American History through the Eyes of a California Family, 1780s-1920s

Rancho Dominguez and Carson, CA
June 13-17 or June 20-24
Dear Colleagues,

We are very excited about the opportunity to invite you to join us for our one-week workshops in summer 2011. As NEH Summer Scholars at the “American History through the Eyes of a California Family” workshop, you will use the artifacts and archival sources of the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum and California State University, Dominguez Hills Special Collections to trace the Dominguez family history for over two centuries. Their history and lands are entwined in California ‘s rich Indian, Spanish, Mexican and American history.

Workshops will address the Dominguez family business and inheritance strategies and their relationship to natives and migrants from varied social and cultural backgrounds. NEH Summer Scholars will also analyze how territorial industrial expansion transformed the American people and how massive immigration after 1870, including the Chinese, some of whom became laborers on Dominguez lands, formed new social patterns and concepts about national identity.

Workshops will literally bring history to life for participants using Dominguez family re-enactors and dancers who specialize in historical dances from the periods we will study. As NEH Summer Scholars, you will explore the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum collections and archives, including its archaeological site, to learn to teach and interpret history through objects. You will continue this immersion into history through field trips to Moniika’nga: recreated Tongva Village in San Pedro, Mission San Gabriel, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, and Chinatown. Each site demonstrates how the Dominguez family interacted with diverse groups in the area and the complex process of bridging cultures between these groups.

For full details and applicant information, please download the full Directors’ Letter as a PDF or use the links to the left.

Looking forward to meeting our NEH 2011 Summer Scholars,

Alison Bruesehoff, Director, Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum
Dr. Laura Talamante, California State University, Dominguez Hills

Information:
Cheryl McKnight, Project Coordinator
1000 East Victoria Street – SCC 300B
Carson, CA 90747
310/243-2438
dominguezlandmarks@csudh.edu

NOTE: Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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