Mapping New California Histories

Jan 23–Jan 24, 2025
University of California Humanities Research Institute, UC Irvine


A UCHRI and UC Humanities Network Entanglement Program in partnership with the UC Irvine History Project and the UC Irvine Teacher Academy.

Elevating the work of public historians, geographers, K-12 teachers, and community and university archivists, this event invites participants to share their work recovering stories and mapping the impact of diverse communities that have contributed to the political culture and democratic promise of California. By bringing together public historians from around the state, this convening aims to share new knowledge and collaborative curricula that link regional histories to an expanded vision of California as a whole. The program features regional history projects from eight UC campuses that document the entanglement of migration, conquest, land use, integration, contestation, creativity, and renewal that shape the region. The event includes hands-on opportunities to explore unique primary sources from around the state.

RSVP link forthcoming.

Thursday, January 23, 2025
Humanities Instructional Building 135

4:00 pm | Learning with A People’s Guide to Orange County
featuring co-authors Gustavo Arellano (LA Times), Thuy Vo Dang (UC Los Angeles) and Elaine Lewinnek (CSU Fullerton).
Introduction by Julia Lupton, UCHRI; Q and A facilitated by Cindy Mata, UC Irvine History Project

Reception to follow.

Friday, January 24, 2025

9:00 am | Breakfast and networking

9:15-9:30 am | Welcome
Julia Lupton, UCHRI and Laura Mitchell, UC Irvine History Project

9:30-11:00 am | Co-Creating History for a Shared Future
Moderated by Nicole Gilbertson, UC Irvine Teacher Academy

Crystal Baik (UC Riverside) and Thuy Vo Dang (UC Los Angeles): Reparative Memories: Communities in Crisis and Archival Care
Susan Derwin (UC Santa Barbara): The Making of Monuments
Meleia Simon-Reynolds (UC Santa Cruz): Watsonville Is in the Heart

11:00 am | Coffee break

11:15 am-12:30 pm | Co-Creating History for a Shared Future
Moderated by Judy Wu, UC Irvine Humanities Center

Matthew Herbst (UC San Diego) and Angelina Lutz (Imperial Valley Desert Museum): Colorado Desert Education Collaborative
Cecilia Tsu (UC Davis): Uncovering Diverse Histories of Yolo County
Clancy Wilmott (UC Berkeley): Before You Are Here: Rematriating the Map for Indigenous History, Culture, and Storytelling

12:30-1:30 pm | Lunch

1:30-2:30 pm | Workshop – Participatory History Using Documents and Artifacts
Session led by Laura Mitchell, UC Irvine History and UC Irvine History Project
Groups will engage with a document or artifact with a facilitator from UC or OC archival and historical projects.

Breakout session moderators include
Angelina Lutz, Executive Director, Imperial Valley Desert Museum
Krystal Tribbett, Curator for Orange County Regional History, Orange County and Southeast Asian Archive Center, UC Irvine

2:30 pm | Coffee break

2:45-3:45 pm | Workshop – Participatory History with Communities
Session led by Cindy Mata, UC Irvine History Project

3:45-4:00 pm | Final Reflections and Next Steps
Facilitated by Julia Lupton

This convening is funded by MRPI funds from the UC Office of the President.