Historic Sites Database
Project Overview
This database is part of a collaborative project to map historic sites across South Africa’s townships. The primary focus of the database is the history of Soweto’s built environment and the role of its historic resources in the liberation movement. At this time, the database provides a framework for further research. Included are primary and secondary sources already vetted and assigned to a specific building or historic site.
Historic sites listed in the database are not only limited to currently existing resources, but also describe sites that are no longer extant. The database includes a description of the historic site, details of sources with expanded documentation, photographs and related finds, and, if possible, a site history.
After taking into account the staggering breadth and diversity of Soweto heritage resources, the Soweto ‘76 team made the judgment to open the database recovery effort to an informed public. All interested persons are invited to contribute by suggesting additions, corrections, and additional documentation of existing sites.
Student Fellow
Gabriela Arias
Gabriela Arias—Gabi for short—was born and raised in New York City; however, she has called Wallkill, NY home since 2001. As a member of the first generation of her family to be born in the United States, she is proud of her roots. She considers the African ancestry of Dominicans from across the diaspora central to her identity as a Dominican-American woman. The history and culture of Afro-Latinos fascinates her and is an academic interest which she has been fortunate enough to explore at Hamilton College. An Africana Studies major, Gabi is especially interested in the intersections between institutions of public history and the process of historical preservation in communities across the African diaspora.
Principal Investigator
Angel David Nieves, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director of American Studies
Co-Director, Digital Humanities Initiative
anieves@hamilton.edu, or 315.859.4125