Every fall and spring semester, the Library delights in sharing a variety of research projects and creative works submitted by members of the Georgetown community to the Library Showcase. In Fall 2023 we highlighted 16 projects, and in spring 2024 we highlighted 11 works created using resources provided by the library or with help from library staff.
We also select a Staff Pick Award to recognize the submission that makes the best use of library resources and Voters’ Choice Awards for the projects which received the highest number of votes from the public.
The Voters’ Choice Award for Fall 2023 goes to the StoryMap Sikh American Community by Priyasha Chakravarti, COL'25. Priyasha’s work highlights the history and culture of the Sikh community in India and the United States as well as the misunderstandings about Sikhs which have led to discrimination and incidents of hate. She also shares an inspiring story of Sonny Kakar and the SevaTruck meals-on-wheels initiative which was inspired by the concept of langar (communal meals shared in at Sikh houses of worship, called Gurdwaras.
The Voters’ Choice Award for Spring 2024 goes to Ostrich, The Future of Red Meat by Laurie Batschi, CCT '26. Her fun and informative documentary on ostrich farms delves into environmentalism, regional politics, and small family businesses. We think you’ll enjoy watching the ostriches run around as the farmers try to coral them!
The Staff Pick Award for Spring 2024 went to Bill Cessato for his StoryMap which dives into the mystery of a 1906 Georgetown Medical School photograph featuring an unidentified Black man, known only as "Francis." Dr. Cessato uses archival evidence ranging from Medical School meeting minutes to a petty cash ledger, and historical research from census records and numerous newspaper articles spanning several decades to uncover clues about Francis’s identity. The investigation also examines the broader social context of the era and why it would be unusual for a person of color to be in a photo at a predominantly white institution during a time of racial exclusion.
Watch for the Fall 2024 call for submissions in December 2024!