Brunswick High School graduate helps curate archival exhibit at Baldwin Wallace

BRUNSWICK — Recent Brunswick High School graduate Jamie Webb helped curate an archival exhibit at Baldwin Wallace's Ritter Library before starting her freshman year as a history major at the university. Brunswick High School history teacher Colin Curtis helped connect Webb with the opportunity. Last year, she was a senior in his advanced placement European history class when she reached out regarding her interest in pursuing history as a major. Curtis' father is a research librarian at Baldwin Wallace and works with archivists on some projects. "I said, 'Baldwin Wallace has a lot of really cool artifacts that you can work with,'" Curtis said. "'I'll connect you with the archivists there and see if there's something that you can do.' They're always looking for student volunteers." Webb connected with Baldwin Wallace archivist Kieth Peppers, and she started volunteering in fall 2024 when she was in high school. Eventually, Peppers suggested putting an exhibit up. "I really like early America, and how we became a country," she said. "There was someone who went to (Baldwin Wallace) named William Kelso who actually led the rediscovery of Jamestown, the first colonial establishment. I thought it was really interesting." The exhibit was created based on Kelso, and Webb said she was taught how to do research for the project. Primary sources, articles and books that Kelso wrote were used to research his life. "For a few weeks, I went through those and collected information to create a basic timeline of his life that's on display," she said. "We found the discoveries that he made, and like half the exhibit was his discovery of Jamestown. He also worked as an archeologist at Thomas Jefferson's home, and he worked at a few other early colonial sites." Curtis said that students getting hands-on experience with what they want to do as a career is invaluable. "If you enjoy it in the moment, you understand that this is something that you want to continue to pursue and achieve, and you get to build your resume up moving forward," he said. "The fact that she was able to do this project and enjoyed it and has locked in what she wants to do, it's going to give her that drive and direction that she needs in her next four years of college." Webb said one day she wants to work for the National Archives or the Library of Congress, so it was great getting an experience like this early on. "I like all areas of history, but this area is what I really like," she said. "I enjoyed reading about it, especially about how someone who's going through my same education came out doing all these really cool things that I want to do someday with all the discoveries and the contribution to the historical community." The exhibit Webb contributed to can be viewed during regular hours at the Ritter Library on Baldwin Wallace's campus. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.