Conference to Explore How and Why We Memorialize

"Memorialization: Theory, Methods, Goals and Ethics" will include speakers, tours of memorials on and off campus, and opportunities for students and researchers to present their work.

The National Endowment for the Humanities-sponsored conference is scheduled for March 14-15 in Bryant Hall. The event is free to the public, but participants must register to attend.

"In the South, when we think about memorialization, we think of things unique to our history," said Deborah Mower, director of The Center for Practical Ethics. "But memorials have been studied in many contexts globally.

"Memorials always shape how we view the past and how we view the future. Having a deeper understanding of what has gone into the process of creating them and the considerations that are brought to bear in that process helps us understand why certain memorials are created."

The headlining speakers include:

• Derek Alderman, professor of geology, University of Tennessee
• Guy Beiner, Sullivan Chair in Irish Studies, Boston College
• Janet Donohoe, professor emerita of philosophy, University of West Georgia
• Daniel Levy, professor of sociology, Stony Brook University
• Colleen Murphy, Roger and Stephany Joslin Professor of Law, University of Illinois.

"One of the things we're really excited about is bringing people from all these fields together to think more about memorialization as a process," Mower said. "Each of these particular speakers have books that have been foundational in the field."

Carolyn Freiwald, associate professor of anthropology, said that when people think of a memorial, they generally envision a statue or building, but memorials can be many things. From park benches to events and streets, there are countless ways to memorialize historical events, people and traditions.

"Memorials can be a physical place, a monument or even a graveyard," she said. "These are things that we see every day, but we don't always think about who built it and why."

To expand the conference programming, Freiwald is coordinating a slate of tours that are free to all attendees, with vans provided for transportation.

"Oxford is a great place to think about what memorials mean to different people," Freiwald said. "We have so many different histories on our campus that made us what we are today."

The organizers also hope to spark a new generation of research into the role of monuments and memorials through the conference, Mower said. Following the event, videos of each of the key lectures will be made available to the public through eGrove and The Center for Practical Ethics.

This material is based on work supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities grant no. RZ-300085-24.

Top: Memorials help shape how societies view history and their future. The 'Memorialization: Theory, Methods, Goals and Ethics' conference will invite experts from across the nation to discuss the history and importance of memorials on March 14-15 at Ole Miss. Illustration by Stefanie Goodwiller/University Marketing and Communications