Hamburgers for Breakfast: A Student Exhibit on Food and Community at Eastern Michigan University

Abstract

This article relates the research, development, and implementation of a graduate student seminar that reflected professional exhibition practice in creating an exhibit on food history at Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, Mich.). Students explored the role of food-related issues in connecting a community and university over several decades, discovering how the community has assisted students’ food acquisition challenges. The students also contributed to addressing their community’s food challenges. This discussion also describes the critical role of oral histories served in documenting little-known stories and students’ efforts in ensuring the exhibit was visually compelling.