Thesis
Newcomers in Latah County, Idaho: A Public History Approach on Cultural Adaption in the American West, 1871-1921
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005144
Abstract
Inspired by a physical exhibit created during an internship with Latah County Historical Society, this thesis expands on the histories of four Irish and German immigrant families and discusses the process of exhibit curation. The Taylor, Meyer, Scheyer-Hagedorn, and Williamson families all relocated to Latah County between 1871 and 1913. Intended to be viewed on the digital site Scalar, this thesis aims to make local history accessible to public audiences beyond academia. Accessibility is essential in public history, and local history should be available to the relevant region and audience. Beyond ease of access, the content of this thesis contributes to Latah County’s history by creating a collection of family histories in one platform, exploring the process of creating a physical exhibit, and interpreting immigration to the American West through a public history approach. This study of individual immigrant families in Latah County adds to historiography on European immigration. The micro-historical approach not only facilitates an analysis on specific ethnic immigrant groups but also examines the nature of cultural adaption among immigrant populations in Latah County. As a result, readers are able to infer and draw connections about broader immigration to the American West. Focusing on the physical exhibit that originally paved the way for this work, this thesis explores culture and immigration through a public history lens.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Newcomers in Latah County, Idaho
- Creators
- Jessica Angel Storm O'Rourke
- Contributors
- Robert McCoy (Advisor)Jennifer Thigpen (Committee Member)Robert Bauman (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- History, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 97
- Identifiers
- 99901019937501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis