¡Presente! Documenting Latinx History in Wisconsin: A Collaborative Digital Edition

With funding from the NHPRC-Mellon grant, the WLHC is currently planning a  collaborative digital edition on the Latinx  presence in Wisconsin (WI). This collaborative digital  edition seeks to expand both popular and scholarly understandings  of the rich history and contemporary contributions of Latinx populations in Wisconsin. The DE  will consist of a collection of mini editions featuring primary sources, including documents drawn  from new oral history interviews, photographs, organizational papers, and private collections,  based on thematic areas (e.g., immigration, education, family histories, activism) that highlight the  contributions and everyday life of Latinx residents in rural and urban regions of the state.  Fundamental to the project’s goals is creating and maintaining a searchable, open-access digital  repository of collected historical primary sources, documenting Latinx history from the mid nineteenth century to the present.

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Beyond archival preservation and open access,  the project will utilize the digital platform to reach a broad audience and expand intellectual access  by incorporating various educational initiatives. These include scholarly interpretation,  contextualization, transcription, and translation of archival holdings; K-12 curriculum and  university courses incorporating the collections; Story Maps; bibliographies and other research resources; and accessible, current public history scholarship on Latinx history. Bringing together  an interdisciplinary group of university faculty, community members, students, and project  advisors, this project will have a powerful impact on public knowledge of the history, presence,  and contemporary significance of Latinx populations in Wisconsin and the Midwest.