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During the spring semester of 2021, students in Dr. Alli Harnish’s Anthropology class (ANTH 325) at Albion College partnered with the Battle Creek Regional History Museum as part of a grant-funded community engaged learning project.

Students spent several weeks learning and practicing key ethnographic and interpretive techniques used in the fields of anthropology and museum studies. They combined these methods with readings and discussions about epistemic (in)justice and participatory design to imagine and then carry out community-engaged anthropological work. Each student interviewed one person associated with the Museum, including visitors, volunteers, board members, and community leaders. Highlights from the interviews were then layered with drone video and archival images to produce this short promotional video.

Many thanks to:Dr. Jessica Kane—Associate Director of Community-Based Learning at Albion CollegeMethods in Anthropology Students (the interviewers)—Rachel Cameron (’21), Lance Glenn (’22), Morgan Greenman (’22), Lauren Kane (’21), Travis Lamrock (’21), Cole Nelson (’23), Madeline Prall (’22), Maddie Ryan (’22), Gabe Shafer (’21), Darren Shearer (’21) Autumn Simpson (’21), Peyton Smith (’23), Reese Stuart (’22), AJ Wilson (’21)

Museum board members, volunteers, visitors, and community leaders (the interviewees)—Doug Sturdivant, Robb Gillespie, Tracy Speier, Kurt Thornton, Roberta Rocho, Donna Rickman, Bill Rothney, T.R. Shaw, Nick Price, Emily Powell, John Hart, Dave Eddy, Richard Bauer, Sarai Taft, and Patrick Sprague.

The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation for the grant which generously funded this community-engaged work.

Thanks also to Jamie Stuck, Nancy Smit, and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi; Joe Sobieralski and Battle Creek Unlimited; Kara Beer and the Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce; Brenda Hunt and the Battle Creek Community Foundation; and Bronson Battle Creek Hospital Community Partners for their support. read more... read less