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megsmith.bsky.social
dr. meg smith
@megsmith.bsky.social
2.3K followers 1.9K following 960 posts
• Interim Director & Research Asst Prof of Digital Humanities at @siueiris.bsky.social
• Medieval/early modern Irish historian
• Public transit enthusiast & urban cyclist
• Die-hard Packers fan
• Avid quilter/xstitcher
• Margaret, not Megan
• She/her
• STL
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megsmith.bsky.social
dr. meg smith @megsmith.bsky.social · Jan 1
How it started, how it’s going, #DigitalHumanities style
A screenshot of my Bluesky profile, where my bio shows that I am research assistant professor of digital humanities at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s IRIS Center A screenshot of my Bluesky profile with the “profile updated” badge, where my bio now shows that I am research assistant professor of digital humanities and interim director of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s IRIS Center
megsmith.bsky.social
This idea has been rattling around my head for a while. I have a deep fondness for Canadian geese, and their brash, unapologetic defense of the vulnerable among them feels like the right brand of hope for this moment. Eventually I’ll stitch down the edges and finish as a wall hanging. #DHMakes
An appliqué quilt block, approximately 11x14 inches. It features an angry, honking Canadian goose and some lily pads, with the text “Hope is the thing with feathers,” a line from an Emily Dickinson poem.
February 7, 2026 at 9:50 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
💌Mail day💌

I’ve got 150 of these suckers, and I’m willing to share. Big ups to the Ink Spot, a local union print shop that printed these same day for me! #StLouis #STL #stlwx
A big stack of postcards fresh from the printer. The front has the snow clearance ordinance for the city of St. Louis. The back has the postcard address section and a message explaining that clearing sidewalks is an ethical and legal obligation.
January 30, 2026 at 2:39 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
I just put in an order for 150 postcards with the snow-clearing ordinance to send to local businesses. No more hiding behind feigned ignorance! #StLouis #STL #stlwx
The front of a postcard I designed to share St. Louis’s snow-clearing ordinance: REVISED CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS 11.18.210 - SNOW REMOVAL. After any fall of snow, owners, managers, agents or occupiers of any premises shall cause the snow to be immediately removed from the improved area of the sidewalk in the public street adjacent to such premises, and the improved area of the sidewalk shall also be kept clear of ice at all times. If no part of the sidewalk area be improved, then a lane five feet wide in the sidewalk area shall be kept free from snow and ice at all times. Where structures contain six or more units, it shall be the duty of the owner or agent of the owner to comply with this provision. Where structures contain between one and six units, it shall be the duty of the person occupying the units nearest the public street, as well as the owner or agent of the owner, involved to comply with the requirements of this section. (1960 C., § 805.210; 1994 C., § 11.18.210; Ord. No. 56726, § 1(part), 1974.) The back of a postcard I designed, with a friendly (maybe slightly passive aggressive) message to businesses: Hi neighbor! In the city of St. Louis, it's the responsibility of the property owner to clear the sidewalk of snow - the whole sidewalk. That's a legal obligation, and it's also an act of care for your customers and neighbors. Unmaintained sidewalks are a serious hazard, especially as snow becomes ice. Thanks for keeping the community safe, comfortable, and functional!
January 29, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Reposted by dr. meg smith
mikevachow.bsky.social
Sidewalks untreated at the Clayton Rd/Lindbergh Schnucks, bus stop there on Lindbergh where many Schnucks workers arrive/depart. A very narrow sidewalk piled with icy, craggy snow thrown from plows. A pedestrian who tried to walk on this stuff risks slipping into 40mph traffic.
January 28, 2026 at 11:10 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
An infuriating call with Walgreens, who maintain it's the city's job to clear sidewalks, has driven me to LinkedIn. Gotta fight fire (corporate neglect) with fire (the most cursed, corporate platform).

Here's the relevant code, in case anyone else wants to be a nuisance. #StLouis #STL #stlwx
A LinkedIn post. At the end, I've added local hashtags and tagged in local news outlets. In the City of St. Louis, it's the legal responsibility of property owners to clear the sidewalks of snow. But every company that plows their parking lot while neglecting their sidewalks is not only flouting their legal obligation. They are sending a clear message about which of their customers and neighbors they deem worthy of care and access. Last night, as I traipsed through the snow to pick up some prescriptions, I encountered business after business that has paid for their parking lots and driveways to be plowed, while leaving their sidewalks covered in 9 inches and more of snow. Back in December, when our first big snow hit, I contacted Walgreens corporate to let them know that this is a recurring issue at their Hampton and Chippewa store. During last year's prolonged winter weather, that store allowed nearly a foot of ice to accumulate on their sidewalks. This year, they're on track to do the same. When I called the store this morning to ask when they'll be addressing the issue, the manager repeatedly (and incorrectly) told me that's the city's job. Target told me the same. Unmaintained sidewalks impact access to these businesses, and choices about snow removal make starkly visible which customers they value. But the impacts far exceed the stores' customer bases. These businesses occupy valuable property at a high-volume intersection, crossed by multiple bus lines and providing pedestrian access to key resources. This failure is a tangible manifestation of their extractive relationship with the communities that host them. It doesn't have to be this way. Take a look at the pristine sidewalks surrounding the businesses right next door to that Walgreens. That strip is owned by a local real estate management company, who had their walks cleared by the morning following the storm. (Thanks, AHRA (AH Realty Advisors)!) Infrastructure and accountability are acts of care.
January 27, 2026 at 5:31 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
Every company that plows their parking lot while neglecting their sidewalks is not only flouting their legal obligation. They are sending a clear message about which of their customers and neighbors they deem worthy of care and access. Looking at you, Walgreens and Target. #StLouis #stl #stlwx
A sidewalk on Chippewa outside Target, covered in 9 inches of snow. It’s been heavily trafficked by pedestrians. A sidewalk on Hampton outside Walgreens with a bus shelter, covered in 9 inches of snow. It’s been heavily trafficked by pedestrians. A sidewalk off Hampton outside Walgreens, covered in 9 inches of snow.
January 27, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Reposted by dr. meg smith
quinnanya.me
And don't talk to me about "who's paying", jerks -- you eliminated the entire program area that funded so much of my field in this country (RIP NEH Office of Digital Humanities) and laid off all our program officers. You think we're just going to give up and go home? #DHmakes
January 26, 2026 at 6:41 AM
megsmith.bsky.social
New scam journal alert for #DigitalHumanities! Digital Humanities and Society Studies - not just predatory, but fully AI-generated with fake authors (or in at least one case, a recognizably stolen name). The publisher's been flagged before as being shady, but this journal is particularly egregious.
Volume 1 Number 1 (2025) Digital Humanities and Society Studies(dhss)
Volume 1 Number 1 (2025) Digital Humanities and Society Studies(dhss) at AUAC indexed 8 papers online with experts all over the world, Get more your major in Translational Medicine field.
ojs.ukscip.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:43 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
The hardest part of bringing baked goods to work is not forgetting them on the way out the door. The second hardest part is maintaining structural integrity on a 2-hour, 3-connection transit commute. Thoughts and prayers for my honey cake…
A large Tupperware bowl, flipped upside down to contain a cake on the lid. It’s sitting in my lap on a bus. Inside the Tupperware is a round cake frosted wih honey whipped cream, with a crumb coat on top.
January 20, 2026 at 1:44 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
Well this is fucking bleak.
January 16, 2026 at 4:18 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
Daycare gave us a spare copy of Ada’s Christmas card this morning, where she is doing her best impression of an ASPCA commercial. So belated merry Christmas from Ada, everyone. I promise she’s spoiled rotten and very happy.
A Christmas card from Ada, a grey and white dog with (in this picture, at least) sad, droopy ears and mournful eyes. She’s wearing a cheerful and festive red bandanna.
January 16, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by dr. meg smith
siueiris.bsky.social
Join us for a series of workshops on teaching and researching with digital tools! The IRIS Center Morning Bytes series offers hands-on tutorials, activities and lesson plans, and spotlights on ongoing digital humanities projects. #DigitalHumanities
A flyer for a workshop series in the IRIS Center at SIUE: Interactive Storytelling with the Scrolly Story Generator Meg Smith and Dan Schreiber (IRIS Center) Jan. 23, 10:00-11:00, Center for Faculty Development and Innovation (Lovejoy Library, 3rd floor) Teaching with Leaflet Storymaps Laura Fowler (History) Feb. 13, 10:00-11:00, Center for Faculty Development and Innovation Digital Publishing with Manifold Meg Smith and Dan Schreiber (IRIS Center) Mar. 20, 10:00-11:00, Center for Faculty Development and Innovation “Beautiful Dreams of the Past”: Building a Digital Edition Kezia Miller (English) Apr. 17, 10:00-11:00, Center for Faculty Development and Innovation
January 14, 2026 at 11:01 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
🤩 Thanks again to @literaturegeek.bsky.social for immortalizing this line from the NEH wake session at ACH. If I have a scholarly motto, this is it — infrastructure is mutual obligation and mutual benefit. #DigitalHumanities #DHMakes
A framed print that reads “Infrastructure is something we owe to one another. - Meg Smith” Made by Amanda Wyatt Visconti! It’s printed in a beautiful pink-blue gradient.
January 14, 2026 at 2:13 AM
megsmith.bsky.social
RIP Packers postseason, but I’m still celebrating Wisconsin.

Quick little pre-semester make, the Hello Wisconsin pillow from Crimson Tate.
A quilted pillow in the shape of Wisconsin. The pattern is rectangles in three fabric prints: gray squirrels, blue moose and trees, and tan hiking symbols
January 11, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by dr. meg smith
charleswlogan.bsky.social
I took Tucker’s piece as an inspiration for my own post for the Civics of Technology and applying the Baldwin Test to investigate claims about educational technology:
Applying the Baldwin Test to Ed-Tech — Civics of Technology
In this post, Charles Logan argues that educators can apply the Baldwin Test to Ed-Tech.
www.civicsoftechnology.org
January 7, 2026 at 2:58 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
Hey academic podcasters, any best practices for including references? I’ve seen reference lists in episode descriptions and companion websites. Are there other alternatives? What’s worked best for you? #AcademicSky #podcast
January 7, 2026 at 2:48 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
We swapped out a sofa for a loveseat, and we may have achieved too much proximity. Maybe a good bonding opportunity? Or possibly an ignition point — time will tell
A gray and white cat glares at a gray dog, both lying on a loveseat A gray and white car recoils at the presence of a gray dog on the same loveseat as her. A human hand offers a symbolic boundary between the two
January 7, 2026 at 3:48 AM
Reposted by dr. meg smith
siueiris.bsky.social
ICYMI: Check out this @jitp.bsky.social article for assignments and activities that use small data sets to engage students with critical data literacies and place-based research. These are quick bloom-and-fade activities that are easy to build into a syllabus! #DigitalHumanities
siueiris.bsky.social IRIS Center for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences @siueiris.bsky.social · Dec 23
It’s publication day! Check out this new piece from @megsmith.bsky.social and Laura Milsk Fowler on #DigitalHumanities pedagogy. Meg and Laura offer bite-sized but powerful classroom activities that teach humanistic approaches to data and build tech skills and confidence to tackle larger projects.
Small Data for Maximal Effect: Integrating Digital Humanities, Digital Ethics, and Pedagogy across a College Curriculum | Small Data for Maximal Effect: Integrating Digital Humanities, Digital Ethics,...
by Margaret K. Smith and Laura Milsk Fowler
cuny.manifoldapp.org
January 5, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by dr. meg smith
jamescummings.bsky.social
#DH Awards 2025 nominations open until 2026-02-27. What #DigitalHumanities resources updated in 2025 do you think deserve recognition of some sort?

Nomination categories at:

dhawards.org/dhawards2025...
DH Awards 2025 – Call For Nominations | Digital Humanities Awards
dhawards.org
January 1, 2026 at 1:06 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
Much as I’d like to think that I’m Kathleen Kelly in You’ve Got Mail, I’m comfortable enough to admit I’m really Frank.
Screenshot of Frank and Kathleen from You’ve Got Mail. They’re at the party where Kathleen first discovers that Joe is, in fact, Joe Fox, big box bookstore villain. Dialogue: Have you ever thought about doing a book? It's crossed my mind, I mean, something relevant for today, like the Luddite movement in 19th century England or something, we should talk.
January 1, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Reposted by dr. meg smith
jeffreyinsko.bsky.social
Everybody's going to be reposting this. As they should.

"Privately funded educational technology is a threat to the very idea of public education."
The ‘Crisis of the Humanities’ Is Over. That’s Not a Good Thing.
All of higher ed now suffers the attacks of politics and technology.
www.chronicle.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:38 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
snoot shelf
A black German shepherd sits curled up in a chair with her face resting on the narrow wooden arm
December 28, 2025 at 4:18 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
Professional snoops
A guitar in its case lying open on the floor. Two black dogs sniff the velvet lining of the case
December 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
megsmith.bsky.social
Already watched Knives Out and jonesing for more murder, hellfire and brimstone, and possible revenants? Well! 125 years ago today, William Le Queux published "The Mystery of Montmartre" in @stltoday.com. I threw together a little edition for the Christmas ghost story crowd.

#DigitalHumanities
The Mystery of Montmartre
Ghost stories were a mainstay of holiday entertainment at the turn of the 20th century. This tale, written by William Le Queux and published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on December 23, 1900, sets a...
msmith0913.github.io
December 23, 2025 at 10:58 PM