Local history isn\u2019t just for history majors, a UCCS faculty member was reminded during his sabbatical.<\/p>\n
John Harner, professor, Geography and Environmental Studies, spent four days each week of his spring semester sabbatical buried in the archives at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. Harner was researching an idea for a future book, a common activity for faculty members on sabbaticals.<\/p>\n
But what happened to Harner was anything but commonplace.<\/p>\n
Instead of focusing on his own needs, Harner found himself collaborating with the staff at the Pioneers Museum and helping bring geography and history together to tell the story of Colorado Springs, past, present and future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe historians are often all about the stories \u2013 this person did these things during these years,\u201d Harner said. \u201cThat\u2019s great. But there needs to be a context \u2013 maps and photos \u2013 that show the city\u2019s expansion and the societal forces that shaped it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harner hopes to someday produce a book on the historical geography of Colorado Springs. He has concepts and ideas of how to show the city\u2019s expansion as a result of railroads, streetcars, water pipelines and political annexations. He talks of creating animated maps that literally allow readers to watch the city grow as different events in history occur.<\/p>\n
The contrast to Harner\u2019s previous sabbatical \u2013 a 2005 trip to Mexico \u2013 is sharp.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe time in Mexico was good \u2013 I published four articles, taught classes and hosted students,\u201d Harner said. \u201cBut I thought it was time to do something closer to home and that had a direct effect on our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The book remains a work in progress. As a result of his time at the museum, Harner\u00a0found himself working side-by-side with historians to tell the Colorado Springs story, participating in a fundraising video and in projects that will be unveiled next year. He will present preliminary findings from his research at the museum\u2019s monthly lecture series Nov. 10.<\/p>\n
Harner will help the Pioneers Museum create maps to accompany an upcoming exhibit \u201cThe Story of Us.\u201d The maps will use Geographic Information Systems data to show the expansion of the city on an interactive computer kiosk. He also helped museum staff with a current exhibit about early African American residents in Colorado Springs. And for his part in a fundraising video, Harner laughs about his acting debut.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was there working and they grabbed me and put me in front of the camera,\u201d Harner said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t exactly well rehearsed but it was a good UCCS promo.\u201d<\/p>\n
See the video at<\/p>\n