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PhD in Industrial Heritage and Archeology
Introduction |
Industrial Heritage & Archeology at Michigan
Tech |
The Faculty |
Introduction
In fall 2005, the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Tech will
launch a new interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Industrial Heritage and
Archeology, building upon a successful and unique Masters program in industrial
archeology (IA). The Department's faculty is committed to expanding this program of study to the doctoral level. We see an opportunity emerging for graduates who are broadly prepared to study and interpret the history of industry and work through its material culture, and who possess an understanding of intellectual issues related to heritage studies and cultural resource management. Our efforts are in line with the suggestion of Marilyn Palmer quoted above, that a need exists for Ph.D. holders in this area of study. Industrial Heritage & Archeology at Michigan TechThe key features of the program arethe integration of the history of technology with historical archeology to produce a strong emphasis upon the material culture of industry. This approach is evident in the composition of the faculty, the structure of the curriculum, and the research undertaken. The intellectual basis of our attention to material culture can be found in the work of scholars such as Henry Glassie, Thomas Schlereth, and Kenneth Ames, but it also is informed by researchers oriented to technology, including David Kingery, Patrick Malone, Robert Gordon, and Steven Lubar. Both the annual field school and individual courses offer means of connecting this academic material to the real world of field research. In the doctoral program, we will add to these concerns significant attention to industrial heritage, an emerging area of interest in which some fundamental issues remain to be worked out. Several scholars have problematized the very idea of heritage, offering a range of concerns. Some have been openly critical of the whole idea, emphasizing episodes such as the "Enola Gay" fiasco at the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum to demonstrate how heritage considerations misappropriate history for political and business purposes. Historian Mike Wallace has been especially forceful in this regard. David Lowenthal has offered perhaps the most thoughtful critique, beginning with his book, The Past is a Foreign Country. More recently, Lowenthal observed in The Heritage Crusade and the Spoils of History that "All at once, heritage is everywhere--in the news, in the movies, in the marketplace --in everything from galaxies to genes. It is the chief focus of patriotism and a prime lure of tourism. One can barely move without bumping into a heritage site." (p. xiii). At the core of his critique is the call to recognize the important distinction between history and heritage --a point that often is overwhelmed by the needs of politicians, business, and media. In an article in the Park Service's journal CRM, he calls for stewardship that "tempers[s] the clamorous demands of the immediate present with a compelling rationale for the claims of both the past and the future" [vol. 1, no. 1 (Fall 2003): 11]. Michigan Tech's new doctoral program seeks to educate professionals who can work across this divide between history and heritage. The program combines history and archeology in ways that link sites, artifacts, and documents through extended research projects. We hope to educate such stewards for history and heritage by continuing to impress upon them ideas and approaches from other fields. In the process, we believe we can help define heritage studies as an academic domain. Some approaches are suggested by the emergence of concepts such as ecology and landscapes, which have been adapted by many social scientists because of their analytical utility. Such insights, argues IA scholar Fred Quivik in a recent article in IA, are especially promising for industrial archeology, as they force attention to the overall picture and away from single elements. “We can now not only illuminate how machines worked or were made but also how workers interacted with each other or their bosses, for example, based on the patterns of buildings people developed to carry out those interactions” (vol. 26, no. 2 (2000): 56). A focus on landscapes, Quivik argues, is a central lesson to be drawn from environmental historians. In the end, we believe our program offers a new research agenda for scholarship on material culture that spans the boundary between history of technology and industrial archeology, even while touching on such related fields as architectural and environmental history, historic preservation, and cultural anthropology and historical archeology. The Faculty(See full profiles on the Department's main page.) The Social Sciences faculty at Michigan Tech is uniquely suited to offering this type of educational program. Four historians and four archeologists/anthropologists have IA field experience, while faculty from other departments offer opportunities for developing skills and tool sets in this area. Patrick Martin (Michigan State: historical archeology, archeological sciences, industrial archeology) Since 1994, Pat has edited the journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology, continuing a pattern of professional service he began in the 1980s as editor of the quarterly Bulletin of the Society for Archeological Sciences. He has fostered the graduate program and directed the Department's annual field school, both since their inception. Larry Lankton (University of Pennsylvania: American civilization, history of technology) Before joining Michigan Tech, Larry was Curator of Power and Shop Machinery at the Henry Ford Museum, and historian at the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), National Park Service. He is author of three books on copper mining in northern Michigan . Alison K. Hoagland (George Washington University: architectural history, historic preservation) . Before coming to Michigan Tech, Kim was senior historian at the Historic American Building Survey (HABS) of the National Park Service. She published on vernacular architecture, architecture in Alaska , and the influence of the military on vernacular architecture in the western U.S. Terry Reynolds (Kansas: industrial archeology) Terry taught at the University of Wisconsin before coming to Michigan Tech, and also has worked for HAER as a summer historian. He has twice been recognized by the Society for Industrial. Archeology with its Norton Prize for the best article in the society’s journal. His recent research has focused on Great Lakes iron mining. Carol MacLennan (Berkeley: cultural anthropology) Carol came to Michigan Tech after working at the U.S. Department of Transportation, works on the anthropology of industry. Currently, her research focuses on industrial communities (Hawaiian sugar industry, mining in Arizona), and theoretical considerations such as political ecology. Susan Martin (Michigan State: anthropology) Susan’s graduate teaching focus is on heritage management, while her research is on the Native American utilization of copper. She oversees artifact curation efforts for two National Forests in Michigan ’s Upper Peninsula . Timothy Scarlett (Nevada-Reno: historical archeology) Tim joined the department from graduate school in 2001. His research interests include the historical development of the 19 th-century Utah pottery industry. Bruce Seely (Delaware: history of technology) At MTU since 1986, Bruce also worked for HAER as a summer historian. He was secretary of the Society for the History of Technology from 1990 through 1995; he is a recipient of the SIA's Norton Prize and several awards from other professional societies. His research interests include the engineering profession, the iron industry, and transportation. Hugh Gorman (Carnegie Mellon: history of technology/environmental history) Hugh contributes expertise in environmental history and policy, a matter of increasing importance at industrial sites. Faculty From Other DepartmentsCharles Young (Geological Sciences and Engineering): Teaches use and interpretation of geophysical technologies, including ground penetrating radar. Anne Maclean and Michael Hyslop (Forest Resources and Environmental Science): Both faculty work with Social Sciences students and faculty on the use of GIS and GPS technologies for mapping. Eric Nordberg (University Archives): As an expert on the history of mining and resources in this field, as well as for his expertise as a n archivist, Nordberg is a valued contributor to the doctoral program. Bruce Pletka (Materials Science and Engineering): Materials scientist who has collaborated on projects involving the interpretation of metal artifacts. Curriculum and Educational ProgramLike our Masters course, the doctoral program combines history of technology and archeology in the context of industrial heritage. Beyond the core courses intended to provide a common foundation, students will pursue individualized programs of study that rely heavily upon directed reading with faculty. Core classes for MS program: Two proseminars in Industrial Archeology; and courses in Heritage Management; Industrial Archaeology; Archaeological Field Methods; and Documentation of Historic Structures. Core Ph.D. Courses
Ph.D. students normally will earn the MS as part of their course of study, and then complete an additional 45 additional hours, including about 30 hours of coursework or directed reading and 15 hours of dissertation research. The actual degree requirements adhere to the general rules established by the Graduate School. This is a research degree, and the coursework is designed to prepare students for comprehensive examinations in three fields, chosen from the list below. After this examination, students will select a 4-person dissertation committee, whose members may be different than their initial advisory committee. One member of this committee should be from outside the department. Fields of Study: Industrial Archeology, History of Technology, Architectural History, Cultural Anthropology/Archeology, Historic Preservation, Material Culture, Museum Studies, Archival Management, Cultural Studies, Science and Technology Studies, Geographic Information Systems, Environmental Policy. Graduate ResearchMS students are required to gain field experience, usually as part of an annual field school. Students master excavation techniques as well as scientific tools, such as ground penetrating radar, dating technologies, and global positioning (GPS) and geographic information (GIS) technologies. These formal archeological skills combined with historical studies distinguish Michigan Tech’s program and other archeology education programs. MS students also complete a thesis or project report, often on research questions growing out of the field school. (Past projects are described elsewhere on the graduate program web page.) Many activities have been located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, including a blacksmith’s shop and lighthouse at Ft. Wilkins in Copper Harbor; iron furnaces, bloomary forges, and kilns at Munising and Negaunee; and copper mining activities near Victoria. Other projects, such as that undertaken at Fayette, MI, focused on work and workers, as students excavated a boarding house and accompanying two-story privy at a 19 th century iron working community. Other externally-funded projects have taken our students and faculty to sugar plantations in the West Indies, lumber camps in Wisconsin, iron making sites in Kentucky, national parks in Alaska and California. Doctoral students will be encouraged to pursue projects of greater scope. Two especially important research efforts are unfolding that indicate possible lines of inquiry and approach.
Special FeaturesInternational ActivitiesWe intend the program to have an international flavor, largely in recognition of the fact that European nations have been leaders in industrial heritage issues. The program seeks to insure the continuous presence of at least one international participant (postdoctoral fellow or visiting faculty member). We already have expressions of interest from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm (Dr. Marie Nisser); the Ironbridge Iinstitute in England (Dr. Roger White); Bergakademie Freiburg (Mining Institute) and the Technische Universität Freiberg, Germany; scholars at the Museu de la Ciència i de la Tècnica de Catalunya (mNACTEC) in Barcelona, Spain, and faculty with the National Technical University of Norway in Trondheim. In addition, we are developing international research experiences. Program ResourcesThe Keweenaw peninsula of upper Michigan was the center of an extensive copper mining industry from the 1840s through the 1960s. The physical remains of industry, engineering and transportation works, and workers housing are samples of the industrial heritage of the region. Within the immediate area, the Department has cooperated with two national parks and two national forests, as well as with the State of Michigan. All of this amounts to a natural laboratory for industrial archeology and heritage studies. Michigan Tech, a mining & engineering school founded in 1885 boasts marvelous library and archival holdings for historical studies of technology, engineering, mining, and local industry. The Copper Country Historical Collection includes 7,500 books, 10,000 images, 300 rolls of microfilm; and corporate and personal records related to local history and industry, especially local copper mining. Industrial Archeology Research Laboratory. This Departmental facility includes space for cataloguing, curation, conservation, and preservation of artifacts, as well as pottery kilns. Lab equipment includes an array of photographic equipment and GPS hardware. The facility also provides computers and office space for IA graduate students, and includes a WiFi network to connect personal notebook computers to the University net. Included are a computer graphics facility with a mix of Macintosh and PC computers, with a color scanner, digitizing tablets, laser printers, and a plotter. The lab supports several different programs for computer assisted drafting (CAD) and ArcView for GIS analysis. A video image capture system an create digital images from a either a low-power or polarizing microscope. The Society for Industrial Archeology is headquartered in the Department, with Patrick Martin serving as editor and Terry Reynolds as book review editor for the Society's journal, IA. Admissions InformationUpdated February 1, 2012 Both the MS and Ph.D. programs are inherently interdisciplinary, and we encourage applications from students with backgrounds in archeology and anthropology, history, American civilization, and other areas as well, including engineering. Applicants to the program need to fulfill the general application requirements of the Graduate School. Applications are reviewed for admission by the faculty in the IA program. We use a mix of criteria for admissions decisions, such as undergraduate and graduate records, standardized test scores, recommendations, writing ability, work experience, and demonstrated interest in the field. We require the following items for consideration for admission:
The Program currently maintains an open-ended applications policy, with no deadlines for receipt of applications. We strongly encourage students to begin their course of study in the Fall term, but exceptions are made. In all cases, however, financial support decisions are made only in the Spring. To be considered for support in September, please complete your application by February 1st. You may request additional information by email from Timothy Scarlett, Director of Graduate Studies in IA. You also may call: (906) 487-2113. The actual main application form for graduate study at Michigan Tech is accessible on-line. Please go to http://www.gradschool.mtu.edu/apply.html. Financial SupportApplication forms for admission to the MS and Ph.D. programs are also regarded as application forms for assistantships. All students admitted to the program are considered for these awards. Applications must be received by March 1 to be considered for support for the ensuing academic year. Recipients of awards are notified by letter as soon as the awards are made. Most students receive teaching assistantships their first year and serve as research assistants in their second year. Teaching assistantships are awarded by the department, and include a stipend plus tuition and basic computing fees. For MS students, an assistantship beginning in fall 2005 carries the estimated 9-month stipend will be $9250. Doctoral students with assistantships beginning in fall 2005 will receive an estimated stipend of about $10,800. Duties associated with the appointment are expected to total not more than twenty hours per week. Research assistantships, usually associated with a specific externally-funded research grant or contract, are awarded by the professor supervising the research activity, in consultation with the IA graduate committee. The appointment is usually for the academic year, but may include the summer term, as well. These awards include a stipend and tuition, with stipend levels set at the same level as teaching assistantships. Department faculty have been very successful in securing such research support. Nearly 90 percent of those completing the program have received at least partial support in this way; nearly 70 percent were fully supported by sponsored research during their second year. The IA program views assistantships as a means of attracting qualified and motivated students, and supporting them during their graduate studies. Currently all full-time graduate students are receiving some type of assistantship, a pattern that has held for the past several years. While we cannot guarantee future arrangements, we make a significant effort to help find financial support for successful graduate students. Additional information about financial assistance is available from the graduate school at http://www.gradschool.mtu.edu/. Prospects and Jobs for GraduatesMichigan Tech's MS in Industrial Archaeology has a strongly applied character designed to furnish students with the skills and tools needed to succeed in the future work. Course work includes exposure to specific practical and professional skills in addition to theoretical and intellectual content. Thesis projects are often developed in conjunction with outside sponsors, and incorporate real-world situations concerned with site identification, interpretation, preservation, and management. The Masters program logically leads to four potential career trajectories:
We envision the doctoral program serving similar purposes, as the emerging market for advanced degree-holders in the industrial heritage areas includes both academic and non-academic careers. We seek to prepare students for opportunities in such academic fields as historical archeology, the history of technology, and material culture studies. We also intend to position graduates for opportunities in the private sector and in government agencies where an advanced degree is likely to become a useful and important certification. To date, all of the MS graduates from Michigan Tech who have applied to Ph.D. programs have been accepted. They have enrolled at Brown University, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, University of Nevada-Reno (2), and University of Arizona (2). Several graduates have accepted jobs with state or regional museums; one was curator at Sloss Furnaces National Historical Landmark in Birmingham, Alabama before moving to the Detroit Historical Museums. Another is the curator at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum, a third is historian at the Soudan Mines State Park in Minnesota, while a fourth works as an archaeologist with the New York State Museum. Other government agencies that have hired our graduates include the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma State Historical Society, the Historic American Engineering Record/National Park Service, and the US Forest Service. In addition, several program graduates have gone on to successful careers in private CRM and engineering consulting firms throughout the USA. One MS graduate who completed a doctorate at Nevada-Reno is now teaching at the University of Montana .
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