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The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded Southern Illinois University Edwardsville $106,002 to coordinate a summer institute for school teachers concentrating on an 1845 autobiography by Frederick Douglass, an ex-slave who went on to become a significant advocate for justice and civil rights. 

Howard Rambsy II, PhD, professor in SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of English Language and Literature, will serve as the director of the Frederick Douglass and Literary Crossroads Institute, which will take place in July 2019. Tisha Brooks, PhD, and Elizabeth Cali, PhD, both assistant professors in the Department of English Language and Literature, are resident lecturers for the project and co-wrote the grant with Rambsy. All three professors specialize in African American literary studies and regularly highlight Douglass in their courses. 

“Perhaps the sixth time is the charm,” said Rambsy. “I led teams applying for this particular grant each year, for the last six years. I felt strongly about the need for an NEH summer institute focusing on Frederick Douglass’ Narrative, so I’m pleased that we are now in a position to do so.” 

Rambsy has studied Douglass and other African American authors, and has sought ways to create humanities and educational opportunities beyond the conventional classroom. 

“The process of applying for grants can be challenging, but fortunately I had expert assistance from the incredible navigator Teri Gulledge, (former) research administrator from the SIUE Graduate School’s Office of Research and Projects,” Rambsy remarked. “She guided me through all kinds of extensive forms and budgets.” 

Each academic year, Rambsy, Brooks and Cali teach approximately 14 different African American literature courses – more than most English departments in the country. They also coordinate a large number of public programs every semester. The Institute is an extension of their efforts to expose students, teachers, and the public to literary art and cultural history involving African Americans.

“This Institute reflects our ongoing commitment to collaboration in the classroom and beyond,” emphasized Brooks. “I am most excited about bringing together scholars and teachers from across the country to dialogue about Douglass, and learn from each other. This is an opportunity to extend the reach of our African American literary studies program and expand SIUE’s impact in the region and nationally.” 

“I’m looking forward to sharing methods for teaching and learning about Douglass that will get high school students thinking about Douglass’ use of creativity and literary innovation in his works,” explained Cali. “This Institute offers an all-too-rare opportunity for several scholars of African American literature to share research and teaching practices with high school teachers that will create and enhance opportunities to teach Douglass as a literary figure.” 

Twenty-five teachers will be selected from across the country to participate in the Summer Institute. They will cover Douglass’ Narrative with Brooks, Cali, Rambsy, as well as Jessica Despain, PhD, and Kristine Hildebrandt, PhD, both associate professors in the Department of English. Other scholars invited include Joycelyn Moody, PhD, of the University of Texas at San Antonio, Barbara McCaskill, PhD, of the University of Georgia, and Courtney Thorsson, PhD, of the University of Oregon. 

The University’s Interdisciplinary Research and Informatics Scholarship (IRIS) Center, co-founded by DeSpain and Hildebrandt, will assist by providing technical support and a website for the Institute, among other contributions. 

“We plan to facilitate the introduction and training of a wide range of digital applications and tools for participating teachers, which can be tailored towards integration of works by Douglass and other African American authors into high school curricular design and classrooms,” said Hildebrandt. “We are particularly thrilled to work with Howard Rambsy on this project, because it is a great example of our goal to broaden participation and access to digital humanities tools and conversations.” 

Photo: Howard Rambsy II, PhD, professor in SIUE’s Department of English Language and Literature, is the director of the Frederick Douglass and Literary Crossroads Institute to be offered in July 2019 and made possible by a $106,002 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) award.