[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/anthrobook.jpg” caption=”Maciej Siarkiewicz designed the cover of Surviving the Early Years: Childhood Disease in Hamilton at the turn of the Twentieth Century. Image courtesy of Ann Herring.”]Fourth-year students in professor Ann Herring's Anthropology of Infectious Disease course have spent the past three months researching diseases that affected children in Hamilton more than 100 years ago.

Their findings have been published in a book entitled Surviving the Early Years: Childhood Diseases in Hamilton at the Turn of the Twentieth Century. A book launch will be held in Wentworth House today from noon to 2 p.m.

From research to editing to artwork, the students were involved in all aspects of publishing the book.

This is the third volume of articles Herring's students have published in the past three years. Previous books include Anatomy of a Pandemic: The 1918 Influenza in Hamilton and Before the San: Tuberculosis in Hamilton at the Turn of the Twentieth Century.

“I see their confidence blossom as they discover that they can actually write and produce an academic book,” said Herring. “I also think they learn to be proud of their work and to enjoy sharing it with a wider public.”

The students researched death records and other reports dating back to 1904-05 in Toronto and Hamilton archives.

Herring said the project has transformed her students into professional researchers who learned how to work collaboratively on a project, comment on each other's work and develop new skills.

They also learned how to “apply their anthropology training to a real project, not just an exercise,” said Herring, adding that she instilled in her students the importance of sharing their work with the Hamilton community.

The project was funded by an Academic Innovation Grant from the Experiential Education office in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Copies of the book will be provided to the archives, Hamilton Public Health offices, the Experiential Education office, the Department of Anthropology and the National Library of Canada. The students will also receive copies of the book.

The book will be available at Titles Bookstore with proceeds going to Experiential Education.