Карта истории Стивенса-Поинта удостоена награды губернатора за инновации в архивном деле

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point staff and students created an interactive map using decades of census data to explore the history of Stevens Point. That work is now being recognized with the Governor’s Award for Archival Innovation. Jarita Bavido is an academic and career advisor for UWSP. She worked on “Stevens Point Through the Years” as a student. The project is made up of census data from 1900 to 1940. “There are all these different connections and stories that are there to be tapped,” Bavido said. “And so for me, it’s not only the stories that we’ve already found, but all of the, like, many that are still out there to be found that excites me.” “I got to see these stories of people throughout Stevens Point who had come from different places in Poland and in Germany and the Czech Republic and all over,” Bavido said. One story that stands out to Bavido is about female entrepreneurship. “There’s a woman named Carrie Frost who started the fly tying business, or a fly tying business here in Stevens Point,” Bavido said. “And through the project, you can actually, like, select different households and notice that there are young girls who are working as fly tires. And you realize that, oh, they’re working for Carrie.” Wisconsin Historical Society honors the project On Friday, the Wisconsin Historical Society gave UWSP’s Archive and GIS Center the Governor’s Award for Archival Innovation. This is the first time the Wisconsin Historical Society has seen geographical information systems technology used in this way. Christian Overland, director and CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society, said, “To be able to look at just a map and to be able to type something in and see where actually people lived is wonderful. It creates history in a way for people to find it accessible and meaningful in the world they live in today.” The map will eventually be made up of more census data, history and stories. Geography chair says map reveals community’s evolution Doug Miskowiak is the chair of geography and geology for UWSP. He says there’s a lot of history that can be unveiled by this technology. “I think there’s a lot that people don’t know about their community,” Miskowiak said. “How this community grew, how it evolved, and what that means to them in their modern-day culture. How has the past really influenced the present? And I think if you take a look at those historical stories, you’ll see a community that has evolved in a way that we can be proud of.” Miskowiak says it’s a great honor to receive the Governor’s Award for Archival Innovation from the Wisconsin Historical Society. Click here to download the WSAW news app or WSAW First Alert weather app. Click here to submit a news tip or story idea.