Catherine Avery, President of the Cleveland Council of Women and named the 'The First Women of Cleveland' by local clubwomen, expressed her desire for Cleveland women of 1996 to symbolically unite with the women of 1896. She appealed to women one hundred years later to improve their legacy and continue the accomplishments of those who came before them. In 1996, Elaine Hadden acknowledged Cleveland women's proud ancestry. She confirmed that women must continue their valuable endeavors as a lasting tribute to their foremothers.

The occasions that enabled Avery and Hadden to speak across the centuries was Cleveland's centennial and bicentennial celebrations. In 1896, the Women's Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission deposited a time capsule in the Western Reserve Historical Society to be unveiled by Cleveland women during the city's bicentennial celebration. Descendents of the Women's Department opened the capsule on January 6, 1996, and found symbols (United States flag), records ("Memorial History of the Women of the Western Reserve"), artifacts (letter from president-elect William McKinley), and souvenirs (Women Christian Temperance Union badge) left by their ancestors.

The most fascinating memento included in the 1896 capsule was the letter written by Avery "To Women Unborn." She described the current social, economic, political, patriotic, technological, and local conditions in 1896, and then followed her descriptions with four questions to the women of 1996 on the state of these issues in the twentieth century.

This lesson plan investigates Avery's query of Cleveland women and their accomplishments and the achievements of Cleveland and the nation by 1996 on the state of these issues in the twentieth century.

This lesson plan investigates Avery's query of Cleveland women and their accomplishments and the achievements of Cleveland and the nation by 1996. Using Avery's letter students will research local and national sources to attempt to answer Avery's questions posed more than one hundred years ago.

Objectives:

Secondary Students will be able to:

• Analyze the primary source document "TO WOMEN UNBORN, 1896 sends greetings to 1996," and answer the four questions that are posed in the letter.
• Research and discuss the changes that have resulted in the twentieth century.
• Present student's answers to the questions to the class and evaluate the implications of the change/continuity in American history.

Background:

Consult the Cleveland Plain Dealer for articles of the unveiling of the time capsule on 1896. See the example:
Rebecca Freligh. "Women's Voting Impact." August 22,1995.
----- "Voices From the Past." January 7, 1996.
-----. "Time Capsules' Trove."
-----. "Cleveland Women Envision 2096." October 8, 1996.
Bob Rich. "City's Centennial Brought Much to Celebrate." March 3, 1996.
Delia Rios. "Reforming a Nation Before Getting the Vote." March 28, 1995.
Wendy Suto. "Women of this Century Pen Message to Those of 2096." November 4, 1996.
"Sealing Now for 2096." December 3, 1996.
"Women of 1896 Left Proud Legacy." January 7, 1996.
"Everywoman" section. December 17, 1996. Articles include:
Rebecca Freligh. "Women a Century Apart Share Spirit."
Eleanor Mallet. "Women's World Back in 1996."
Fran Stewart. "The Women Who Broke Through Barriers."
"A Century of Progress."
"Barriers Fell Before Them."
"If You Could See Us Now."
"Picturing the Unborn Cleveland Women."
"To Women Unborn."

Introduction:

All students will receive a copy of "TO WOMEN UNBORN." The document is divided into four sections. Have students read silently the first section ending with the question HOW ARE THESE THINGS WITH YOU?

Open the discussion about what the students read and ask for their interpretations and impressions of Cleveland and American society in 1896. Continue through each section in the same format, encouraging students to the context of 1896 as described in Avery's letter.

Development:

Divide the students into groups and assign one section and question per group.

1. HOW ARE THESE THINGS WITH YOU? This section addresses the condition of the human and urban issues such as streets, poverty, children, vice disease and health, and wealth, power, and government.
2. ARE YOU? This paragraph centers on loyalty, patriotism, and national identity.
3. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? This part focuses on scientific and technological change.
4. WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR CLEVELAND? This area stresses the improvements to Cleveland.

Application:

• Have students research the answers to Avery's inquiry as to what America has achieved during the twentieth century and what the state of the nation has been in the last 100 years. Provide the students with library time or research books, newspapers, and magazines in the classroom to answer their assigned questions.
• Have students report to the class their findings. (Use the attached info sheets to aid students in the development of their answers.)

Conclusion:

• Apply the students to one of the following statements about history: "The more things change the more they stay the same." "History repeats itself."
• Has America progressed during the twentieth century or are we facing similar issues and questions that our ancestors faced?
• What questions would you pose to the women of 2096?
• What problems and issues do you think will be resolved by 2096? What new problems might arise by the next century?
• Write a letter to Mrs. Avery discussing the economic, political, and social changes that have occurred for women in the twentieth century.