Photo by: Katy Owens
Amelia Newport has loved history since she was a little girl, and now she’s getting the opportunity to showcase her passion in Washington D.C. where she will be participating in the Center for Undergraduate Research’s “Posters on the Hill” program.
From Greeley, Colo., Newport, a senior majoring in English and history, loved visiting Centennial Village, which is a living history museum in her hometown.
“Everything was set up to look like the 1800s, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever,” said Newport. “On special days they would have historical reenactments. It really made you feel like you were there, in the past, and it was exciting.”
Her involvement in the Young Chautauqua program, which began in seventh grade, consisted of doing historical reenactments, which helped her fall in love with history, by making it personal.
Chautauqua is a program in which scholars research historical figures and give presentations as that individual. Greely’s Young Chautauqua program is funded through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Colorado Humanities.
In her years participating in the program, she presented as Susan B. Anthony, Mother Teresa, Corrie ten Boom, Francis Heart Willard and Anna Howard Shaw.
Newport still volunteers with and mentors the Young Chautauquans.
The passion for history she developed in the program has been carried with her into college, and her continued pursuit of history.
For her senior thesis, Newport knew she needed to choose something she truly cared about. Her thesis advisor, Susan Schulten, a professor of U.S. history at DU, directed her toward Colorado statehood.
“Amelia is a very modest student, but her work speaks for itself,” said Schulten. “Many people know that ours is the “Centennial State,” but few realize that the state’s electoral votes played a crucial role in the election that same year. Amelia has been analyzing the politics behind Colorado’s successful bid for statehood; among other things, she has found that few of those involved realized that it would have such profound consequences for the nation as a whole.”
Newport’s research showed the history to be even more complicated and fascinating than she had thought, the ongoing process of researching and learning was, and is, exciting.
“Honestly, what else could motivate a person to spend eight months digging through old documents?” Newport said of her love for Colorado history.
Her eight months of research paid off. In October 2011, Newport applied for the “Posters on the Hill” program, which showcases undergraduate research for Congress.
According to Newport, the program looks for researchers from all disciplines. Of the 850 applicants from around the country, 75 students were selected.
While in D.C., the students will tour the capitol, meet with representatives from their respective states and talk about their research at an open house.
Newport visited D.C. earlier this year on a Partners in Scholarship (PinS) grant, which is offered to students through the Undergraduate Research Center, through which students can pursue independent research.
She used the grant to visit D.C. over winter break and do research in the National Archives and the Library of Congress.
While she was there to research Colorado’s role in the 1876 presidential election from a national perspective, she didn’t find the information she expected. This lead her to refocus her thesis.
“It was quite discouraging. However, I was able to use the information I did find to refocus my thesis, so it worked out alright in the end,” said Newport.
Despite these setbacks, Newport said she loved the experience and was quite excited when her acceptance letter came in February.
“It was Valentine’s Day, and I remember I screamed and called just about everyone I knew,” said Newport.
She loved the beauty of D.C., as well as the wealth of history there, and is excited to return.
“Also, the cherry blossom trees will be blooming, my favorite part of spring,” said Newport with a smile.
Newport will go to D.C. April 22 through 25 to share her passion for Colorado history and research on Colorado’s statehood. But her passion for history won’t stop there.
“I’ve always really loved Colorado history,” said Newport. “It just excites me.”
