Posted on No Comments on Student Spotlight : Kylie Nelson

Student Spotlight : Kylie Nelson

Kylie Nelson (she/her)

Track: Archives

Areas of historical interest: American history – 20th century political history, urban history, animal history

Kylie is from Boston and graduated from Boston University in the Spring with a Bachelor of Arts in History. She lives with her family, including her dog and best buddy Nash. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, knitting, baking, and photography. Kylie also collects antiques, such as suitcases, typewriters, and cameras.

Favorite historical story: Kylie’s favorite story follows the theme of American history and sprinkles in the adventures of pirates. Future president Andrew Jackson, ridden with dysentery and becoming desperate, begrudgingly accepted the assistance of the pirate Jean Laffite. It helped him succeed in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, which essentially became his claim to fame.

Nash
Posted on No Comments on Student Spotlight : Meghan Arends

Student Spotlight : Meghan Arends

Meghan Arends (she/her)

Track: Public History

Areas of historical interest: Women’s history, 20th Century  

Meghan is from East Michigan, but currently lives in Dorchester, right by the UMass campus. She graduated from Grand Valley State University in Michigan in the Spring, where she received her Bachelor of Science in History with a minor in English. Meghan has always had dogs, and has two special pups, Lucy, a chocolate lab, and Bailey, a border collie/ lab mix back home. In her limited free time she enjoys watching movies, especially historical dramas, binge watching TV shows, and baking.

Favorite historical story: A piece of local Michigan history: In the 19th century, a man named James Strang claimed he was appointed the successor to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Joseph Smith. His faction was classified as the “Strangite” to distinguish it as the Latter Day Saint movement divided. Strang then moved his followers to Beaver Island, a small, relatively inaccessible island in Michigan, and declared himself king under an ecclesiastical monarchy that he established there, despite there having already been Irish immigrants populating the island.  

Lucy and Bailey