During the spring semester, history students contributed to the creation of an environmental history exhibit on Hermann Jaegar, a noted viticulturist who helped save European vineyards from the phylloxera louse in the 1800s.
Under the direction of Dr. Bethany Walker and Dr. Bela Boda, students in Phi Alpha Theta assisted with the archival research for the exhibit. They searched for and organized articles, photographs, maps and letters that highlighted Jaegar’s life in Missouri and as a farmer. According to Dr. Walker, the students were able to use their skills as historians and in foreign language, specifically German, to provide the historical context for Jaegar’s accomplishments.
The resulting exhibit, which is half history and half plant science, will be on display at the Discovery Center in Springfield. Students also served as tour guides during the exhibit’s opening on April 8. They were available to answer questions regarding Jaegar’s life and their research.
[youTubeVideo url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnUN1he_pYQ”]