Education
B.A. Heritage Studies, Randolph College, Lynchburg, Virginia (2012). Thesis: “Tales Dead Birds Tell: the historical and cultural context of early avian specimens in the Biology Collections of Randolph College.” PDF at: http://randolphcollege.academia.edu/EmilySmith
Poplar Forest Archaeological Field School,
Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, Forest, VA, (Summer 2013).
Preservation Institute: Nantucket (PI:N), University of Florida (2004). HABS standard survey, documentation, and assessment of historic structures and landscapes.
Research & Professional Experience
Co-Coordinator, Museum and Heritage Studies Program (Randolph College, from July 2019)
NEH Summer Institute, “Museums: Humanities in the Public Sphere” Washington DC, 2019
Instructor, Museum & Heritage Studies (B.A.) Program
Randolph College, 2017-Present
*I teach two required courses for the program: MUHS 201 Collections Management (fall semester) and MUHS 112 Natural History Collections (spring semester)
Faculty & Staff Development Team for B.A. Program in Museum & Heritage Studies
Randolph College, 2017
Collections Coordinator, Natural History & Archaeology Collections
Randolph College, 2013-Present
Field Archaeology Assistant
Hurt & Proffitt, Lynchburg, VA, 2013-2016
Curatorial Coordinator, Randolph College Department of Biology
Randolph College, 2011-2013
Architectural Survey Consultant
HistoryTech, LLC, Lynchburg, VA, 2011-2017
Historic Landscape Intern
Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, Forest, VA, 2011
Independent Research on Sydney Parkinson (1745-1771)
England & Scotland, 2006
Exhibitions
29 October 2018-1 January 2019 “Epochs of Nature: Climate, Geology, Species, Culture” (with Noah Heringman, University of Missouri)
26 January-26 May 2018 “Painting ‘Perfect Nature’: Sydney Parkinson, Scientific Illustration, and the Age of Discovery” (Randolph College Department of Biology)
Fall 2017 “Scientific Natures: Women Collectors of Natural History” (Randolph College, with Laura McManus)
January-June 2017 “Natural History, Archaeology, and Sherlock” (Randolph College Department of Biology)
22 January-12 April 2015 “Aves: Birds from the Natural History and Art Collections” (Maier Museum of Art, Randolph College, with Martha Kjeseth Johnson)
Conferences & Presentations
October 2017 UNESCO International Council on Museums–Natural History (ICOM–NatHist), Pittsburgh, PA
“Keeping ‘History’ in ‘Natural History’: Scientific Specimens as Cultural Artifacts”
May 2017 Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC), Denver, CO
“Keeping ‘History’ in ‘Natural History’: Scientific Specimens as Cultural Artifacts”
May 2015 Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC), Gainesville, FL
“Designing Interdisciplinary Collections Internships for College Students”
“Teaching with Bones: Utilizing Natural History Collections for Instruction in Bioarchaeology”
March 2014 Randolph College, Lynchburg, VA
“Natural History Collections as Resources for Interdisciplinary Studies”
March 2013 Wilson Ornithological Society, Williamsburg, VA
“Preparing and Utilizing Natural History Collections for Biodiversity Studies”
September 2012 Lynchburg Bird Club, Lynchburg, VA
“Avian Collections at Randolph College”
April 2012 Symposium of Artists & Scholars, Randolph College, Lynchburg, VA
“Tales Dead Birds Tell”
February 2012 Department of the Geographer School of Instruction, Berkeley Springs, WV
“The Cartographer’s Color-box: Artist’s materials in eighteenth-century mapmaking”
Awards & Grants
2019 Paul Mellon Centre for British Art—Research Travel Grant for project investigating artistic and aesthetic exchange among British and Tahitian artists on Endeavour voyage (1768-71)
2012 Virginia Academy of Science Grant
Small grant for the purchase of photography equipment required for the digitization of the Randolph College Natural History & Archaeology Collection catalog, in process at http://naturalhistory.go.randolphcollege.edu/ .
2012 Randolph College–Best Senior Thesis
Awarded for “Tales Dead Birds Tell: The historical and cultural context of early avian specimens in the Biology collections of Randolph College”.
2006 Gravely-Hampson Global Studies Fund
Awarded funds for independent research on Sydney Parkinson’s manuscripts and illustrations at various archives and institutions in Great Britain.
2004 Scholarship Recipient, A.J. and Lynne Coppage Land Award
Provided funding for participation in the University of Florida’s graduate-level Preservation Institute: Nantucket.
Professional Memberships
2019 American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies
2019 Society of Herbarium Curators
2015 Archaeological Institute of America
2014-Present Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections
Skills
- Writing and editing nonfiction and poetry; academic papers in a variety of formats; preparation of grant proposals.
- Knowledge of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century history, literature, and material culture (architecture, artifacts and production methods, including ceramics, glassware, forged and wire goods, woodenware, and clothing).
- Ability to identify and assess human bones at varying stages of development. Ability to identify key nonhuman animal bones and plant remains to taxonomic order/family. Basic experience in dental attrition. Basic experience in DNA extraction and sequencing.
- Familiarity with systems of taxonomy and classification, especially plants and artifacts.
- Proper handling and registration of artifacts and specimens.
- Preparation of botanical, avian, mammalian, and invertebrate specimens (herbarium sheets, study skins, osteology, pinned insects, and fluid preparations).
- Collections-based research using herbaria, zoological specimens, and fossil collections.
- Collections maintenance, including data management (Excel, card and paper files, Proficio Re:Discovery), handling of specimen loans for classroom and community use, integrated pest management, and facility reports.
- Digitization of specimens and artifacts as well as architectural and archaeological site documentation using Canon EOS Rebel (digital SLR) camera.
- Coordination of programming, exhibits, and educational outreach events, such as the annual Randolph College Science Festival.
- Planning and preparation of internships and supervision of interns and volunteer assistants in specimen preparation, curation, digitization, and outreach at the undergraduate level.
- (With faculty) Planning and implementation of departmental and division goals, curricular priorities, and programs for both humanities (Museum and Heritage Studies) and natural science (Biology) departments.
- Experience in data entry into data sharing systems, such as that used by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources for the survey and cataloging of historic sites and structures.
- Assessment of structures and landscapes for National Register placement.
- Technical rendering abilities (graphite, ink, watercolor), particularly in fields of scientific illustration and archeological and architectural rendering.
- Ability to examine and assess historical documents for period materials and techniques, including papers, inks and pigments, and printing processes.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) as well as Mac equivalents (Pages, Numbers, Keynote). Spreadsheet construction and utilization.
- Familiarity with social media, including WordPress, Facebook, and Twitter.