Last summer Rachel Hiscox received a summer research grant to work with the Oregon Mission Papers. This collection, part of the University Archives, dating from the 1820’s to the 1850’s, contains three boxes of letters from missionaries.. It gives great detail and insight into the motivations, daily tasks, and personalities of these early settlers of the territory, and hints at the mindset of those who desired to enter into this Christian mission. Rachel’s work culminated in an online database. She has been invited to share her work at the prestigious Council of Undergraduate Research on the Hill in D.C. Read her comments from her first day!
Today was my first day in DC. The Council of Undergraduate Research set up some tours for us so we could enjoy some of the sights around DC. I went to the Folger Shakespeare Library. The library was fascinating and I was able to learn much about preserving rare books. I had a chat with the book curator about what it takes to become a curator at a library like that. All of the curatorial staff in thier library have a PhD in some discipline related to books, library science, history, or art history. We were allowed to view a First Folio up close, a rare priviledge.
Walking around in DC is awe insipring. The buildings are beautiful, and there is an impressive show of force right now due to the summit on Nuclear Security occuring this week. I was stopped at one point to watch motorcades of various diplomats pass by the road I was trying to cross for 20 minutes in an impressive show.
Tuesday I am meeting with legislators from Washington to discuss the importance of undergraduate research in the capitol building with other students and Tuesday night I will be presenting my research on Capitol Hill in a giant poster session. I heard a rumor that President Obama has been invited, we shall see if he attends.