Mississippi Digital Humanities Hub
Digital Humanities Resources in Mississippi
Are you a Mississippian with a collection of historical or cultural documents that you want to make more available to the public? Do you have an idea for a digital humanities project but lack the tools, training, or funding? The Mississippi Digital Humanities Hub at The University of Southern Mississippi provides resources and training so that local institutions -- four-year and two-year colleges and universities, high schools, museums, and libraries -- can pursue community-based projects that highlight and preserve the rich history of Mississippi.
Digitizing local historical and cultural archives helps to preserve the past and make materials more accessible. However, it can be difficult for the public to make sense of large collections of documents. When digitization initiatives are paired with the digital humanities, new insights are revealed.
Through the support of a Congressional grant through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the “Hub” aims to provide Mississippi scholars and students with the skills needed to identify, digitize, and explain collections of documents from their communities.
*Website accessible but under construction
What the Hub Offers
By partnering with the Mississippi Digital Humanities Hub, Mississippi institutions and scholars gain the skills and assistance that benefits their research endeavors:
Cutting-edge technology for digitally preserving materials
Access to tools and software for digital humanities projects
Expert assistance and collaboration opportunities to assist with digitization and digital humanities projects
Mini-grants to facilitate projects and spur Mississippi community initiatives
One-day workshops and residential summer courses for summers 2025, 2026, and 2027
OpenScan Mini, a photogrammetry tool used to scan and build 3D models of small items; this type of scanner is included in the tools in the CDH + Hub available for use.
Apply to the Summer 2025 Residential Workshop
Preserve Mississippi's history and culture by learning to preserve its documents. Faculty at all Mississippi institutions of higher education, including community colleges, are invited to apply to a residential two-week summer course offered by The University of Southern Mississippi’s Digital Humanities Hub at USM’s Hattiesburg, Mississippi campus.
About the Program
Participants will learn the basics of digitization, metadata, and electronic preservation, in addition to general digital humanities tools—such as mapping, visualizations, and textual and network analysis—from experts affiliated with the Center for Digital Humanities at Southern Miss and the Mississippi Digital Library. Participants will acquire the skills required to plan and conduct community digitization projects and to apply for digitization grants, with the larger goal of assisting their colleagues, students, and surrounding communities preserve and better understand their history and experiences.
Participants will be provided with housing, most meals, travel reimbursement, and small stipends. The program follows a typical work-day, with lectures and activities occurring Mondays through Fridays between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M., with an hour break for lunch and free time during the evenings and weekend.
Participation is limited to ten spots, however, so please apply as soon as possible.
Important Dates
Application due -- Tuesday, April 1, 2025 by 11:59 P.M.
Program starts -- Monday, June 16, 2025 at time TBD
Program ends -- Friday, June 27, 2025 by 5 P.M.
Qualifications
Must be faculty at a two- or four-year college or university in Mississippi
Including but not limited to: lecturers, instructors, professor (adjunct, visiting, clinical, associate, assistant, full, or distinguished), research associate, or research fellows
Must be either U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the U.S.
If selected, participants cannot hold another obligation—such as a fellowship, part/full-time work, or teaching a course during the program's duration.