With the development of computers in the late twentieth century, many fields of study were dramatically changed. One of these fields to take on the task of computer mastery is history. I am currently in a Digital History course at Messiah College, taught by Professor David Pettegrew. We have been studying how to further incorporate computer technology … Continue reading Introduction to Digital History
As I walk around, the heart of campus is beating with the energy brought on by the start of a new semester. This pulsation seeps into the classrooms where chalk hits blackboards with fresh information. I relish the feeling of excitement and unfamiliarity especially in the uncharted territory of Digital History. To say I am generally inexperienced … Continue reading Something New
The 2015-2016 academic year at Messiah College is well under way. As a student in Dr. David Pettegrew’s Digital History course, we have read the first few chapters of History in the Digital Age. This compilation of texts by various authors focuses on the advancement of technology and academic resources and their shaping of the research process for historians. Yet, … Continue reading Expectations of a New Digital History Student
As a junior history and English major at Messiah College I enrolled in Dr. Pettegrew’s “Digital History” course in order to fulfill a requirement for my public history concentration. I officially decided to add this concentration and a public relations minor, after my recent internship experience. This summer, I had the privilege of participating in the Pennsylvania Historical … Continue reading WordPress, Zotero, and Harrisburg – Oh My!
This morning I was watching an episode of The West Wing while working on finishing the database for the 1910 Harrisburg Census and it just so happened to be an episode about the Census. I just can't escape it. But a quote from the episode truly resonated with me and how I feel some days while working on … Continue reading Finishing Up 1910
Joseph Thomas and his wife Marian lived in the 8th Ward of Harrisburg at the time of the 1900 census. Their home (see cyan dot on map below) was smack dab in the middle of where the current Capitol Fountain exists today. Joseph was an undertaker and he and his wife had two boarders, a … Continue reading Beneath the Capitol Fountain
As our City Beautiful project comes to a close, we reflect on the time we have spent on the project and what we have learned throughout the course. There have been ups and downs, but the course overall has been a great learning experience. Allow me to start off by saying this course was not … Continue reading Reflecting on Digital History
It is hard to believe that the school year is over. Most of us are one step closer to our bachelor’s degrees; some are obtaining them in a week. It was a wonderful experience being a part of Messiah College’s first digital history course. Not only did we make discoveries about the city of Harrisburg … Continue reading Looking Back
As a North Carolinian, I never considered learning about the history of Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. However, after enrolling in Digital History this semester, I have appreciated learning about the city of Harrisburg in the 20th Century. Despite our focus on Harrisburg in the late 19th Century and earliest 20th Century, we were able to … Continue reading Oh Harrisburg the Beautiful
Messiah College offered its first Digital History class in the Spring of 2014. The digital history class was helpful not only with providing us particular computer skills, but it changed the way we as students think about the study of history. In the class, we focused on GIS, collecting data from census records, archiving and much … Continue reading Digital History Wrap Up
Digital Harrisburg 