Prominent history scholar, Edward Ayers, will be the keynote speaker at Virginia Commonwealth University's Memory Studies Lab's first public event on April 2. The event aims to introduce the lab and its work to the VCU community, according to Gabriel Reich, Ph.D., co-director of the lab. Reich stated, “We have created a rich intellectual community.”
Ayers, a professor and president emeritus at the University of Richmond, has dedicated his career to making the past relevant to contemporary society and politics. He will draw from his new book, “American Visions: The United States, 1800-1860,” during his keynote address at the symposium. The book focuses on marginalized voices in the pre-Civil War period, as they moved into the center of national historical consciousness.
In the field of memory studies, scholars explore how individuals shape and remember ideas about the past, influencing their understanding of the present. This interdisciplinary field not only impacts the humanities but also extends to the health sciences. Different communities have varying perceptions of medical practices based on their memories of treatment, care, or lack thereof.
The Memory Studies Lab at VCU includes scholars from diverse disciplines such as political science, history, education, and urban planning. The lab's association with the Humanities Research Center in the College of Humanities and Sciences underscores its commitment to public engagement. The upcoming symposium will feature panel discussions, a Q&A session with Ayers, and roundtable talks.
The symposium will take place on April 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University Student Commons in Richmond Salons III and IV. Those interested in attending can register for the event on the VCU website.
