Join us for a special three-part online workshop series focused on the use of political cartoons in the history-social science classroom.  This unique series will feature presentations by UC Davis historians, coupled with insights from collector Michael Kahn, who for the first time is sharing access to his personal collection of political cartoons from across the world with K-12 teachers.  "Political Cartoons are the beating heart of history," notes Kahn. "They tell the unvarnished truth about what people were thinking and doing. If you want to know what was really going on:  look at the cartoons that were drawn for the people of the times." 

Attendance is free, but you must REGISTER. 

From Political Cartoons to Twitter: What role does media play in shaping our democracy? (May 4)  Professor Kathryn Olmsted, who studies the cultural and political history of the United States, will kick off the series by examining the changing media through which Americans learned about politics from the middle of the nineteenth century to the twenty-first century. She will share print, television, talk, internet and social media sources, explore conspiracy theories and disinformation, and consider how to support students’ media literacy skills.

The Americas through the Eyes of Cartoonists: What do global political cartoons reveal about international relations? (May 11).  Professor Charles Walker, who researches Peruvian history and directs the Hemispheric Institute of the Americas and the Global Center for Latin America and the Caribbean at UC Davis, will explore historical political cartoons from South and North America to consider what they can teach us about inter-America relations in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

​Perspectives on Anti-Asian Racism in American History: What can political cartoons teach us about race relations at pivotal moments in U.S. history? (May 19). Professor Cecilia Tsu, whose research focuses on Asian American history, race, and immigration will examine historical political cartoons from California and beyond that illuminate three key historic moments in Asian American history: the anti-Chinese movement in the 1870s-80s, alien land laws in the Progressive era, and anti-Japanese hysteria during World War II. We will reflect on the legacy of anti-Asian discrimination and racism, as well as the resistance of Asian Americans.

This series is made possible through the generous support of Michael and Susan Kahn.

Header Image:  Library of Congress: "Join or Die"