Story by Anna Mayor, College of Arts and Sciences
When anthropology professor and chair Antoinette Jackson began her career, she wasn鈥檛 just interested in studying history 鈥� she wanted to help communities tell their own stories.
Dr. Jackson received the John Lewis Award for History and Social Justice from the American Historical Association at its annual meeting in Chicago, Il in January. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Jackson)
That commitment was recognized this month when Jackson received the John Lewis Award for History and Social Justice from the American Historical Association at its annual meeting in Chicago, Il. The national honor recognizes scholars whose work connects historical research with public engagement and community partnerships.
鈥淧rofessionally, receiving this award means that my work has relevance broadly 鈥� outside the discipline of anthropology and in local, national and global context,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淧ersonally, this is a tremendous honor. There are no words that can capture what it means having your name mentioned in the same sentence as John Lewis. I have the utmost respect for his work, determination and life.鈥�
Jackson鈥檚 career and research efforts have been defined by collaborative work with communities.
She founded the USF Heritage Research Lab in 2006, connecting local and national communities working to preserve cultural heritage and amplifying overlooked stories.
Her work has grown to include the and other public humanities projects that connect people, places and histories across the country.
From collaborating with neighborhoods in Tampa, to working with communities nationwide on heritage preservation and remembrance, Jackson鈥檚 research reflects a guiding belief: history is most powerful when it is shared.
Dr. Jackson talks with former president Jimmy Carter in 2010 about Archery, Ga., his boyhood community and location of the NPS Jimmy Carter Boyhood Home site. (Photo courtesy of the USF Heritage Research Lab.)
President Jimmy Carter meets with Jackson鈥檚 USF Heritage Research Lab team, Quinn Evans, and the National Park Service during a 2019 site visit to the Carter Home and Gardens at Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Jackson)
鈥淚t is quite remarkable and humbling to look back at all the communities and people that my students and I have collaborated with and all the lives that have been impacted by our efforts,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his recognition reminds us of the power of history to connect people and deepen understanding.鈥�
For more about Jackson鈥檚 work visit the USF Living Heritage Institute and the Heritage Research Lab site.