History as Prologue

Author: Mark Thomas

  • Social studies, civil rights and the bigger picture

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    Mark Thomas
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    Social studies, civil rights and the bigger picture There have been three presidential administrations, including the Obama Administration, since I last participated in a social studies methods class. Over the years, I’ve focused on units and lessons that support those broad themes of social studies without much deliberate thought given to those stemming concepts. Like all fundamentals…

  • Downtown Richmond Explosion – April 6, 1968

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    Mark Thomas
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    I was nearly seven when I noticed the agitation in my parent’s voices and motions. It’s how youngsters interpret events beyond their limited world. The date was April 6, 1968 and the downtown area of our county seat, Richmond, Indiana, was devastated by a powerful explosion. I also recall seeing from 8 to 9 miles…

  • The Sparks of the Triangle Fire – Before and After

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    Mark Thomas
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    Sparks of the Triangle Fire   On April 5, 1911, nearly a half-million people witnessed or marched in a symbolic funeral procession commemorating the victims of the Triangle Waist Company Fire. Organized by the International Ladies Garment Worker Union, (ILGWU), the cortege included a horse-drawn, empty hearse and an estimated 120 thousand protesters demanding improvements for…

  • The Triangle Fire

    The Triangle Fire

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    Mark Thomas
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    The Triangle Fire: A prologue                       Though a coincidence, the Triangle Fire of 1911 is memorialized each March, designated as Women’s History Month. While on each anniversary of the March 25 inferno that claimed 146 lives we remember those who died as innocent victims –…