African American Sites of Memory

Spelman’s Independent Scholars (SIS) Program, Directed by African American Sites of Memory project staff member Dr. Gloria Wade Gayles  is a two-semester independent, interdisciplinary and intergenerational learning experience open to students across all majors. In SIS, we enhance our critical writing and critical thinking skills. In weekly seminars we share our research, sharpen our skills and grow in knowledge about oral history. In addition to learning sessions with the SIS faculty mentor, we are privileged to lectures by guest scholars including a gerontologist, two oral historians, a museum curator, an archivist and a physician-researcher in traditional knowledge.  The SIS scholars have produced two volumes of   "Their Memories, Our Treasure: Conversations With African American Women of Wisdom." The volume contains life stories of  African American women of the South, ranging in age from 60 to 104. Dr. Gloria Wade Gales will draw upon her SIS experience and efforts to inform the  Second Life virtual experiences of the historical markers in Philadelphia. More information on the SIS program is available at the SIS Website.

The Information, Technology and Society Research  Group (ITSRG)  recently debuted its space on Second Life. Currently, ITSRG's virtual offices are currently located on Sbarro Health Research Organization’s (SHRO) island. SHRO’s virtual reality has been highlighted as a state- of-the- art example of how to conduct research across multiple locations using conference capabilities of Second Life. ITSRG has partnered with SHRO to establish Temple University’s Second Life Working Group, which has collaborated to develop the African American Sites of Memory space on Second Life. The African Sites of Memory SIM will be accessible through ITSRG's space on Second Life.