Reading Together in Marion
Connecting Legacies of Language & Literacy
During the summer of 2023, a team of six students from Ohio State Marion researched Marion’s history of literacy advocacy and support, explored present community needs, and then publicized and promoted Marion’s distinct culture of literacy to the public. “Reading Together in Marion,” seeks to highlight the history of the Marion community’s ongoing commitment to literacy. This exhibit creates a space that encourages visitors to consider how they might contribute to efforts by the university and Marion’s civic organizations to promote literacy and learning to strengthen the community.
The research team consisted of three faculty leads and six students. The faculty leads included Margaret Sumner (History), Nikole Patson (Psychology), and Ben McCorkle (English). The research team consisted of Cheyenne Anderson (English), Stephanie Karrick (Psychology), Autumn Schafer (Education), Casey Schetter (English), Sydney Schryer (History), and Abigail Smith (Psychology). The project was funded by an OSU Regional Campus Community Partnership Development Grant. Supporting partners for the project include Ohio State Marion, the Marion Women’s Club, the Marion Public Library, and Let’s Read 20.
Following the summer research project, findings were presented as part of a traveling exhibit originally on display in the Kuhn Art Gallery in August 2023, with a community reception held September 21 in the Library Classroom Building. Subsequently, the exhibit has been displayed at Logos Ministries, The Marion Public Library, and the Marion Women’s Club. A virtual version of the exhibit materials can be found below.
Introduction
Click on thumbnails below to enlarge.
Visit the main sections of the gallery in the menu links, or by clicking on the sections below:
You can also read the exhibition in its entirety as a PDF-formatted accessibility script, which can be downloaded here.
In the Media
- Additional information about the project is described in this news feature.
- Marion Public Library – “Reading in Marion” Adult Lifelong Learning course.
- “Local woman ‘making history’ at the Marion Women’s Club” (Marion Star, 9 March 2024) – Profile of Marion Women’s Club archivist Keily Cunningham and her recent work building on “Reading Together in Marion.”