As it enters its second decade of existence, the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute (FHI) is moving from its home within the John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies.
Although the institute this week opens with new quarters in the Smith Warehouse near East Campus, institute director Ian Baucom says he expects the FHI to maintain close ties with its shared namesake.
"We're all very grateful for colleagues at the Franklin Center for all the collaboration and support we've received there for the past 10 years," Baucom said. "The center has been instrumental in the life and growth of the FHI, and we look forward to continued partnership."
The FHI, a consortium of Duke centers and interdisciplinary initiatives involved in humanities scholarship, teaching and outreach, is just one of the new residents of the Smith Warehouse this semester. Other recent moves include the Duke Career Center and a unit within the provost's office working on a faculty database project. (See list below)
Smith Warehouse, Duke officials say, is convenient for students, provides space for growing programs and furthers Duke's involvement in the Durham community. Duke has restored the former Liggett tobacco warehouse and turned it into a vital space for arts, humanities, international and student-related programs.
"The primary reason for the FHI to move to Smith is it provides us space for a new humanities laboratories initiative," Baucom said. "Within the new humanities labs at Smith, we have the physical environment that will bring together teams of faculty and students to do extended research and teaching on an important topic."
An important new initiative for the FHI, the humanities labs will be modeled on collaborative discovery-driven research laboratories normally associated with the natural and medical sciences.
Baucom said the first lab, which will be launched this semester, comes out of the many efforts started by students, faculty and others in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake disaster. Co-directed by Deborah Jenson and Laurent Dubois, the Haiti Lab's classes, lectures, seminars and research activities will focus on Haiti's disaster recovery and the expansion of Haitian studies in the U.S. and Haiti, Baucom said.
The FHI expects to launch two more lab initiatives in 2011-12.
The FHI also will use some of Smith's gallery space to feature artists work related to Haiti, Baucom said. Other exhibits will highlight contemporary African-American, Caribbean and African diaspora art.
In addition, Jenson will collaborate with faculty and students in Information Science + Information Studies at Smith on building a Second Life site for the Haiti Lab.
"There are wonderful opportunities for us to sustain our emphasis on collaborative scholarship at Smith," Baucom said.
Three FHI-affiliated units, the Duke Human Rights Center, the Center for Philosophy, Arts and Literature and HASTAC, a project on humanities, new media and digital knowledge networks directed by Cathy Davidson, will join the FHI in moving to Smith.
Baucom said the FHI is carving out a signature space for itself in the warehouse.
"The FHI has long been characterized by the flow of ideas, the energy of intellectual exchange, the urgency of the questions that the participants in our seminars, conferences, workshops, lectures and colloquia have brought to it," he said. "We're looking forward to that being an ongoing hallmark of the institute as we move to Smith and continue those conversations with colleagues across the university."
One aspect of the FHI isn't changing in the move, however. Its famous Wednesdays at the Center luncheon lectures will remain at the Franklin Center.
Smith Warehouse Residents
New Arrivals
Provost's unit for Faculty Database
Career Center
Continuing Education
Franklin Humanities Institute
Other Residents
Saladelia
Facilities Management Department
Arts & Technology
Visual Studies Initiative
Library Technical Services
Cashier's Office
Provost's Office, Faculty Data Systems
Duke Visa Services
Continuing Education
SISS
Career Center
Global Education (Study Abroad)
DukeEngage
Center for Civic Engagement
Robertson Scholars
Office of Undergraduate Scholars and Fellows (OUSF)
Duke Performances
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Registrar