Congratulations to the Thornell Road Elementary School students who won the 2024 NYS Archives Partnership Trust Student Research Award for grades 4-5. Students from Mrs. Stevens-Oliver's 2023-24 fourth grade class wrote a book called “Seeking Suffrage,” which combines informational writing about the women's suffrage movement in Pittsford with a fantasy frame story in which time traveling twins go back in time to attend a meeting of the Political Equality Club at which Mary Anthony (Susan B. Anthony’s sister) spoke.
The class celebrated their achievement during a special ceremony with family, members of the Board of Education, PCSD administrators and Town officials. This is the fourth year that Pittsford students have won the division award for grades 4-5.
The book, “Seeking Suffrage,” includes both handmade drawings and a collage students created from copies of the documents used in their research. Judges highlighted the use of the local history connection in a creative, yet historically accurate, presentation of the content. The students used primary source documents to complete the research portion of the book. Key local resources included a recently discovered minute book from the Pittsford Women's Equality Club and letters written by Mary Anthony to the club. Historic newspapers, letters and a diary were also used.
To view a digital copy of “Seeking Suffrage,” visit: https://read.bookcreator.com/EUDogCde44XuD5dnz4sXmmAiDQrU-vy-lorgt_WK1pU/6x2kZcyFQmabaoq_1gyrag/TnDan4ZQSF6L2GVgHqQH5w. The book can also be found in Thornell Road Elementary School’s library and the Pittsford Town Historian's Office.