History students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are helping Alabama Heritage magazine share important stories about Alabama’s history.

This past spring, 17 students in Kaye Nail’s HY 225 “History of Alabama” course published blogs on the Alabama Heritage website. Students identified topics that interested them, with an emphasis on stories that have not been prominently featured on the site in the past.

"Alabama Heritage enjoys working with young scholars, helping them find out more about certain historical topics from our state or even uncovering hidden gems that have not been fully researched in years past," said Alabama Heritage Director Rebecca Todd Minder.

The students researched and wrote about a wide range of subjects, including The Battle of Mabilia, Admiral Fran McKee, the Coosa River, and more. You can visit the blog to view all of the stories (the student-authored pieces run from May 6 – May 17).

“They thoroughly researched, wrote about, and edited their articles to be considered for publication,” said Nail. “Thanks to the wonderful relationship with the hardworking team at Alabama Heritage magazine, 17 students were chosen for blog publication. UAB history students never cease to amaze me with their creative and thought-provoking research topics.”

UAB’s Department of History provides students with opportunities to work alongside community organizations to facilitate hands-on public history projects and educate the general public about the past. You can learn more about the department’s emphasis on public history—including a new undergraduate certificate—by visiting its website.