of the most important facets of the technological race.
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:
