From Story to Screen
Designing an Interactive Map of Oral Histories for the Memory of Nations
Cole Bennett, Jake Foley, Benjamin McAuliffe, Hunter Merrill
Post Bellum maintains the Memory of Nations digital archive which contains oral histories of historical injustices. Our project was to enhance public engagement with these oral histories. To accomplish this goal, we developed an interactive map displaying testimonies from the Memory of Nations archive. To guide the development process, best practices were documented from a literature review, analysis of existing map projects, and an interview with a professional. The team then established a suitable programming environment informed by the best practices and the Memory of Nations software infrastructure. Using this environment, a series of interactive map prototypes were developed and refined based on feedback from Post Bellum and college students. Upon the application’s completion, the team compiled a list of recommendations for Post Bellum and future WPI teams, including enhancements to the interactive map, outreach opportunities, and website improvements.
See the final report and presentation here.