Page Contents: Getting Started | Reading Stories | Web Site Features | FAQs | Teacher Tools
Getting Started
Site Help describes the content and special features of the In Their Words: Stories of Minnesota's Greatest Generation website. We suggest that you begin with Site Help and then proceed in any way that interests you. There is no one right way to explore this web site. The Home Page gives you three ways to find stories; click on:
- Images labeled the Depression, the War, or the Boom.
- Search link under the introductory paragraph
- Timeline link under the introductory paragraph
Once you are beyond the Home Page, you can use the links on the green navigation bar near the top of the page to explore the web site.
Reading Stories
The web site presents collections of personal stories of members of Minnesota's Greatest Generation. Each story is illustrated with objects, letters, photographs, manuscripts, film and other artifacts from the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society. The stories were chosen from the Minnesota Historical Society's manuscripts and oral history collections, and from the Minnesota's Greatest Generation Share Your Story online database.
Each choice listed above in Getting Started lead you to either a story introduction or a personal story page. Navigate through the pages using the following instructions.
Pages are presented with one or more images on the left, a story on the right and a story navigation bar across the bottom.
- Images are presented in three ways:
- Slide shows present a series of images to illustrate a story topic. To view the slide show, click the Play button; to stop it click the Pause button. You can click on an image to learn more about it. Each slide show is available in a printable version.
- Single images set the context for a collection of stories. To learn more about an image, click on the link Learn more about this image.
- A set of four images illustrate a personal story. Click on the image or caption to learn more about it.
- Stories are presented in a scrollable text box.
- Bolded words within a story are links to primary sources and other resources.
- Story citations are listed at the end of the text; click on them for it to explore primary sources and other resources.
- An Investigate Further link is available beneath a slide show or single image. Click on it to explore primary sources and other resources outside the In Their Words web site.
- The navigation bar at the bottom of each page to scroll through the list of stories by dragging on the scroll bar or clicking on the right and left arrows. To choose a story topic click on the image or story title.
- Breadcrumbs (links separated by a "/") are helpful if you get lost. They help you navigate back through the web site.The breadcrumbs are in the banner near the top of the page.
Web Site Features
Timeline
Timeline helps set the context for each story and provides easy access to the stories.
- Use the scroll bar at the bottom of the Timeline to move forward and backward in time.
- Click on a link in a drop down box to go directly to a story collection.
- Choose an era from those listed at the bottom of the screen to go directly to that section of the timeline.
- The Timeline requires Flash version 8. To install the latest version of the free Flash player, visit the Adobe web site.
- A non-Flash, printable version of the timeline is available.
Finding specific stories
There are two ways to go directly to a specific story; Use the
- Timeline, or
- Site Search available on the Search link in the menu bar. Words and phrases entered in the search box are used to find stories that contain the search term in the title and content. Click on the story in the results list.
Finding artifacts, people and resources
The Search link in the menu bar provides two ways to search for information:
- Resource Collection Search/Browse – enables you to select a resource and a date range to filter the search.
- Site Search – allows you to search the site using terms or a phrase. You can further limit the search to certain sections of the web site, e.g. the narratives (stories) and resources.
Artifact Special Features
Artifact Special Features are identified by a target-like icon on artifact pages. The special features enable you to view film clips or zoom in on some images such as map.
- Slide Shows play when you click on the "play" button. Click the button again to pause. Slides can also be advanced manually when paused by clicking the previous and next buttons.
- Film Clips will automatically run when the artifact popup page is opened. When you hover the mouse on the movie screen, a control panel will appear similar to a VCR panel that will allow you to pause, stop, restart, fast forward, and reverse the film clips.
- Zoom – Clicking on the "zoom" button will allow you to explore an artifact up close.
Changing Text Size
Change Text Size allows you to increase or decrease the text size. Look for the graphic with three "A" letters near the bottom of the screen. Click on the small, medium, or large "A" button to select a small, medium or large text size.
Glossary terms
Glossary entries are available throughout the web site from links embedded in the story text.
A full listing of Glossary entries is available on the Search page. The full glossary is divided into alphabetical sections for easier access to specific terms.
FAQs
How were the stories selected? Stories for the web site were chosen from the Minnesota Historical Society's manuscripts and oral history collections, and from the Minnesota's Greatest Generation Share Your Story online database. Selections were made based on the following criteria:
- Story content in relation to the broader story topics
- The storyteller's connection to Minnesota
- The ability to illustrate the story using MHS collections
Why do the text versions contain errors? Text versions and transcripts have been faithfully copied from the originals and have not been edited for errors, except where noted.
Why can't I view the slide shows or film clips? To view the film clips your computer must have a Flash Player, Version 8. To view the automatic slide shows requires the Flash Player, Version 6 or higher. To install the latest version of the free Flash player, visit the Adobe web site.
Teacher Tools
The Teacher Tools pages provide curricula, handouts, media resources, lesson ideas, and easy access to research tools for teachers interested in the content and skill building potential of this project. The three 9-12 MN standards-aligned "Share Your Story" curriculum will familiarize students with the stories of Minnesota's Greatest Generation and develop their research and writing skills through oral history projects. Students' oral histories will become part of the Society's searchable database, and some may be included in the Minnesota's Greatest Generation: Our Lives, Our Stories exhibit opening in Fall 2008.
We hope that the Teacher Tools will become an active forum for conversation and idea exchange among teachers. If you have pictures, content, lessons, or other relevant resources to share, please send them to Aleah Vinick, School and Public Programs Associate, 651-296-4975, aleah.vinick@mnhs.org
© 2006 Minnesota Historical Society. All Rights Reserved. To learn more, visit www.mngreatestgeneration.org