Columbine. Sandy Hook. Mother Emanuel. Pulse Nightclub. The history of the past two decades is littered with the names of the sites of tragedy—sites and communities torn apart by mass gun violence. Though these incidents continue to multiply, with their graphic media coverage and expansive digital footprint, public historians are just beginning to come together to assemble resources to document and preserve the complicated histories of these events.

Join us for an active day of hacking to bring the existing digital public projects on mass shootings into conversation, and to create a central place for new work. We encourage participants with all ranges of digital skill levels — expert researchers, coders, designers, and public historians working with communities touched by this type of violence. Participants with their own projects or those wishing to contribute to others are welcome. Together we will build a digital commons that provides access to as much known public history work, memorial sites, and open public data about mass shootings and their aftermath. Then, through the remainder of the conference, we will engage with a number of linked session related to mass shootings and gun violence to form a lasting virtual community around this work. 

Workshop fees will go towards long-term hosting costs for the digital commons. 

Facilitators: Joanna Federico 
Lara Kelland, University of Louisville
Sharon Leon, Michigan State University
Ashley Maynor, New York University