In spring 2001, Cecilia O'Leary, Associate Professor of History at California State University, Monterey Bay and students from her course "California at the Crossroads" entered into an innovative partnership with Monterey History and Art Association. Students engaged in the kind of research historians undertake, directly contributing to the construction of historical knowledge and local history. The class researched Cannery Row's past in general, and conducted numerous oral histories in order to identify the people and scenes exhibited in the "Sites and Citizens" photography exhibit sponsored by Monterey History and Art at the Monterey Maritime Museum.

    The "Sites and Citizens" exhibit featured Robert Lewis' photographs of Cannery Row from 1957 to 1958. The exhibit brochure invited community involvement:

    Interactive exhibits are very popular today. They allow visitors to become active participants in the exhibits, rather than just passive observers. This exhibit, 'Sites and Citizens,' takes this concept one step further. WITHOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION THERE WILL BE NO EXHIBIT! Although the photographs are beautiful to look at and evocative of a special time in Monterey's history, a critical component of this show is to IDENTIFY these scenes. These men and women all had names, families, stories and identities; these buildings housed canneries, restaurants, shops, and businesses. We need you to help us tell their stories.