Hidden Histories Research Team

Hidden Histories is a groundbreaking research project exploring the application of computational methods to the humanities from 1949 to the present. Through conducting, collecting, and disseminating interviews with pioneering scholars and practitioners, we illuminate the foundational period of what we now know as digital humanities.

The project's origins trace back to 1949, when Roberto Busa envisioned an index variorum of approximately 11 million words of medieval Latin in Thomas Aquinas's works. While recent years have seen increased attention to the history of computing in humanities, many aspects remain unexplored.

By gathering and preserving vital sources, we investigate the social, intellectual, and cultural context that shaped early computing applications in humanities. Our interdisciplinary methodology combines oral history, digital humanities, and cultural studies to capture crucial memories and insights often absent from traditional scholarly literature.