To commemorate the 130th Anniversary of the University of Montana, History Students and Professors Produce Public History Project

In 2023, the University of Montana (UM) celebrated its 130th anniversary. In the lead up to that year, the President’s Office and the History Department, led by Chairs Kyle Volk and Tobin Shearer, discussed the need to better understand ourselves and our institution, grapple with challenging aspects of our university’s past, and use our history to strengthen the mission of the university. The outcome of these discussions was a commitment from the President’s Office to fund a collaborative project, involving faculty and students to research the history of the university and disseminate its findings with a series of public-facing displays.

In 2023, Professor Eric Zimmer took the lead on the project, dubbed the “Griz 130 Initiative.” Professor Zimmer, research assistant Dylan Yonce, and Professors Wade Davies and Leif Fredrickson conducted an initial survey of historical resources, including archival holdings, and developed some resources for future use, including a bibliography and timeline. In the fall of 2023, Professor Zimmer led a graduate-level exhibit design class that did further research and created physical and digital exhibits on aspects of the university’s past (see Dylan Yonce’s reflections on this great project here). 

Professors Davies and Fredrickson took the lead in the Spring of 2024 with Dylan Yonce continuing as research assistant. Fredrickson’s “Local History” class is currently working on a historical walking tour of campus. A traditional, tour guide-led walking tour should be complete in May 2024. The tour script and resources the students create may then be used in other ways as well (perhaps a digital or even virtual tour). Future public-facing projects are also in the works – perhaps including a project on UM’s sports history.    

Both the History Department and the President’s Office are excited by this new historical initiative, which opens up many great opportunities for public history, student projects, and community engagement.