Historical Research Project Research Articles

Die stand van stedelike en streekgeskiedenis in die RSA

The analysis of research undertaken in respect of a discipline over a certain period of time can be very revealing with reference to the position of a section of that discipline. Although not all current history research projects were included in the analysis the result is, nevertheless, surprising. In this case it appears that urban and regional history are no longer such a neglected field of research as generally accepted.

Promoting historical empathy with a local history research project about the pandemic

PurposeWe examined how high school students demonstrated historical empathy through conducting local history place-based research to create an exhibit and companion book about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their community. The majority of existing historical empathy scholarship focuses on classroom-based inquiry of historical events, people and time periods. We contend that broader examination of how historical empathy can be promoted beyond school-based instruction can contribute to the field by examining how student analyses of historical contexts and perspectives, and making affective connections to historical topics of study are needed when engaging in placed-based local history projects.Design/methodology/approachQualitative case study methodology was implemented for this study. A Likert-scale survey with a questionnaire was distributed to 30 high school study participants. Thirteen students gave follow-up interviews. Students’ responses on the surveys, interviews and questionnaires were organized into three categories that aligned to the theoretical framework – identification of historical contexts of the sources that students collected, analysis of how contexts shaped the perspectives expressed in the collected sources and expression of reasoned connections between the students’ emotions and experiences during the pandemic. A rubric was used to examine how students’ writing samples and reflections reflected demonstration of historical empathy.FindingsStudents responded that their local history research about the pandemic contributed to their displays of historical empathy. Students displayed weaker evidence of historical empathy while examining archival resources to explain the historical contexts of the pandemic. Student demonstration of historical empathy was stronger when analyzing community-sourced documents for perspectives and making reasoned affective connections to what they learned about the historical significance of the pandemic. The place-based aspects of this project were strongly connected to the students’ engagement in historical empathy because the sources they analyzed were relevant to their experiences and identities as citizens in their community.Originality/valueDocumenting the diverse human experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial to preserving the history of this extraordinary time. Every person around the globe experienced the pandemic differently, hence riding out the same storm in different boats. At some point, the pandemic will appear in historical narratives of the social studies curriculum. Therefore, now is an opportune time to ascertain whether place-based local history research about the contexts, perspectives and experiences of community members and children themselves, during the pandemic can foster historical empathy.

Excavation of a Roman settlement in the north-western hinterland of Aquincum (Óbuda, Hungary) at Pilisszentiván

As part of a new research project and a local history research project, a team of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences of the Eötvös Loránd University and the Archeovertex Ltd. excavated a Roman rural settlement in the territory of Pilisszentiván. The settlement is located in the northwestern hinterland of the Roman town of Aquincum (today: Óbuda, Hungary) in a scarcely investigated area. We documented the previously uncovered but unpublished remains of three buildings and made new observations on the chronology and function of the excavated settlement part.

Massacres in the Arnsberg Forest (abstract)

In recent years, an historical reappraisal by one of us (MW) has been carried out on one of the worst crimes outside of prisons and concentration camps committed in Germany by the SS and Wehrmacht in the final months of the Second World War. In the Arnsberg Forest near Warstein and Meschede (southern Westphalia, western Germany), 208 forced labourers were massacred by the 'Division for Vengeance' (Division zur Vergeltung) of SS General Hans Kammler in March 1945. In the course of this joint project, archaeological research conducted by the Olpe Department of the LWL-Archäologie für Westfalen (Westphalian Archaeological Heritage Service) has pinpointed the exact location of the crime scenes and provided clues for the reconstruction of the course of events in the field (Warstein Langenbachtal, Suttrop, Meschede-Eversberg). It has also enabled the recovery of finds belonging to both the victims and perpetrators. We have also been able to locate and examine the two temporary cemeteries (Warstein Melkeplätzchen, Suttrop). This has provided information about the history of exhumation of the victims in 1964, as well as clarifying the whereabouts of the Soviet obelisk from the Melkeplätzchen, the provisional cemetery of the Langenbach victims located close to the crime scene. This work has also allowed a follow-up search in the temporary cemetery in Suttrop for seven victims who, according to the exhumation documents of 1964, are presumably still lying there. Between 2018 and 2021, almost all of aspects addressed above could be clarified with new insights gained. Our results were summarised at the EAC conference in Bonn 2023 (although not published in this theme). Several publications already report on them and they are listed below. In addition to several German language publications, there is also an extensive English language publication (Baales et al. 2022) where the essential aspects of the interdisciplinary project are presented. In addition, the historical context, research project and numerous images are presented on several websites listed below.

Digital humanities in the era of digital reproducibility: towards a fairest and post-computational framework

Reproducibility has become a requirement in the hard sciences, and its adoption is gradually extending to the digital humanities. The FAIR criteria and the publication of data papers are both indicative of this trend. However, the question that arises is whether the strict prerequisites of digital reproducibility serve only to exclude digital humanities from broader humanities scholarship. Instead of adopting a binary approach, an alternative method acknowledges the unique features of the objects, inquiries, and techniques of the humanities, including digital humanities, as well as the social and historical contexts in which the concept of reproducibility has developed in the human sciences. In the first part of this paper, I propose to examine the historical and disciplinary context in which the concept of reproducibility has developed within the human sciences, and the disciplinary struggles involved in this process, especially for art history and literature studies. In the second part, I will explore the question of reproducibility through two art history research projects that utilize various computational methods. I argue that issues of corpus, method, and interpretation cannot be separated, rendering a procedural definition of reproducibility impractical. Consequently, I propose the adoption of ‘post-computational reproducibility’, which is based on FAIREST criteria as far as digital corpora are concerned (FAIR + Ethics and Expertise, Source mention + Time-Stamp), but extended to include further sources that confirm computational results with other non-computational methodologies.

They Were Here: A Study on High School Students’ Engagement in Historical Empathy With a Local History Research Project

In this study, we explored how high school students’ participation in a local history research project about a historically Black cemetery in the Southeast United States contributed to their demonstration of historical empathy. Major findings show that students displayed historical empathy in research activities that occur beyond the traditional classroom through their examination of perspectives concerning representations of race and diversity in the social studies curriculum, the historical contexts about the impact of enslavement and Jim Crow segregation in their community, and affective connections they made to their identities as citizens. We recommend that future studies focus on how social studies teachers, community organizations, and other educational providers can collaborate to promote historical empathy in and outside of schools with equity frameworks and curricular initiatives such as the National Council for the Social Studies College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework.

Ancient history: A postcolonial view on Roman identity

Ancient history: A postcolonial view on Roman identity Prof Dr Felix K Maier, Professor for Ancient History at University of Zurich, explores the paradoxical dynamics of different identities in the multicultural Roman Empire. My history research project analyses the dynamics of different identities in the Roman Empire from around 50-150 AD. The Roman Empire is generally considered a ‘story of a success’ concerning the integration of the conquered peoples. The Romans surpassed other empires regarding temporal extension and maintained their power with little military presence. However, it was not only open rebellions that could have threatened Roman domination; it was also – and quite paradoxically – the successful integration of conquered peoples. This had to do with a couple of interdependent aspects.

Reproducibility, verifiability, and computational historical research

Digital humanities methods have been at the heart of a recent series of high-profile historical research projects. But these approaches raise new questions about reproducibility and verifiability in a field of research where grounding one’s conclusions in a body of historical evidence is crucial. While there have been extensive debates about the nature and methods of historical research since the nineteenth century, the underlying assumption has generally been that documenting one’s sources in a series of footnotes is essential to enable other researchers to test the validity of the research. Even if this approach never amounted to “reproducibility” in the sense of scientific experimentation, it might still be seen as broadly analogous, since the evidence can be reassembled to see the basis for the explanations that were offered and to test their validity. This essay examines how new digital methods like topic modelling, network analysis, knowledge graphs, species models, and various kinds of visualizations are affecting the process of reproducing and verifying historical research. Using examples drawn from recent research projects, it identifies a need for thorough documentation and publication of the different layers of digital research: digital and digitized collections, descriptive metadata, the software used for analysis and visualizations, and the various settings and configurations.

Improving Racial & Ethnic Diversity in OT: A Historical Analysis With Implications for the Future

Abstract Date Presented 04/21/2023 This historical research project points to prior strategies for improving diversity in OT and their lessons learned. Diversity, equity,, and inclusion (DEI) efforts that are recurring and institutionalized could add to their sustainability. Primary Author and Speaker: Molly A. McCarthy Additional Authors and Speakers: Andrew Hogan

Switching between different identities, the example of Paul the Apostle

Switching between different identities, the example of Paul the Apostle Prof Dr Felix K Maier, Professor for Ancient History at University of Zurich, uses the example of Paul the Apostle to illustrate switching between different identities. My history research project analyzes the dynamics of different identities in the Roman Empire from around 50-150 AD. This project seeks to understand the often-paradoxical dynamics of different identities in a multicultural empire and to stimulate a discussion about hidden aspects of social interactions that we still need to understand correctly. Although the Roman era is entirely different to our times, some critical questions relate to today's world, where social and political distinction mechanisms also lead to open or concealed conflicts.

Who am i? Multicultural identities in the Roman Empire

Who am i? Multicultural identities in the Roman Empire In this second installment for Open Access Government, Prof Dr Felix K Maier, Professor for Ancient History at University of Zurich, explores multicultural identities in the Roman Empire. His history research project analyzes the dynamics of different identities in the Roman Empire from around 50-150 AD. My project aims to discern the often-paradoxical dynamics of identities in a multicultural empire and stimulate a discussion about hidden aspects of social interactions that still need to be properly understood. Although the Roman era is entirely different to our times, some critical questions from the past relate to today's world in which mechanisms of social and political distinction also lead to open or concealed conflicts.

Recruiting and retaining community researchers for a historical research project

This article explores how we recruited and retained a diverse group of community researchers from groups who faced barriers to engaging with research. All were mothers of preschool or primary age children, and fitted one or more of the following criteria: single parent, English as an additional language, first-generation migrant, inner-city resident. We explore the process of recruitment, and making the project accessible, as well as describing the factors that allowed researchers to remain engaged with the project over the course of a year. A dedicated community support worker played a crucial role in resolving barriers to participation, and supporting researchers’ well-being and personal development once they were in the group. The article identifies five key challenges encountered across the lifetime of the project, and the strategies we used to address them. We hope our reflections and practical suggestions will make a contribution to the understanding of how people with multiple accessibility challenges can be supported to take part in, and make an essential contribution to, community–university research projects.

The Role and Value of Research Outputs in Coproducing Research With Communities

Coproduced research aims to bring university researchers, community members, and organizations together to create new knowledge, share findings, and develop meaningful research outputs. While there is a growing body of work exploring the processes and methods of coproduction, little attention has been paid to the role and value of the outputs of coproduced research. This article addresses this gap in the literature by considering the value and role of a range of outputs developed via a coproduced community history research project. This article suggests that research outputs fulfill a number of key functions in addition to disseminating findings. Research outputs help collaborators make sense of a project and support the development of research skills and knowledge. Developing outputs also provides space to recognize individual interests and skills, build a collective vision, and help people recognize their own expertise. The article argues that research outputs are fundamental to the process of coproducing research, not simply its end result, and suggests that coproduced research outputs should be viewed as a site of research practice and knowledge production.

Spitting on my sources: Depression, DNA, and the ambivalent historian.

While writing a book on the history of postpartum depression in the United States, I became interested in an ongoing study about possible genetic markers of postpartum mental illness. I participated in the first step, an online survey. When I qualified for the next step, saliva collection, I was torn over whether or not to continue. Making this decision required reflecting on some overlapping issues: gender, medicalization, genetic research, and the political functions of DNA donation. In this perspectives essay, I explore tensions around situating myself in my historical research project.

Project activities in the ESP course in the context of students’ socio-professional self-determination at a non-linguistic university

The cardinal change of the technological and socio-economic paradigm all around the world makes investigations related to the problems of professional self-determination of the younger generation extremely topical. In the conditions of economic and cultural globalisation, an important component of the professional competence of university graduates is the ability to realise their professional skills and present developed projects in the English-language media space. The article reveals methodological possibilities of the project activity in the ESP course as a pedagogic support for the socio-professional self-determination of students in a non-linguistic university. It determines principles and methods of using specialised Internet resources for developing educational projects in English that contribute to students’ professional self-determination and their social adaptation in the international professional community. The authors suggest a typological classification of practice-oriented projects that can be implemented in the ESP course – informational (abstract-review), analytical (historical, socio-cultural, cross-cultural and other research projects) and creative (creation of an original content – design, models, technological solutions, etc.). It is concluded that the project activity in the ESP course, the results of which can be included in the professional portfolio, is a significant element of socio-professional self-determination of students of a non-linguistic university.

SIGACCESS

As part of the 50th anniversary of SIGACCESS, a historical research project was conducted to investigate the establishment and history of the SIG. Based on interviews with key figures in the history of SIGACCESS, as well as examination of publications and documents related to the SIG, this article provides an overview of four major eras of SIGACCESS's history, including its founding, a "precarious" era in which the SIG's fate was uncertain, a period of revitalization, and a modern era focused on inclusion.

The quest for convergence in Hungarian-Romanian relationships: A multi-actor approach and the transferability of good practices

Hungarian-Romanian relations are difficult to assess because they involve a vast set of actors: from diplomats to civil society, from political parties to churches. If convergence in foreign policy is to be achieved and if genuine reconciliation is to take place, all these actors have to be taken into consideration and have to engage in a concerted manner. Bilateral relations between Hungary and Romania benefit from a dense network of cooperation initiatives, but they are neither sustainable, nor integrated into a vision aiming for convergence and reconciliation. Political will, joint historical research projects and youth bi-ethnic socialization are critical in creating a bilateral relation supported by true reconciliation.

Restorations in Chile in the Mid-Twentieth Century: The National Monuments Council and Some of the First Architectural Heritage Interventions

This paper presents the initial results of an ongoing historical research project that addresses some of the first architectural restoration interventions led by the Chilean State through the National Monuments Council, the institution responsible for management of the country’s cultural heritage. The National Monuments Council was created in 1925 by Decree-Law No. 651, the first long-standing legal provision to cover this aspect of cultural heritage. It remained in place for several decades before being superseded in 1970 by the current National Monuments Law (No. 17,288). The State’s first steps in regard to architectural restoration were made possible by this legislation, and by the mid-twentieth century, the National Monuments Council was working systematically to register, analyse and take action to restore the country’s architectural heritage. In 1949, a Conservation Commission was formed as part of the Council, and this body played a key role in the promotion of restoration projects at the time. The National Monuments Council worked in partnership with the General Directorate of Public Works, and efforts on the part of the two public institutions resulted in the creation of an annual budget for architectural restoration. By the 1950s, numerous buildings and sites considered relevant to the national identity were being restored, and efforts were made to emphasise their cultural significance and value. These early interventions were some of the first of their type to be funded by the State and were fundamental to the local architectural historical context. Work focused primarily on religious and military colonial buildings, including churches, chapels and fortresses located the length of Chile. Archival material from the time, such as National Monuments Council session minutes and institutional bulletins drafted under Decree-Law No. 651, provide a record of these early interventions. Analysis of these sources from a technical and theoretical perspective provides insights into the motivations and selection criteria used to establish an order of priority for the restoration of buildings and sites. This paper presents the main actions taken at a time when architectural restoration was first being promoted by the Chilean State and explores how these provided the foundations upon which future development of the local discipline would occur.

Hiding in Plain Sight

Hiding in Plain Sight is an illustrated history of the former and present cinemas in the city of Leeds and an interactive website that engages Leeds residents in a participatory reminiscence project about cinemas and cinema-going. Launched in the summer of 2020, it is the most recent output of an ongoing cinema history research project at the Hyde Park Picture House, a much-loved 106 year-old Grade 2 listed independent cinema. The Hiding in Plain Sight project was one of a series of activities hosted by the organisation in line with their objective to engage as many people as possible with the cinema’s valuable heritage. The author of this paper, Dr Laura Ager, was employed by the Hyde Park Picture House as their Creative Engagement Officer between 2019 and 2020 and in this role she developed project’s framework and its research strategy. In this article she outlines the project’s origins and stages of development and considers how the methods used in the research phase have interacted with the design and production of the Hiding in Plain Sight website to give unexpected insights. She also reflects on some essential stages of project re-negotiation during the extraordinary and turbulent summer of 2020.

Measurement and Analysis of Industrial Forklifts Vibration Levels for Unit Load Testing Purposes

Forklifts are one of the most common types of material handling equipment used in warehouses and distribution centers. Vibration generated by forklifts may have an effect on the performance of unit loads and product damage rates. Historical research projects have focused predominantly on the measurement of vibration for over-the-road transportation. Thus, there is still a lack of understanding of the level of vibration caused by forklifts. The goal of this study was to understand how the vibration that is experienced by unit loads while being transported by forklifts is affected by factors such as speed, road condition, unit load weight, type of forklift, and sensor location. For this study, power spectral density (PSD) measurements were collected using a Lansmont Saver 9X30 data logger. Vibration levels were measured for three different industrial forklifts on two different surface types. The forklifts were driven at two different speeds while carrying two different unit load weights. For all of these conditions, the vibration levels were measured at the forklift carriage, at the back of the fork tine heel, and at the fork tine tips. The results obtained show that the highest vibrational intensity occurred at 3–4 Hz, while the highest overall Grms value observed was 0.145 G2/Hz (between 1–200 Hz). An increase in the forklift speed caused an increase in vibration intensity. In contrast, an increase in the unit load weight carried by the forklift caused a decrease in vibration intensity. Among the three forklifts studied, the gas-powered forklift had the highest vibration intensity, and all forklifts, when driven on asphalt, experienced more vibration.