Political Science Prof Gives Presentation at Library of Congress

Gritter was joined by Dr. Aubrey Madler, director of ASU’s Porter Henderson Library, to showcase their project, “All History is Local: Celebrating the People of West Texas,” which is funded by a $69,999 grant from the Library of Congress (LOC).

Gritter, Madler and Shannon Sturm, head of the ASU West Texas Collection, are the co-directors of the project that is bringing together faculty and students in history, political science, and other arts and humanities disciplines to combine LOC digital collections with ASU collections to create teaching and learning tools, including an interactive map and informational stories.

(L-R) Shannon Sturm, Dr. Matthew Gritter and Dr. Aubrey Madler These digital resources will illuminate the lived experiences of communities of color, specifically weaving national and global themes and stories into the West Texas cultural narrative. Additionally, the project will facilitate lesson planning for local and area K-12 teachers while helping them to weave these digital primary source materials into their curriculum.

“I think in my 12 years at Angelo State, this is really the most interdisciplinary, collaborative project that I’ve seen,” Gritter said. “I think that will be very valuable because the local community, the local students and teachers will really be giving voice to their own stories.”

More details on the ASU project are available on the ASU News page, and the transcript of an interview with the three directors is available on the Library of Congress Blog.

Madler and Sturm are also scheduled to showcase the ASU project at the Texas State Historical Association’s 129th Annual Meeting in February 2025 in Houston.