Hi, my name is Nicholas Leckey (LeH-Kee), but I do prefer ‘Nick’.
Fourth-year History student, with double minor in GRS & Archaeology, and I’m a big fan of maps & people in landscapes. Born and bred here in Ottawa, I’ve taken a more recent shine to local heritage and for solving unexplained historical anecdotes (however mundane they might turn out to be at times). I have a loving wife ( I can say that now!) that inspires and challenges me (along with putting up with my incessant historical ramblings), and a furry baby named Leelou that knows full well when it’s time to eat, cuddle, or play.
My interests are broad, with a healthy dose of geekery thrown in: video games, guitar, outdoors camping/hiking, tabletop games with friends, gardening (although difficult in an apartment), and a host of pop culture in various forms. As a random sidenote, I also have an affinity for Japanese history & culture, along with a spotted grasp of their spoken language. While French is my first language, it’s been less practical at Carleton beyond the odd opportunity.
The manuscripts look amazing as always, and I can’t wait to figure out what some of them sound like! Musical sheets! Admittedly, I decided to take this class because 1) Marc was teaching it, and 2) I would like to go beyond my hereto self-taught grasp of the Digital Humanities. I honestly believe the historical field (and much of Arts &Soc.Sc. as a whole) could benefit from some of these technological aids & tools, however difficult the learning curve may be… even for me.
My insofar conceptual graduate work will revolve around designing some kind of mobile-friendly historical database (or maybe open-sourced architecture, if I’m adventurous enough) that will help bridge (some of) the gap between Historical/Humanities research & the general public (likewise engaging both groups, in cooperation with one another). I’m still working on it…but the key is somewhere literally in the hands of the curious public.
See you in class!