UM Graduate Student Gives Student Perspective of the Griz 130 Project

Over the course of the fall 2023 semester, students in Dr. Eric Zimmer’s “Exhibit Design and Development” course planned and constructed an exhibit about UM’s history entitled “Grizzlies for Good.” The exhibit used artifacts from UM’s Archives and Special Collections, including historic Forester’s Ball dance cards, Maureen Mansfield’s typewriter, and a paddle used by upperclassmen on first-year students as one of UM’s earliest forms of hazing.

This class was particularly impactful for me because we had a lot of freedom to dictate the direction and execution of the exhibit. Oftentimes, individual research drives history classes and doesn’t offer opportunities for this kind of collaboration. It was exciting to work with not only my classmates but also to engage with stakeholders like the President’s Office. Additionally, I was able to apply my graphic design skills and challenge myself as a writer, stepping outside of academic jargon to speak to a broader audience interested in UM’s history.

Dr. Zimmer’s class prepared me well for other projects outside of the academy. This semester, for example, I am helping design and develop an exhibit for the Poverello Center’s 50th anniversary that will be up in the Missoula Public Library for the month of June. I am so grateful to the department for integrating coursework with professional development opportunities in the field of public history! 

This class was offered as part of the Department’s Graduate Certificate in Public History and the Griz130 History Initiative, a multi-year public history project to commemorate the institution’s 130th anniversary through student coursework and research.

A “Grizzlies for Good” digital exhibit is forthcoming!