London Nelson: A Will to Educate Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

Made by School Programs at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

London Nelson: A Will to Educate 3rd-5th grade Background London Nelson was born enslaved and brought to Santa Cruz in the 1800s by his enslaver. His legacy is celebrated across the Santa Cruz County for contributing to the learning of many children during the growth of the city. In the History Gallery at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) you can learn more about his journey, especially how his name was mistakenly changed from London to Louden.

Sign the Petition In an effort to reclaim history, Santa Cruz local, Brittnii London, started a petition to rename the Louden Nelson Center. Learn more at www.blendedbridge.com

Objective Participants will learn about London Nelson and the lasting legacy he left behind. By introducing assignments, discussions, and activities around slavery, participants will gain a sense of empathy regarding Nelson’s life.

Teaching Tolerance Having a difficult time talking about slavery? Visit Teaching Tolerance online and type “slavery” in the search bar for free resources.

CA Learning Standards Third grade: RI.3.1-9, SL.3.1.A-D, SL.3.2-6, L.3.3.A-B Fourth grade: RI.4.1-9, SL.4.1.A-D, SL.4.2-4, L.4.1.A-B Fifth grade: RI.5.1-9, SL.5.1.A-D, SL.5.2-4, L.5.3.A Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

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Prep & Materials Preparations Read the whole lesson plan before you start. This will help you be most prepared to lead a great discussion. Optional, make a space with all the materials needed for this lesson.

Suggested Materials • Writing or drawing materials • Reading material

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

• Letter writing template or a blank paper • Drawing template or a blank paper

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Instructions Start with some discussion questions: • What is slavery?

• Have you been to the Louden Nelson Center on Laurel St.? If so, what did you do there?

• What do you think it felt like to be a slave?

• Any other question relevant to your class.

Introduce an icebreaker that is connected to learning: Name a state! Go around the class and name a state in the US, no repeats.

This will get participants to think about how far Nelson and other ensalved people had to travel in order to get to California, for example.

Participants read each document under Reading Materials (pages 5-7).

After reading each document, ask them these questions if possible.

• Who is London Nelson?

• Why do you think Nelson picked Santa Cruz to settle in after becoming free?

• Why do you think London gave his money to the school?

• Why do you think London never learned to read and write?

• Do you think knowing his real name matters? Louden vs London? Was this even his real name? (i.e. slaves were named after European cities with the master’s last name) • Why is it important to remember people like London?

After some discussions, begin to change the conversation towards the activity. Activity options depend on the grade level. Explain the activity, share example ideas, and ask if there are any questions. Once done, allow a time for sharing.

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Final Activity On behalf of London Nelson, write a letter to Santa Cruz explaining what he did for the children of Santa Cruz. You can also draw a picture of your school to go with the letter. What are your favorite parts of the school? (3rd-5th). Assign the length of the letter and topics worth writing about like Nelson’s love for education, his life, his challenges, his freedom, etc.

After everyone is done, you may break out into groups and share what each person did.

Some possible discussion topics are: • What did you find most interesting about someone else’s work?

• Did you have a similar idea as that person?

• Do you agree or disagree with what that person wrote or drew?

Closing Nelson’s impact in Santa Cruz is remarkable. Thanks to his generosity many children were able to continue their education. Although Nelson never learned how to read or write, he gave everything he had to the future of the children of Santa Cruz.

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London Nelson’s Historical Background

Born May 5, 1800, in North Carolina and passed away May 17, 1860, in Santa Cruz.

He grew up a slave in Tennessee for the Nelson family.

Matthew Nelson picked 2 out of 9 of his slaves to take with him in search for gold in California.

The 3 men stayed in El Dorado County for several years before they split up.

Nelson bought his freedom and decided to settle in Santa Cruz at 53 years old.

No longer a slave, he rented, and later purchased for $260, a plot of land to grow and sell watermelons. The location of his plot is presently the parking lot of the Downtown Post Office.

From his land he could see Mission Hill School up the hill. He loved to watch children play and often asked students what they learned at school.

One day on his walk to Mission Hill he noticed there were no kids in the yard, later finding out the school was closed because of lack of funds.

The news inspired him to leave his estate to the school children of Santa Cruz.

Before passing away he established a will that gave over his entire estate-- $372 to the Santa Cruz School District.

Many people know him as Louden Nelson, a spelling error during the making of his gravestone In 2006 the plaque in front of his grave marker at the Evergreen cemetery was replaced to reflect his real name, London.

The Louden Nelson Center was named in his honor.

What Nelson might have looked like, by Jack Sprow.

There are no known photos of him.

Information used on this lesson came from the MAH Archives Collection and the book Evergreen Cemetery of Santa Cruz (Arcadia History Press, May 2019) by Traci Bliss

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Then & Now: Mission Street

Mission Street circa 1880. Mission Hill School in the upper left. The steps leading up to the school remain to this day. Photo courtesy of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History.

The old steps to the public school on Mission Street. At the top right side of the stairs is a monument to London Nelson.

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Evergreen Cemetery

Left Picture: In 1953, the London Nelson Memorial committee gathered to celebrate his contributions. Right picture: The gravestone for Nelson at Evergreen Cemetery.

The large headstone says, “He was a colored man and willed all his property to Santa Cruz School District No. 1. Rest in peace.�

The plaque in front of his grave marker at Evergreen Cemetery, dedicated May 5, 2006.

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Continue the Learning The Museum of Art & History (MAH) thanks you for using our online resources to continue the learning from home or school.

Additional Online Resources History of Evergreen Cemetery (1979 - 72 minutes YouTube video) Evergreen Cemetery 100 Year Old Arch Restored at Evergreen Evergreen Cemetery of Santa Cruz (Arcadia History Press, May 2019) by Traci Bliss & Randall Brown Guided by Ghosts

Want to visit the MAH for free? Send us a few pictures of some projects with a sentence explaining what they are to oscar@santacruzmah.org and we will send you a free family pass for your class or your student!

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Draw a picture for London Nelson to show him what your school looks like

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Write a letter to Santa Cruz

explaining what London Nelson did for the children of Santa Cruz

Dear Santa Cruz,

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3 Things You Should Know About London Considered to be the father of Nelson education, London Nelson’s impact in

school children goes beyond his short life in Santa Cruz.

BEGINNING Born a slave in North Carolina in May 5, 1800.

With his enslaver, moved to California in search of Gold.

LIFE IN

SANTA CRUZ Once a free man, he purchased land to farm and grow watermelons for Santa Cruz.

A WILL FOR EDUCATION Never taught to read or write, he gifted his income and property to keep schools open in Santa Cruz.

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