Heidi Morse
My goal as an archivist is to share historical materials that empower communities and complicate dominant narratives. I am committed to broadening archival access because I believe that history and history-making is a collective endeavor. With my background in academic teaching, writing, and editing, I am well positioned to anticipate the research needs of students and instructors as well as the general public. Key strengths include my experience managing digital collections and my dedication to community engagement and collaboration.
Curated Digital Projects
Digital Collection
Launched in 2019, this curated collection of 2,500+ digitized historical items complements an oral history collection created in collaboration between the African American Cultural & Historical Museum of Washtenaw County and the Ann Arbor District Library
Online Game
The Ann Arbor District Library’s Summer Game is a popular way for patrons to get out around town solving puzzles and finding clues. The 2020 Black Ann Arbor Badge Series had 521 players (8.5% of Summer Game players), and 29% completed the whole series (50 badges)
Walking Tour
Maps, photos, and narrative introduce participants to eight sites in an historically Black neighborhood in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Launched in October 2021, the walking tour has already been used by classes & community organizations, and featured in local news.
Recent Publications
Badge Drops and Points Galore
Crowdsourcing Metadata at a Public Library Archive (Journal of Digital Media Management, 2021)
Performing Narratives: Slave Narratives on the World Stage
The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to World Literature, Vol. 4, 2019