HIST 202: American Environmental History explored the study of American’s relationship with the natural world; how “natural” forces help shaped American history and how human beings have shaped, altered, rearranged, destroyed, protected, and interacted with nature over time. For most of history nature and the natural world were mere “background” or “context.” In this course we brought nature to the center stage and looked for the connections between people and their environmental that have been often overlooked.
This year the course piloted a new initiative – the Humanities Research Lab (HRL). This model prioritized collaborative partnership with community organizations and undergraduate researchers via a “lab” format. Students completed field work at Allerton Park and undertook research in the University Archives collection on the Committee on Allerton Park, which included maps, correspondence, government reports, and water management analytics. These student projects were presented at a showcase event during Undergraduate Research Week and have been compiled here as a digital exhibition for the Allerton Park Visitors Center.
The authors would like to thank
Sarah Putman, Jameatris Rimkus, Mary Ton, Will Goad, Celestina Savonius-Wroth, John Marlin, Devin Manley, Julie Matuszewski.
This website was edited by Chloe Parrella and Bob Morrissey