Americana Archives | Managing American Spaces

American Hero: Amelia Earhart

AMELIA EARHART: AVIATOR PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to support diplomacy through the intersection of culture, innovation, and American history. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution via Wikimedia Commons RESOURCES Videos Amelia (111 minutes)* — This biopic, starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere, features Earhart’s early years and her attempt to …

By scottbj | 18 June, 2026 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Americana, Audience, College and University, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Information about the United States, Pillars of American Spaces, Press & Media, Programming Type, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture, U.S. History | Tags: American Heroes, programming, toolkit

American Hero: Phillis Wheatley

PHILLIS WHEATLEY: POET & PATRIOT PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to highlight Phillis Wheatley’s contributions to literature, history, and early American identity. Image credit: Library of Congress An engraving of Phillis Wheatley seated at a desk with a quill and paper, looking upward for inspiration. RESOURCES Biographical overviews National Park Service – …

American Hero: Julia Child

JULIA CHILD PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to support culinary diplomacy and showcase America’s culinary excellence globally. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Julia Child in her kitchen in Massachusetts in 1978. RESOURCES Graphics The American Heroes Collection features digital media assets, including posters, videos, and social media graphics that were designed for …

American Hero: Harper Lee

HARPER LEE PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to explore Harper Lee’s life and literary contributions, and to examine the lasting significance of To Kill a Mockingbird in American literature and cultural history. Photo credit: White House President George W. Bush awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to author …

American Hero: Edgar Allan Poe

EDGAR ALLAN POE: MASTER OF AMERICAN GOTHIC LITERATURE PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to explore Edgar Allan Poe’s life and literary contributions, and to examine the lasting influence of his Gothic style and storytelling innovations on American literature and global culture. Photo credit: Library of Congress RESOURCES Videos and …

American Hero: Katherine Johnson

KATHERINE JOHNSON: NASA SCIENTIST PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit, is designed for programming at American Spaces to celebrate American excellence and leadership in technology and space exploration, as well as, to recognize a great American hero. Photo credit: NASA RESOURCES Videos and Digital Media Hidden Figures (127 minutes)* – Three female African-American mathematicians play a pivotal …

By scottbj | 13 May, 2026 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Americana, Audience, College and University, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Information about the United States, Pillars of American Spaces, Press & Media, Programming Type, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture, U.S. History | Tags: American Heroes, programming, toolkit

American Hero: Elvis Presley

ELVIS PRESLEY: THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to support music diplomacy through the intersection of music, culture, and American history. Elvis Presley at Olympia Theater, August 3, 1956 Photo Credit: Don Wright for the Miami Herald, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons RESOURCES Videos and Digital Media Elvis (159 minutes)* — this epic biopic …

By hassanbs | 6 May, 2026 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Americana, Audience, College and University, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Information about the United States, Music, Pillars of American Spaces, Press & Media, Programming Type, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture | Tags: American Heroes, programming, toolkit

Babe Ruth

BABE RUTH PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to support sports diplomacy through the intersection of sports, culture, and American history. Photo credit: Frances P. Burke – Francis P. Burke Collection, public domain Babe Ruth pitching for the Boston Red Sox during a game between 1914 to 1919. Photo credit: Irwin, La Broad, & Pudlin, public domain Babe Ruth as a …

By scottbj | 2 April, 2026 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Americana, Audience, College and University, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Pillars of American Spaces, Press & Media, Programming Type, Sports, Strategic and Cultural Programs, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture | Tags: programming, toolkit

Jackie Robinson

JACKIE ROBINSON PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to support sports diplomacy through the exploration of a barrier-breaking athlete. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Jackie Robinson in his Kansas City Monarchs uniform. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Jackie Robinson, first baseman with the Brooklyn Dodgers, circa 1949. MORE RESOURCES Graphics The American Heroes Collection features digital …

By scottbj | 1 April, 2026 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Americana, Audience, College and University, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Pillars of American Spaces, Press & Media, Programming Type, Sports, Strategic and Cultural Programs, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture | Tags: programming, toolkit

American Hero: Elvis Presley

By scottbj | 23 February, 2026 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Americana, Audience, College and University, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Information about the United States, Music, Pillars of American Spaces, Press & Media, Programming Type, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture | Tags: American Heroes, programming, toolkit

American Hero: Walt Disney

WALT DISNEY PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to celebrate American excellence and recognize a great American hero through the intersection of art, culture, and American history. Publicity photo of Walt Disney from the Boy Scouts of America.Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Walt Disney, seated, examines film with Mickey Mouse perched on his right …

By scottbj | 23 February, 2026 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Americana, Art, Audience, College and University, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Information about the United States, Movies & Films, Pillars of American Spaces, Press & Media, Programming Type, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture | Tags: American Heroes, programming, toolkit

American Hero: Muhammad Ali

MUHAMMAD ALI PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to recognize and celebrate Muhammad Ali, a true American hero who embodies the spirit of strength, perseverance, and American exceptionalism. President Ronald Reagan “punching” Muhammad Ali in the Oval Office. Photo credit: National Archives KEY DEFINITIONS American Exceptionalism – the belief …

By scottbj | 13 May, 2025 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Americana, Audience, Civil Rights, College and University, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Information about the United States, Pillars of American Spaces, Press & Media, Programming Type, Sports, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture, U.S. History, U.S. Policy and Values | Tags: American Heroes, programming, toolkit

Grace Hopper

Grace Hopper: Mathematician, Computer Scientist, Innovator PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES An American Hero This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to introduce pioneering mathematician Grace Hopper and highlight her spirit of innovation and enduring legacy in the field of computer science. Photo Credit: National Museum of American History Photo credit: National Museum of American History Hopper and her team at Harvard are credited with popularizing …

By scottbj | 2 April, 2025 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Americana, Audience, College and University, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Information about the United States, Pillars of American Spaces, Press & Media, Programming Type, Science and Technology, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture, U.S. History | Tags: elections, programming, toolkit

American Southwest

THE SOUTHWEST UNITED STATES AN AMERICANA SERIES TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES This Americana Series Toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces. The information here is designed to broaden knowledge of specific regions of the United States and their local cultures and customs. Photo credit: Brad Scott CURRENT ISSUES Two key issues in the Southwest …

By scottbj | 18 April, 2023 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Alumni Engagement, Americana, Audience, College and University, Cross Cultural Understanding, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Pillars of American Spaces, Programming Type, Social, Strategic and Cultural Programs, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture | Tags: programming, toolkit, week

Alaska: The Last Frontier

ALASKA: THE LAST FRONTIER PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES This Americana Toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to further understanding of the United States. HISTORIC EVENTS 1728 – Danish explorer Vitus Bering discovers the Bering Strait.1776 – British explorer Captain James Cook makes contact with Alaskan natives.1784 – The Russians establish a permanent …

By scottbj | 18 April, 2023 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Alumni Engagement, Americana, Audience, College and University, Cross Cultural Understanding, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Pillars of American Spaces, Programming Type, Strategic and Cultural Programs, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture | Tags: programming, toolkit, week

Presidents Day

PRESIDENTS’ DAY PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES This program toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to create a greater awareness of the role and history of the U.S. presidency. Lansdowne portrait of George Washington Painting by Gilbert Stuart LESSON PLANS Public Broadcasting Service This site contains 60-second videos of all past U.S. presidents, lesson plans on …

By scottbj | 13 April, 2023 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Americana, Audience, College and University, Commemoration, Day, Democracy, Emerging Voices, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Information about the United States, Pillars of American Spaces, Press & Media, Programming Type, Social, Strategic and Cultural Programs, Strategy, Toolkits, U.S. Culture, U.S. Policy and Values | Tags: month, programming, toolkit

Webinar: U.S. National Parks

WEBINAR: U.S. NATIONAL PARKS DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR A WEBINAR FROM THE OFFICE OF THE U.S. SPEAKER PROGRAM This Discussion Guide is designed for virtual programming at American Spaces to create a greater awareness of U.S. National Parks and how they operate. ACCESS TO VIDEO Links: Vimeo Videos Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , and Part 4 Duration: 40 minutes for …

By scottbj | 5 April, 2023 | Categories: Adult, Age Group, Americana, Audience, Climate, College and University, Emerging Voices, Environment, Established Opinion Leaders, High School, Information about the United States, Pillars of American Spaces, Programming Type, Security, Social, Strategic and Cultural Programs, Strategy, U.S. Culture, Virtual Viewing Parties, Webchats | Tags: discussion guide, programming, toolkit, virtual

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