HCA Develops Next Generation of Researchers
The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs (HCA) welcomed seven students from a variety of colleges and universities into its 2026 internship program. The program provides students with opportunities to train alongside experienced professionals and to work at various historic sites, giving them real-world experience in their respective chosen fields. As the students return to their academic programs this month, HCA remains proud to have invested in this next generation of researchers, anthropologists and historians.
Mamie Barrett, history major, University of Delaware, is working with the New Castle Court House to conduct research into those enslaved people who lived in the historic district from the late 1700’s to the mid 1800’s. Mamie will use various databases, adding to the collective archive any new information regarding previously enslaved individuals from the area. Mamie will also assist with site tours and special events.
Maura Brophy, anthropology major, University of Delaware, is interning at HCA’s Center for Material Culture (CMC), that holds the HCA collections, to gain hands-on experience with the processing and cataloging of archaeological museum collections. This includes artifact washing, analysis of and research on archaeological materials, digital cataloging, and proper labeling and storage of archaeological artifacts. Her role also includes involvement in the accessioning process, the practice of loaning museum objects to other institutions, and the development of a Collections Management Policy.
Ry Ferguson, anthropology and museum studies major at University of Delaware, is working on rehabilitating a large volume of archaeological materials that had been stored in a former curatorial facility, working with HCA staff to appropriately re-house artifacts for storage, and to organize and preserve documentation associated with the original move of the materials. Ry also assists the Archaeology Curator in resolving issues with accessioning, or loaning artifacts, and the intellectual control of materials; properly processing, cleaning, cataloging, and labeling collections.
Kaliyah Gordon, studio art major, Delaware State University, works with the Center for Material Culture team to align the catalog records for accession, the Charles Parks Collection, with the files taken from Parks’ workshop at the time of the collections’ transfer to the State of Delaware. Kaliyah’s internship work will help HCA to sort and catalogue the original artist paperwork, providing context to this collection and making it more accessible to researchers in the future.
Erin Long, anthropology and history major, Purdue University in Indiana, is working with Cooch’s Bridge to study historic artifacts recovered from the site, such as reviewing and transcribing, or recording for the purposes of analysis, selections from the cookbook discovered there. This project affords Erin the opportunity to interact with and interpret primary historic source material. Erin is working to identify modern adaptions of her transcribed content that may be subsequently used for public education and outreach.
Caelynn Rees-Jorgensen, archaeology and history major, Sweet Briar College in Virginia, is working at HCA’s Center for Material Culture on a large collection re-housing and documentation project, under the supervision of HCA’s Curator of Archaeology. The goal of this project is to rehabilitate a large volume of archaeological materials that had been stored in a former curatorial facility.
Owen Twardus, history major, Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, works with the State Historic Preservation Office, at the Historic Property Research Center, preparing photographic materials and other records for digitization and/or for transfer to the Delaware Public Archives; organizing cultural resource survey files, identifying missing information; and updating research guides, such as the list of available historic maps and atlases in both paper and digital formats.
If you are interested in learning more about interning or volunteering for HCA, you can find more information at https://history.delaware.gov/volunteers/ or email our Volunteer Services Coordinator at HCAVolunteer@delaware.gov.