tlp_09_aminton

=Teacher Lesson Page=

Aaron Minton, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School
Aaron's Primary Source page

Essential Question:
Grades 8-10 - How did immigration affect American conceptions of "WE THE PEOPLE"? Grade 5 - How did immigrants contribute to a growing nation? Grade 3 - What impact did immigrants have on the places where they chose to settle?


 * Unit 5:1****- History of Americas 12th grade Mystic Valley Regional Charter School.**

What type of lifestyle did the girls working at the Lowell Mills live outside of the factories?
Were there any leaders among the girls willing to advocate for their advancement?


 * Title: Get to know Harriet Farley**
 * Introduction:** Harriet Farley was the first editor of the Lowell Offering, a prominent magazine that published mill girls’ writings. She wanted to show that the mill girls had the opportunity to express themselves in conditions that were harsh and demanding. The mill girls of Lowell are a popular subject but in this lesson we will study an important leader of the mill girls.


 * //(background information on Lowell Offering and New England Offering years)//**
 * //http://library.uml.edu/clh/mo.htm//**
 * // Introductory task: Read the paragraphs in the link above to familiarize yourself with the reasons why the Lowell Mills were started and why girls came to Lowell to work. //**
 * // -Find the Merrimack //**


 * //(How were things published in the 1830’s, why and how a woman publishing?)//**

1. Analyze a drawing of Harriet Farley with minimal background information. 2. Analyze the cover of the New England Offering and Lowell Offering and make judgments on the effectiveness of the covers’ marketability. 3. Read and respond to Harriet Farley’s letters to her publishers in order to show their understanding of the nature and purposes of the Offering.
 * Tasks:**

Process
1. (Day one), a. See these three other links that may have the same details about Harriet Farley’s life. > media type="custom" key="5247341"
 * []
 * The Female Prose Writers of America by John Seely Hart 1857
 * []

i. What details vary about her life? ii. Which details are the same? iii. What events in her life may have steered her towards her occupation? c. Compare the pictures of Harriet Farley below. == Do you see any differences between the pictures? How might the artist want you to feel about Farley in these pictures? What does her attire and personal appearance tell you about her?

media type="custom" key="5247839"
 * 2. Now examine the covers of the Lowell Offering and New England Offering**

a. Why do you think they look so alike? b. What is different about the pictures? The Same? c. What do you see in the pictures give you an idea about the life of the women who worked at the mills in Lowell? d. Why does the woman have a book in her hand? e. Give a sales pitch as to why a store should have the Offering in their store. Use the information you already know about the Offering and tell the storeowner how the cover will sell the book. f. (which was better, why did they name it that) 3. (Day Two) Read the following excerpt. It is an editorial written by Farley as an account of the Lowell Mill girls' lifestyle. Read the paragraph beginning with "We have not troubled you" through to "But there has seemed." a. How does Farley defend the extra work the girls are putting into "our periodical"? (bottom of page 18) b. How does Farley compare their work in the mills to slavery? c. Why does Farley believe the Lowell Offering is a good activity for the Lowell Mill girls?

4.Harriet Farley was intent on distributing the Lowell Offering to as many people as possible. In pairs, each student will read the letters and compare their answers with their partners. Letter from Harriet Farley to James Munroe (Oct 21 1847) == Gentlemen I enlcose with this a letter which (you?) had perhaps better answer by sending some specimen? numbers of the New England offering it is simliar to many recieved last year by us and (laid?) aside. There seemed to me to be a curiosity in many remote places with regard to factory literature which we could not expect nearer home. Dr. Scoresby?? -of Bradford England- who took quite an interest in the Lowell Offering is announced by the papers? as a passenger in the ??/carnkin? I hope you see him if I do not enjoy that pleasure- I have written to a friend in Cincinnati who got an agent for the the West? some one who would be willing to take a large number of allowed a liberal discount and the imprint. B???/ and B????? dyft?? -of Portland- do not consider their agency confirmed until they have heard from you. Is there a ?ward_? agent in New York? If not would it not be well to find one and let them canvass the city- there has been little done in Lowell because we know? not who was to be the ?ward_? agent here PG 2 and whether they were to have all the city? subscribers or not. There any ??? to be one? I am ???? entirely out of numbers and so are Merrill and Heywood. There are none to be had here. Please send one some? by Express any three chosen for I wish to send out to some more papers ??.There have been about 25 dollars collected here but few have been called home?? They are getting an impression which is being injurious to the work "that it will slump?show?through." and this impression may cause it to do so. Every body is waiting to see whether it will go on and some say they will subscribe when the second number appears who will not do so before. one of our writers is getting a few names among the mill girls at ????chsett NH. I have written to ethkinson??? to learn of Mr. Fudd and hope soon to hear of him. I do not think he has ran away and if he collects any money for us I am confident he will account for it. And now about the second number. I am ? me not have it out for November? I feel us though I where losing my time while the work is at a stand and that is what I cannot afford to do. For the last your I have been living when the firewouds? of the heines of the future. I out these resources will not last- always- I feel at least as though I cannot wait much longer for the appointment to be twice- it must be decided soon. for as I am concerned In Gilman from whom I have received a letter, thinks that we might get many subscribers at the South? but adds that they must have at least a virtual? guarantee that it will contain nothing against Slavery. I can guarantee that it will not be an anti?-Slavery work, but not that it will ever contain a sentence against slavery. That would be too much like fettering? ourselves. They must not expect to make slaves of us also. Offune gren? written to _rill? they would? I have me great confidence in their quad will to the work. They are too much under the influence of Mis ___ for what. but they will not ease for her if they can convince themselves that they will make a bargain out of the offering. Mr. Judkins? and Cliner? March might- I think be good agents for us. But we ought to have some and pushups? Mr. March would suit you best though I like Mr. Judkins as well. He is of the firm? of be that I do?. Booksellers I will send down the menus cripts? for the printers any time when they are ready for it I believe you have a couple of Loerens which you will not forget to hand them Respectfully Your's, Harriet Farley
 * Click the thumbnail images to zoom. Approximate text transcription is provided. **
 * pg 3**

a. Who do you think James Munroe is? b. Why is Farley writing to him? c. What are her concerns regarding the distribution of her magazine? d. What do you think the role of "agent" is? e. Who role do you think Mr. Fudd could play regarding the distribution of the Lowell Offering? f. Do you think Farley has a sense of urgency in this letter? Why? g. In the 1800's it was an anomaly to see women in positions of power and influence. Farley wielded a lot of influence as an Editor/ Publisher. What attributes made Farley a good Editor/Publisher?

Visit this site to learn about the fading out of the New England Offering: []. After reading Farley's letter and knowing that the New England Offering was not as successful as the Lowell Offering, write Farley a short letter giving her some suggestions on how to improve the success of the Lowell Offering.

Conclusion
Students will have an understanding of the role of Harriet Farley as an advocate of the Lowell Mills Workers' intellectual growth. They will be able to articulate that, beyond the bad conditions and long hours, the Lowell Mill girls had an advocate and a creative and intellectual outlet. The students will also decide whether fighting for shorter hours or better working conditions would have been a better goal for Harriet Farley.

Assessment
=== Write a persuasive essay arguing whether or not Farley should have continued fighting for the promulgation of the Lowell Offering or simply better working conditions for the girls working at the mills. ===


 * Students will be able to… || Inadequate || Adequate || Good || Strong || Weight ||
 * Clearly Define the role of Harriet Farley as an advocate for the Lowell Mill Girls || Shows no understanding or misplaces role of Harriet Farley || Can place Harriet Farley in context of Lowell Mills era but not define her role. || Able to identify Harriet Farley as Mill Girl Advocate and understands her || Student can articulate the role of Harriet Farley as an advocate and make reasoned opinion about the usefulness of her role. ||  ||

Take away: Woman in power, as a persuasive force. Why might have the New England Offering failed?

Resources-
url}?f=print|print this page