Urban Ethnohistory

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Summer Field School in Ethnography will be held in the Malone Community, a multi-ethnic neighborhood in Lincoln, Nebraska. Under the direction of Dr. Martha McCollough and Dr. Joseph Stimpfl, students will work collaboratively with members of the community on oral history projects and archival research. The bulk of this work will be with members of the community's African American residents. Through this experience, students will learn methodological approaches to fieldwork. These include participant observation, the development of a research design, the advantages of collaborative research, the techniques associated with collecting oral history, and the uses of archival and published documents. In addition, field school participants will be introduced to a number of theoretical concepts concerning historical representation.

Schedule

The Field School will be held for eight weeks from 18 May through 10 July. The first week will be used to develop student projects and learn technical and methodological aspects of wold work. During the following six weeks, students will work with members of the community on various aspects of their neighborhood's history. The last week will be devoted to the analysis of data and presentation of reports. Throughout these eight weeks, students will participate in scheduled lectures, discussions, and community events.

Location

Field work will be conducted in the Malone community, a multi-ethnic community in Lincoln, Nebraska. Built in the 1880s, the community began as a middle-class white neighborhood. By the 1900s, African Americans had moved into the neighborhood, becoming the mainstay of the community. Currently, the Malone community serves both of these constituencies in addition to Hispanics and recent immigrant populations.

Living Arrangements

Students are responsible for finding their own housing. If possible, however, we suggest that students attempt to find housing in the Malone community.

Application and Registration

Enrollment is by application only and may be limited. Prospective students should complete an application form, obtainable fromsch the Department of Anthropology. Upon acceptance into the field school, students will receive additional information on how to register at UNL.

Tuition and Other Expenses

Field school costs include tuition and various other supplied. Undergraduates will register for 9 undergraduate hours, costing $716.50 ($1929.25, for non-resident students). Graduate students without previous field experience will register for 3 graduate credit hours and 6 undergraduate credit hours, costing,$793.92 ($2059.92 for non-resident sutdents). In addition to tuition (see below), students will be required to buy texts and miscellaneous items, such as audiotapes, film, and event tickets.

Questions

Direct questions to either Dr. Joseph Stimpfl (jstimpfl@unlinfo.unl.edu) or Dr. Martha McCollough (mlm@unlinfo.unl.edu).