Fall semester 2025 at Messiah University began six weeks ago and our students have been busy working on a number of projects related to the history of Harrisburg. As the coordinator for digital humanities with Messiah University’s Center for Public Humanities (CPH), I’m excited about what our students will accomplish this term in collaboration with partners in Harrisburg and the wider capital region.
I am working with about a half dozen current Messiah students in the humanities, plus my colleague in the CPH, Professor Pete Powers; other educators and staff at Messiah; several alumni; and collaborators off campus. Current students will post about their projects via this website as well as our social media accounts.
Students are working on several projects.
First, we’re working to make more visible our past work with the Commonwealth Monument Project. We’re partnering with Mr. Lenwood Sloan in designing new yard signs to set alongside A Gathering at the Crossroads, Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Monument. These yard signs will help direct visitors to the places around the state capitol that bring to life the dynamic moments of the past, especially the Old Eighth Ward. They will also direct visitors from the monument, along the Chester Way, to the T. Morris Chester Welcome Center at the McCormick Riverfront Library. We’re also working on a brochure for visitors to the State Capitol about the Eighth Ward community. You’ll hear soon from Messiah senior Patrick Cosgriff about these projects.
Second, we’re continuing to work with Saving our Ancestors’ Legacy and The Center for Applied Environmental & Geospatial Technology at Harrisburg University on a functional interactive map of the gravestones of Harrisburg’s Lincoln Cemetery that will allow public users and descendants to locate individuals in the cemetery. Read more about that project here. Check out our initial mockup Story Map collection — we hope to finish this by the end of the academic year.
Third, we have a gaggle of stories in the queue for publication at our Harrisburg Historical website and mobile app. We’ll be lining those up for publication throughout fall semester and into the winter.
Finally, we’re trying to improve our social media presence for both the Center for Public Humanities and Digital Harrisburg Initiative. If you’re not yet connected to us on our social media accounts, you can connect to us via the following:
- Digital Harrisburg’s Facebook and Instagram pages
- Old Eighth Ward Facebook page
- Messiah’s Center for Public Humanities Facebook page and Instagram account
Looking forward to connecting more about our collaborative work and sharing some of the powerful stories that connect past and present.
David Pettegrew is Professor of History and Archaeology, and Coordinator of Digital Public Humanities at Messiah University.
Digital Harrisburg 