Richard Veit, Ph.D., provost and professor of history and anthropology, has co-edited, “Monuments and Memory: Archaeological Perspectives on Commemoration” (University Press of Florida, 2025), a volume examining the cultural, political, and historical contexts of public monuments. Co-edited with John H. Jameson and Sherene Baugher, the book provides a multidisciplinary analysis of how monuments shape collective memory and reflect broader societal dynamics.
The volume includes a chapter authored by Melissa Ziobro ’04 ’07M, curator of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, adjunct professor, and director of public history at Monmouth University. Her contribution, “‘Be Assured That… All… Memorials Will Be Kept Sacred and Beautiful’: The Life Cycle of Memorials at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey,” delves into the evolving legacy of local military monuments, and draws upon her experience as the last command historian of the Fort.
“Monuments and Memory” addresses pressing questions about whose histories monuments preserve, whose voices they silence, and how current movements for more inclusive narratives intersect with heritage preservation. Covering topics from Revolutionary War memorials to monuments linked to the Korean War, the book fosters critical reflection on public commemorative practices.
Published as part of the Cultural Heritage Studies series edited by Katherine Hayes, the volume is available for pre-order and will be released in hardcover on Jan. 14.