Life of a Public History Intern

Hi,

I am Katy, a senior at Western Michigan University studying Public History with a minor in Anthropology! I have always been interested in history and wanted to study it more since the sixth grade. I have a couple fields of interest; the 1700s and 1800s being my top two favorite time periods, with the 1920s being a close third. I like finding out the stories behind the artifacts and more about the people who created or used them. The lives of ordinary people, not the rich and famous, interest me more as their stories are not always told or valued. I also have an interest in early hominins and the evolution process over time. My favorite species being the Homo floresiensis, which was found on the island of Flores. The species was nicknamed the “hobbit” due to its short stature, which had been affected by island dwarfism which I think is kind of cool. 

If you can’t tell, I love learning new things and I am beyond excited to experience the archaeology field school at Fort St. Joseph this summer. I started getting interested in the field school and Project through my Intro to Archaeology class on campus with Erika Hartley. I recently began an internship with her through the Niles History Center in the beginning of summer to further my knowledge in the Archaeology/Anthropology field, and further my knowledge upon the artifacts found at the Fort St. Joseph site. I have been helping with the artifact inventory process in Niles and on campus at WMU. My favorite collection so far are the shell beads, as they have a more unique look. I have visited Niles, Michigan many times and have enjoyed seeing the Niles History Center and some of the artifacts that were discovered at the site. I am very excited to begin working with everyone in the field school and bring to light more stories about the people who inhabited the area. 

Some things I like to do outside of school are reading, being outside, gaming, spending time with friends, and spending time with my little brother Joseph. Fun fact about me is that my brother is 11 months old, and I am 21! He is the sweetest little baby and is fun to chase around the house. After I graduate in the fall, I plan on applying to the Henry Ford Museum, as I have always loved the exhibits and the environment there. 

I am looking forward to having a great summer and to meeting everyone and working onsite!  

Katy