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The Idea: Monumental History The theme for the Senior Seminar since 2007 has been “Monumental History”—that is, the history of historical monuments on the northern plains. Each student researches and writes a paper treating a historical monument, comprising these essential elements: 1. The historical background of the person, movement, organization, or ideal commemorated by the monument 2. The story of the monument, that is, the circumstances by which it came to be 3. The implications of collective memory associated with the monument These elements will be elaborated and refined in the course of the seminar through our discussions and through the issuance of more specific guidelines. Collective memory is central to the idea of the seminar. We are not writing about stone and bronze, although stone and bronze will figure in our narratives. We are writing about identity. Monuments, by invoking collective memory, forge historical identity for the people in a particular community. There will be several products downstream from the composition of your papers. 1. Public presentations in local venues, a required part of the seminar. 2. Presentations at Phi Alpha Theta and other regional professional historical association meetings, for all the papers written in the seminar will be suitable for such presentation. 3. Incorporation of images and key findings into the heritage tourism web pages of the Center for Heritage Renewal. |