Professor Elizabeth Hoover, JMU Dept. of English, seeks an intern to assist on the research and writing of a biography of Robert Hayden, the first African-American Poet Laureate of the United States. Hayden was born in Detroit in 1913 and penned some of the most powerful poetry about that city. Major themes of this biography include the history of Detroit, racial dynamics of American publishing, the Federal Writers Project, and the role of the church in black urban communities.
The focus of the internship will be 1) transcribing oral histories about black life in Detroit, race in American publishing, the Baha’i faith, and integration of African American professors at the University of Michigan, 2) assessing archival collections for relevance, 3) obtaining materials through research, and 4) some detective work.
Professor Hoover will tailor the tasks to the student’s interest. A student could focus on any of the themes of the biography or on a particular research methodology they want to practice.
Skills students with learn or practice during this internship include: transcription, navigating finding aids, archival research, research methods, and how to obtain primary sources. The intern will also see one researcher’s method for organizing information when undertaking a large project.
To apply or request more information, contact Dr. Hoover at hoovered@jmu.edu