Projects
The Public and Environmental History Center performs work in a variety of areas related to historical research and interpretation.
Archives & Collections Management
The Public and Environmental History Center partners with a variety of institutions and agencies to provide summer internships to Museum Studies students and to provide museum and archives management expertise to entities seeking to preserve, catalog, and digitize artifacts, photographs, paper records, and other historic material.
Cataloging and Preserving Collections Internship
Partner: Yellowstone National Park
Project Principal Investigator: Dr. Janet Ore
Interns: Sam Iven (2016), Kelsey Matson (2016), Cassandra Bumgarner (2015), Rachel Crooks (2015)
Timeline: 2015-
This three-year project involves cataloging and preserving collections from Yellowstone National Park’s backlog to make them accessible to researchers. The backlog includes 17,000 history objects (furniture, souvenirs, clothing, and architectural elements) and 2,100 natural history specimens. These collections document the cultural and natural history of the world’s first national park and are housed in the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center (HRC) in Gardiner, Montana. Interns catalog the objects into the park’s collections database, photograph them, and rehouse them using archival materials to preserve the collections and make them accessible to researchers.
Exhibit Installation Project
Partner: National Wildlife Research Center
Project Principal Investigator: Dr. Sarah Payne
Researcher: Kailee Swolley
Timeline: 2016
This project will produce a physical exhibit using National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) archival images, materials, and artifacts; an online exhibit using the same theme as the physical exhibit; and will involve the digitization of items (posters, images, and reports) for inclusion in the online exhibit. The PLHC will facilitate and train a student to complete work with NWRC oversight. Creation of the physical exhibit will include working in conjunction with the NWRC Archivist and Archives Technician to create an exhibit theme including identifying a topic and corresponding outreach materials; creating exhibit panels and text; and installing the exhibit. The creation of online exhibit using the same theme as the physical exhibit will include using ContentDM collections software to create the exhibit, and creating corresponding exhibit home page content for the APHIS/NWRC website.
Historic Structures Records Management Project
Partner: Yellowstone National Park
Project
Principal Investigator: Dr. Sarah Payne
Timeline: 2016-
This project will assist Yellowstone National Park with processing paper and electronic records, photographs, plans, and documents for over 800 historic structures. These files are in a cultural resources file room at Yellowstone Center for Resources at Mammoth Hot Springs, and relate to historic structure and district development, List of Classified Structure updates on structure condition, National Register status, historic preservation plans, and post-historic alterations. Many of these records are unorganized, poorly described, and difficult to find. Researchers will assess these records for their long-term value, prepare record organization plans (file plans), and identify, organize, arrange, describe, and preserve the records. Once identified, arranged, preserved, and made accessible, these records will help YELL staff secure Yellowstone’s cultural heritage, meet the National Historic Preservation Act, preserve the park’s administrative record surrounding these historic properties, support reusability of research data and results, and contribute to the effective management of the park’s historic structures. Additionally, arranged and described records will be available to non-NPS users, including researchers, media, and members of the public.
Historic Preservation & Cultural Resource Managment
The Public and Environmental History Center partners with a variety of institutions and agencies to provide summer internships to Historic Preservation students and to provide historic preservation expertise to entities seeking to document, nominate, and preserve, historic buildings, structures, and landscapes. The PEHC performs a variety of preservation work, including National Register and National Historic Landmark nominations and amendments, Historic Furnishings Reports, context reports and surveys, records management, HABS/HAER/HALS documentation, and cultural landscape reports.
Scout's Rest Ranch/Wild West Show National Historic Landmark Nomination
Partner: Heritage Partnerships Program, Intermountain Region, National Park Service
Project Principal Investigator: Dr. Janet Ore
Researcher: Hannah Braun
Timeline: 2014-2016
This project consists of an evaluation of sites related to the Wild West show movement from the 1880s through the 1940s, with particular focus on Buffalo Bill Ranch State Park (Scout’s Rest Ranch) in North Platte, Nebraska, and Pawnee Bill Ranch (Blue Peak Ranch), Pawnee, Oklahoma. The research team determined Scout’s Rest Ranch, home of frontiersman and showman William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, to be the best site associated with the Wild West show movement. The project will result in a National Historic Landmark nomination of Scout’s Rest Ranch under Criterion 1 for the Wild West Show movement and under Criterion 2 for William F. Cody.
Oak Creek Historic District National Register Nomination Amendment
Partner: Zion National Park
Project Principal Investigator: Dr. Janet Ore
Researchers: Jason O’Brien, Hannah Braun
Timeline: 2014-2015
This project involved preparation of an amendment to the existing Zion National Park Multiple Resource Area National Register of Historic Places nomination to include historic landscape features in the Oak Creek Historic District. Oak Creek Historic District includes 22 historic structures consisting of residences, garages, and maintenance buildings constructed during both the CCC era of the 1930s and during Mission 66 in the 1950s. While the historic buildings have been documented on the National Register, this project involved the evaluation of landscape features in the district, including walkways, sidewalks, patios, stone curbing, retaining walls, culverts, revetments, and other types of landscape modifications. The project resulted in an inventory and significance assessment of landscape features associated with the historic structures in the Oak Creek Historic District and preparation of an amendment to the existing Multiple Resource Area nomination.
Mission 66 Context Report and Survey
Partner: Rocky Mountain National Park
Project Principal Investigator: Dr. Janet Ore
Researchers: Maren Bzdek, Rachel Kline, Leslie McCutchen, Catherine Moore, Tyler Welch
Timeline: 2008-2010
The Mission 66 era (1956-1966) of the National Park Service was an important time of development and building throughout the system. Planning to transform the parks for a growing and changing post World War II demographic, Congress provided additional funding to build visitor-oriented structures. As a result of Mission 66, Rocky Mountain National Park constructed visitor centers, ranch homes and apartments for park employees, comfort stations, bridges, campgrounds, overlooks, trails, and roads during this time. All of these resources had approached or surpassed the 50 year mark and needed to be reviewed under Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act for possible listing in the National Register of Historic Places. This project produced both a narrative historic context that established the timeline of Mission 66 activity in the park and a resource study (inventory and analysis) to determine if any of the Mission 66 resources in the park were eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The narrative history and resource study serve as necessary components for a National Register nomination.
Administrative & Environmental Histories
The Public and Environmental History Center partners with a institutions and agencies to complete a range of administrative and management histories and documents. These reports provide broad historical contexts and help institutions and agencies better interpret and manage use of historic sites, landscapes, and natural and cultural resources.
Scotts Bluff National Monument
Partner: Scotts Bluff National Monument
Additional Partners: Cooper Foundation, Peter Kiewit Foundation, and a third anonymous private foundation
Project Principal Investigators: Dr. Ruth Alexander, Dr. Adrian Howkins
Researchers: Hannah Braun (project lead; 2014-), Dr. Douglas Sheflin (lead researcher; 2013-), Maren Bzdek (2013-2015), Andrew Cabrall (2013-2015), Nicholas Gunvaldson (2014-2015), Joel Scherer (2013-2014), Jordan Cooper (2014)
Timeline: 2013-
This multi-year project involves a historic context report for Scotts Bluff National Monument, a project website, public outreach presentations, and collaboration with an exhibit design firm for new exhibits and interpretation in the monument visitor center. The first part of this project produced a historiographical essay on the overland trail period 1840-1860 with focus on the Scotts Bluff area. The team visited the monument and conducted archival research. The second phase of the project resulted in completion of a ten-chapter historic context report on thematic topics related to the history of the Scotts Bluff area, including geology, Native American history, overland trail migration, overland trail memorialization, rivers and irrigation, homesteading, mobility and settlement, and the relationship between the monument and the local community. The team created a website to share information and solicit public comment, and visited the monument to conduct research, meet with staff, and hold public outreach presentations. The team consulted on historical interpretation with an exhibit design firm hired to redesign the museum exhibits and displays in the monument visitor center. The third phase of the project will result in polishing of the historic context report, continued exhibit design consultation, and expansion of the project website and other digital tools to disseminate the findings from the historic context report.
Project Website: http://scottsbluffhistory.com/
Administrative History of Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company
Partner: Farmer’s Reservoir and Irrigation Company
Project Principal Investigators: Dr. Mark Fiege, Dr. Reagan Waskom (Director, Colorado Water Institute)
Researcher: Hayley Brazier
Timeline: 2012-2015
This project built upon the earlier oral history project for Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company (FRICO) by completing a narrative administrative history of the company using the oral history interviews as well as archival and secondary research materials on the company and water use along Colorado’s Front Range. The final product tells the story of FRICO in the context of agricultural and urban development and growth in Colorado and provides FRICO members with a cohesive and well-documented account of their collective history. This narrative history of the organization provides a strong foundation for meeting future challenges and permanently documents the important role FRICO has played in Colorado’s water history.
Community Engaged Projects and Public History
Exhibit Installation Project
Partner: National Wildlife Research Center
Project Principal Investigator: Dr. Sarah Payne
Researcher: Kailee Swolley
Timeline: 2016
This project will produce a physical exhibit using National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) archival images, materials, and artifacts; an online exhibit using the same theme as the physical exhibit; and will involve the digitization of items (posters, images, and reports) for inclusion in the online exhibit. The PLHC will facilitate and train a student to complete work with NWRC oversight. Creation of the physical exhibit will include working in conjunction with the NWRC Archivist and Archives Technician to create an exhibit theme including identifying a topic and corresponding outreach materials; creating exhibit panels and text; and installing the exhibit. The creation of online exhibit using the same theme as the physical exhibit will include using ContentDM collections software to create the exhibit, and creating corresponding exhibit home page content for the APHIS/NWRC website.
"Confinement in the Land of Enchantment”—Historic Markers, Publication, and Website
Partner: Japanese-American Confinement Sites Grant Program, National Park Service
Additional Partners: New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League, private donors
Project Principal Investigators: Dr. Sarah Payne, Dr. Andrew Russell (Central New Mexico Community College)
Researchers: Tessa Moening (project lead; 2014-), Kellie Nicholas (2015- ), Yancy Bush (2015)
Timeline: 2014-
This Phase II implementation project is an interpretation and education project to increase public education and outreach about Japanese-American confinement sites in New Mexico. An earlier Phase I planning grant received by the New Mexico chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (NMJACL) resulted in primary research, oral history interviews, and design plans. Phase II builds upon the research conducted in Phase I in order to place historical markers, compile an outreach publication, and design website pages and an Esri Story Map. This Phase II interpretation and education project focuses on the World War II Japanese American confinement sites located in New Mexico, including at Santa Fe, Fort Stanton, Old Raton Ranch (Baca Ranch), and Camp Lordsburg. The goal of the project is to educate a wide and diverse audience of New Mexicans about the experiences of detainees, and to inspire thought and conversation about the projects core theme of identity.
Press Documents:
-- “Project explores New Mexico prison camps for Japanese-Americans during WWII” by Elaine D. Briseno, Albuquerque Journal, December 20, 2015.
-- “CSU historians examine Japanese-American confinement camps in New Mexico” by Jeff Dodge, Source, Colorado State University, December 15, 2015.
-- “Japanese-Americans want remembrance of internment camps” by Robert Richardson, KOAT News, Albuquerque, December 10, 2015.
-- “National Park Service Grant Project: Confinement in the Land of Enchantment (CLOE) Updates”, Sagebrush Shinbun, New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League Newsletter.
-- “National Park Service Grant Project: Confinement in the Land of Enchantment” Sagebrush Shinbun, New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League Newsletter, June 2015.
-- “Past by” by Sarah Payne, TEDxCSU, November 7, 2014.
-- “CSU Assistant Professor Sarah Payne talks about Confinement in the Land of Enchantment” by Katie Schmidt, The Rocky Mountain Collegian, July 28, 2014.
-- National Park Service Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant, JACS Grant Program FY2014 Awardees
Oral Histories
The Public and Environmental History Center has conducted a variety of oral history projects. These projects serve as documentation of a site or organization’s history or a specific event. They can often be combined with a final report or an administrative history to provide additional context and research.
Oral History and Irrigation Report
Partner: Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
Project Principal Investigator: Dr. Janet Ore
Researchers: Hannah Braun (2015-2016), Janell Nelson Byczkowski (2013-2014)
Timeline: 2013-
This project uses oral history to tell the story of water, ranching, and irrigation at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, connecting this story to the larger environmental history of ranching and water use in the West. The project will result in the recording and transcription of a half-dozen oral history interviews with area water users, a research report on the history of irrigation at Grant-Kohrs Ranch and its larger context in the U.S. West, including a summary of findings from the oral history interviews.
2013 Colorado Flood Oral History Project
artner: Colorado Water Conservation Board
Additional Partner: Water Resources Archive, Morgan Library, Colorado State University
Project Principal Investigator: Dr. Ruth Alexander
Researchers: Naomi Gerakios Mucci (project lead), Zach Lewis, Tessa Moening, Mitchell Schaeffer
Timeline: 2014-2015
This project was a collaborative oral history involving the Public Lands History, the Water Resources Archive at CSU’s Morgan Library, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The PLHC collected, transcribed, and digitized thirty-one oral histories of individuals involved in the September 2013 floods throughout Northern Colorado. Most of these individuals were involved in addressing and responding to the flooding in a professional capacity, and included climate scientists, water and storm water managers, municipal and county administrators; engineers, emergency managers, search, rescue and recovery personnel; disaster relief personnel; and park managers. A final report summarized the team’s findings regarding the oral histories and how water and management professionals addressed the 2013 flood and lessons learned. The Water Resource Archive then compiled a finding aid for the collection, digitized the interviews and transcripts, and made the entire collection available to researchers and the public on their website.
Project Digital Collection: Guide to the Northern Colorado Flood Oral History Collection, Colorado State University Water Resources Archive.
Press Documents:
--"The 2013 Colorado Flood Oral History Project" by Ruth M. Alexander, Colorado Water, November/December 2015, pages 29-31.
-- “University archives document 2013 flood history” by Veronica Baas, The Rocky Mountain Collegian, November 12, 2015.
-- “CSU starts 2013 flood oral histories” by Monte Whaley, The Denver Post, October 29, 2015.
-- “Oral histories of 2013 Front Range flood available through CSU libraries” by Charlie Brennan, Boulder Daily Camera, October 27, 2015.
-- “CSU effort preserves oral history of 2013 flooding” by CSU External Relations Staff, Source, Colorado State University, October 21, 2015.