The James Hearst Digital Archive (JHDA) is a digital humanities project that aims to increase access to and awareness of the work of the poet James Hearst. It combines primary source materials, bibliographic information and interpretive exhibits in a digital format. Many materials that can be accessed in the JHDA are physically archived in the Hearst Family Papers in the University of Northern Iowa's Rod Library Special Collections and University Archives, and some visual images are available in the James Hearst Photos collection on UNI Scholarworks. This project also builds upon the bibliographic study by Robert J. Ward, James Hearst: a Bibliography of His Work as well as the collection, The Complete Poetry of James Hearst, edited by Scott Cawelti.
While all of these resources are available to scholars, teachers and students, the JHDA brings them together in a digitally-accessible and searchable format. The text of all of James Hearst's published poems are part of the Poetry Listings database, which includes individual bibliographic entries. These poems can be searched by title, keyword, publication or by theme.
Interpretive exhibits offer contexts by which to understand Hearst's work and life. Recordings offer the opportunity to hear James Hearst both read his poetry and discuss it in a series of wide-ranging interviews. Scholarly writings on Hearst have also been tabulated and annotated.
The JHDA also aims to be more than a single scholarly project, however. It operates as a digital humanities lab, offering UNI students the opportunity to develop skills and create knowledge as part of their studies. In this regard, this archive is a living document that can be expected to change and evolve to meet the needs of students, scholars and teachers.