The Three Branches Institute for Educators had its inaugural in-person session after being virtual since 2021. The Society partnered with the U.S. Capitol Historical Society (USCHS) and the White House Historical Association (WHHA) to lead 17 educators from around the nation in a three-day study of the three branches of government in relation to the Gilded Age. Each organization led one day of educator professional development.
Educators not only learned from the historical societies of the three branches—they were immersed in the history through building tours of the Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court. In addition, educators explored The People’s House: A White House Experience.
The Society hosted the final day of the program in the Supreme Court’s East and West Conference Rooms. The agenda featured lectures from University of Maryland professors Dr. Robert Chiles, who provided an overview of America’s changing social, political, and economic landscape during the Gilded Age, and Dr. Michael Ross, who followed with a detailed look at the evolution of the Fourteenth Amendment during that time. After the lectures, participants enjoyed a Courthouse tour and workshop from the Society’s Civics Education Department. Under the guidance of Juliet Morris and Jaime Austin, the teachers explored strategies for how to incorporate the Beyond the Bench Lochner v. New York (1905) case summary and other resources from the Gilded Age into their classrooms. The program concluded with remarks from COO Martha Meehan-Cohen and a closing reception in the Court’s West Conference Room.
These 17 educators represent 15 school districts across six states: Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, Missouri, and California. Collectively, they will reach over 2,300 students in the 2025-2026 school year alone.