This session will explore prospects for collaboration between university-based Digital/Public History programs, an emerging nationwide “History Harvest Movement,” and commercial photo/document scanning companies, which specialize in the preservation of personal collections at public scanning events. Confirmed participants include Rick Lippert, CEO of i/o Trak & E-Z Photo Scan; Rose Beiler, Associate Professor and Director of UCF’s Public History Program; Scot French, Associate Professor of Digital and Public History at UCF, and students in French’s Local and Community History graduate seminar.

Some Suggested Readings:

• William G. Thomas et al., “History Harvests, What Happens When Students Collect and Digitize the People’s History?” (Perspectives, Jan. 2013)
• “History Harvest Project May Spawn a New Kind of MOOC” (Wired Campus – Chronicle of Higher Education, 11-21-2012)
• Compilation of Tweets re Chronicle article on History Harvest/ MOOCs
• Omaha World-Herald Editorial, “Let’s Share These Stories” (1-16-2012)
• William G. Thomas III, “History Harvest in North Omaha: A Report on Digital Harvesting” (2011)
• William G. Thomas III, “First History Harvest Held – Railroad Materials Gathered and Digitized” (2010)