Group and Community Projects

As part of History 9800/9801, students collaborate with community heritage and cultural institutions to produce group projects. Students may also work on group projects in Digital History. In Museology, students often complete projects for Fanshawe Pioneer Village or other museums.

Want our Public History students to partner with your institution? Please contact Michelle Hamilton at mhamilt3@uwo.ca.

2011-12: Smart Phone Application to Commemorate the War of 1812

Students are researching and curating the historical and media content for a smart phone app to commemorate museums and historic sites related to the War of 1812 in the Southwest Region of Ontario (Chatham-Kent and Essex).

Class members are Adriana Ayers, April Coxon, Alison Deplonty, Doug McGlynn, Sarah Nagy, Sushima Naraine, Adrian Petry, Laura Piticco, Heather Rivet, Dave Sikkema, Lindsay VanDyk, Hilary Wasserman.

2011-12: SoHo Designation Project

In partnership with the London Advisory Committee on Heritage, students researched twelve properties in the SoHo area of London for potential designation. This research may be incorporated into the SoHo Community Improvement Plan of the City of London.

2010-11: J.P. Metras Sports Museum Website

Using Omeka software developed by the Centre for History and New Media at George Mason University, students are researching and creating a virtual exhibit that pairs the artifact and photographic collections of the Metras Museum and the University Archives. Read more from the W Club Newsletter.

Class members are Sarah Bennett, Craig Capacchione, Joanna Dawson, Caitlin Dyer, Terran Fader, Michelle Goodridge, Adair Harper, Jennifer Levin-Bonder, Jenn Nelson, Pamela Pal, Luvneet Rana, Annique Sanche, Kira Westby, and Brent Wiancko.

2010-11: High Street Hike

Students conducted research on the historical and architectural significance of the High Street area in Old South, London, in partnership with the London Advisory Committee on Heritage and the London Branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. Their research will be used in the ACO's annual historic homes walk and by the City of London in historical designation programs.

2009-10: A Walk Down Memory Lane: Historic Homes of the Talbot Street Area

In partnership with the London Advisory Committee on Heritage, students researched the cultural and architectural significance of the Ridout/Talbot streets area in London. Their assessments will be used in the process of the heritage conservation designation of this area. Their research was also used to curate an exhibit at the Schweitzer Gallery at the Weldon Archives and for the annual Geranium Heritage Tour by the London Branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. A virtual exhibit of the exhibit will be available later this summer on the Archives website.

2009-10: Environmental History Curriculum Development

Students researched and designed three innovative curriculum plans on environ-mental and ecological history based on the Ontario curriculum in partnership with EcoKids and the Network in Canadian History and Environment. EcoKids is a non- profit multi-award winning program which has provided environmental resources for 15 years to over 12 000 teachers across Canada. Its website, and all of the free lessons plans are accessible at www.ecokids.ca.

Class members were Megan Arnott, Catherine Caughell, Tasha DiLoreto, Jordan Goldstein, Dana Johnson, Braden Murray, Tim O'Grady, Rebecca Rahey, Sara Sirianni, and Shelagh Staunton.

2008-09: Restoring Perspectives: Life and Treatment at the London Asylum

In collaboration with Museum London and the former Archival and Teaching Museum of Regional Mental Health Care London, students researched the history, artifact and archival collection of the London Asylum for the Insane to create a web exhibit entitled, Restoring Perspectives. This paired with Museum London's own exhibit, Cultivating Care. The students also curated an exhibit for the Schweitzer gallery in the UWO Archives. As part of this project, students assisted in the inventorying, packing and moving of the Asylum collection from the former Archival and Teaching Museum to Museum London and interviewed staff members of Regional Mental Health Care.

Class members were Natalie Dyck, Lois Fenton, Heather George, Kalyna Klymkiw, Ruthann LaBlance, Jenna Leifso, Meili Ma, Sophie Malek, Krista McCracken, Meaghan Nelligan, Andrew Robertson, Melissa Robinson, David Rodger and Vicky Tran. Moving the RMHC collection

Heather George assists in the moving of the RMHC collection to Museum London.

To read more, see "New Museum London exhibit pleads asylum: 'Cultivating Care' puts mental asylum stereotypes to rest." The web exhibit is available on the UWO Library's virtual exhibit page.

2008-09: I ♥ Harvey

For this year's Digital History project, students created interactive exhibits which explained and contextualized William Harvey's research and theories on the heart and the circulation of blood. For more about this project, see its wiki here.

2007-08: SMART Board Modules, Eldon House

Sarah Ferencz uses a SMART Board Students created three modules, “Eldon House and the Harris Family,” “World Travels of the Harris Family at the Turn of the 20th Century,” and “The Rebellion of 1837 and its Impact on the Harris Family and the Local Community.” using SMART Board technology. Each program is 15-20 minutes in length, incorporates a variety of historical sources selected from Museum London’s collections and local archives, and connects with the elementary social studies/history curriculum. These programs are presented to the more than 3,000 elementary students that visit Eldon House each year.

Class members were Helen Button, Adam Crymble, Aaron Day, Samantha Diamond, Grace Dungavell, Devon Elliott, Corey Everrett, Sarah Ferencz, Rebecca Giesbrecht, Carrie Lunde, Andrea Melvin, Nana Robinette, Patrick Stewart, Sarah Waugh and Kristen Way. For more, see "Western Helps Museum London Go Digital" by Adam Crymble in the Western News.

Here, Sarah Ferencz demonstrates a SMART Board module.

2007-2008: The Sky Project

In Digital History, students used new media techniques to present interpretations of the sky in history through such topics as celestial calendars and neolithic monuments, comets, constellations and the zodiac, and the space race. For more, see the project wiki.

2007-08: Turning Over a New Leaf: The History of Nursing at UWO

As part of History 9800, students were required to bid for the opportunity to create an exhibit for the UWO Medical Artifact Collection. The winners, Andrea Melvin and Adam Crymble, each curated an exhibit for the Schweitzer gallery at the University Archives. Andrea's exhibit can now be seen virtually here.

2006-07: Invention and Innovation, Museum London

The group project was a website and museum exhibit on invention and innovation in London. Class members were Bryan Andrachuk, Lauren Burger, Diana Dicklich, Kelly Lewis, Molly Macdonald, Carling Marshall, Kevin Marshall, Alexander Pitt, Kris Williamson and Jeremy Sandor. See links to the short and long exhibit panels and to the exhibit labels (PDFs). Below are some photographs of the museum exhibit.

2005-06: Project on the Old East, Museum London

The group project was a walking tour, web exhibit, and museum exhibit on East London. Class members were Timothy J. Compeau, Jeremy Cummings, Lesley J. Grieve, Laura Harris, Laura P. Hernandez, Karell M. Pfeiffer, Joel Ralph, Catherine J. Rose, Neha Sarao, Dana Sloan and Christine VanderHeide.


Sparton	Miller Bros.	Lorne Ave.	Western Fair	O-Pee-Chee	Wilkey

2004-05: Celebrations! 150 Years of Bringing Londoners Together, Fanshawe Pioneer Village

The group project was an exhibit and teacher's guide to "Celebrations! 150 Years of Bringing Londoners Together," for Fanshawe Pioneer Village in honour of London's sesquicentennial. Class members were Eliana Busheikin, Susan Chamberlain, Phil Gold, Ruth Kernohan, Rollen Lee, Anne Sayeau and Sarah Vajdik.

2003-04: Faces of Diabetes, Banting House National Historic Site

The group project was an exhibit entitled "Faces of Diabetes," plus related oral interviews and a fundraising brochure. The class also did a "People and Places: Black History Tour" booklet for Museum London and the London Black History and Resource Committee. Class members were Rebecca Bebee, Kimberley Murphy, Erin Semande and Jaclyn Smith.


Intro	Clarke	Efford	Garber	Grace	Johnson	Karz	Pump	Beth

2002-03: The Story of (Pre) History: The Jury Legacies, Museum of Archaeology

The group project was part of an exhibit for the London Museum of Archaeology entitled "Stories of (Pre)history: The Jury Legacies," and a report for the museum Lost & Found: Wilf and Elsie Jury and The Naval and Military Establishments at Penetanguishene. Class members were Kim Boehr, Kara Brown, Joel Campbell, Shannon LaBelle and Sabrina Shaw.

**2001-02: Mechanical Medicine: Twentieth Century Medical Technology in London, Museum London**

The group project was an exhibit entitled "Mechanical Medicine: 20th Century Medical Technology in London," plus related oral interviews. Class members were Jane Gamble, Richard Holt, Ekaterina Kazakova and Graham Walsh.

2000-01: London Day Trippers' Guide

Class members were Tammy Coleman, Kit Frost, Blaine Hislop, David Larlee, Amy Mirrlees and Sarah Pye.

1999-2000: The London Public Library Historic Sites Committee

Eric Sheppard researched and produced a 60 page guide book to the designated properties of the City of London.

1998-99: A Cultural and Historical Guide to the City of London

Class members Krista Cooke, Ken Hernden, Trisha Hentz, Heather Ryckman, Tina Stoukas, and Tanya Vance researched and produced a guide book and website for the 2001 Canada Games held in London.

1996-97: London, Our Changing Community: a History for Young Adults

Class members were Robert Bruce, Claire Campbell, Michael Dove, Michelle Hamilton, Sally Robinson, Sean Stoyles and Lauri Young.

1995-96: Rediscovering London's River: An Historical Documentation of the Thames

Class members were Melissa Adams, Jo-Anne Brownlee, Julie Butler, Cathy Rogers, Rita Russell, Inge Sanmiya, and Jenny Smith.

1994-95: Visions of War: Southwestern Ontario Remembers

Class members were Ken Anderson, Susan Heard, Jason Hemsted, Meredith MacLean, Steven Mavers, Jennifer Payne, and Kimberly Shipp.

1993-94: Women in London's Past: A Walking Tour

Class members were Paul Brown, Jennifer Brunell, Sondra Tilley Gulliford, Nicole Keogh and Geoff Raymond.

1990: A History of Christian Island and the Beausoleil Band

Class members collaborated with the Museum of Indian Archaeology (now Museum of Ontario Archaeology) in a project funded by the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture.

1989: Dateline London: the Second World War in the London Free Press

Students collaborated with the London Regional Art and Historical Museums (now Museum London) in conjunction with the exhibit Lest We Forget.

1988: Research on Point Pelee National Park

Students collaborated with Environment Canada and Parks Canada.