Public History Commons^™

Aray Women Clothes Analysis, Cassandra Mitchell

Historic Preservation Final Projects

Many clothing artifacts we find in museums or archives have been saved because of how special and precious they were. It is rare that there are everyday clothes that have survived generations. This final project examines three articles of clothing from the prominent African American Aray family of Ypsilanti held at the Ypsilanti Historical Society: a pair of gloves, a shirtwaist, and a skirt. Through material culture analysis, they reveal common everyday clothing trends with personalized touches. The research identified which Aray women wore these items, the mid to late 1800s clothing trends, how common these clothing items were, and …

Retracing Their Tracks: The Rediscovery And Memorialization Efforts Of The National Orphan Train Project, Joanna Lockwood

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Between 1854 and 1929, the placement system that became known as the orphan trains in modern scholarship, removed neglected and orphaned children from the dangerous streets of New York City and attempted to place them into homes across America that would benefit their futures. While this charity-run program was well-intentioned, the estimated two hundred fifty thousand children of the orphan trains experienced a mix of encounters upon their placements. Although many homes provided a caring environment for these children, others did not. After years of struggle during their early childhood, numerous children had not only lost their parents and were …

The House Of Dreams Awakens, Molly Mcclain, Heather Crane

History: Faculty Scholarship

La Jolla's "House O'Dreams" (1911-18) is a palatial East Asian-style house built from architectural materials most likely sourced from San Francisco’s Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915) which featured a Chinese Village and a three-acre Imperial Japanese Garden.

Modernizing The Arab American National Museum: Enhancing Cultural Representation And Community Engagement, Mariam Ktiri

Historic Preservation Final Projects

With a global Arab population of 646 million and 3.7 million Arabs in the United States, the presence of only one Arab-American-focused museum is a matter of concern. The Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn, Michigan, was established in 2005 in response to post-9/11 discrimination, violent racism, and xenophobia. AANM became a pivotal touchstone for connecting communities to pan-Arab American culture. While its permanent exhibits span the historical narrative of Arab Americans, they remain outdated, especially in the face of ongoing issues such as the Liberation of Palestine movement. This essay analyzes the AANM’s role as a cultural bridge-builder, …

Physical Accessibility And Historic Preservation In Historic House Museums Of The Southeast, Abby Milonas

All Theses

Museums are a public good, as they provide educational recreation and preserve cultural history, and so it is crucial that they are physically accessible to as many visitors as possible. The aim of this study was to understand what architectural features of historic house museums are the least accessible and what has been done to ameliorate these challenges. The survey used in the study was developed using the guidelines for making historic buildings accessible as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. It was distributed by email to representatives of 220 historic sites, of …

"The End Of Learning Is Gracious Living": A Centennial Of Life In Mary Trowbridge Hall, Kalmazoo College, Hunter Lorain Magrum

Historic Preservation Final Projects

No abstract provided.

Robert X House Collection, Dan Bonenberger, Brooke Boyst, Franklin Haywood, Carrie Malas, Jaclyn Panter, Ian Tomashik, Laura Waskiwicz, Taylor Williams, Austin Martin

Digital Heritage Preservation Collection

This collection examines the Robert X House at 18827 Keystone Street in Detroit, Michigan, a significant site in the history of the Nation of Islam and the broader narrative of Black empowerment and civil rights in mid-20th century America. Originally built in 1951 as a modest Federal Housing Administration (FHA) minimum ranch-style home, the property was purchased by Robert Davenport (later known as Robert X), an influential leader in the Nation of Islam. The house became a hub for religious instruction, community-building, and activism.

Robert X, a former boxer and musician, became a prominent figure in Detroit’s Nation of Islam …

Traveling Trunks And The Benefits Of Museum Programming In Traditional Classrooms, Katherine Ann St. Amand

Historic Preservation Final Projects

This project is the creation of blueprints for a second and a fifth grade traveling trunk for the North Berrien Historical Society (NBHS). These blueprints will be utilized by the museum to construct two traveling trunk educational programs offered by the museum to supplement classroom curriculum. This project also includes a review and revision of the loaning policy for these trunks for NBHS. This details the procedure for schools who want to use these trunks, as well as outline rules, responsibilities, and an explanation of the logistics of the traveling trunks program for NBHS. This collaborative process was accomplished in …

A Handbook On Brick Masonry: Use, Characteristics, Deterioration, Conservation, And Repair, Troy Masserant

Historic Preservation Final Projects

No abstract provided.

32580 Grand River Avenue Farmington, Michigan 48336 Preliminary Historic Structure Report, Katie Delahoyde

Historic Preservation Final Projects

No abstract provided.

Designing A Virtual Driving Tour Using Mapping Programs: A Case Study Of West Virginia’S Northern Panhandle, Abigail Ayers

Historic Preservation Final Projects

No abstract provided.

The Rehabilitation Of Fulton Bag & Cotton Mills: A Case For A Unique Public-History Site And Open-Air Museum, Nina Elsas

Master of Arts in Art and Design Theses

By the 1990s, Atlanta's historic Fulton Bag & Cotton Mills (The Mill) had fallen into extreme disrepair. After operations ceased, the 19th-century factory suffered from years of neglect, forcing the decision to either demolish or rehabilitate its industrial structures. Fortunately, a choice was made to convert the majority of Fulton Bag & Cotton Mills’ buildings into residential lofts, despite the significant financial risk. The research related to this study aims to address whether the successfully renovated Fulton Bag & Cotton Mills could identify as an open-air museum.

Answers to this question were obtained from Primary Sources (such as interviews and …

The National Register Of Historic Places Nomination Process For The Dow House (Ypsilanti Historical Society) Ypsilanti, Mi, Tim Sabo

Historic Preservation Final Projects

No abstract provided.

A Ray Of Light For The Black Community: Preserving The Aray Family Legacy Through Museum And Archival Practice, Rebecca Murphy

Historic Preservation Final Projects

This project applied museum and archival theory and practice in order to document and preserve the Aray Collection according to best practice. The Aray Collection is an important Black history collection found at the Ypsilanti Historical Society. The Aray Collection belonged to an affluent, free-black, farming family in Pittsfield Township and is made up of textiles, decorative arts, culinary instruments, tools, photographs, and archival documents. Tasks performed included artifact tracking which aided in the identification of unmarked collection pieces. Photographing, cataloging, labeling, and preservation were performed on the existing and newly located collection artifacts. The photographs and other archival material …

"Who Were They?": Interpreting The Lives Of Victorian Servants In The Ford-Macnichol Home, Audrey Wicklander

Historic Preservation Final Projects

The Ford-MacNichol Home in Wyandotte, Michigan is a public historic house museum which interprets and exhibits the lives of the lavish Ford-MacNichol family who lived there from 1896 to 1903. Since 1977, the museum has been detailing the lives of the rich and powerful and my question for some time has been: what about ‘the help?’ Domestic employees were needed to make powerful Victorian households’ function properly and visitors and volunteers have expressed interest in knowing more about the house’s servants. In this project, I will be writing an addition to the interpretive manual which will discuss the daily tasks …

The Malleability Of Home: A Genealogy Of Clark University's English House, Christina Rose Walcott, Justin Shaw

English

This essay details the history of the land and structures that occupy the property currently located at the corner of Hawthorne and Woodland Streets in Worcester, Mass. Covering over 300 years, it begins with the legacies of the Nipmuc and the early English colonialist settlers before moving into a discussion of Worcester's 19th Century industrialists and 20th Century acquisition by the University. The essay builds on extensive archival research using materials from both physical and digital collections such as atlases, censuses, biographies, directories, criticism, and more. To further develop the story of the English Department and its home, the essay …

Preservation And Public History In Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Walker Bray

Honors Theses

This paper is an exploration of the history of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, an all Black community in the Mississippi Delta formed by freedmen in the wake of Reconstruction. This paper also discusses the ways in which Mound Bayou citizens are working to preserve their history and make it known to a wider audience. In particular, this work discusses the recently opened Mound Bayou Museum of African American Culture and History and related efforts to restore and preserve historic structures in Mound Bayou. In addition, this work also seeks to explore ways in which the University of Mississippi can effectively supplement …

Archives And Literary History: English House, Christina Rose Walcott, Justin Shaw

English

This presentation is part of a Directed Study project and was given at Clark FEST 2022. It is also associated with the longer paper, "The Malleability of Home: A Genealogy of Clark University's English House," composed collaboratively by the authors. It is about the history of Clark's English Department and, particularly, about the House it occupies. This presentation was presented orally by Christina Rose Walcott for a public audience as a culminating project in the Directed Study, and includes visual and interactive educational components. It also utilizes and showcases the project's extensive use of Open Access Resources from various digital …

The Pitfalls Of Donor-Centricity: Mission-Based Fundraising For A New Era, Natalie Giannos

Historic Preservation Final Projects

As the role of arts nonprofits shift to increasingly serve communities, away from the Wunderkammer model of decades past, fundraising has remained the same. The time is now to assess the implications of the sector’s current model, in which fundraisers rely on a small number of big donations to keep organizations afloat. This paper considers the current state of fundraising for American arts nonprofits: outdated, exclusionary, and above all else, limitative. It offers three case studies that illustrate the ramifications of the major gifts model. Finally, it proposes some solutions, unravelling the commonly held belief that organizations today have little …

Washington Square Branch Library National Register Of Historic Places Preliminary Questionnaire, Luis Antonio Pena

Historic Preservation Final Projects

This document covers the textual portions of the National Register Preliminary Questionnaire (NRPQ, herein), a statement of significance and a statement of property integrity, for the Washington Square Branch of the Kalamazoo Public Library property at 1244 Portage Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Washington Square branch of the Kalamazoo Public Library, designed by Kalamazoo architect M.C.J Billingham and built by the Kalamazoo based O.F. Miller contracting company is notable for aligning with the early twentieth century American trend of women and women’s social groups advocating for the establishment and erection of libraries. Additionally, the Library is considered a fine example …

Understanding The Importance Of Statues: Symbols Of Racism In Modern Society, Theresa Vanwormer

The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research

Whether it is a monument, statue, plaque, or mural, the values and ideologies that are memorialized on public land reflect what reality the people of a country are choosing to remember. The United States’ political and racial history has led to the creation of controversial memorials, including memorials that honor the Confederacy and its leaders, influencing moral concepts based in racism, violence, and oppression. The continued veneration of these symbols on public land sends the message to the Black community that their oppressors are honored as heroes and that the society they live in still allows for their abuse. Annette-Gordon …

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind: Analyzing Inhumane Practices In Mississippi’S Correctional Institutions Due To Overcrowding, Understaffing, And Diminished Funding, Ariel A. Williams

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research is to examine the political, social, and economic factors which have led to inhumane conditions in Mississippi’s correctional facilities. Several methods were employed, including a comparison of the historical and current methods of funding, staffing, and rehabilitating prisoners based on literature reviews. State-sponsored reports from various departments and the legislature were analyzed to provide insight into budgetary restrictions and political will to allocate funds. Statistical surveys and data were reviewed to determine how overcrowding and understaffing negatively affect administrative capacity and prisoners’ mental and physical well-being. Ultimately, it may be concluded that Mississippi has high …

Rosenwald Practice School Conditions Assessment, Mary Bindas

Historic Preservation Final Projects

This project will result in a conditions assessment report of the historic Practice School on the campus of Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. The conditions assessment report will analyze current building conditions and provide recommendations for the building rehabilitation. Recommendations will align with The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties Guidelines. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties Guidelines are principles set forth by the United States Department of Interior. The guidelines aim to educate on appropriate methods to preserve historic architectural materials to retain defining architectural features. …

Playing At The Crossroads Of Religion And Law: Historical Milieu, Context And Curriculum Hooks In Lost & Found, Owen Gottlieb

Articles

This chapter presents the use of Lost & Found – a purpose-built tabletop to mobile game series – to teach medieval religious legal systems. The series aims to broaden the discourse around religious legal systems and to counter popular depiction of these systems which often promote prejudice and misnomers. A central element is the importance of contextualizing religion in period and locale. The Lost & Found series uses period accurate depictions of material culture to set the stage for play around relevant topics – specifically how the law promoted collaboration and sustainable governance practices in Fustat (Old Cairo) in twelfth-century …

Acknowledging Our Past: Race, Landscape And History, Alea Harris, Kaycia Best, Dieran Mcgowan, Destiny Shippy, Vera Oberg, Bryson Coleman, Luke Meagher, Rhiannon Leebrick Ph.D., Phillip Stone

Student Scholarship

This book is the product of nearly a year's worth of student research on Wofford College's history, undertaken as part of a grant by the Council of Independent Colleges in the Humanities Research for the Public Good initiative. The research was supervised and directed by Dr. Rhiannon Leebrick.

"Guiding Research Questions:

How did Wofford College and its early stakeholders support and participate in slavery?

How is the legacy of slavery present in the landscape of our campus (buildings, statues, names, etc.)?

How can we better understand Wofford as an institution during the time of Reconstruction through the Jim Crow era? …

The Living Object: Repurposing An X Dollhouse To Increase Visitor Engagement At A Historic House Museum, Lindsay Zaremski

Historic Preservation Final Projects

Kempf House tells the story of a middle-class, German American family from the late 1800s to the middle of the next century and reinforces the story with objects, many of which belonged to the Kempfs. The Kempf House has a dollhouse which is not original to the house or family; it was not enhancing the tour as it could have because of its poor condition and sparse furnishings. This paper documents Kempf House dollhouse restoration project, in which the author repaired and augmented the dollhouse to resemble one an 1890s middle-class family may have owned. She researched the history of …

"To Cement The Bond Of Friendship":The Joan Of Arc Statue In New Orleans, 1958-2020, Megan A. Miller

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a study of the importance of statuary related to historical memory and influence focusing on the Joan of Arc Statue in New Orleans, Louisiana. Gifted to the city in 1958 and installed in 1972 officially in the wake of Charles de Gaulle’s visit, the Joan of Arc Statue has been the subject of controversy and a costly reinstallation in the French Quarter. This thesis, using primary evidence from court cases, interviews, and newspapers, traces Joan’s significance and use as a site of memory and link between France and the City of New Orleans.

Purposefully Forgetting: Surveying San Diego’S Founding Narrative During The City’S Bicentennial Celebrations Of 1969, Noah Pallmeyer

Keck Undergraduate Humanities Research Fellows

The city of San Diego owes much its success and prosperity to the “victories associated with colonization.” This quote comes directly from the current National Park Service description of the San Diego Presidio. This project turns to the 1969 bicentennial celebrations of San Diego’s founding. This was a rhetorically powerful period in San Diego’s historical remembrance. This project argues that native and other marginalized populations were not properly considered in the narrative of San Diego’s founding during these celebrations. To understand why and how these populations failed to be properly considered, this project turns to the narratives of colonial monuments …

Intimate Nevada: Artists Respond, Lauren Paljusaj, Anne Savage

Calvert Undergraduate Research Awards

Creative Works Winner

Most of us know Nevada beyond the Strip. It’s a place of houses, of shopping plazas, of movie theaters, and grocery stores. A place of hotels that are also places of work. A place of basins, ranges, vistas, and nature. A place of personal history. For Intimate Nevada: Artists Respond, curators Lauren Paljusaj (ENG BA ‘20) and Anne Savage (CFA BA ‘22), draw on photographs found in UNLV Special Collections to uncover the intimate visuality of a Nevada of past centuries. The exhibition focuses on how the imaged built landscape of early 20th century Southern Nevada …

Environmental Justice In Little Village: A Case For Reforming Chicago’S Zoning Law, Charles Isaacs

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

Chicago’s Little Village community bears the heavy burden of environmental injustice and racism. The residents are mostly immigrants and people of color who live with low levels of income, limited access to healthcare, and disproportionate levels of dangerous air pollution. Before its retirement, Little Village’s Crawford coal-burning power plant was the lead source of air pollution, contributing to 41 deaths, 550 emergency room visits, and 2,800 asthma attacks per year. After the plant’s retirement, community members wanted a say on the future use of the lot, only to be closed out when a corporation, Hilco Redevelopment Partners, bought the lot …