English, History Student Finds His Purpose Through A Unique Internship at The Library of Congress
Jackson William Caffrey ’26 imagined his college education would be one of discovery and interdisciplinary pursuits.
Check, and check.
Looking back, Jackson says, he has seen a lot of box-checking during his time at Keene State. But so far, nothing compares to a 10-week stint as a Junior Fellow at the Library of Congress this summer. That, he says, was a “game-changer.”
While our students attend a smaller college where the average class size is 20, their experiences out of the classroom—local, domestic, or abroad—are often large in scope.
At the Library of Congress, Jackson worked on a metadata index project for the Frederick Douglass correspondence while working in the Manuscript Reading Room, assisting patrons in person, at the room’s reference desk, and online.
Interested in art and self-expression, Jackson is pursuing a bachelor's degree in English and History, with a minor in Spanish. Now, having experienced working with archives and collections at Keene State and at our nation's oldest federal cultural institution, his busy intersection of career interests has another lane.
You might call it an off-ramp.
Working in academic library settings, gaining real-world experience guided by “Absolutely incredible people and amazing mentors,” has given him new insight into the work he’d like to do professionally in librarianship and archives.
His mingling of areas of study and his research and hands-on experiences will translate into a strong, well-rounded resume.
“I’m getting the chance to combine my interests in history and literature with my desire to impact others positively,” Jackson says. “Keene State made that possible. You can’t ask for much more.”
“I enjoy working with special collections. You handle physical pieces of history rather than just hearing about them second-hand. You’re working with actual hard-copy newspapers, journals, photographs, and artifacts.”
More importantly, you’re making history more accessible to researchers, students, and anyone interested in it, through the creation of finding aids and assisting visitors.”
“I wanted to be a teacher so I could offer the same support to kids who need it that I got, and I was drawn to Keene State initially because it was my history teacher’s alma mater, and she told me it was the best college for me to get a teaching degree. While I didn’t pursue teaching, I’m glad I came here because the history and English programs are spectacular.”
Jackson Caffrey
Jackson was an Owl freshman when a professor, Dr. Graham Warder, introduced him and other students to the topic area of archives and special collections. Warder had Jackson’s attention.
Jackson went straight to another professor, Rodney Obien, the head of Archives and Special Collections at the college, had an interview, and began working on one collection in particular, the Papers of Rev. John Crocker, Jr., a consequential civil rights activist.
Under Obien’s wing, Jackson presented a paper about Crocker and the Civil Rights Movement for the episcopal church at the New England Historical Association Conference at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH.
Jackson has worked as a student assistant to Obien since he was a freshman.
“He’s a gem,” Obien said of Jackson, one of just 41 students nationwide, and the youngest of the group, selected to the Library of Congress internship program.
“Jackson has a keen interest in becoming a book curator or manuscript creator, and so many things we've been doing together are focused on preparing him to do that work,” Obien said.
Next for Jackson, Obien said, is an apprenticeship at the Chester (Vermont) Bookworm, where he will gain experience in bookbinding, restoration, and repairs.
Jackson was born in California, lived throughout the United States, but has spent most of his life in Merrimack, New Hampshire. His parents, Matthew and Sharon, joined the Marine Corps out of high school, and Matthew attended college while on active duty. He saw it as important that Jackson and his brother, Patrick, attend college and find a field of study they were interested in.
Again, check.
Jackson is co-president of Phi Alpha Theta with Amarrah Gates and treasurer for the college’s Pride Club. He confesses to many creative hobbies, including drawing, creative writing, game design, and sewing.
He said the teachers and professors in his life have been his sources of inspiration, dispensing knowledge and providing motivation when he needed it most.
“I wanted to be a teacher so I could offer the same support to kids who need it that I got, and I was drawn to Keene State initially because it was my history teacher’s alma mater, and she told me it was the best college for me to get a teaching degree. While I didn’t pursue teaching, I’m glad I came here because the history and English programs are spectacular.”
Learn more about Keene State’s new Master of Arts degree in History & Archives.
Learn more about Keene State’s selection of academic programs, including History, English, and Spanish.