University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Magazine Spring 2021 | Page 12

Student Historians In Residence : A Closer Look

By Jessica Sayer

Administrative Assistant to the Vice Provost

Each year , the University Archives ’ Student Historians take on amazing research projects , and this year is no different !

Sophia Abrams ( top left ), a junior studying Journalism and Afro-American Studies , settled on an oral history project about Black artists ’ experiences on campus . Inspired by the State Street murals , she hopes to investigate the intersection of Blackness and art .

T . J . Braxton ( bottom left ), a Political Science and Afro-American Studies major , started researching the UW – Madison Department of Afro-American Studies and became intrigued by references to The Madison Plan and Plan 2008 , which led him to his ultimate topic , UW – Madison ’ s three diversity initiatives : The Madison Plan , Plan 2008 , and the R . E . E . L . Model for Diversity & Inclusion .

Since 2018 , four undergraduate students have had the opportunity to participate in the Student Historian in Residence program . Focused on uncovering stories from traditionally marginalized communities on campus , this program simultaneously helps Archives expand their collections to include underrepresented histories while also giving undergraduate students valuable experience conducting original archival research .

12 | Libraries Spring 2021