About Us
The Team
This digital humanities project was created by Alisha Knight, Professor of English and American Studies at Washington College. Washington College’s Graphic Information Systems (GIS) Program provided technical support using Esri’s ArcGIS platform.
A diverse group of students and staff members have helped this project evolve through different phases over time. Under Stewart Bruce’s supervision, Daniel Benton coded the first version of the maps in 2015, and Brad Janocha and Shannon Preen made initial updates. Between 2016 and 2017, Julia Portmann re-coded and updated the current maps under Luis Machado’s supervision. Anna Garrow helped move the project into its next phase between 2019 and 2020 by creating additional maps and reorganizing them into map journals. In 2020 Nicholas Ritter wrote profiles of select agents and helped develop an earlier version of this website. Yuying Liu made additional map updates as the project moved into its third phase. Erica McMaster, GIS Program Director, and Madison Kaye, GIS and Cultural Resource Specialist, made additional updates in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
This project has received financial support for its student research assistants from the Ellen T. Thawley Fund at Washington College.
Alisha Knight, Director
Professor of English and American Studies
Luis Machado
GIS Supervisor
Nicholas Ritter
Student Research Assistant, Web Designer
Sarah Dodson, Brooklyn Branch Manager, and her team as pictured in the May 1901 issue of the Colored American Magazine.
Nathaniel B. Dodson, NY General Agent, and his team as pictured in the May 1901 issue of the Colored American Magazine.
Project Alumni
We are grateful for the contributions made by the following Washington College students.
Daniel Benton
Teagan Brandt
Anna Garrow
Brad Janocha
Yuying Liu
Julia Portmann
Shannon Preen
Saoirse