Hist 4004/CRN 93385

Virginia Indians Pre-Contact to 2007: Research Seminar

Dr. Crandall Shifflett

TThs 9:30-10:45 MajWm 427

Fall 2008

 

shifflet@vt.edu

MajWm 441

231-8372 (office)

Office Hours: By Appointment

Office: 441 Major Williams

 

History Teaching Assistant:

Office Hours:

Office: History Department Carrel

 

Course Description: The overall content of this course covers the general history of Virginia's Indians from the Precontact Period to the present. But the course is designed primarily as an undergraduate research seminar with a specific research focus on Indians from the pre-contact period to 1700. Students will use a variety of original source materials: maps, rare first-hand accounts, videotaped oral histories, the Virtual Jamestown digital archive, archaeological evidence, images, and secondary literature. Software tools and advanced technologies, where possible, will be used for research and presentation of historical data. The course objectives are to:

  • research an assigned Indian group/town and produce an oral and written report
  • study, analyze, and dicuss primary and secondary work on the history of Virginia Indians
  • use advanced technologies for research and presentation

Requirements:

  • have a wireless laptop computer or access to a desktop computer
  • research an assigned Indian tribe named on John Smith's 1608 Map of Virginia
  • read, listen to, or conduct interviews of contemporary Indians
  • complete reading assignments before class and contribute to class discussions
  • give brief in-class oral report on research progress
  • make PowerPoint presentation to class, summarizing findings and conclusions
  • produce illustrated essay (ca. 10-15 pp.) based upon the semester research
  • submit final report and Powerpoint presentation on a CD-R.

General Periods of Indian History

  • Precontact (10,000 B.C. to 1525 A .D.)
  • Early Contact and Settlement, 1570- 1622 (end of Virginia Company period)
  • Conflict, Reservations, and Treaties, 1623-1699
  • Revolution 1776-1785
  • Creation of the U.S. 1786-1820s
  • Andrew Jackson and Removal, 1820-1840s
  • Civil War and After 1860-1880
  • Darwin, Plecker, and Eugenics, 1880-1970s
  • Struggle for Recognition, 1980-Present

    •  

    The class will meet in Major Williams 427 ( 9:30-10:45 a.m. ). One-half of the class meets on Tuesdays, the other half on Thursdays. Some class periods are reserved for your research.

     

    Background Texts:

    Frederic W. Gleach, Powhatan's World and Colonial Virginia. The University of Nebraska Press, 1997.

     

    Karen Kupperman, Indians and English:  Facing Off in Early America. Cornell University Press, 2000.

     

    Camilla Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma. Hill and Wang, 2004.

     

    Helen C. Rountree and E. Randolph Turner, III. Before and After Jamestown: Virginia's Powhatans and Their Predecessors

     

    Karenne Wood, ed., The Virginia Indian Heritage Trail, 2007.

     

    E. Randolph Turner, III and Antony F. Opperman, "Searching for Virginia Company Period Sites." (Manuscript on Blackboard)

     

    Calendar (subject to revision)

    Legend: R= Helen Rountree and E. Randolph Turner, III, Before and After Jamestown ; T=Camila Townsend, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma; G=Frederic Gleach, Powhatan's World and Colonial Virginia; K=Karen Kupperman, Indians and English; W=Karenne Wood, ed., The Virginia Indian Heritage Trail

     

    Aug 26/28 Introduction to course; research assignments and plans for the semester. All students must attend the first class or be dropped from the course. Research assignments and dates.

     

    Sep 2/4 Precontact: R-Intro & Ch. 1

    Sep 9 Research sources: Newman Library, online archives and search engines, etc.

     

    Sep 11 Open for Research

     

    Sep 16/18 Protohistoric Period: R-Ch 2; T-Ch. 1

     

    Sep 23/25 English Understandings: G-Chs. Intro & Chs. 2-3; T-Ch. 2

     

    Sep 30/Oct 2 John White/Theodor De Bry and Roanoke: K-Intro thru Ch. 2; Virtual Jamestown (Look at several White watercolors and De Bry engravings and come to class prepared to discuss the differences)

     

    Oct 7/9 Indian Society and Culture: G-Ch. 1 & 4; K-Chs 3-5; R-3

     

    Oct 14/16 Open (Preview Black Robe and The Mission)

     

    Oct 21/23 Encounters: R-Ch 4; T-Chs 3-9; G-Ch 5; K-Chs. 6-7

     

    Oct 28/30 Brief (about 5 mins.) Oral Research Reports

     

    Nov 4/6 The Seventeenth Century: R=Ch. 5; G-Chs. 6-9 & Conclusion

     

    Nov 11/13 Virginia Indians in the Middle Centuries: R-Ch. 8

     

    Nov18/20 Virginia Indians in 20 Century: R-Chs 9-10; Wood, all

     

    Nov 22-29 Thanksgiving Break

     

    Nov 25/27 Power Point Presentations (put on CD-R and turn in for grading)  

     

    Dec 2/4 Power Point Presentations (put on CD-R and turn in for grading)

     

    Dec 9 : Final CD-R submission at beginning of class and class evaluation

     

    Calculation of Grades: A total of 1,000 points may be accumulated for the class based upon the following assignments and values:

    Oral research reports=200
    Power Point presentation=200
    Class participation, assignments, and attendance=200

    *Class participation and attendance policy- Three excused absences are allowed for any reason. Do not use them unless absolutely necessary. After that 50 points are deducted for absenteeism.

    Final CD-R=400

     

    Grading Scale
    93+=A
    90-92=A-
    87-89=B+
    83-86=B
    80-82=B-
    77-79=C+
    73-76=C
    70-72=C-
    67=69=D+
    63-66=D
    60-62=D-
    Below 60=F