Public History Projects
As a Public History graduate student at Northern Kentucky University, I have enjoyed many opportunities to learn outside of the classroom. Methodology class projects have included service learning projects, creating museum exhibits, writing local history articles, creating cultural heritage tourism products, working in exhibits, and grant writing.
Beverly Hills Supper Club
For my Museum Exhibits class, we created Beverly Hills Supper Club: The Showplace of the Nation, an exhibit at the Fort Thomas Military and Community Museum. The exhibit celebrated the history of the venue, honored those lost in the tragic fire, and reminded visitors of the important legislation that resulted from the tragedy.
+ Served as chair of the graphics committee
+ Curated the image collection
+ Designed exhibit text panels
+ Collected images from public donors
+ Digitized photograph collection
+ Served as member of the design committee
+ Coordinated with other committee chairs
St. Elizabeth at 150
For my Independent Study course, I helped research and create Honoring Our Past, Inspiring Our Future: St. Elizabeth Healthcare at 150. The exhibit was installed at the Behringer-Crawford Museum and celebrated the history of St. Elizabeth Healthcare and its contributions to Northern Kentucky.
+ Researched the hospital's history
+ Chose photographs for exhibit panels
+ Acquired exhibit artifacts
+ Installed exhibit in museum
+ Created artifact labels
+ Contributed research to the subsequent book, For the Centuries: St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Northern Kentucky, 1861-2011
App-itecture
App-itecture is a concept for a historic tour smartphone application that educates users about architectural history, historic preservation, and Cincinnati's urban history. The application would engage users in active learning using a smartphone's GPS, camera, and touch screen capabilities.
+ Designed a cultural heritage tourism prototype
+ Marked up visual examples of application's interface
+ Compiled interactive architecture definitions
+ Researched Cincinnati architectural history
+ Photographed and documented buildings
+ Planning to seek grant funding to continue project
Without Sanctuary
Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America was an exhibit at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center. I had the opportunity to act as a docent for this powerful and emotional exhibit, while learning about one of the macabre chapters in United States history.
+ Extensive reading on lynching in America
+ Volunteered three hours a week in the exhibit
+ Trained in emotional first aid
+ Engaged with visitors in group dialogues
Experience Covington
For Introduction to Public History, I worked with other students to create a cultural heritage tourism prototype. Now Experience Covington, the project was funded by a Preserve American Grant and takes visitors on themed audio walking tours of Northern Kentucky's largest city.
+ Researched and wrote articles for places of interest
+ Member of the technology committee
+ Researched similar cultural heritage tourism products
+ Presented prototype at NCPH 2009 national meeting
The City of Kenton Vale
In 2010, I moved to one of the smallest cities in Kentucky: Kenton Vale (population: 110). Located south of Covington and northeast of Fort Wright, this tiny municipality has had precious little written of its fascinating history. My article, "When Character Outmeasures Size: Kenton Vale, Kentucky" is pending publication in Northern Kentucky Heritage Magazine.
+ Utilized local history documents and resources
+ Conducted oral history interviews
+ Conducted research in state historical archives
+ Article currently pending publication
+ Uncovered counter-evidence against previously published historic information
The Fresh Air Farm
The Fresh Air Farm in Terrace Park, Ohio was a Progressive Era initiative that give rest and respite to working-class women and children from polluted basin neighborhoods of Cincinnati. Using primary documents, newspaper clippings, and other local history resources, I was assigned to make a simple short film with still photos, audio interviews, and narration about the influence of women on the farm.
Grant Writing
I wrote a proposal for a $2,500 humanities grant for the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. The museum sought to acquire a computer kiosk where patrons could search a database of previous Reds baseball players, and access to this hands-on research tool would allow personal local history discovery. Users would be able to search for information using terms that are personally relevant, creating a meaningful connection to the information.
+ Assisted in choosing a project for the grant
+ Contacted vendors for material pricing
+ Met weekly with staff to review grant drafts
+ Followed the Ohio Humanities Council guidelines
+ Proposal was second runner up, as voted by peers