WWI Museum
Photo of Quest World History Teacher Mr. Mulvehill and his class with the helmets on at the museum Photo courtesy: Emma Lloyd
April 6, 2022
At the beginning of March, many classes visited the 400 building to have a special in-school field trip to Millikan’s very own World War I museum. COMPASS students, with the help of the students in the Museum Studies class, put together a classroom covered in artifacts from the time period.
There was art, writing, clothing from the war, and historical artifacts, such as medallions, helmets, and a radio. There was also a section dedicated to 1920s women’s fashion.
The museum helps students see the physical history of the war without leaving the school. It came at the perfect time as many world history classes shifted into their World War I units.
Photo courtesy of Emma Lloyd
Mrs. Massich, a COMPASS 10th-grade
history teacher and her students have been setting up this museum for fifteen years. Three years ago, Mrs. Weinberg, a Millikan history teacher, joined in with Mrs. Massich and the Museum Studies class. They both feel a connection to war because both of their fathers have served the country.
This year’s museum was designed and organized by COMPASS 10th graders with help from the Museum Studies class. The key exhibit was on the Harlem Hellfighters. They were the most decorated African American regiment from New York that fought for the French army.
“We felt troop 369 [the Harlem Hellfighters] needed to be profiled more since this troop didn’t receive the recognition and respect they so deserved,” says Mrs. Weinberg, “For example, Henry Johnson, the leader of this Black American troop died being homeless on the street in NY.”
“For my 10th graders, I would want them to be proud of their hard work and to see what’s possible when everyone does their best to create something special like the World War I museum,” says Mrs. Massich.
The museum was a great educational experience for all students and especially for the COMPASS students who worked so hard to put it together.
Giselle Moreno • Apr 15, 2022 at 1:48 pm
Dear Corydon Editor,
In Issue 6/2022 (published April 6, 2022), Alma Perez wrote an article titled “WWI Museum”. The article talks about the in-school museum organized by Mrs. Massich with the help of Mrs. Weinberg. Containing historical artifacts, information, and art, the museum was a chance for students to view the WWI time period physically. Alma presented images of a display and also students that were at the museum. I really liked how she included input from the organizer, Mrs. Massich, who stated she was proud of her 10th grade students and their hard work on this project. I did something similar to this project in middle school where I researched and pretended to be a historical figure from the past. The article is very interesting and makes me want to attend this wonderful museum. One suggestion would be to include some quotes from the students who helped work on the project and share their experience. Also possibly get some opinions on the people who attended the museum, like parents or friends. It would be really cool to go to another museum like this but for a different time period. Overall, I am really glad to have been introduced to this program and would like to attend the next historical museum.
Xene Sommers • Apr 12, 2022 at 1:48 pm
In issue 6/2022, (published April 6, 2022). Alma Perez wrote an article titled “WWI Museum”. This article explains the most recent project that the museum studies class has been working on with the help from Mrs. Massich and her brilliant 10th grade history class. The room was covered with artifacts from that time period. “…art, writing, clothing from the war, and historical artifacts, such as medallions, helmets, and a radio. There was also a section dedicated to 1920s women’s fashion”, that sounds so interesting. Prior to reading the article, I had heard about this exhibit from Mrs. Massich last year over zoom, so I have never seen it in person before or even pictures of it until now. I wish I could have gone in person, this exhibit is such a cool concept, and I can really tell that a lot of hard work and effort was put into making this happen. The article also mentions the key exhibit based around the Harlem Hellfighters, the most decorated African American regiment from New York that fought for the french army. That sounds really cool! This museum really feels like a blast from the past. I hope I can visit next year.