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 is a collection of letters to and from the U.S. Secretary of War, William Belknap, in regard to the woes of Alabama during the Reconstruction period. We see how there are troops stationed in Alabama in accordance with the Reconstruction Acts, and how the Secretary of War has outlined aid to help with rebuilding and managing the state. There are many passages related to some major flooding of the rivers in the low country, how it’s harming civilians, and the actions that are put in place to help these people. This collection shows how the federal government oversaw Reconstruction in the South, and the policies that were enacted in order to govern them.
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: