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B31 - Uplifting Voices That Built Miami
Examining the naming of campus buildings reveals how the university constructed a selective historical memory that celebrates institutional founders and benefactors while obscuring the role of slavery and the contributions of people of color in Miami’s early history.
B31 - Uplifting Voices That Built Miami
Mentor: Carolyn Hardin, Ph.D.
Examining the naming of campus buildings reveals how the university constructed a selective historical memory that celebrates institutional founders and benefactors while obscuring the role of slavery and the contributions of people of color in Miami’s early history. Miami University’s campus commemorates early university leaders such as William Holmes McGuffey, Robert Hamilton Bishop, and Samuel Spahr Laws while largely omitting their connections to slavery and unfree labor. At the same time, the only building named after a person of color is Nellie Craig Walker, named in her honor in 2021. Miami’s history is complicated, and we do not believe that history should be erased or ignored, but simply acknowledged as we work to build a better and more representative future for the university. We encourage a physical and academic recognition of the unheard voices of Miami University who have contributed to the university’s success.