My name is Libby Eggert, and I am a fourth-year at Grinnell College. I’m studying Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies with a concentration in American Studies. This is my second year as a Vivero Fellow. Last year I worked on a StoryMaps with Dr. Tamara Beauboeuf as a continuation of previous research I had done with her. You can visit it here! I really enjoyed learning how to use the software as it’s a very dynamic program and integrating other softwares into my final project.
This summer, I also worked as the Digital Archives and Collection Intern at Drake Community Library. One of my projects was making a WordPress webpage on their site, where I scanned all the drawings of a Grinnell self-taught artist who did drawings of residential and commercial properties in and out of Grinnell. You can visit it here!
I have really enjoyed my engagement with digital humanities because of the focus on public access and engagement. I have learned that information should be free, accessible, and preserved, especially with my personal interest in local history. In a rural setting, digital humanities has an extra level of importance because sometimes it is the only form of communication. I hope to continue this work in my future path.