PRESS CONTACT:
Luke Perkins, Manager of Communications and Public Relations
303.866.3670 | luke.perkins@state.co.us

“We’ve been widening our aperture over the last several years to be really thoughtful about how the State Historian’s Council can be intentionally drawn from a wide array of communities and disciplines,” said Jason Hanson, History Colorado’s chief creative officer and deputy state historian. “The diversity of ideas and perspectives this provides helps us truly meet the challenges of the future while also expanding our understanding of the past.”

Invited to join the State Historian’s Council in 2022, Dr. Garcia has been professor at Colorado College for more than three decades and brings a fresh focus on Black history, as portrayed through literature, to the State Historian role. Of particular interest to Dr. Garcia are the experiences of women of the Black Atlantic in the beginning of the twentieth century, a subject she has explored in publications, conference presentations, and academic classrooms.

“As an interdisciplinary scholar whose focus is on untold or underappreciated writing by Black women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, I look forward to bringing new frameworks and conversations to our understandings of Coloradoans’ lived experiences and historical narratives,” said Dr. Garcia. “Stepping into this role – which has been around for 100 years – provides me a chance to show how much our state has changed and reemphasize the importance of well researched, engaging, and accessible public history to building successful and inclusive democracies.”

During her term as State Historian, Dr. Garcia will continue to serve as an ambassador of Colorado's history and a resource for Coloradans who want to explore more fully how we got to now. Additionally, in 2024 History Colorado will mark the 100th anniversary of the State Historian position, which was created in 1924 to work with Colorado State Historical Society to preserve, interpret, and share Colorado’s past.

“It has been a great privilege to serve the people of Colorado as State Historian this year and to work alongside them to ‘do’ history together,” said Dr. Orsi. “My time in this position has given me an incredible chance to meet so many passionate and remarkable individuals and join them in an effort to preserve stories that matter to all types of Coloradans.” 

Orsi said included amongst the many highlights of his term were meeting people like Judge Gary Jackson – who is leading efforts to preserve the history of Lincoln Hills– and Dr. Terri Bissonette at American Indian Academy of Denver – who is teaching Indigenous children about their heritage and empowering them to work with state parks to interpret Native history.

“So many people are doing such wonderful things, and I’m gratified that they’ve invited me to be a small part of their efforts,” Dr. Orsi said. “As my time as State Historian comes to a close, I’m excited to pass the baton to Colorado College’s Dr. Claire Oberon Garcia and I look forward to exploring the exciting places she takes us this year.”  

Meet Dr. Claire Oberon Garcia
Dr. Garcia’s goal as the State Historian is to promote more inclusive historical programing and exhibitions rather than to be the definitive authority of the historical record of the Centennial State. During her term, she hopes to explore how Colorado has influenced the broader world, also how the world has influenced our state.

“If we limit our understanding of history to our geographical borders we are really undermining our ability to fully understand the entirety of our shared history,” Dr. Garcia said. “The unique alchemy that makes us Coloradans does not end at the borders of the Centennial State, and the influence we have on the world certainly crosses arbitrary borders created by humans.”

Dr. Garcia shared the following vision and goals for her new role, while answering the following questions:

What do you consider to be a significant moment in Colorado history and why?
Of course, there are many, many significant moments in Colorado’s long and rich history that resonate today. Though it was not one moment, but rather several events and policy decisions, I would say the violent, dishonest and inhumane treatment of the indigenous peoples who were on this land before people of European descent took power and laid claim to the space that became the state of Colorado is of particular significance. 

When I read our state motto – Nil Sine Numine, which is translated as “Nothing without Providence,” – I am saddened and angered by the arrogance behind the claims that higher powers supported and endorsed the cruel and disrespectful treatment of Native and other peoples. I am also inspired to be a part of creating a vision of what a state committed to a truly multicultural democracy would look like. It’s important to learn from shared history and I’m proud to be part of efforts to expand our knowledge of the lived experiences of all of the peoples and cultures that have made and continue to make our state what it is today.

During your term as State Historian how do you plan to impact historical inquiry practices?
Given my interest in the African diaspora and my transnational and interdisciplinary work, I’m interested in looking at Colorado history and cultures in broader contexts. I loved the History Colorado exhibit Colorado’s Asian Food Culture: Rice and Resilience, which was the result of a collaboration between the Japanese Arts Network and the Asian Pacific Islander community here in Colorado. It exemplified the possibilities of looking at Colorado cultures and experiences in a diasporic framework. I would like to encourage people to look at the particularities of Colorado experiences in connection to larger social trends, movements, and policies.

What are some of your focuses for the coming year?
I’ve been thinking about the possibilities and challenges of multicultural democracies in light of our own country’s increasing polarization. I’d like to build on the conversation we started at a History Colorado and Colorado Chautauqua collaboration where we brought in experts in Latin American, European, and Indian democracies for a comparative view. I’m excited about how I might support the Blaxplanation series, which aims to ‘explore the stories of Colorado’s Black diaspora—outside the context of slavery—with national or international impact.’ I’m also looking forward to supporting History Colorado’s continuing work to advocate for the importance of learning about history in inclusive and engaging ways.

What do you see as the value of history to society and what would you like to see change with regards to how history is covered?
Sadly, the teaching of history has recently become a battleground. We know how we got to where we are as a society, and what possibilities are open to us, only through an understanding of our collective histories and how they relate to each other. Public history that is thoroughly researched, accessible, engaging, and includes all relevant perspectives, is an absolute necessity for a fully-realized democracy. 

A truthful, developmentally appropriate understanding of national and regional history should be a fundamental component of an education that prepares students of all ages to be responsible citizens. But too many politicians and special-interest groups have made history curricula a stand-in for various polarizing issues.

Too many Americans right now seem to think that history is the story that fits most easily into their political viewpoints, and they would prefer to erase aspects of U.S. history that are difficult, unflattering or focus on Americans who are different from themselves. To me, history and history makers are fascinating because– not in spite of– complexity and contradictions. I believe that public history organizations like History Colorado and regional museums need to advocate for an approach to history that does justice to the richness, paradoxes, and ambiguities of our shared history, with an eye to perfecting our democracy and the cultivation of a civic life that acknowledges and respects the diversity that is fundamental to our state and our nation.

About The State Historian’s Council
History Colorado’s State Historian’s Council reaches across the state to aid in interpretation of the history of Colorado and the American West, providing opportunities to expand the understanding of the historical perspectives, cultures and places of Colorado. Council members work with History Colorado to produce and share knowledge about Colorado and connect with more residents throughout the state. In keeping with the influential, forward-leaning practices of History Colorado, which is home to the nation’s largest state historical fund for preservation and operates 11 museums and historic sites statewide, the council embraces a collaborative and inclusive approach to leadership.

Since 1924, History Colorado has appointed Colorado’s State Historian to work with the organization to preserve, interpret, and share our state’s past. In 2018, History Colorado created the State Historian’s Council to better reflect and serve the many perspectives, cultures, and places that come together in Colorado. The Council includes five scholars from five different institutions around the state, who each experience a five-year term with annual rotations for the State Historian role. From Aug. 1, 2023, through July 31, 2024, Dr. Claire Oberon Garcia will lead the following council members in her role as State Historian: Dr. Nicki Gonzales (Regis University), Dr. Susan Schulten (University of Denver), Dr. Jared Orsi (Colorado State University) and Dr. William Wei (University of Colorado).

About History Colorado
History Colorado is a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a 501(c)3 non-profit that has served more than 75,000 students and 500,000 people in Colorado each year. It is a 143-year-old institution that operates eleven museums and historic sites, a free public research center, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation which provides technical assistance, educational opportunities, and other access to archaeology and historic preservation, and the History Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), which is one of the nation’s largest state funded preservation programs of its kind. More than 70% of SHF grants are allocated in rural areas of the state. Additionally, the offices of the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Officer are part of History Colorado. 

History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. We serve as the state’s memory, preserving and sharing the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through educational programs, historic preservation grants, collecting, outreach to Colorado communities, the History Colorado Center and Stephen H. Hart Research Center in Denver, and 10 other museums and historic attractions statewide. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information. #HistoryColorado