Emily Anderson, Leiya Crawford and Elizabeth Krebsbach, of Minot State University's Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning interns, will present their research for "Digital Minot: An On-Line Museum of Local History" Aug 18 at the Taube Museum at 11 a.m. All three are history majors, and their presentations will be part of Downtown Minot's Fall Festival.
Anderson researched Minot State's Beta Theta sorority, and Krebsbach's topic was Minot Park District's Roosevelt Park Zoo. Meanwhile, Crawford learned about the Samuelson Shoe Store, which was on Main Street in downtown Minot for 95 years. They created electronic exhibits about their chosen topics of local history, which enhanced their abilities in research, communication, problem solving, writing and editing. The presentations are in fulfillment of their service-learning projects.
Crawford said her main interest in the shoe store was how long it was able to stay open on Main Street. Other family-owned businesses seem to fall apart within a few years due to difficulties with the store itself or family dynamics.
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This photo of the Beta Theta Sorority House is part of a digital history displayed in “Digital Minot: An On-Line Museum of Local History,” on Saturday as part of the Festival on Main.
"With this family, it really seemed to bring them together, said Crawford, a junior majoring in history education. "I've done a couple of interviews and everyone says the same thing. This store was a very classy, welcoming store."
Crawford said the Samuelson family was very close, which likely helped the store thrive. It closed in 1994.
"As the deadline approaches, I realize how much work we accomplished over the summer for the Digital Minot Project. I'm looking forward to sharing what I have pieced together about the Beta Thetas from the early '40s to the late-1960s," Anderson said in a press release.
"Working on the Digital Minot Project gave me invaluable experience in the field of public history and helped me to practice and improve my research skills. I really enjoyed this project and may even continue my research next spring," Krebsbach said in a press release. "Now, as I am nearing completion of my exhibit, I am so proud and excited to share what I learned with the Minot community and the rest of the digital world!"
The Digital Minot website can be found through the history department homepage at (history.minotstateu.edu) or at (digitalminot.minotstateu.edu/omeka) The students' most recent research is scheduled to go live on that site after the presentation at the Taube.