Beyond Conflicting Portrayals to Facts in Time and Space

1. Beyond Conflicting Portrayals to Facts in Time and Space Robert Haug, Ann Larimore, and Sandra Arlinghaus University of Michigan SSHA Conference, Nov. 13, 2003

2. Purposes • Provide a web-based methodology for moving beyond impasses in conflicts. • Analyze the dynamics of a developing conflict. • Quickly access significant information through linkages between source documents. • Ascertain communalities and differences in stakeholder groups’ accounts, as well as gaps, discrepancies, ambiguities, and uncertainties in the data. • Provide the framework of a digital archiving program. • Automation of existing “pen and paper” methodology. • Can be applied to numerous case studies.

3. DocuMap • Allow users to search a digital collection of primary source documents through events, players, time, and location. • Create a web-like network around each document based on each set of attributes. • Search across multiple scales of both time and space.

4. Purchase of 30 gallons of wine and 6 iron bound kegs, Meriwether Lewis and David Jackson, June 1, 1803, Philadelphia, PA. Document taken from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Web Site.

5. Design • Three major interlinked components: • A database storing scans of primary source documents and attributes of the documents • An interactive GIS of locations and areas related to the documents • A calibrated time-line visible at multiple scales • A fourth component derived from the other three: • A master narrative drawn from the primary source documents and organized around attribute data.

6. Design, cont.: • Interface residing on a public web site. • The general public can search the archives, view documents, and perform analysis on the documents. • Users may be granted permission to upload documents with the necessary metadata and attribute data. • Initially focused on handling a single case study. • Ability to link between documents within case study also gives ability to link between seemingly unrelated documents from numerous case studies.

7. Difficulties in Implementing • Permanency: Potential to be in a constant state of change. • Monitoring the potentially constant upload of data. • Protection against the insertion of faulty or falsified documents. • Protection against the insertion of faulty or falsified metadata or attribute data. • Hackers looking to sabotage the project. • Parties with a politically/emotionally motivated plan to distort the narrative. • Displaying documents without any kind of historical context.

8. Possible Solutions for Case Study Use • Maintain the format of the shell. • Alter the user privileges. • Search and basic analysis functions open to the public. • Data entry performed quarterly by small (5-7 person) collaborative case study teams.

9. Three Month Iterations • First Month: Data collection, case study team brings forward any documents they would like to include. • Second Month: The insertion of all metadata and attribute data into the master database and the creation of accompanying base maps for the GIS component and calibrated time-lines. • Third Month: Case study team collaborates in writing a master narrative.

10. Stipulations for Contributors • Provide primary source documents ready to be scanned into a digital format. • Documentation for each document, both metadata and attribute data about events, players, time, and location related to the document. • Provide a paragraph or two describing each document, including an explanation of the author, the conditions under which the document was produced, its audience, and the reason for its creation. • Participate in the writing of the master narrative for their case study.

11. Stipulations for Case Study Teams • Host case study web site linked to central DocuMap repository including: • Searchable repository of documents used in specific case study. • Interactive GIS of case study area. • Calibrated time-lines. • Master narrative.