Department earns NEH grant to collect histories of migrant workers

The Kutsche Office of Local History received a $11,500 Common Heritage Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to collect oral histories of Michigan migrant workers.

The office will work in partnership with the Oceana County Hispanic Center and the Oceana County Historical and Genealogical Society, in addition to Grand Valley's History and Latin American Studies departments. The grant will be matched by Grand Valley for a project totaling $23,000.

Melanie Shell-Weiss, director of the Kutsche Office of Local History, said the project, "Growing Community: A Century of Migration in Oceana County," will build on work completed by Andy Schlewitz, assistant professor of Latin American studies and political science, and Nora Salas, assistant professor of history, to collect oral histories and digitize photos and materials from migrant families.

Michigan has the fifth largest migrant population in the country, yet Shell-Weiss said young children in Oceana County know little of their families' histories and are less likely to see themselves as community members, despite having deep roots in the area through multiple generations.

"Non-Latino residents are also less likely to understand the deep history of their Latino neighbors or their shared community ties," Shell-Weiss said. "For these reasons, the opportunity to invite Latino community members — migrant and year-round — to preserve their oral histories and photographs would be of tremendous benefit to Oceana County."

The NEH announced its Common Heritage Grants December 14 to support projects that preserve heritage and promote scholarly discoveries. "We are proud to announce this latest group of grantees, who, through their projects and research, will bring valuable lessons of history and culture to Americans," said William D. Adams, NEH chair.

Oceana County collections would begin in June and materials shared with families and individuals who participate.

The Kutsche Office recently completed an oral history collection of Latino residents in Holland. An exhibition, "Nuestra Comunidad Hispana," will remain up through December at the Herrick District Library in Holland.

For more information about the Kutsche Office, visit www.gvsu.edu/kutsche.