“What’s in a Name? Exploring Place Names as Forms of Social and Geographic Storytelling” was sponsored in part by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Southern Region at Middle Tennessee State University. Content created and featured in partnership with the TPS Southern Region does not indicate an endorsement by the Library of Congress.
This interactive workshop invited educators to explore the profound social, historical, and political meanings behind the names attached to places. Far from simple labels, place names, or toponyms, are power-laden expressions of a community’s identity, values, and ongoing struggles for recognition. Participants learned how to map and critically interpret place names, using primary sources of geographical and historical data, gaining tools to engage students in critical inquiry about the past and present. Together, examined how naming practices function as forms of public storytelling, shaping our understanding of who belongs, whose histories are remembered, and how communities claim and contest space through names. The agenda and access to the workshop resources via a Google Drive are found at the bottom of the page.
Story Maps Created by Teacher Participants
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