CCBC-invisible-history

CCBC Invisible History Website Launches, Featuring Work from 2021 SRE Scholars

During the summer session, Catonsville Honors in partnership with UMBC hosted a Mellon-sponsored Summer Research Experience themed “Invisible History,” which through various experiential learning activities sought to place America’s antebellum past into a more complete historical context. The following Honors Program students from all three campuses were selected to participate via a competitive application process:

  • Pariya Ahmadi
  • Rachael Aina
  • Allana Calahatian
  • Alexandra Coe
  • Helen Davies
  • Daniel Harrison
  • Lieza Menil
  • Oluwatumininu Olanrewaju
  • Francesco Rocha
  • Clara Weaver

 

Student researchers participated in lectures and seminars organized and led by CCBC faculty Natasha Cole-Leonard (English), Jadi Omowale (English), and Myron Strong (Sociology), and UMBC’s Denise Meringolo (History). Over the course of this intensive six-week session, students explored subjects as diverse as local antebellum history, astronomy, poetry, visual art, public memorials, website/mobile app development, scholarly research methods, and more.

The following scholars, artists, and guest speakers (in order of appearance) contributed to the program through (virtual and in-person) lectures, presentations, site tours, readings and/or Q&A sessions over the 6-week period:

  • Michelle Wright, CCBC History
  • David Truscello, CCBC English, emeritus
  • Will Schwarz, Maryland Lynching Memorial Project
  • David Ludwikoski, CCBC Physical Science
  • Elizabeth Godwin, CCBC Library
  • Anne Sarah Rubin, UMBC History
  • Lindsey Loeper, UMBC Library
  • Molly Ricks, Baltimore Heritage
  • Ryan Koons, Maryland State Arts Council
  • Kami Fletcher, Albright College History
  • Lynn Rainville, Washington and Lee University History
  • Nina Brown, CCBC Anthropology
  • Debra Sambuco, CCBC Library
  • Katharine Fernstrom, CCBC / Towson Anthropology
  • Taryn Tranby, CCBC Alumna
  • Abdul Ali, Maryland State Arts Council
  • Honoree F. Jeffers, University of Oklahoma English
  • Mark Souther, Curatescape, Cleveland State University
  • Erin Bell, Curatescape, Cleveland State University

 

Inspired and informed by topics discussed in the seminars, students developed encyclopedic-style entries for presentation on the Invisible History website and mobile application, now available at www.ccbcinvisiblehistory.org. This Summer Research Experience represents the origin of a multi-year interdisciplinary project. Going forward, we hope to engage more students, faculty, and staff from across the campuses in a variety of disciplines to contribute to this effort. Contact Natasha Cole-Leonard, Catonsville Honors Program Director, at nleonard@ccbcmd.edu or 443-840-4654 for more information.

Many thanks to our researchers and contributors.

Please note: This is a soft launch of the website only. An in-person reception for launch of the mobile application, featuring presentations by students, will occur during the fall semester. Stay tuned! 

Watch Live November 15th at 6pm