University of Lethbridge undergraduate student research will be front and centre at the Galt Museum & Archives this summer.
Five students from Dr. Carol Williams' History 2800 - Women's History class will have exhibits at the museum from May 16 to Sept. 27.
"U of L students studying in the departments of History and Women & Gender Studies have access to many research and professional opportunities at the undergraduate level," says Williams. "The GALT exhibition partnership, developed in 2012 by myself, Wendy Aitkens, and other professional staff at the Galt Museum & Archives, is a premier example of this."
In essence, as part of the students' assignment for their course, students develop proposals for a public history display of their original research for the museum. Five finalists are selected by jury for the exhibit, affording an important professional development opportunity for undergraduate students.
"Each year the results are spectacular, and this year is no exception," says Williams.
The exhibition, Whither Girls and Women? Research by Undergraduate Historians, features original research produced by students Amanda High, Amanda Krawchuk, Diane McKenzie, Evan Woolner and Amanda Wolf. Students produced original research on any topic of women or girls’ history using primary sources, visuals and material objects retrieved from the Galt or other regional archives or private collections. Like all researchers tasked with the creation of original knowledge, students first reviewed how prior scholars had considered like-minded topics. Yet, the individual exhibits are diverse. Research skills learned in history courses serve students well no matter what career they pursue in the post university job market.
Following is a brief description of each exhibit:
It's Your Duty! - Recruitment propaganda in the Canadian Women's Army Corps in the Second World War - Amanda High
RIOT & DEBAUCHERY - Community opposition to Lethbridge’s Red Light District, 1880-1920 - Amanda Krawchuk
Strands of History - Women and commemorative hairwork 1865 - 1965 - Diane McKenzie
I Wouldn’t Marry Him...If He Didn't Have Running Water - Women’s roles on the family farm in Alberta - Amanda Wolf
Surviving A Plague - Experiences of southern Alberta nurses during the 1918 Influenza Epidemic - Evan Woolner