Placing Segregation, dsps.lib.uiowa.edu/ placingsegregation/omaha/. Created by the University of Iowa. Data produced by geocoding census records and GIS mapping. Reviewed January 21–27, 2020.
The University of Iowa’s Placing Segregation project is a digital narrative that provides a spatial representation of racially mixed communities within Washington D.C., Nashville, Tennessee, and Omaha between 1860–1870. This project displays the racial, income, and occupational information from census records. Additionally, the University of Iowa team cross-referenced census information to corresponding records from city directories, and manually combined their findings to create a new dataset. Using this data, the team has illustrated their findings onto digitized historical maps from this era. The team chose historic maps that most accurately align with the current layout of each city, so that residents viewing this information recognize these areas and draw deeper connections with these places. This project aims to digitally represent racial divisions within each of these three cities by reinterpreting traditional primary sources. This project provides new layers of historical significance to these maps by connecting the spaces to the culture of the area. The digital platform utilized to carry out this project is a standalone website, affiliated with the University of Iowa.
This team is transparent in sharing their methods of research and the reasons behind their design choices for these visualizations. As mentioned above, this project utilizes census records to gather familial and racial records and city directories to gather income. Initially, the team decided that revealing details of each individual resident, would have displayed too much information, overwhelming viewers. Rather than identifying every single person, the team chose to organize demographic information under a collective household name — usually, the head of the household. I think this makes each visual easier to follow, holding the audience’s interest, while representing the familial dynamics of that era. However, this kind of organization privilege male residents, since most females were not homeowners or financially independent. Furthermore, the site does not show exactly how many people lived in one household, which could serve as an additional indicator of wealth disparity.
In terms of visuals and the design of the website, this resource will be easily navigable for a variety of audiences. The website is compatible with desktop and mobile devices. Both formats utilize very similar layouts to display the information. The menu is clearly visible at the top of the page, where viewers can access all aspects of the project including: all three city maps, background information, contributing members to the project, methodology, the intended interpretation of the data, and further educational exercises. However, the “Exercise” tab appears to be empty. I’d recommend the project creators fill the gap with a note that this section is a work in progress.
Navigating through the maps and the information this project displays is also fairly straightforward and uniform. At the top left corner of each map, a key presents different demographic information regarding race and class. As you select each category, the blue dots that correspond to each demographic turn yellow. This program is simple yet effective in differentiating each group, and helping audiences visualize the racial divisions within each city. The visual stimulus also makes it easy and enticing for audiences to further their inquiry. Clicking a dot will open side boxes with additional details for each resident.
It seems that one target audience may be the current residents of these cities since the team made a particular effort to choose a historical map that most closely fits each contemporary grid. This team took an extra step to imbed a modern grayscale map that represents the current landscape of each city, which facilitates a deeper connection to this information. I also think this melding of historic and modern visualizations familiarizes each area for anyone within the United States, facilitates intra-state connections. Additionally, this website identifies itself as a reliable source for research. As explicitly communicated in the website’s methods statement: “The research therefore has the effect of creating a resource for historical inquiry, and it enables immediate analysis of the study areas.” One way this site provides specialized services for its academic or scholarly audience is by offering alternative versions of the information as downloadable spreadsheets, which can be accessed within the main menu.
There is not a clear indication as to why these particular cities were chosen for the project. No where within any menu options does the team express a clear mission statement. The team only elaborates on what this information could do, not necessarily what they’d like it to do. The website does, however, provide historical context of each map. Under the “Interpretations” section of the menu, the team breaks down the landscape, infrastructure, and economic activities of each city and how they influenced the way racial lines were drawn in each city. Thinking temporally and geographically, I’m inferring that these three cities were chosen to represent three separate regions of the United States pre and post Civil War. This could be a really unique method for analyzing social relations before and after the war. However, each map represents different years within 1860-1870. They are not representing the same year or providing a “before and after” of each map.
Despite some minor flaws, Placing Segregation provides a unique perspective on racial dynamics. By examining certain areas of the country that do not particularly fall within the Deep South,—where the action occurred—brings attention to the outliers of northern and southern tensions. Furthermore, this project may invoke present-day residents of these cities to evaluate the underlying foundations of contemporary social patterns. No set of data will lead any team to create a perfect reinterpretation of history. However, the team at the University of Iowa has effectively employed digitization to create a space for disregarded narratives.
