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The CCRA blog is authored by Columbia undergraduate researchers, who are invited to reflect on all aspects of the research process and their own undergraduate research experiences, beginning (but not ending) with the Core.
Category Archives: The Humanities
In Defense of Dante
Students of Literature Humanities will encounter a speech in the fifth canto of Dante’s Inferno. The speaker is a woman named Francesca. She is telling Dante about how she fell in love with the man next to her, resulting in … Continue reading
Posted in courses, major research, The Core, The Humanities
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Researching in Small Archives: Tips and Advice
Today I’m here to talk about my experiences with small archives, which have been not only invaluable to my research but also some of my fondest research memories. I will first introduce these archives, explain some aspects of how they … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, Historic Sites, Libraries, major research, New York City, Senior Thesis, The Humanities, Uncategorized
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A Beginner’s Guide to Grant Proposals
A grant can provide the foundational financial support needed to launch a new initiative or revitalize an existing one. Grants range in terms of funding packages large and small and stem from a variety of sources, including state governments, city … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, Funding, major research, STEM research, Summer Research, The Humanities
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Exploring Paris through Its Archives
Archival research is already demanding enough as is, so the challenge can only mount when researching in a foreign language in a foreign archive. If you find yourself in this situation, however, fret not! In the blog post that follows, I … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, Faculty Mentors, Funding, Libraries, major research, Summer Research, The Humanities
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Visual Arts and Academics: Bringing Both Together
Deep in the tall grasses and dry underbrush of the prairies of eastern Kansas, I crouch, my grandfather’s old film camera slung over my shoulder. Trees sway with the wind blowing over the lake ahead of me, and my sister … Continue reading
Posted in Art, major research, Summer Research, The Humanities
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My HRSP (Humanities Research Scholars Program) Journey: The Fruits of a Failed Project
Okay, I might be exaggerating a little when I say that I “failed” in my research, but bear with me, and I’ll explain why I think the failure of my project was more fruitful than if it had “succeeded.” In … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, Faculty Mentors, Funding, Historic Sites, major research, Summer Research, The Humanities
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Lost in “Translation”: Reflections on Language and Research
As my six weeks with the Humanities Research Scholars Program (HRSP) began, I felt enthusiastic optimism. I knew my project was ambitious, and that it would challenge me in unexpected ways (my biceps, sore after carrying a pile of dictionaries … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, major research, New York City, Summer Research, The Humanities
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Some Parting Advice
Since this is my last post on this blog, I thought it would make sense to talk about some of the principles that guided me to this point in my college career. I am graduating with a double major in … Continue reading
Posted in major research, New York City, postgraduation plans, Senior Thesis, Summer Research, The Humanities, Writing
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My Time as a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow
The semester is ending soon, and with it, my time as an undergraduate is also coming to a close. As I reflect on my college career—four years fraught with rising climate catastrophes, a global pandemic, and escalating international conflicts—I owe … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, COVID-19, Funding, Libraries, Life, major research, postgraduation plans, The Canon, The Humanities
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Another Apology for Idlers or An Apology for Idlers in Archives
My first introduction to any kind of archive was in high school when, on a teacher’s recommendation, I visited the Prelinger Library—a small library, just one large room, and open to anyone, in the SoMa neighborhood of San Francisco, and … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, Libraries, The Humanities
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