Grosse Pointe History Day includes research from ULS students and across the community
On February 7, the Grosse Pointe Learning Collaborative will host Grosse Pointe History Day, an educational program that encourages students to explore their community's history. The event is FREE and open to the public and will take place from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Shores.
“We are proud to host Grosse Pointe History Day, and to be a part of the Grosse Pointe Learning Collaborative,” said Mark Heppner, President and CEO of Ford House. “In addition to highlighting the rich history of the Grosse Pointes, this event demonstrates the importance and value of experiential learning opportunities for our students.”
As part of Grosse Pointe History Day activities, students from University Liggett School, Grosse Pointe Academy, and Grosse Pointe Public Schools selected topics and performed extensive research by using libraries, archives, museums, and oral history interviews. After analyzing and interpreting their findings, they developed final projects in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website.
At the February 7 event, students will be sharing projects on a variety of local history topics, including:
• Women’s Suffrage in Grosse Pointe
• Holocaust Survivors Living in Michigan
• French Heritage in Grosse Pointe
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1968 Speech at Grosse Pointe High School
• 9/11 Connections in Grosse Pointe
Grosse Pointe History Day is presented as part of The Grosse Pointe Learning Collaborative. Founded in 2023, the Collaborative brings together historical organizations, schools, civil and religious organizations, museums, and other community assets to collaborate and build local learning experiences for learners of all ages. Through tours, featured exhibits, archival material, field trips, and other programming, the community has access to both formal and informal learning experiences sharing Grosse Pointe’s history and influence in the world.
The Collaborative is a project of LocLore: Humanities Education through Place at University Liggett School. The Grosse Pointe Learning Collaborative is funded by the Edward E. Ford Foundation and Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan - Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds. University Liggett School serves as the administrator and fiduciary of the Collaborative. Members and participants in the meetings and events of the Collaborative include leadership, staff and teachers from the Ford House, Grosse Pointe Public Schools, Grosse Pointe War Memorial, Grosse Pointe Historical Society, Grosse Pointe Public Library, Grosse Pointe Academy, Harper Woods Public Library, and the City of Grosse Pointe Woods Historical Commission.
The Matilda R. Wilson Fund is the Presenting Sponsor for Grosse Pointe History Day. In addition to hosting, Ford House is the Program Book Sponsor and an In Kind Sponsor. Grosse Pointe Academy and The War Memorial are Gold Sponsors, and Grosse Pointe News, Ron and Mary Lamparter, and Meijer are Silver Sponsors. The Law Office of Alan Lowenthal is Bronze Sponsor, and University Liggett School is an additional In Kind Sponsor.
About The Grosse Pointe Learning Collaborative
Founded in 2023, the Grosse Pointe Learning Collaborative brings together community institutions from across the Pointes and Harper Woods to create formal and informal learning experiences for all ages. Through the sharing of resources and assets and the development of ongoing partnerships, the Collaborative serves as a model for other communities on how institutions can work together to maximize the impact of their educational resources. The Collaborative is a project of LocLore: Humanities Education through Place at University Liggett School. Funding for the Collaborative is provided by the Edward E. Ford Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan - Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Grosse Pointe Legacy Funds. To learn more, visit gplearns.org.