Public History Commons^™

Gladys Mitchell House Collection, Dan Bonenberger, Jaclyn Panter, Katherine St. Amand, Ian Tomashik, Kate Zorn

Digital Heritage Preservation Collection

This collection explores the life of Gladys Mitchell and the home she shared with her family on Detroit's Eastside. Gladys and her husband, Ossian Sweet, lived with her parents Benjamin and Rosella in a residence on 9322-24 Cairney Street from 1922 to 1925 before moving to the now-historic bungalow at 2905 Garland Street, located about a mile southeast. In 1925, when the Sweets moved into an all-white neighborhood, their experience led to a landmark Supreme Court case that affirmed African Americans' rights to homeownership, including the right to defend their private property.

Benjamin Mitchell and his wife, Rosella, rented the …

Reconstruction Of The Neglected: Bringing Life Back To The Old Powerhouse, Zoe A. Macmillan

Architectural Engineering

The Powerhouse is the oldest extant structure on Cal Poly campus and is currently abandoned. Built in 1910, it was in use as a power supply for Cal Poly Campus until the 1940s. Then, the School of Architecture and Environmental Design was granted permission to use it for class purposes. From 1967-1990 it was used as studio, guest lecture, and office space. In 1990 it was deemed structurally unstable and was left empty, slated for demolition. In 1993, a student lead movement placed it on the National Register of Historic Structures. Since then, it has been in a state neglect, …

Memoryscapes: A Study Of Memory And Experience In Architecture, Jacob Granger

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Thesis statement

Architecture and urban spaces are fundamental in shaping both personal and collective memories, serving as the physical manifestations of narratives that define and inform community identity and individual experiences. This thesis asserts that urban design and architectural features extend beyond their utilitarian functions to actively craft and influence these memories. By intertwining intentional design with memory, architecture not only reflects but also molds our understanding of communal identity and historical narratives. This perspective offers a unique exploration of the interplay between tangible structures and the intangible experiences they foster, illustrating how architecture does not merely mirror reality but …

Aguaaaa!!!, Cory Villegas

Theses and Dissertations

“AGUA” is a call for new models of learning and sharing, celebrating the diasporic as a place of global revolution. Salsa, rooted in Latin American and Afro-Caribbean histories, is choreographer Cory Villegas’s expression of cultural legacy. As an Afro-diasporic dance, Salsa carries the wealth and variety of African and Indigenous roots. Villegas contextualizes her thesis event “Las Leyendas: An Afro Cuban Suite,” presenting herself and her troupe Soul Dance Co. as evidence that contradicts the erasure of Latin & Caribbean Culture in US dance history. The paper uses English and Spanish, written, visual, and oral materials with an accompanying webpage.

154 East Chicago Blvd And Downtown Tecumseh, Mi, Lisa Powell

Historic Preservation Final Projects

The downtown commercial building at 154 East Chicago Blvd in Tecumseh, MI represents the typical building style of the late 1800s. It reflects the building styles and materials common to the area using such as fired brick and limestone, decorative cast iron columns and galvanized metal cornice, all typical in the Midwest in the late 19th century. This project analyzes how this commercial building has adapted to meet the needs of a small town in Tecumseh, Michigan, in southeast lower Michigan.

Contemporary Museum Practices In An "Old School House;" Bringing Best Collections Management And Public History Practices To A Local Historical Society, Korey Ryan Morris

Historic Preservation Final Projects

The Taylor Michigan Historical Society’s (THS) collections and interpretation-based activities in its historical single-room schoolhouse were underutilized and put to the side for years. The current wave of THS members and volunteers are reinvigorating the society by using best practices in the field of museum management and heritage interpretation to achieve its goals of a vibrant community historical society. To assist in this revitalization effort, this project: creates object and archival collection lists for current and future reference in the schoolhouse; updates the interpretation plans for the schoolhouse, including lesson plans that reflect the current academic standards in the state …

"Love And Reading": An Oral History Of Albion's Big Read, Akaiia Ridley

Historic Preservation Final Projects

No abstract provided.

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum Disaster Preparedness And Response Plan, Andrew De Windt

Historic Preservation Final Projects

This project consists of a Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan created for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, located at Whitefish Point, 11 miles north of Paradise, MI, prefaced with a methodological report of its drafting and creation and recommendations for its implementation. Disaster Preparedness and Response Plans are a core document for museums and cultural institutions. As is best practice according to guidelines from the American Alliance of Museums and International Council on Museums, this plan is tailored for the specific needs, location, collection, and personnel of the museum. It contains procedures, policies, and institutional information in a ready-to-use format …

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 …