The Gail Project is a collaborative, international public history project that explores the founding years of the American military occupation of the Japanese island of Okinawa during World War II. The project is inspired by a collection of photos taken in Okinawa in 1952 by American Army Captain Charles Eugene Gail. The photos were generously donated to Special Collections at McHenry Library by Gail’s daughter, Geri Gail, and have since been made available for student research.
Our team of faculty, artists, and undergraduate students at UC Santa Cruz is developing a traveling exhibition of Gail’s photographs with an accompanying digital archive that is comprised of the photos, key texts and documents, and oral histories from both American and Okinawan voices, as well as undergraduate student research and writing. We believe that using the photographs as a lens through which to view this crucial time is relevant to populations throughout Okinawa, the United States, and the entire Pacific region, and we aim to establish a dialogue by shedding light on both historical and contemporary issues.
The project emphasizes hands-on research and creation of content by undergraduate students and serves as an innovative platform for new educational methods that encourage the use of multimedia, social media, archival research, and travel.
Linda Peterson has stepped forward and will be matching gifts 1:1 up to $5,000 today. Make the most of Giving Day and double your impact on the Gail Project!
Starting now: $5,000—Mad Dash Evening Challenge. Project with the most donors from 6–8 p.m. wins the bonus. GO! #ucsc #gameonucsc
Pop-up at Mission Hill Creamery til 7 p.m.! Head downtown for some Banana Slug ice cream and get your game on. #ucsc #gameonucsc
