Research Project
Researchers: Associate Professor Janis Wilton (Principal investigator) , Janis Wilton (Principal investigator)
Full description
Different Sights aims to texture public representations of heritage in New England and to enrich the history of the region through documenting and narrating the histories of immigrants who came from non-English-speaking backgrounds and whose experiences offer different perspectives on aspects of the region’s history. To achieve this, the project has looked beyond recognized and advertised heritage sites, called on the assistance and stories of local residents and families, recognized the significant contributions of local museums and historical societies, and used the modern historian’s recognition of the rich range of sources for piecing together the past.
Research has entailed field visits, archival investigations and oral history interviews.
The Heritage Futures online database has provided the framework for collating and updating the research, and presenting the data.
Other outcomes include the publication of a thematic history that draws on the data collection.