Teaching the City
AHA Session 1
Thursday, January 8, 2026: 1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Continental B (Hilton Chicago, Lobby Level)
Chair:
Nicholas Kryczka, National Louis University
Panel:
Ann Durkin Keating, North Central College
D. Bradford Hunt, Loyola University Chicago
Crystal Johnson, Chicago Metro History Day and Chicago History Museum
Joshua A. T. Salzmann, Northeastern Illinois University
Morag Walsh, Harold Washington Library Center
Asif Wilson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
D. Bradford Hunt, Loyola University Chicago
Crystal Johnson, Chicago Metro History Day and Chicago History Museum
Joshua A. T. Salzmann, Northeastern Illinois University
Morag Walsh, Harold Washington Library Center
Asif Wilson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Session Abstract
The history of Chicago is rich with stories and examples that can help students engage with broader themes in the history of the US and the world. What resources are available to help teachers integrate Chicago and the Great Lakes region into their courses and syllabi? What approaches to the city's history work best for instilling a sense of curiosity and inquiry among students at various ages and levels? What is the special value of teaching through local and regional histories? And how can a deeper engagement with the richly layered history of Chicago create opportunities for student learning? This panel brings together historians and educators to discuss institutions, resources, and primary sources to bring Chicago history into the classroom.
See more of: AHA Sessions