Dr Julia Irwin (USF) and Dr Marc-William Palen (Exeter)

The pandemic has raised important questions and challenges for historical research in both domestic and international archives, which graduate students of history feel particularly keenly. Stemming from this, we held an intensive one-week research workshop May 24-28 designed to assist graduate students at USF and Exeter in overcoming pandemic-related obstacles to archival research. 

Participants joined in virtually from Austria, Italy, Germany, Exeter, and Tampa, FL. In addition to learning digital research strategies, this workshop provided students with an opportunity to participate in a virtual global exchange and to learn from renowned experts in their fields. At the end of the week, students who completed this workshop came away knowing: about the existence of many digital archives they can use for their research; how to think critically about these archives and their creation; how to navigate both online and in-person archives; and about the politics associated with funding and preserving the past. In consultation with Drs Irwin and Palen, students also developed concrete individualized research plans for their MA theses and PhD dissertations. 

This workshop was supported by generous funding from USF World, the USF History Department, and Exeter’s College of Humanities and Global Partnerships.

Participants and Speakers

Convenors: Dr Julia Irwin (USF) and Dr Marc-William Palen (Exeter)

USF Graduate Student Participants: Patrick Horan; Tamala Malerk; Scott Miller; Alexander Obermueller; Sophia Paschero; Paula Peck; Doug Ponticos; Alaina Scapicchio; Ashley Wessel

Exeter Graduate Student Participants: Ken Clayton; Maria Teresa Marangoni; Iona Ramsay; Marlen von Reith

Speakers: Dr Richard Ward (Exeter); Dr Stacey Hynd (Exeter); Dr Darcie Fontaine (USF); Dr Bob Nicholson (Edge Hill, UK); Dr Matthew Connelly (Columbia University, NYC); Richard Immerman (Temple University, Philadelphia)

Schedule

• Monday, May 24: Introductions/Discuss Research Projects

9:00-10:45 / 14:00-15:45: Introductions, led by Dr Julia Irwin, Associate Professor of History, USF, and Dr Marc Palen, Senior Lecturer in History, Exeter

10:45-11:15 / 15:45-16:15: Break

11:15-1:00 / 16:15-18:00: Student discussions of research projects and key research questions (led by Dr Irwin and Dr Palen)

• Tuesday, May 25: Interrogating the Archives

9:00-10:45 / 14:00-15:45: Led by Dr Richard Ward, Lecturer in Digital History, Exeter

10:45-11:15 / 15:45-16:15: Break

11:15-1:00 / 16:15-18:00: Introduction to an array of digital archives + student-centered activity focused on digital research strategies (led by Dr Irwin and Dr Palen)

• Wednesday, May 26: Discovering Digital Archives with USF and Exeter Faculty

9:00-10:45 / 14:00-15:45: Led by Dr Stacey Hynd, Senior Lecturer in African History, College of Humanities Director of Postgraduate Studies and Co-Director of Centre for Imperial and Global History, Exeter, and Dr Darcie Fontaine, Associate Professor of History and Graduate Director, USF

10:45-11:15 / 15:45-16:15: Break

11:15-1:00 / 16:15-18:00: Student-centered activity focused on presentations of various digital history resources  (led by Dr Irwin and Dr Palen)

• Thursday, May 27: Thinking Critically about the Digital Archive

9:00-10:45 / 14:00-15:45: Led by Dr Bob Nicholson, Reader in History & Digital Humanities, Edge Hill University, UK

10:45-11:15 / 15:45-16:15: Break

11:15-1:00 / 16:15-18:00: Student-centered activity focused on developing students’ summer research plans (led by Dr Irwin and Dr Palen)

• Friday, May 28: The Politics of Digitization

9:00-10:45 / 14:00-15:45: Led by Dr Matthew Connelly, Professor of History, Columbia University, USA & Richard Immerman, Professor Emeritus and Former Director of the Center for the Study of Force and Diplomacy, Temple University, USA

• 10:45-11:15 / 15:45-16:15: Break
• 11:15-1:00 / 16:15-18:00: Final discussion of the politics of archives and digitization (led by Dr Irwin and Dr Palen)