Twenty-Third International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

The Alliance Colony, located in Pittsgrove Township, Salem County, New Jersey, was an agricultural community formed by Jewish families fleeing oppression and violence in the Russian Empire. Established in 1882 by 43 original families, Alliance was considered the first successful Jewish farming village in the United States. The theme of this study is connecting the narrative of the Alliance Colony as part of a broad history and consideration of immigration and agriculture in New Jersey through the digital humanities. This program includes an interactive presentation of the newly created Alliance Heritage Center digital museum and showcases the interactive ways we’ve brought the history of Jewish agricultural communities in New Jersey to life. The museum includes an interactive timeline, historic photograph collections, virtual exhibits, artifacts, oral histories, and much more.