Summer Research in the Humanities (3 weeks, DUR)

The goal of Summer Research is to introduce students to work inside and outside of archives and other sites of historical knowledge, allowing them to acquire a stronger and more sophisticated sense not only of textual but of material and cultural objects and artifacts. This course is inseparably critical and creative: critical, for it teaches students to interrogate the very notion of an archive, and creative, for the interrogation will lead to their own production of knowledge in the form of a public presentation of their research and a conference paper. In the last ten years or so, the institutional limitations of archives have been valuably identified; however, the recognition that sites of knowledge azre constructed does not imply the determination of what can be known. For if it is the work of archivists to identify, catalog and systematize, and protect the objects in their collection, it is not their job to study exhaustively all the contents of their collection. They might emphasize some objects at the expense of others, but they do not prevent the discovery of new meanings in the available items. There is always the possibility for surprise, even delight (or horror) within the site in which documents and other objects are stored.  

The great opportunity, at once theoretical and practical, of the active investigation of the collections at UNC and Duke is to work with documents whose significance is not altogether clear as well as those whose significance seems peculiarly determined—so clear, in other words, that other meanings are obscured or occluded. Our focus upon archival is, however, necessarily grounded in the historical worlds of the local.  In other words, the ground underneath the student’s feet, its deep histories and disruptions, will become the object of our study.  What is the relation between local knowledge and global experience? How do economic and social transformations shape the more intimate, everyday forms of cultural practice and political desire in places seemingly far removed from such forces? 

Trips to the North Carolina Museums of Art, Natural History, and Science, and excursions to historical sites such as Stagville Plantation, Hayti, and to renovated and ruined factories in and around Durham, will offer further practice in the difficult pleasures of reading diverse objects (including architecture) in their relation to built space. Evenings will be spent reading, in preparation for the day’s adventures.  What will advene, however, cannot be foretold.

• Critical independence and the art of questioning in NCSSM’s Summer Research in Humanities (2020)

• Inspiring a Love of Learning and Concept of Self: NCSSM’s Summer Research in Humanities (2022)

The Art and Science of Ceramics (3 weeks, MOR)

The science behind pottery, and the process in crafting it, is intriguing and eons old. Clay, water, fire—the essential elements in pottery makinghave been utilized by humans for thousands of years to make functional and artistic vessels and sculptures. In this innovation and design experience, students will develop an understanding of the mineral and chemical processes involved in wheel-throwing pottery as well as the form and function of pottery design. Beginning with the various stages clay goes through—from wet, to leather-hard, to bone-dry—and moving on to the tools used for shaping, trimming and creating texture on pots, students will experiment with different mineral clay types and understand how the clay origin and molecular structure affect the pottery-making process. Ceramic glaze consists of metal oxides, which give colors to glazes because of their light-absorbing properties. As students glaze their ceramic work, they will gain an in-depth understanding of the chemical properties of glazes and how glaze composition affects color and performance. Finally, through the magic and science of kiln firing, students will understand the role that kiln type and firing method have on the final outcome of the pottery design process. This opportunity is open to students of all levels.

Mapping Folklore across Western North Carolina (2 weeks, MOR)

What ghost stories, tales of the supernatural, and other folktales have been prominent in the lore of Western North Carolina? What were the socio-political and socio-economic origins of these tales, and how have they circulated and been preserved? And why do paranormal narratives and other stories of the "folk" still resonate with us?

This interdisciplinary SRIP will introduce students to folklore studies, ethnography, history, and the study of popular culture by providing opportunities for students to research ghost stories and other folktales of Western North Carolina as literary texts.

During our two weeks together, we will explore and analyze folk narratives, paying particular attention to their literary structure, historical and social contexts, and the multiple interpretations they invite us to consider. We will discover overlapping patterns in these stories and attempt to map their connections and places of origin to see whether natural disasters, political conflicts, personal tragedies, or unexplained phenomena played a role in their origins.

We will also conduct independent research projects and go on field trips to sites and archives in the region. Students will share the fruits of their research in an academic essay or in a creative project that grows out of their study of a folk tradition in their own family or hometown. 

Join us as we dive into local and regional archives, examine oral traditions and literary texts, and conduct online and on-the-ground research to uncover the fascinating connection between Western North Carolina folk narratives and our state’s history.

Researching Burke County’s Past and Present: Explorations in Local History (2 weeks)

Every community, no matter how small, has a history, and in this two-week SRIP, we will set out to explore the many stories that make up the history of Burke County in Western North Carolina.  Students will learn and apply different methodologies to study the county’s past and its connections to the present through site visits, guest speakers, and class discussions. Students will also conduct an independent research project on one of the following themes: 1) Environmental History of Burke County. Potential areas of focus may include indigenous land use; early settlers and the gold rush of the 1820s-1830s; genealogy and land ownership; bootlegging; the CCC and the conservation movement; rare species preservation; water resource management, and the impact of wildfires. 2) Mapping Historic Burke. Students will work with current-day GIS maps and connect them to historical maps of the area to understand how the population and infrastructure of Burke County have changed over the past 200+ years. 3) History of Race Relations in Burke County. Students will explore archival materials in the North Carolina Room of Burke County Public Library, engage with community members to collect oral histories and conduct ethnographic analysis. Potential areas of focus may include histories and contributions of enslaved individuals; the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow; school integration and desegregation; community activism; and the movement of various ethnic groups into and beyond the area. 4) History of Mental Health in Burke County. Students will explore the different ideas about mental illness from the late 19th century to the present. Potential areas of focus may include Progressive-era attitudes toward health and illness; “female complaints” and gender roles; and the role of state institutions in local economies and politics. Students will share their research through a format that best illustrates their findings and through the process will develop their skills in humanities research.