Publications:

Samantha Gibson
M.A. Archives and Public History

Samantha Gibson earned a B.A. in history (with a minor in psychology) from American University in Washington D.C. After a summer internship at the New York Historical Society, Samantha chose to pursue an M.A. at GSAS because of a unique program, which allows her to take both history and public history courses. This aligns with Samantha’s interest in discovering the most effective way to communicate history to public audiences, such as museum visitors or community members. “This requires a solid background in history and historical research, but also a certain degree of adaptability,” she says. “Public history can throw you in different directions and I think it’s important to be flexible not only in what I'm studying, but in thinking about the best ways to make a particular story, a piece of history, resonate for a given audience.”

Samantha is open to working on a range of topics and time periods; much of her research at NYU has been on free black communities in the urban North during the first half of the 19th century. After completing her degree, Samantha would like to pursue a career in public history, perhaps at one of New York City’s many museums.