Growing Community: A Century of Migration in Oceana County
FAIN: PY-234362-16
Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI 49401-9403)
Melanie Rebecca Shell-Weiss (Project Director: June 2015 to June 2019)
Events that would preserve and raise appreciation for community history in Oceana County, Michigan. The project would be undertaken via a collaboration between Grand Valley State University's Special Collections and Archives and the Kutsche Office of Local History, the Oceana County Historical and Genealogical Society, and El Centro Hispano de Oceana. Building on extant community relationships, the Kutsche Office would gather historical materials and oral histories from Latino elders and youth through a one-day “history harvest” event. The project would also present a series of community dialogues, which would take place during Hispanic Heritage Month, about the history of immigration in Michigan.
This project aims to build community among residents of Oceana County, Michigan, by holding a "history harvest" to gather in migrant family histories from across the region. A collaboration among El Centro Hispano de Oceana, the Oceana County Historical and Genealogical Society, and Grand Valley State University, this effort will: 1) Build connections between Latino elders and youth through an engaged planning process; 2) Bring together seasonal migrants and year-round residents to document and preserve their diverse experiences and family histories; 3) Preserve these histories so that they will be accessible to future generations; and 4) Use these materials as the basis for a community dialogue as part of Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations 2016. Themes in this exploration will include migration, labor, religion, family, belonging, national and cultural identities, language, and citizenship. It will also help foster a shared sense of community across ethnic and class lines.
Associated Products
Growing Community: “The Asparagus Capital of the Nation” (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Growing Community: “The Asparagus Capital of the Nation”
Author: Melanie Shell-Weiss
Author: Kristen Moretto
Author: Nora Salas
Author: Andrew Schlewitz
Author: Matt Schultz
Abstract: Session proposal: Growing Community: “The Asparagus Capital of the Nation”
This session focuses on the history of migrant labor in Oceana County, Michigan – one of the state’s most diverse agricultural counties, widely known as “The Asparagus Capital of the Nation.” Papers presented as part of this session will assess what has been uncovered as a result of a two-year long effort, supported in part by a NEH Common Heritage Grant, to digitize oral histories, photographs, scrapbooks, and related materials from families who have made their homes in that area. Those materials include those who have settled in the area as well as those who continue to migrate seasonally, and their employers. In this way, the session engages with the larger conference theme that explores the history of commodity production and consumption across borders, focusing particularly on the United States and Latin America.
Date: 5/24/2018
Primary URL:
http://www.aghistorysociety.org/pdf/Postconference2018.pdfPrimary URL Description: Final Program for the 2018 Agricultural History Society Meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Conference Name: Annual Meeting of the Agricultural History Society
Growing Community: Public History and the Future of Oceana County, Michigan (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Growing Community: Public History and the Future of Oceana County, Michigan
Author: Melanie Shell-Weiss
Author: Andrew Schlewitz
Author: Nora Salas
Author: Eva Berumen
Author: Walter Urick
Abstract: The goal of session is to provide attendees with a brief overview of the “Growing Community in Oceana County” project, a public history initiative that was launched in January 2016 with support from a National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage Grant. This project aims to create a digital public archive documenting the agricultural history of Oceana County. Known as “The Asparagus Capital of the Nation,” the history of Oceana County and its people sheds light on not only regional identities, but also highlights local effects of federal and international policies including North American Free Trade Agreement, War on Drugs, immigration, and deportation, among others.
Panelists will provide reflections on what they see as the primary value of the work as well as the questions it raises. The participants represent a variety of gazes, academic and nonacademic, as well as disciplinary perspectives. The goal is to engage audience members in a dynamic conversation about the interdisciplinary and social justice challenges of agriculturally focused, collaborative, public history projects. Dr. Andrew Schlewitz, assistant director of Latin American Studies and a consultant on the “Growing Community” project, will chair and moderate the session.
Date: 6/08/2018
Primary URL:
http://www.aghistorysociety.org/pdf/2017_GR.pdfPrimary URL Description: Program for the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Agricultural History Society.
Conference Name: 2017 Annual Meeting of the Agricultural History Society
"Growing Community in Oceana County" (Article)Title: "Growing Community in Oceana County"
Author: Melanie Shell-Weiss
Abstract: Article published in the organization's newsletter, distributed regionally.
Year: 2017
Access Model: Open access
Format: Other
Periodical Title: Michigan Oral History Association Newsletter
Publisher: Michigan Oral History Association
Growing Community in Oceana County (Acquisitions/Materials Collection)Name: Growing Community in Oceana County
Abstract: Archival collection created as part of this Common Heritage Grant supported effort. Housed in two locations: Grand Valley State University Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives (Allendale, Michigan) and the Oceana County Historical and Genealogical Society (Hart, Michigan).
Director: Melanie Shell-Weiss
Director: Annie Benefiel
Director: Walter Urick
Year: 2017
Growing Community: Social Justice and the Digital Public Archive (Article)Title: Growing Community: Social Justice and the Digital Public Archive
Author: Melanie Shell-Weiss
Author: Matt Schultz
Author: Kyle Felker
Abstract: This article explores the social justice potential of bringing university librarians, academic faculty, and diverse community members together to co-create a digital archive. Focusing on the “Asparagus Capital of the Nation” – Oceana County, Michigan -- the “Growing Community” project launched in January 2016 with support from an NEH Common Heritage grant. The overarching goal of this effort is to create a broadly accessible, bilingual, repository of materials that will enrich K12 and post-secondary teaching, support genealogical and local history research, and contribute to pipeline-to-college efforts. Realizing that goal requires addressing difficult questions about control, ownership, cost, and long-term preservation.
Year: 2018
Primary URL:
http://tph.ucpress.edu/Primary URL Description: Link to journal where article will be resubmitted.
Format: Journal
Periodical Title: The Public Historian
Publisher: Revising to resubmit, Public Historian
Growing Community in Oceana County: Thank you to Community and Volunteers (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Growing Community in Oceana County: Thank you to Community and Volunteers
Abstract: Partnered with Oceana County Historical Society on an NEH Common Heritage Grant supported project to collect oral histories and other documentation focusing on Oceana County's agricultural history (the "Growing Community in Oceana County Project"). In September 2016, I was asked to give the keynote address at the Visitor's Appreciation Dinner organized by the Society. Roughly 70 individuals attended that dinner/talk.
Author: Melanie Shell-Weiss
Date: 9/13/2016
Location: Hart United Methodist Church
Growing Community in Oceana County (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Growing Community in Oceana County
Abstract: Delivered 30 minute guest talk to members of the DAR, focusing on the "Growing Community in Oceana County" project. 40 people in attendance.
Author: Melanie Shell-Weiss
Date: 10/15/2016
Location: Michigan Dunes Daughters of the American Revolution, Pentwater, Michigan
'History Harvest' Training Set for Monday (Article)Title: 'History Harvest' Training Set for Monday
Author: Editor
Abstract: Story highlighting Melanie Shell-Weiss' upcoming talk as the featured speaker at the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society volunteer appreciation dinner. Dinner was held on September 13, 2016.
Year: 2016
Primary URL:
http://www.shorelinemedia.net/oceanas_herald_journal/news/general_news/history-harvest-training-set-for-monday/article_a491de48-179e-11e6-862b-1bbce055e64a.htmlFormat: Newspaper
Periodical Title: Oceana's Herald-Journal
Publisher: Oceana's Herald Journal
Oral histories to be recorded June 18 during 'History Harvest' (Article)Title: Oral histories to be recorded June 18 during 'History Harvest'
Author: Editor
Abstract: Article promoting June 18 Community History Harvest.
Year: 2016
Primary URL:
http://www.shorelinemedia.net/oceanas_herald_journal/news/general_news/oral-histories-to-be-recorded-june-during-history-harvest/article_820f830c-2d9c-11e6-a15a-6f4c32497016.htmlFormat: Newspaper
Periodical Title: Oceana's Herald Journal
Publisher: Oceana's Herald-Journal
Oceana's Agricultural History to be recorded during 'History Harvest' (Article)Title: Oceana's Agricultural History to be recorded during 'History Harvest'
Author: Editor
Abstract: Share your agricultural memories Saturday in Hart
The Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society in collaboration with the Kutsche Office of Local History at Grand Valley State University and the Oceana Hispanic Center will collect oral histories and other memorabilia that tells the past and present stories of Oceana County’s farm and migrant families during its “History Harvest” Saturday, June 18.
Year: 2016
Primary URL:
http://www.shorelinemedia.net/oceanas_herald_journal/news/top_stories/oceana-s-agricultural-history-to-be-recorded-during-history-harvest/article_07f13e3e-3329-11e6-a768-3b1b75d31a11.htmlFormat: Newspaper
Periodical Title: Oceana's Herald-Journal
Publisher: Oceana's Herald-Journal
History Harvest to preserve Oceana's agricultural past (Article)Title: History Harvest to preserve Oceana's agricultural past
Author: Editor
Abstract: The Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society in collaboration with the Kutsche Office of Local History at Grand Valley State University and the Oceana Hispanic Center hopes to collect oral histories and other memorabilia that tells the past and present stories of Oceana County’s farm and migrant families.
“Growing Community: Oceana’s Agricultural History” is being made possible through a $11,500 Common Heritage Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The grant will be matched by Grand Valley for a project totaling $23,000.
Year: 2016
Primary URL:
http://www.shorelinemedia.net/oceanas_herald_journal/news/general_news/history-harvest-to-preserve-oceana-s-agricultural-past/article_01a472c0-0715-11e6-b179-9b044e9e3a47.htmlFormat: Newspaper
Periodical Title: Oceana's Herald-Journal
Publisher: Oceana's Herald-Journal
OCHGS to recognize volunteers at appreciation dinner (Article)Title: OCHGS to recognize volunteers at appreciation dinner
Author: Editor
Abstract: The annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner for volunteers of the Oceana County Historical and Genealogical Society will take place in Hart at the Hart United Methodist Church Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m.
Each year, the OCHGS invites all of its volunteers for dinner to show their tremendous appreciation for their volunteering at the historical park and Old Town Hall in Mears and the Chadwick-Munger House in Hart.
The historical society is an all volunteer organization, and thanks to the many people who have been involved, the historical society will celebrate 50 years of preserving the past in 2017. With its many volunteers and the hundreds of gifts of Oceana history, the historical society has grown each year and depends on the volunteers for its care and support.
This year, the historical society is pleased to have as its volunteer dinner program Dr. Melanie Shell-Weiss, of Grand Valley State University (GVSU). Shell-Weiss will give an update on the progress of the historical society’s Oceana Agricultural History project and her experiences in recording the oral history of Oceana County families and workers.
Year: 2016
Primary URL:
http://www.shorelinemedia.net/oceanas_herald_journal/lifestyle/ochgs-to-recognize-volunteers-at-appreciation-dinner/article_786abe96-751f-11e6-8f4e-b3de851a69d4.htmlFormat: Newspaper
Periodical Title: Oceana's Herald-Journal
Publisher: Oceana's Herald-Journal
DAR to meet Saturday (Article)Title: DAR to meet Saturday
Author: Editor
Abstract: The Michigan Dunes Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, will meet at noon Saturday, Oct.15 at the Centenary United Methodist Church, 82 N. Hancock St., in Pentwater for a catered lunch ($10).
The program will be provided by Dr. Melanie Shell-Weiss, director of local history at GVSU, outlining her project “Looking Back & Looking Ahead” which focuses on the oral histories of diverse communities across West Michigan.
Year: 2016
Primary URL:
http://www.shorelinemedia.net/oceanas_herald_journal/lifestyle/our_social_world/dar-to-meet-saturday/article_56d6b2b4-8ff3-11e6-8de1-876f05a8ee66.htmlFormat: Newspaper
Periodical Title: Oceana's Herald-Journal
Publisher: Oceana's Herald-Journal
West Michigan groups concerned arts funding could be slashed under Trump (Article)Title: West Michigan groups concerned arts funding could be slashed under Trump
Author: Amy Biolchini
Abstract: GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Humanities professors and artists working on federally funded projects across West Michigan are keeping a close watch on President Donald Trump's administration.
Year: 2017
Primary URL:
https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/01/west_michigan_organizations_co.htmlFormat: Newspaper
Periodical Title: Grand Rapids Press
Publisher: Grand Rapids Press
Life stories: Lakeshore county collects oral histories of residents for archive (Article)Title: Life stories: Lakeshore county collects oral histories of residents for archive
Author: Michele Coffill
Abstract: Feature story by Michele Coffill focusing on "Growing Community" project, a NEH-sponosored effort directed by Melanie Shell-Weiss
Year: 2016
Primary URL:
https://www.gvsu.edu/gvmagazinearchive/summer-2016-issue-423.htmFormat: Magazine
Periodical Title: GVMagazine
Publisher: Grand Valley Magazine
Growing Community (Radio/Audio Broadcast or Recording)Title: Growing Community
Director: WKAR
Producer: WKAR
Abstract: Radio interview focusing on our work to document the history of migrant families and growers in Oceana County as part of the NEH supported "Growing Community Project."
Date: 5/15/2016
Format: Radio