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Kingwood Library: American Cultural History: 1960 1969
An historical record worth delving into to understand the true culture of the 60s. Covers art, architecture, literature, education, fashion, historic events, music, and other aspects of the era.
Google Cultural Institute
Google Cultural Institute: Favorite Technologies of the 1950s
Photographic essay recalls some of the best technological advances of the 1950s in cooking, personal hygiene, radio, laundry, television, transportation, and more.
Other
Fifties Boulevard: Material Culture of the 50s
A repository of images of 1950s culture. Includes fashion, types of food, cars, home interiors, toys, and comics.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Pictures of 1950's Culture
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart is an activity examining pictures of 1950's life and culture. Students are to examine different advertisements of the 1950's, movie posters and pictures. Students will record observations...
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania: The Literature & Culture of the American 1950s
This site provides a very large collection of web resources for a study of American culture during the fifties. Some links no longer work.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: Popular Culture and Mass Media in the 1950s
In the 1950s, financial prosperity allowed young Americans to participate in a shared culture of rock and roll music, movies, and television.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Gusii
The Gusii are divided into seven clan clusters: Kitutu (Getutu), North Mugirango, South Mugirango, Majoge, Wanjare (Nchari), Bassi, and Nyaribari. Gusiiland is located in western Kenya, 50 kilometers east of Lake Victoria. Since...
Other
The Suburbanization of America: Patio Culture
This site offers a discussion on middle class suburban life in the 1950's and 1960's which has been dubbed the Patio Culture.
Other
Southwestern Academy: The 1950s: The Search for Consensus and Conformity [Pdf]
A good review of the culture of the 1950s including a look at big business at the time, the affluent society, and the beginnings of youthful rebellion.
Other
Amistad Digital Resource: Pop Culture
General overview of African American pop-culture in the mid 20th-century highlighting music, art, theater, and sports.
Wessels Living History Farm
Living History Farm: Television During the 1950s and 60s
Read a history of television in the 1950s and 1960s to see how it became such a cultural icon. Find out about the many genres of television that were broadcast during that time.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: The Great Society
A quick comprehension check over the "Great Society" of the 1950s.
Calisphere: University of California Libraries
Calisphere: Social Reform 1950s 1970s: Everyday Life From Postwar to Protest
Original photographs show everyday life in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
Wessels Living History Farm
Living History Farm: Farming & Rural Life in the 1950s & 60s
During the 1950s and 1960s, farmers had serious challenges but those who stayed made pretty good money due to agricultural advancements.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: Women in the 1950s
Learn about the myths and realities of women's lives during the 1950s.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria & Albert Museum: Introduction to 20th Century Fashion
Learn about the history of clothing in the 1900's. Includes images, a discussion of prominent designers and the impact of cultural events upon fashion.
OpenStax
Open Stax: u.s. History: 29.4 Challenging the Status Quo
Page form U.S. History e-book focusses on the culture of the 1960s and the rise of protest organizations challenging the status quo during that decade. Site contains questions for review, critical thinking, and glossary.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: 1968: A Time of Change
Explore how the events and cultural and political changes that occurred in 1968 came to represent the upheaval and dramatic changes in American life during the 1960s.
SparkNotes
Spark Notes: Social Trends of the 1950s
Spark Notes gives a brief overview of the 1950s from consumerism and conformity to poverty to youthful rebellion. A good review of this important decade in American history.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Understanding Television
A course from MIT on the cultural history of television. Includes readings, assignments, exams, and videos of lectures.
PBS
The Sixties: The Years That Shaped a Generation
Companion Web site to the PBS series. Provides an overview of the pivotal events, culture, and politics of the Sixties. Links to lesson plans and related material for a more in-depth study.
A&E Television
History.com: Barbie Through the Ages
Take a look at Barbie's cultural revolution through the decades. Barbie's official birthday is March 9, 1959 -- the day she was officially introduced to the world. Handler always saw Barbie as a reflection of the times, with the first...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Land of Television
The advent of increased television programming helped create a national popular culture. Read about the many kinds of television programs offered in the 1950s.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Voices Against Conformity
The decade of the 1950s was kown for conformity. There was an undercurrent of rebellion, especially among younger Americans. Read about the Beat Generation, alternative literature, rebellion in art, and treatment of those who were not...