Through my time in the DPH program, I quickly learned that all DPH projects are collaborative experiences. So I went into the Mapping Violence in Early Modern Italy project knowing to expect that many people would be working on it. However, I am still amazed at the extent of that collaboration. The two PI’s are at different institutions in different countries. They are working with a group at a third institution to develop the platform. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and interns are all working on the project. Given my past experiences in the program, this did not come as a surprise, but it is still a bit of an eye-opener every time I see the extent of the collaboration.

That being said, it has helped me to think about and adjust my own goals for my post-GMU DPH work. A project like Mapping Violence would really not be feasible to do from a school like Le Moyne College where I work. Even in collaborating with other institutions, we would not have the resources to take on such a task. However, I do believe that I could do some good and interesting GIS work by collaborating with faculty, staff and students in my institution that would serve our needs. I had a grand dream about using the 17th century Jesuit Relations as the basis for data to map out environmental change. Yeah, I need to rein that in. 

Being in on the planning process of the site with the creation of the spreadsheets and how to label and record the data from the Italian sources, opened my eyes to the fact that just compiling the data would probably take me to the end of my career. That’s before we even get to creating a platform on which to display and make the data interactive. It’s also after I learn the ins and outs of GIS systems, which I am happy to say I am FINALLY figuring out. Whew, that has been a lesson in patience and anger management! 

I do believe that after learning the basics and knowing enough about GIS applications where I could find answers to my questions, I will be able to work on a couple projects to start out. I have a colleague who wrote a book on Edith Wharton and Willa Cather and their experiences in particular places and spaces. In her book, there is a map that shows some of the places both women stayed, worked or lived in NYC. I believe that I could create a map online that would allow users/book readers to gain a better understanding of the authors’ experiences in NYC. Likewise, I want to work with students to create a history of the Salt Springs neighborhood in which Le Moyne is located. I have a better understanding of how I could incorporate GIS into that type of project. They are much more feasible approaches to my eventual use of GIS in Digital Public History.