PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (September 21, 2020) – This month, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) students are getting an opportunity to engage with top scholars and practitioners in the field of historical methods of research; these are experts who use a collection of techniques to research and write histories of the past. Prairie View A&M University’s (PVAMU) Division of Social Work, Behavioral, and Political Sciences in the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences is hosting the virtual lecture series, which concludes on September 24.
Put on by Assistant Professor of History Marco Robinson, “Introduction to Historical Methods of Research Guest Speaker Series” is open to history, education, and humanities majors. According to Robinson, historical methods of research are essential to the humanities and social sciences disciplines because the approach outlines various ways of exploring the past, applying different types of humanistic inquiry, and researching designs in the social and behavioral sciences.
“The series provides students with first-hand knowledge on conducting archival research and oral interviews. Education majors in the course are getting the opportunity to present their research to an actual grade-school class,” Robinson said. “The goal of the instructional approach is to enable students to be able to conduct historical research, understand the various methods applied, and to be familiar with the professions associated with the discipline.”
The series’ speaker lineup features some of the top scholars in their fields, including Phyllis Earles, university archivist at PVAMU; Christopher Anderson, divinity special collections librarian at Yale University; and Lorena Gauthereau, digital programs manager for the U.S. Latino Digital Humanities Program at the Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage and lecturer at the University of Houston. Anne Chao, manager of the Houston Asian American Archive and adjunct lecturer of humanities at Rice University, speaks this Thursday.
“This program is significant because future historians, teachers, and archivists are being trained to make contributions in their respective communities through their work in the public and private sectors of the economy,” Robinson said. “The graduates of our program will carry on PVAMU’s long-held tradition of educating and documenting the experiences of Black and Brown Communities. [Furthermore,] these meaningful experiences will prepare our students to make their mark on society and carry the banner of goodwill forward in the name of PVAMU.”
Students interested in participating in the series can contact Robinson at mtrobinson@pvamu.edu.
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By Kendall Hebert