Project Mentor
Dr. Mars Plater
Department: History
Project Overview:
I am working with a local organization, Stamford Pride, to explore the LGBTQIA+ history of this city. I am considering possible publications or public history opportunities (like walking tours!) for the future, but at the early stages of this project, I am looking to supervise a research apprentice(s) who can recover this history by exploring digital databases and conducting virtual interviews with elder members of the local LGBTQ+ community.
Role of a SHARE Summer Apprentice:
The tasks at hand are:
- Conducting and recording interviews (called oral histories) of LGBTQ+ residents of Stamford
- Researching LGBTQIA+ individuals, organizations, and events in Stamford’s history using online archival databases and by reaching out to community members to ask for information and any relevant materials they’ve held onto. (Topics include queer-affirming churches, the impact of HIV/AIDS on the community, gay social spaces, and more! Students are welcome to add their own topics of interest to the research agenda)
- Keeping organized records of historical documents you find, so that these resources are easily accessible to members of this evolving project in the future
- Writing short reports on each topic you research
- Joining Mars in virtual meetings with members of Stamford Pride’s History Project to discuss findings and how to incorporate your research into public programming (including drafting posts for Stamford Pride’s Instagram account)
You will end this summer with improved skills in historical research and writing, experience communicating and working with community members and a team of local advocates, and (hopefully) strong examples of public history research that you can link to on your resume.
Summer Schedule/Time Commitment:
Let’s meet every two weeks for an hour-long virtual check in. I’ll spend the first meetings training you in historical research methods so that you know how to conduct oral histories, find historical documents, and analyze your findings. After that, we will spend our meetings addressing research/writing/time management challenges and/or checking in with members of Stamford Pride.
Hours will be very flexible–aside from our biweekly meetings, which will happen at a time we agree on–you can work whenever you are available. I am happy to adjust our schedule around travel or vacation plans, should you need to take time off. Ideally, you will pace the work out evenly over the course of the summer, so that we will always have things to discuss at our regular check-in meetings.
Preferred Qualifications:
I am looking for an apprentice who is:
- interested in LGBTQIA+ History!
- curious about other people’s experiences and perspectives
- ready to connect with interviewees using virtual meeting technology that is strangely impersonal and does not always work perfectly!
- patient, because historical research can be slow at some times (but fast and exciting at other times!)
- receptive to feedback (writing improves through feedback–everything I will ever publish went through many rounds of constructive criticism. Stamford Pride + community members and I will offer suggestions on your drafts and we will work together to improve them. We will be kind and supportive through this process but need you to be open and adaptable!)
Skills that are not required but would be a plus: speaking languages other than English, video editing, digital design/website management
To Apply:
The application is closed.