What started with a birthday party for Lansing is growing into a longer relationship between the city and the
Michigan State University (MSU) Program in
American Studies, says David Stowe, professor.
Thanks to the work of Ann Larrabee, department chair, who serves on one of the Lansing’s
Sesquicentennial Celebration committees, a number of university departments will be involved in a free celebration of
Old Town’s history from Sept. 19 to Sept. 27.
While those contributions are huge, including two documentaries, a play and an oral history booklet, it is the long term investment that is particularly exciting, says Stowe.
“The American Studies Program wants to work with Lansing to develop oral histories on various aspects of the city. We want to find ways to create public projects, publications, museum exhibitions,” he says.
One class is already working on a film about the creation of the city’s time capsule. Another group is collaborating to write an Old Town entry for
Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia written by the public.
“We want to make a permanent contribution,” Stowe says.
At the same time, students will learn about the public history of where they live, first hand.
On view Sept. 24 will be the department’s first self-produced film, “Specters of Lansing” at
Studio 1210. It is based on nine graduate students’ interviews with a number of people including George Graf who lived in the area when it still was rural.
Another group is producing a biopic on the late Robert Busby, considered a driving force in developing the Old Town art community. A play will be performed Sept. 26, also based on oral history, produced by the
Department of Theatre at MSU.
“We look forward to many more projects with the city,” Stowe says.
Source: David Stowe, MSU Program in American Studies
Gretchen Cochran, Innovation & Jobs editor, may be reached
here.
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