History in Stones: Mapping Cemeteries to Preserve and Teach the History of Central Aroostook County (via Zoom)

Dr. Kimberly Sebold, History Professor at UMPI, has been working on a public history project called History in Stones:  Mapping Cemeteries to Preserve and Teach the History of Central Aroostook County.  The project goal is twofold: create searchable maps of the cemeteries in Central Aroostook County using ArcGIS Online and write an interactive history of Central Aroostook County to be used by middle and high school social studies teachers who teach Maine History and American History.  ArcGIS Online StoryMap Journals will be the platform for these interactive histories of the area. To make history more relevant and tangible, the project histories will focus on the lives of certain individuals in area cemeteries by explaining how world, national and state events affected these people and Central Aroostook County communities. Curriculum will be developed and linked to the Maine State Learning Results for both the searchable cemetery maps and the interactive StoryMap Journals. All of the information will be posted on an UMPI supported website that is free to anyone. Area teachers can help by reviewing and using the materials in their classrooms and providing feedback. High school teachers can help by identifying students who need volunteer areas and could help clean, georeference and photograph cemeteries from May to October under the supervision of Dr. Sebold. The first StoryMap Journals will be available by February 2022. They will focus on the Aroostook Band of Micmacs.

Look for announcements of additional Zoom workshops and/or contact Dr. Sebold directly if you would like to use materials or help ahead of Feb. 4. Her email is kimberly.sebold@maine.edu and her phone number is 207-762-2010.