# Lesson 1: Day 1 - Intro and Mapping Exercise
## Google Doc of this Lesson
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CvNZOvfnxWlrkAQ5IzjlhY9AsZX3Vk1pDCUavGj2X2o/edit?tab=t.o6ufw4uwzvq](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CvNZOvfnxWlrkAQ5IzjlhY9AsZX3Vk1pDCUavGj2X2o/edit?tab=t.o6ufw4uwzvq)
## **Overview:**
In this introductory activity, students will engage with a short video on the ***1838 Black Metropolis*** to begin thinking about how history is shaped by whose stories are told—and whose are left out. Through a guided discussion, students will explore the value of multiple perspectives and reflect on the complexities of recovering lesser-known narratives. This sets the stage for deeper inquiry using archival materials throughout the unit.
**Time:** 10 minutes
**Format:** Whole Group
**Objective:** SWBAT analyze the significance of exploring history through multiple perspectives by discussing the benefits and challenges of uncovering lesser known narratives.
**Watch** [**__Intro to The Black Metropolis__**](https://www.1838blackmetropolis.com/videos?wix-vod-video-id=8f35f07cc4d648d7ae574121559628b5&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-lmcaa8tx) and **ask students to respond to the following discussion questions**:
* What are the benefits of exploring historical events from multiple perspectives?
* What may be some of the challenges associated with uncovering hidden or missing aspects of history?
## **Activity 1: Mapping Philadelphia’s “Black Metropolis”**
Guided walkthrough of the **1838 Black Metropolis Map and 1838 Census Finding Aid**
**Overview:** Students will be introduced to the 1838 Black Metropolis Map and 1838 Census Finding Aid through a guided, whole-group walkthrough. By focusing on the life of Rachel Myers, a free Black woman living in Philadelphia in 1838, students will practice navigating digital archival tools to extract meaningful historical data. This activity helps students build geographic literacy and understand how primary source research can illuminate individual stories within a broader social landscape.
**Time:** 10 minutes
**Format:** Whole Group
**Objective:** SWBAT navigate the **1838 Black Metropolis Map** and **1838 Census Finding Aid** to locate biographical information about free Black residents in Philadelphia.
* Access and project the [**__1838 Census Finding Aid__**](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mstmpDM3S6ONDqU5cSdijIvJZQxhoZEKkQVL0NdheXQ/edit?gid=2030709310#gid=2030709310)
* * Search for ***Rachel Myers***
* Locate the volume and page
* * ***Rachel Myers, Vol. 3, pp 48-49***
* Identify key details (occupation, address, family, value of property, etc.)
* Access the ***1838 Pennsylvania Abolition Society (PAS) Census Vol. 3***: [**__https://www.1838blackmetropolis.com/1838-pas-census__**](https://www.1838blackmetropolis.com/1838-pas-census)
* * Go to pp 48-49 to view ***Rachel Myers***
* Then, access and project the [**__1838 Black Metropolis Map__**](https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=4dd29a66cd1344539bdffca8219ef344)
* * Click on the ***Layers ***icon (the fourth icon on the right side of the map)
* * Scroll through the ***Layers*** under ”Choose What to See”
* __Deselect__ the ***Population Heatmap***
* __Select__ ***1838 and Later Confirmed House Locations*** and ***1838 Census Household Detail- Accurate to Intersections***
* Click on the ***Filter ***icon (the sixth icon on the right side of the map)
* * Search for ***Rachel Myers*** by her “Family Name” which is Myers
* Zoom in to search for ***Rachel Myers*** on the map at 412 South 7th Street Philadelphia, PA.
***Rachel Myers*** shows up on the map via the following icons:
 
* Click on the ***Export or Print ***icon (at the top of the map)
* Show students how to save this view of the map as ***1838 Black Metropolis Map- Rachel Myers.***
* Show the digital map featuring Rachel Myers' 1838 PAS Census data:
* * [__1838 Black Metropolis Map- Rachel Myers.pdf__](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SZSW7l9IGddMgjSHAfA1oGstGa6Uu409/view)
## **Activity 2:** Mapping Lives, Making Meaning
**Overview:** In this collaborative small-group activity, students will use the 1838 Black Metropolis Map and 1838 PAS Census data to investigate a real person from the archive and reconstruct the key details of their life—including occupation, location, and family context. Students will synthesize their findings into a short biographical profile and reflect on the significance of recovering and sharing these stories today. This activity invites critical thinking, empathy, and real-world application of archival research.
**Time:** 15 minutes
**Format:** Small groups
**Objective:** SWBAT analyze primary source data to reconstruct a historical narrative that centers lived Black experiences in antebellum Philadelphia.
* Assign students to small groups.
* Assign each group to one of the following people:
| **Group** | **Name** | **Family** | **Occupation** | **Address** |
|--------|------|--------|------------|---------|
| **1** | Israel Purnell | Purnell Family | Seaman | 11TH & RACE |
| **2** | Stephen Georg Medad | Medad Family | Shoemaker | 11TH & WASHINGTON |
| **3** | Lilly Hardy | Hardy Family | Huxter | 7TH & SOUTH |
| **4** | Margaret Rossel | Rossel Family | Day Work | BEDFORD AB 13TH
(Current location: 13th & Kater between South and Bainbridge) |
| **5** | G\. Saunders | Saunders Family | Grocer | 130 N 5TH |
| **6** | Nancy Rico | Rico Family | Service | EAGLE CT
(Current location: South Alder St. between 10th & 11th and Spruce) |
* Invite students to use the [**__1838 Black Metropolis Map__**](https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=4dd29a66cd1344539bdffca8219ef344) to chart at least five personal and social facts about the person/ their family.
* Each person in the group should complete [__Mapping Lives, Making Meaning.docx__](https://docs.google.com/document/d/14_l3RNuP-rBIPYnr4eRv0IjOHdJgSIHE/edit?usp=sharing&rtpof=true&sd=true) and:
* * create a short profile about their assigned person.
* include a five sentence synopsis based on the following prompt:
* * *Why is it important to tell these stories now?*
* If possible: save a PDF version of their person’s map view (similar to the Rachel Myers example)
## **Activity 3:** Map the Meaning
**Overview**: In this whole-group activity, students will present key facts about their assigned individuals while visually locating each person on the 1838 Black Metropolis Map, reinforcing connections between geography, historical identity, and community context.
**Time:** 15 minutes
**Format:** Whole Group
**Objective:** SWBAT present key biographical details about historical individuals on the 1838 Black Metropolis Map to demonstrate connections between personal narratives, geography, and community identity.
* Project the 1838 Black Metropolis Map.
* Invite each group to spend 1-2 minutes sharing important facts about their assigned person.
* * Show the assigned person’s location on the map.
---
**Documents**
- [L1:1 Video - Intro to the Black Metropolis](https://1838blackmetropolis.getoutline.com/s/aa099d92-e5c1-4fa9-ad54-9fd69ac27a28/doc/l11-video-intro-to-the-black-metropolis-XnvpuzfLd6)
- [L1:1 1838 Black Metropolis Map](https://1838blackmetropolis.getoutline.com/s/aa099d92-e5c1-4fa9-ad54-9fd69ac27a28/doc/l11-1838-black-metropolis-map-FhkrY3KOcR)
- [L1:1 1838 Census Finding Aid](https://1838blackmetropolis.getoutline.com/s/aa099d92-e5c1-4fa9-ad54-9fd69ac27a28/doc/l11-1838-census-finding-aid-699iriX2k2)
- [L1:1 Activity - Mapping Lives Making Meaning](https://1838blackmetropolis.getoutline.com/s/aa099d92-e5c1-4fa9-ad54-9fd69ac27a28/doc/l11-activity-mapping-lives-making-meaning-OB3xaCb2hF)
- [L1:1 Activity: Then & Now – Historical Recovery](https://1838blackmetropolis.getoutline.com/s/aa099d92-e5c1-4fa9-ad54-9fd69ac27a28/doc/l11-activity-then-now-historical-recovery-ieqmeFscMV)
- [L1:1 Activity: Real-world Research: Using Archival Research to Explore Place Over Time](https://1838blackmetropolis.getoutline.com/s/aa099d92-e5c1-4fa9-ad54-9fd69ac27a28/doc/l11-activity-real-world-research-using-archival-research-to-explore-place-over-time-ekza7GZoOz)
- [L1:1 Rachel Myers in the 1838 Census](https://1838blackmetropolis.getoutline.com/s/aa099d92-e5c1-4fa9-ad54-9fd69ac27a28/doc/l11-rachel-myers-in-the-1838-census-1lTe4yvNYO)
- [L1:1 Rachel Myers - 1838 Black Metropolis Map](https://1838blackmetropolis.getoutline.com/s/aa099d92-e5c1-4fa9-ad54-9fd69ac27a28/doc/l11-rachel-myers-1838-black-metropolis-map-WSoGJXaVzN)