Originally posted this short reflection on my LinkedIn in March 2025. Wanted to share it here because I really loved the experience and it feels very seasonal with college football on my mind. MSA 277, John F. G. Miller papers, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Sports are likely an important part of your life … Continue reading Early Collegiate Athletics at Purdue Archives

As an Indiana University transplant working at Purdue University, I know pretty distinctly that all universities have their own “culture”. It’s extracurricular, but universities spend an amazing amount of resources on building culture, whether it’s hiring a new football coach, restoring a historic building, or planting more trees on campus. Culture is the connective tissue … Continue reading Exploring Campus Culture through Archives

Few weeks ago I acquired this antique porcelain creamer depicting Purdue University’s Fowler Hall. It was imported by the Jonroth Studios for Deac’s Bookstore in West Lafayette, Indiana sometime between the 1910s and 1950s. Deac’s occupied the same building strip that Von’s Bookstore occupies today off of State Street. Funny enough, the transferring of ownership … Continue reading Purdue University and Vonnegut & Bohn

I began compiling research for this blogpost just before I accepted a full-time archivist position at Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. Three months later, I am happily settled in a new city, marking the first time I have lived away from my hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. This also marked the first time (in a … Continue reading The Neelds and the Kirby Community

Reddit post from November 22nd As a frequent browser of the subreddit r/Indiana, I often come across Redditors curious about whether or not Indiana has unique food traditions. It’s difficult to articulate what “Indiana food” is. Dishes most closely associated with the state of Indiana - namely sugar cream pie, pork tenderloins, and to a … Continue reading A Collection of Persimmon Pudding Recipes

On and off since early high school, I have hosted a radio show with my brother. Since embarking on a career in arts management and library science, I have gained an appreciation for how curating music playlists can be an excellent form of outreach, especially if it serves to highlight collections. From a local history … Continue reading American Roots Music for Halloween

In a previous post, I introduced my idea for “On-the-Go Research Guides” - a modern adaption of the traditional library research guide. These guides are intended for users who want to learn more about a specific topic when they’re on their commute, preparing meals, or on-the-go. Our access to information has expanded to an extent … Continue reading On-the-Go Research Guide: Traditions of Old-Time Fiddle Music in Indiana

IU Basketball sharpshooter, Miller Kopp Tweet, May 30th, 2023 Today, users are increasingly able to engage with information on the go. Indiana University mens basketball player, Miller Kopp tweeted earlier this summer about prioritizing learning on the go. It reminded me that users are now able to use time, usually spent commuting, meal prepping, and … Continue reading Introducing On-the-Go Research Guides

I wrote this essay in April of 2023 as a part of my final portfolio for the graduate-level course ILS Z604 Folklore Archives at Indiana University. The aim was to give an overview of how the IU Folklore Archives, a significant repository of midwestern folk culture, currently exists through various Indiana University archives. Although this … Continue reading The Current State of the IU Folklore Archives

The Utter Gerig Round Barn in Fulton County, IN, circa 1970s There are few things more closely associated with the state of Indiana than historic barns. In fact, nailing up a basketball hoop creates what some call the most popular form of Hoosier iconography. Just as we associate Indiana basketball with old-fashioned fundamentals, barns are … Continue reading A Round Barn StoryMap