Area residents will have the opportunity to become immersed into the lives of Northwest Ohio?s teenagers
from the 1930s through the 1960s as Owens Community College, the Wood County Historical Center and
Museum and Bowling Green Area School District present a collection of teenage personal accounts and
historical artifacts as part of the Terrific Teens Historical Exhibit, going on now through July 18.
In addition, the College will host a free opening exhibit reception for the Bowling Green High School
student participants and the community on May 26 from in the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery. Owens is
located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.
?Owens Community College is honored to collaborate with the Bowling Green Area School District and the
Wood County Historical Center and Museum and bring together diverse groups of teens and adults for the
purpose of examining teen life in Northwest Ohio through the years,? said Wynn Perry, Owens part-time
coordinator of the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery.
?Much of the value of this project lies not only in the research the students have compiled, but in the
development of life skills and community partnerships. Students have worked with diverse generations and
different teen demographic groups, which not only expands their educational knowledge through social
interaction, but also through civic engagement.?
Perry added, ?Attendees will have the unique opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of teen life
in Northwest Ohio through the accounts of past teenagers as seen through the eyes of today?s youth,
which creates a fascinating historically-based exhibition.?
Individuals participating in the Terrific Teens Historical Exhibit include students enrolled in the
American studies classes at Bowling Green High School. With the guidance of their teachers Jennifer
Dever and Theresa Dunn, the Bowling Green students expanded on oral history and video interview
research, initially conducted by Bowling Green students in 2008, to complete the gallery exhibition.
Artifacts and collectibles exhibited at Owens? Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery will include antique
yearbooks, phones, radios, posters, clothing and games from the 1930s through the 1960s that provide
insight into the life of teenagers and their interests ranging fashion to athletics. The exhibit will
also feature poetry, posters and articles to further explain the students? research efforts.
Additionally, the Wood County Historical Center and Museum as well as area residents are playing an
integral role in helping the students bring their research to fruition by loaning many of the archival
materials from their extensive collections for the exhibit.
The two-year Terrific Teens initiative is based on the award-winning exhibition Teen Chicago, which was
spearheaded by the Chicago Historical Society in collaboration with the Chicago History Museum. The
groundbreaking project was part of a multimedia exhibition that focused on how the lives of Chicago?s
teens have changed dramatically over the last 100 years ? in the way they work, play, go to school and
interact with their families. ?Teen Chicago? was largely shaped by 15 teenagers and their research.
Last year, local students participated in weekly educational workshops at Owens that focused on the
techniques of examining, writing about and recording history. Participating teenagers were responsible
for compiling oral histories, as well as conducting primary research and video interviews for the
initial presentation, which occurred in the college?s Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage
Theatre. The interactive event showcased a collection of teenage personal accounts and stories through
the use of technology, theatre and music. The areas in which students investigated teen life included
teens at school, teens at work, teens at home, teen social life, teen relationships, teen visual and
performing arts, teen style and teen food.
Admission to the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday-Thursday. For additional information, contact the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (800)
GO-OWENS, ext. 2721 or (567) 661-2721.