Meredith Murphy

Gilded Asheville Mini-Term, 2011

Instructors: Katy Fenn and Meredith Murphy

In 1880, the construction of a railroad reaching into the North Carolina mountains turned the western part of the state into a playground for the industrial elite. Upon visiting Asheville, NC, one of the heirs of the Vanderbilt family railroad fortune, George Washington Vanderbilt, declared that he would like to build his "little mountain escape" there. The resulting 125,000 acre estate, complete with 175,000 square-foot chateau, became a symbol of the Vanderbilt family's status at the forefront of the new American nobility. In Biltmore, he created what is still the largest private residence in the United States. What followed left the stamp of the Gilded Age culture of the robber barons on the then tiny hamlet of Asheville.

Students in "Gilded Asheville" studied a variety of primary and secondary materials to reveal the larger context of the Gilded Age and the history of Asheville and the Biltmore Estate. In addition to group discussions, students carried out individual research to illuminate a topic of their choosing in preparation for a trip to Asheville. Participants then embarked on a four day, three night trip to Asheville where they examined Biltmore Estate and other aspects of Asheville's history and architecture as relates to the Gilded Age. Other activities included visiting the archives at UNC-Asheville, a walking tour of downtown Asheville architecture, and a visit to the Grove Arcade. Upon return, students prepared a presentations to share with the NCSSM community, addressing how the Gilded Age touched Asheville and affected North Carolina. 

Find out more at the blog for this Mini-term at http://gildedasheville.blogspot.com/.

Architecture in Berlin Mini-Term, 2010

Instructors: John Kirk, Mark DuBois, and Meredith Murphy

The intent of this NCSSM Mini-Term course was to study the development of architecture in and around Berlin from the seventeenth century to the present day. Berlin has great examples of architecture from the Baroque period to the Postmodern era. Nearby Dresden (Baroque) and Potsdam (Rococo) were part of our itinerary along with the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. In this Mini-Term course, students studied the development of architecture, individual structures, and eras.  Individuals researched particular structures in detail and furtheredthis through visits to the actual sites. Students then presented aspects of their research to their fellow students on-site. 

Find out more at the blog for this Mini-term at http://ncssmberlinminiterm.blogspot.com/. 

Bio-/Photo-graphy Mini-Term, 2009

Instructor: Meredith Murphy

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "There is properly no history; only biography." In this course students explored the concept of biography as part of the historical record. We examined and evaluated the many incarnations of biography that authors use to describe an individual's life, including text, film, song, and visual art. A significant component of the course was investigation into the techniques of biographical photography. Students had the opportunity to collaborate with the NC Center for Documentary Studies and the NC Museum of Art in their explorations of the idea of (auto)biography. Students used what they learned to engage in various documentary techniques to compile autobiographical and biographical works throughout the course.