by Joy Esiemokhai
The Center for Public History at the University of West Georgia recently organized the 2014 installment of its annual showcase. The event, titled “Road Trip: Experience Public History Partnerships,” was held at the Ingram Library on March 27, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
“The event is a way for our students to show what they have been working on during the past year,” said Dusty Dye, assistant director of CPH and co-director of the West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail. “It is also a great way to learn different skills that you can use even if you’re not a history major, like marketing and event planning.”
The event featured research projects and exhibits by graduate and undergraduate public history students at UWG, in addition to collaborations with partner organizations and communities, such as the National Park Service, the Georgia Humanities Council and the West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail.
Guests were provided refreshments, as well as given the opportunity to win Starbucks gift cards by picking their favorite exhibit. Students gave informal presentations in 30-minute installments about their projects, which were conducted between summer 2013 and the spring 2014 semester. There were nine showcases on display, ranging from 3D artifact scanning, screen printing in conjunction with the UWG art department, and a Georgia Department of Transportation exhibit.
The UWG Center for Public History researches, documents, preserves, and promotes public discussion of the historical, cultural, architectural, and folklife resources of the west Georgia region. The Center provides consultation and services in historical research, oral history, folklife fieldwork, architectural survey, exhibit development, and public and community program development.
