Onondaga received 38 reproductions, with most of them on display in the library, where teachers can borrow them for their lessons.
"It's an amazing collection," said Ellen Pristash, high school librarian.
On inauguration day, students in Tim Frey's social studies classes at Onondaga Jr./Sr. High School learned about the significance of Abraham Lincoln's portrait using one of the reproductions, which was a photograph. The class, along with art teacher Carolyn Murphy, discussed the time period and compared the oil painting with the photograph and also with the image on a penny.
The students were able to see that the photograph really represented Lincoln as he was, while the oil painting depicted him in a more appealing manner, Pristash said. He looked neater, his tie was straighter, and his hair darker and more styled in the painting. Students then talked about the importance of the portrait and artistic liberty.
Kindergartners also are using the collection to learn about the history and architecture of American skyscrapers using the Chrysler Building print. Students created their own amazing cityscape collages with paper and paint.
Also, fifth-graders are studying American heritage, including the colonial period and revolutionary times, and a number of the art pieces show these time periods.
District officials said the series, which is being used at numerous local schools, inspires fresh thinking and helps kids connect to the past. It helps students get a deeper appreciation for the nation's artistic heritage.