Reading - For Pleasure and / or For Knowledge

My fourteen year old daughter is an avid reader. Sometimes we can't get her to put a book down. She devours books like most kids go through video games. So clearly, this concern that I have about her reading is tempered. As I have another child who equates reading with the plague, I do know how blessed I am that she reads anything. But I am in the process of trying to grow her reading list. I have tried to encourage her to beef up her book choice. As she has made college a clear goal in her life, I believe that she has to begin to include some classics and award winning books into her repetoire in order to: 1. be seriously considered by a college 2. aquire the basis for knowledge to converse with other educated people. Below I have cited some booklists that you may find helpful, if you have the same perdicament, but I would also love to hear what books you consider necessary to a proper education.

College Bound Reading List
Compiled by Arrowhead Library System

http://www.phschool.com/curriculum_support/reading_list/high_school.html

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/boost-your-skills/23628.html

http://www.listsofbests.com/list/23705

A Good Book For Reluctant Readers

As those of you who read this blog regularly know, my DS is a reluctant reader. Yesterday, however you would have thought differently. He took the Scholastic Book of World Records 2009 and refused to put it down. He pummeled us with questions: What is the place with the world’s fastest winds? What is the loudest mammal? What country eats the most potato chips? We almost could not get him to put the book down. It is a good combination of words and pictures. The captions are catchy and he loves trying to catch us on the answers. Although, I think he is surprised at how many answers we came up with.





FYI – Mt. Washington; Blue Whale; United Kingdom

What would you carry?

Today I had the kids complete a version of "If there is a fire in your house, what would you take?" but with a slightly different bent.

I am reading Suite Francaise. A novel about France as the Germans overtake it. Interestingly, the book is written by a woman who herself was there and was herself deported and later died in Auschwitz.



This book starts in Paris with the Germans on the march. The people of Paris realize that the fall of the city is imanant and that they must leave and so they begin to pack their cars to head to the contryside, so I posed the question to the children - If we had to escape our home quickly and could only take what we could fit in DH's truck, what would you take? They both scibbled down lists.

As the book continues, Petrol or gas runs out and people are forced to abandon their cars. I asked the children to trim their lists to what we could carry on our backs.

Futher along, there is a bombing that causes them to flee for their lives. Many of the characters are happy to make it out with their lives. I asked them to trim again to what they would carry at all times as not to leave something behind. I read them the following section:

She (Madame Pericand) looked again at everything she had brought, "everything she had saved": her children, her overnight cases. She placed her hand over the jewelery and money sewn into her blouse. Yes, during this terrible time she had acted with determination, courage and composure. She hadn't lost her head! She hadn't lost . . .she hadn't . . .Suddenly she cried out in a choked voice. She clutched her throat and fell backwards, letting out a low moan as if she were suffocating.
"My God, Madame! Madame, what's the matter?" exclaimed Nanny.
"Nanny, my dear Nanny," Madame Pericand finally groanded in a barely audible voice, "We forgot . . ."
"What? What did we forget?"
"We forgot my father-in-law," said Madame Pericand, dissolving into tears. (pages 112)

This led to a great car conversation about growing up in fear of Russia and in the importance of relationships and items. We were very happy to see that no only did they see the value and necessity of things, but also of people. They remembered to collect their grandfather (my father) down the street.

Reading Your Way into Good Habits

When I was at work the other night, the Family Consumer Science teachers gave me an article, “Healthful Messages, Wrapped in Fiction” by Tara Parker-Pope. The article discussed the idea of positive messages to girls can be introduced in literature and successfully change their habits. As we have been having problems with DD (teenage issues) and would love to have her get better (more positive) media information, I thought this article may help. I thought it may help me foray into a conversation about the media and its impact on her. Also, I thought perhaps she may read these books.

Impressively, she took to the idea right away. She read the article with interest and then this morning took out not one but three of the Beacon Street Girlsbooks from the library to read and review for me. I thought this was great, because we adults can sit around and discuss what is “good” for kids, but they need to decide if it is really good. When she writes something up, we’ll publish it for your review.

In the meantime, please let me know if you or any of your daughters have read this series.

Unit Study - Dear America: A Line in the Sand

Dear America – A Line in the Sand: The Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence (Gonzales, Texas 1836)
By Sherry Garland
Age: 11-14

Additional Reading:
Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic Journey by Mark Lemon, Craig r. Covner
The Alamo by Tamara L. Britton
Remember the Alamo: Texians, Tejanos, and Mexicans Tell Their Stories by Paul Robert Walker
Alamo: An Interactive History Adventure by Amie J. Leavitt, Mickie Ross

For adults to read along:
Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis by William C. Davis

Field Trips:
The Alamo – San Antonio, TX
Goliad State Park & Historic Site – Goliad, TX
Town of Gonzales – Gonzales, TX
Sam Houston Memorial Museum – Huntsville, TX
Crockett Tavern Museum – Morristown,TN
Pioneer Farms – Austin, TX

Video:
The Alamo – DVD
PBS: American Experience: Remember the Alamo
Discovery Channel: The Alamo: The Five Hours that Changed History

Websites:
http://www.thealamo.org/main.html - The official website of the Alamo
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/alamo/index.html - The PBS site laying out the film and related historical information. Includes teacher lesson plans, maps, and timelines.
http://www.shsu.edu/~smm_www/index.html - Includes recipes, info on Texan Flags, and pictures from the time period.
http://www.geocities.com/the_tarins@sbcglobal.net/adp/archives/archives.html An extensive history of the mission itself. Include maps, lesson ideas, and lots of detailed history.
http://military.discovery.com/video/alamo.html Video Clips about the Alamo and some of the more famous men lost there.
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/ Learn not just about the Alamo, but the entire history that built Cinda’s state.

Vocabulary:

Ruckus (9/9)
Democracy (9/6 – later)
Delirium (9/20)
Dissidents (9/20)
Dictator (9/22)
Grievances (9/22)
Dragoons (9/30)
Ford (9/30)
Fandango (10/2)
Presidio (10/6)
Premonitions (10/27)
Ornery (11/15)
Cahoots (11/15)
Morale (12/3)
Harboring (12/6)
Forlorn (12/23)
Puncheon (12/24)
Churned (2/1)
Joshing (2/4)
Adobe (2/8 – later)
Garrisoned (3/6)
Palisades (3/6)
Sacristy (3/13)

Arts & Crafts:
-There is a brawl over a whittling knife. Learn knife safety and try whittling something yourself. (If you are not comfortable with your children using a jackknife, try using a plastic knife and either a bar of soap or a bar of canning wax). (9/10)
-Make homemade soap.
-Try your hand at creating a braided rug (12/24)
-“Mama started a new quilt. She let (Lucinda) choose the color for the border.” Draw and plan out a quilt. Depending on your interest and talent create your imagination. Create it with cut out paper, perhaps create just one square of your plan, or if you are really daring, create your entire quilt.
-See if you can find a farm, yarn store, or museum that cards and spins fibers. Visit and see how it is done. See if you can help with part of the process.

Writing:
-Lucinda says on September 15th that her biggest fears are Comanche raids, rattlesnakes, and black widow spiders. Do a little research on each. Which of these would be your biggest fear and why? Be sure to support your position.
-Lucinda read an editorial bout how cruel Santa Anna is. What is the difference between an editorial and a regular newspaper article? Read the editorial page of your newspaper for a week. Choose one of the editorials to respond to. Write a letter to the editor about it.
-On January 6th, there is a conversation between two neighbors, Wilis, and Papa in which one of the neighbors said that they are going to move back to the states. “I’ve got no business fighting in a war. Why, I’ve got a wife and six children. What would they do if I got kilt?” Willis stood up suddenly and says right to the main’s face, “Well, if something ain’t worth fighting and dying for, then I say it ain’t worth having.” He stomped off. Papa says, “Was I ever that young?” the neighbor says, “IF wars were lift up to old codger like me and you, Aaron, I reckon armies would be put out of business.” Take either Aaron and Papa’s side or Willis’. Who do you think is correct and why? Write a persuasive essay to convince others of your opinion.
-Cinda compares the Mexicans march on the Alamo to David and Goliath. Reread the story of David and Goliath in the Bible. Decide if this is a reasonable comparison. Write an essay to show the similarities or differences.
-On December 6th, Cinda’s family finds out that San Antonio is being overrun. The family fears for Uncle Isaac’s family. Cinda tells Green that Uncle Isaac will put up a sign to that their house will not get attacked. She wishes that she could believe her own lie. Is lying ever ok? If so, when and why? If not, explain why not.
-On December 20th, Mittie and Cinda discussed what to give their families for Christmas given the many shortages. Reread this entry. Write an entry in your diary about all the things that you are thankful for.

English:
-Cinda memorized a sonnet as they worked on school work trying to pass the time as the Mexican’s invaded their town. Find out what defines a sonnet. Then choose one. Memorize it and recite it.
-On December 18th, Lemuel brought home a black crow. Cinda is concerned that maybe this is a bad omen. Does this foreshadow what is to come? What other foreshadowing did you notice in the book?

History:
-Research one of the following people and introduce him / her to others through either a power point presentation, a character monologue, or a traditional report:

General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Stephen F. Austin
William Travis
Davy Crockett
Sam Houston
Col. Burleson
Ben Milam
General Cos


-Comanche Indians are mentioned several times in the book. Where was the Comanche territory as compared to Gonzales and the Alamo? Find out about the nation’s traditions and culture. Share what you found with others.
-Find a picture of the “Come and Take It” Flag. What did this flag stand for?
-The Alamo was once a mission. Find out what a mission is. Create a model of the Alamo.
Cinda was very excited about having mistletoe above her doorway for Christmas. Research the tradition of mistletoe. Where does it originate from?

Government:
-Lucinda’s father is frustrated by reports that Santa Anna wants the people of Gonzales to turn over their disabled 6 lbs cannon. He says, “ This is the beginning of the disarming of the colonies. If we give up the cannon, next thing you know, Santa Anna will want our hunting rifles, then our pistols, then our Bowie knives, then our whittling knives.” Why does this bother him? How does this relate to the 2nd amendment of the US Constitution?
Extra Credit: Find out where the term Bowie knife comes from.

Science/Technology:
-Lucinda’s family picks cotton. Find out about the cotton plant. What part do they use to make clothe? Make a thumbnail board (picture board) that describes the process.
-Mr. Roe died of smallpox, as did some of Cinda’s cousins in Nachitoches, LA. Research smallpox. What are the symptoms, causes, cure,etc?
-On December 18th, Lemuel brought a black crow home with a broken wind and cared for it. Find an animal rehabilitation hospital near you. Arrange a tour to see the work that they do.

Cooking:
-Due to the war, food was very scarce for Lucinda’s family. Much of what they ate they had scavenged for. Plan to go pick food at a local orchard. Cook something with the food you picked.
-On November 5th, there is a very descriptive passage about cutting apart a pig for food. Look in a cookbook to find all the different meat that can be cut from one animal. What are the differences in the cuts of meat? What should you consider when you choose a cut of meat?

Geography:
-On a blackline map of Texas, mark at least five town locations and two rivers that exist in the book.

Music:
-Listen to some fiddle playing. Imagine that Davey Crocket is playing for you.

Physical Fitness:
-Find a pair of castanets. Try playing them and dancing to some Mexican music.
-Several dances are mentioned in the book: the Virginia reel, the cotillion, the waltz, and the polka. Learn one and perform it for others.

Mission / Action:
-The Volunteers were often stealing from the townspeople because they were so hungry. Hunger is still a problem today for many reasons. Research hunger in the world today. Find a way to help and do it.

A Literature Unit Study - World War II

Literature Unit Study
Book: Dear America Series: My Secret War: The World War II Diary of Madeline Beck (Long Island, NY 1941) By Mary Pope Osbourne

Grade Level: 5-8

As this is a diary, entries are made by date. I have attempted to notate relateable sections of the diary to the activities recommended. By no means is this list of possible activities meant to be done 100%, instead it should be large and varied enough to allow families to choose activities that interest and best suit their needs.

WRITING

- Mr. O’Malley quoted from a newspaper column written by Eleanor Roosevelt. “Mrs Roosevelt wants all Americans to ‘pledge to be a little thoughtful every day about the meaning of freedom.’” Think about what freedom means to you. Find a way to express your thoughts to others. Write a poem, song, or story to express yourself. Share your expression. (12-5-41)
- Write and perform a radio script that may have been heard by Madeline and Johnny.
Maddie writes quite a bit to her father, but on April 4th, 1942, she laments “But then I haven’t written him in a while, either. I have to buckle down . . .” Is there someone that you should write a letter to? Sit down and write them a note. (4-4-42)
- Choose your favorite character in the book with the exception of the main character Maddie. Write three diary entries from their perspective.

READING
Choose one of the following:
- Franklin Roosevelt
- Eleanor Roosevelt
- Tojo – the Premier of Japan
- Mary Pope Osbourne, the author
Read biographical information about one of these people. Share what your found.

HISTORY
- Create a timeline of Madeline Beck’s life as portrayed in her diary. Make at least 10 entries. Research WWII. Add at least five more entries to your timeline that are not mentioned in the book.
- Make a poster that shows and explains the differences (appearance and usage) of an aircraft carrier, battleship, cruiser, destroyer, submarine and German u-boat (10-19-41 & 12-29-41)
President Roosevelt proclaims a National Day of Prayer on 1-1-42. What does this mean? When else has a National Day of Prayer been proclaimed?
- Make a list of the allied and axis countries of WWII. (1-1-42)
- Find out who Rosie the Riveter is. Write a compare and contrast report about her vs. the women of today. (1-28-42)
- Maddie believes she met the Germans on Long Island. Find a newspaper article from the time period that relates to the Germans breaching our shores. (6-12-42)
- Research one battle of World War II. Create a model to show what occurred.
- Research the ranks in the military. Write them in ascending order.

GEOGRAPHY
This book is sprinkled with locations of the war and other important events. Find a map (be sure that you have one that is accurate for the 1940’s) and locate the following places (notated by the underlined word):
-Dad’s ship leaves from San Francisco (9-29-41)
-Mrs. Rosenthal & Clara are refugees from Germany (10-11-41)
-US Navy delivered war material to Russia and Great Britain (10-14-41)
-Hitler’s army was in: Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. (10-20-41)
-Her father has been located in California, New Hampshire, Virginia, Florida, Panama, and Far Rockaway. (10-20-41)
-Is Dad going to fight in the Pacific? (11-9-42)
-Theo told Madeline to “keep an eye on Japan.” (11-24-41)
-The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor. (12-7-41)
-Mussolini of Italy declares war on the US. (12-11-41)
-Manila, the capitol of the Philippines, fell to the Japanese. (1-6-42)
-The Japanese had taken over Wake Island, Guam, and Hong Kong (1-9-42)
-The Japanese troops attacked Bataan – (3-26-42)
-Johnny added more Japanese flags to his map: Papua and New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Burma and all of Borneo. (4-2-42)
-Maddie and her mother plan a train trip from New York City to Chicago and then finally to San Francisco. (7-22-42)

ARTS & CRAFTS
- Madaline is touched by Eleanor Roosevelt words, “You are going to have a great opportunity. There will be high moments in which your strength and ability will be tested. I have faith in you.” This quote so inspires her that she writes it down and posts it on her wall.
- Create a poster of your favorite inspiration quote and post it up. (12-8-41)
- Sew a dress for a doll or for yourself (12-18-41)
- Maddie and Johnny decided that they should make special insignias for people that help in the war effort. Create special awards or cards to give to people in your community that help others and deliver them. (2-22-1942)
- Learn about a victory garden (3-7-1942). Plant your own victory garden. If you are short on space or it is winter consider a container garden or spice garden.
Draw, paint, or sculpt a character or setting from the book using the descriptions found in the book.

PHYSICAL EXERCISE –
- The K3F club puts together a calisthenics program. Research calisthenics and create a program for yourself. Follow it for 1 week. (4-1-42)
- Maddie recounts a recital where she forgot all the planned steps and just danced as she pleased. She said she felt like a wind chime. Choose a piece of music and create a dance of your own. Perform it for someone else. (4-4-1942)

VOCABULARY – Look up each of the following words and be sure that you understand what they mean. Write a sentence using each of the words. As this is a long list, you may want to break it into several sections depending on how long you are planning to spend on the unit study.

Exploratory (11-14-41)
Maneuvers (11-14-41)
Negotiations (11-28-41)
Envoy (11-29-41)
Ominous (12-3-41)
Declarations (12-8-41)
Sabotage (12-8-41)
Inspirational (12-8-41)
Infamy (12-9-41)
Premeditated (12-9-41)
Coincidence (2-2-42)
Censored (12-13-41)
Infantile (12-21-41)
Alliance (1-1-42)
Rendezvous (1-1-42)
Periscope (1-18-42
Sympathizers (3-3-42)
Arsenals (3-4-42)
Calisthenics (4-1-42)
Munitions (4-14-42)
Resignation (5-19-42)
Waylay (6-21-42)
Saboteur (6-21-42 – later)
Theoretical (6-23-1942 – later)
Recuperating (6-28-42)


- Explain what Theo meant by her description of Hitler as a “deadly microbe” (12-12-41)

AUDITORY
Pick one of the following songs to listen to:
Freddy Martin and his Orchestra – “To Each his own”
Harry James Orchestra – “You Made Me Love You”
Bing Crosby – “Junk Ain’t No Junk No More” (4-21-42)

Choose one of the following:
- a World War II veteran
- a emigrant from another country
- a refugee from another country
Attend a speech given by one of the people in these categories or arrange for a personal interview. You may be surprised to find people from these categories in your very own family.

VISUAL
Choose one of the following movies and watch it:
Citizen Kane (10-18-41)
Pearl Harbor (12-7-41) – NOTE: This is rated R, but due primarily to the violence which is a reality of war. I would suggest that you watch it first to decide if it is appropriate for your children.
Molly : An American Girl on the Home Front

COOKING
_ Cook and serve a Thanksgiving Dinner. Be sure to share all that you are thankful for (11-27-41)
- Blackouts were scary, but the crew at the Mansion-by-the-Sea were comforted by Mrs. Hawkins Blueberry Pie. Find a good recipe and bake a Blueberry Pie (4-24-42)
-Due to the war rationing, sugar was hard to come by. Therefore, Mom had to make a sugarless desert called a “war recipe”. The recipe is in the back of the book. Bake it and try it. How does it compare to what you are used to? What did the recipe use in lieu of sugar for its sweetness? (5-17-42)

LANGUAGE
- Mrs. Rosenthal sometimes “talks to herself in German”. Learn to count to ten in German and at least 5 other helpful phrases (i.e. hello, goodbye, thank you) (11-11-41)
- Create a code letter like Johnny and Maddie did. See if someone else can “read” it. (1-16-42)

CULTURE / RELIGION
- Maddie is very surprised on her 10-25-41 entry to find out that Clara and her mother are Jewish. If you are not Jewish, try to find someone who is to discuss the similarities and difference in your beliefs. If you are Jewish, find a Christian to compare and contrast with.

BIBLE
- Mom reprimands Madeline for not being charitable and thinking of the sacrifice of others. Find two scriptures that Mom could have used in her argument. (10-11-41)
- Johnny and Maddie decide not to tell anyone about their part in the solving the crime. Maddie writes “Isn’t that what you learn in church – Do good works for their own sake and not for a reward?” To what scriptures might she be referring? (7-9-42)

MISSION / ACTION
- There are many times in the book when Maddie, her mother, and the K3F club give of their time. Fin a worthy cause that you can help. Either raise money to donate to the cause or find a way that you can donate your time to them.
- Johnny and Maddie came up with a motto for their club: “Victory does not come without a price”. Learn about what a motto is and create a motto for your homeschooling group. They also choose a “guiding light” quotation. Find a quote or scripture that your family can use. (2-13-1942 – Later).

POSSIBLE FIELD TRIPS
Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial – Hawaii
WWII National Monument – Washington DC
The National WWII museum – New Orleans, LA
Wright Museum – America at War – 1939-1945 – The Home Front – Wolfboro, NH
National WASP WWII Museum– Sweetwater, TX (WASP means Women Service Airforce Pilots)
Eldred WWII Museum – Eldred, PA

RELATED READING
Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Fence Away from Freedom: Japanese Americans & World War II by Ellen Levine – 1st hand accounts of youth and teenagers who endured internment camps during WWII.
Eleanor Roosevelt – A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman – A Newberry Honor Book.
The Moved-Outers by Florence Crannel Means – a Newberry Honor Roll Book about the Japanese Interment camps during WWII
Journey to Topaz by Yoshiko Uchida
Any of Molly books from American Girl

Website Wednesday - The Titanic

Today, DD and I went to see the Titanic exhibit at the XL center, so I will make our first edition of Website Wednesday be about the Titanic:

http://www.titanic-online.com/
RMS Titanic, Inc - Has the schedule for the exhibit that we went to see and other information about the exhibition pieces and conservation process. Unfortunately, you have to register to activate some of the content. Although we did enjoy the exhibit, I felt that it was overpriced (even with a coupon that the nice lady in front of us gave to us) and had expected it to be more hands on, based on the description that I had read.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/previous_seasons/case_titanic/index.html
PBS – Secrets of the Dead – This website looks at the sinking from a completely different perspective. It explores the identification process of the over 300 bodies that were recovered after the sinking. After reading the article, be sure to visit the interactive which allows you to try to forensically identify one of the passengers.

http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist5/dodge.html
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco - A great series of articles from the time of the Titanic’s sinking.

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/8059/main.htm
Brett’s RMS Titanic Web Page - Not the most technologically advanced website, but full of information, statistics, and pictures.

http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=mini_home&mini_id=1067
Titanic – History.com - Site includes video interviews with survivors, survey the site of the sunken ship, read primary source paperwork from the Titanic, find biographies of some of the passengers, and explore interactive about the making, passage, and sinking of the “unsinkable” Titanic”.

http://www.immersionpresents.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=4&Itemid=11
Immersion Presents - Titanic Live - This site is too cool for words – let your child read interviews with Dr. Ballard, scour through pictures and interviews, AND MAKE THEIR OWN TITANIC MOVIE!

Here are some websites that have unit study ideas for the Titanic:

* http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/units/titanic.htm
* http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SmallWorld/69044/
* http://www.rmstitanic.net/index.php4?page=422 - not quite a unit study but some great “classroom” ideas
* http://content.scholastic.com/browse/unitplan.jsp?id=89


DD recommends the following book about the Titanic:

It May Just Be the Book

My son is a very reluctant 11 year old reader. I continue to read to him. I encourage him to read aloud to me. However, even the word, “reading” throws him into fits. He will do almost anything in his power to avoid reading. He is very frustrated reader, but I don’t think he realizes how far he has come. He will tell you that he is not a reader because he cannot read every word that he comes across. My argument of course is the opposite; since he can read most of the words he comes across, he is a reader.

Lately though, he has diverged from his normal aversion to reading. He has actually been calling in books from the library. He has come by a series by Edge Books. The book titles include: Bowhunting, Camping, Canoeing, Deer Hunting, Duck Hunting, Fly Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Hiking, Ice Fishing, Pheasant Hunting, Saltwater Fishing, and Snowmobiling. These titles are right up his alley. The series is only written on a 3rd –4th grade reading level, but he is reading on his own and enjoying it enough to request more. The books are not too long and therefore do not intimidate him. The subject matter touches on his “manly” passions and interests. The print is large and easily readable. It is broken up into reasonable chunks. These books are wonderful. I hope they write more.

Does anyone have other recommendations for reluctant readers? Especially boys?

Quotations I hope my son never finds about reading (notice they are all written by men):

Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.
Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.
Sir Arthur Helps

Reading musses up my mind.
Henry Ford (1863 - 1947)

What we call education and culture is for the most part nothing but the substitution of reading for experience, of literature for life, of the obsolete fictitious for the contemporary real.
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)