In 2019, the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Arkansas began a research project in collaboration with the Italian Program and the Tontitown Historical Museum to celebrate early migration into the state of Arkansas. Professors Ryan Calabretta-Sajder (Italian), Kathleen Condray (German) and Linda Jones (French & the Quapaw Nation) embarked on this journey together, considering how best to recreate the past for future generations.
Thanks to their hard work and support from various departments across campus, including History, English, Southern Studies, the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Strategic Initiatives, and the Arkansas Humanities Center, they were able to secure an Arkansas Humanities Council Grant to work on “Mapping Unheard Migrant Voices in Arkansas.” This interactive Digital Humanities website allows users to explore this rich history while learning about the cultural experiences that have remained critical for each group’s footprint in Arkansas.
The website includes historical and cultural significance of French, German, Italian and Quapaw people. One of the highlights of this project will be Italian major Alessandro Palazzuoli-Bevilacqua’s presentation on his internship with the Tontitown Historical Museum. Palazzuoli-Bevilacqua is