Public history students learn by doing

A grant from America 250 NC gave UNCG master’s students a taste of the professional world. They collaborated with Dr. Anne Parsons, director of public history at UNCG, and Lisa Withers ’15 MA of University Libraries to create “Limits of Freedom.”

The exhibition is a series of 12 banners, each full of stories and images related to African American history in Guilford and Rockingham counties during early U.S. history. The research team included both graduate and undergraduate students.

Megan Mieure ’23, ’25 MA says, “The project provided endless opportunities to learn about the professional world of public history from the conception of a grant application, to the research and curation of the content in an expertly communicative team, to the process of editing and fabrication of the banners.”

Parsons says the project, which took almost 18 months to complete, was good career preparation for the students. “We worked in a traditional exhibit design team where people have different responsibilities. I was bringing my experience in exhibit curation, and they were then learning and contributing.”

“Limits of Freedom” has exhibited at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, the Museum and Archives of Rockingham County, and High Point Museum, and will come to UNCG’s campus Sept. 14 – Oct. 26. Visit uncglibraries.com/limitsoffreedom for details.

by Mercer Bufter ’11 MA

Photo courtesy of Dr. Anne Parsons