At Kent State University, assistant professor of Geography Dr. Jennifer Mapes is diving deep into the past to bring the May 4, 1970, shootings into a new digital dimension. Mapes, influenced by the work of Sandra Halem, has pushed forward the May 4 Oral History Collection, which houses over 200 firsthand narratives about the tragic events on campus. With her dedication, a digital memorial entitled Mapping May 4 has been conceived, bringing together a deeper, more spatial understanding of that day through the stories of those who lived it.
The geographical approach to history has allowed Mapes to chart and connect people's stories based on their locations on May 4. This is crucial, as Mapes strongly believes there is a plenitude of unacknowledged experiences from that day. "It was time for me to go home": Finding Shared Humanity in the May 4 Oral History Collection and Community Geography," her upcoming lecture at the university's fourth annual Jerry M. Lewis May 4 Lecture Series on May 2 at 11:30 a.m., will highlight this aspect. According to a statement on the university's website, tickets for this insightful event are complimentary but must be acquired in advance.
As a community geographer, Mapes is dedicated to providing maps that serve local communities, facilitate better understanding among disparate groups, and enable vibrant, just societies. The oral histories from May 4, 1970, stirred a particular interest as a means to amplify voices that remained unheard for decades. In a shared effort with Sara Koopman, Ph.D., associate professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, a collaborative map was born, integrating these oral accounts to offer a holistic view of the May 4 events.
Mapes and Koopman's effort to accurately reflect a broader experience of May 4, 1970, extends beyond traditional historical preservation methods. It is a testament to the potential for cross-disciplinary collaborations to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Their work allows us to remember and deeply understand the fabric of that time and place through the diverse experiences woven into the narrative they have curated. As explained on the Kent State University website, the Mapping May 4 project succeeds in providing access to a perspective of the Kent State shootings that is as inclusive as it is educational.
