Barrs Chapel C.M.E Church

Student Assistants

Kristen Baldwin Deathridge (B.A. in history, Bryan College; M.A. in archaeology, University of Reading) is in her fourth year in the Ph.D. in Public History program. She is writing her dissertation on the adaptive reuse of America's religious buildings.  This year she is completing her residency project, a collections management project at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Nashville.
Jessica Bandel (B.A. in Engligh and history, Austin Peay State University) is in her first year in the graduate program in Public History at MTSU.   This semester at the Center, she is assisting with Tennessee Civil War Trails and Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area projects.

Hallie Fieser (B.S. in historic preservation, Southeast Missouri State University) is in her second year in the graduate program in Public History at MTSU.  This semester she will be working on a National Register nomination for the Naval Reserve Building in Nashville and developing webpages chronicling the history of the Francis Rogan House.


Leigh Ann Gardner (B.A. in history, Mississippi University for Women) is a first year student in the graduate program in Public History at MTSU.  Her research interests are in African American history, especially during Civil War and Reconstruction.  At the Center this semester, she is developing webpages on Tennessee's Rosenwald Schools.
 
Sara Beth Gideon, a senior at MTSU from Mt. Juliet, is majoring in history with a minor in political science. This semester, she is working at the Heritage Center of Mufreesboro and Rutherford County.  For her honor's thesis, Gideon is developing an exhibit on the high school athletic and band competitions held at MTSU.

Catherine Hawkins (B.A. in psychology, University of Tennessee) is in her final year of the historic preservation track of the MTSU Public History Program. This semester at the Center, she is working at the Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County.  In addition, she is the project leader for a student team surveying Rest Haven and City Cemetery in Franklin.


Susan Knowles (B.A. in French and art history, Vanderbilt University; M.L.S. George Peabody college; and M.A. in art history, Vanderbilt University) is a fifth-year Ph.D. student. This semester, Knowles is documenting Tennessee’s Civil War art, developing a furnishings plan for the Francis Rogan House, and continuing her research on the marble industry in Tennessee.


Amy Kostine (A.S. in photography, Onondaga Community College; B.A. in history, Le Moyne College) is in her first year in the graduate program in Public History at MTSU.  Her research interests are American Indian history and history of photography.  At the Center, she will be assisting with the Library of Congress' Teaching with Primary Sources Across Tennessee.

Cheri LaFlamme (B.S. in biology/ecology, Clarion University of Pennsylvania) is in her second year of the graduate program in Public History at MTSU. A native of Erie, Penn., she moved to Nashville to work as a zookeeper at the Nashville Zoo. This semester at the Center, she is writing a National Register nomination for the Tarpley Farm in Rutherford County.


Brian Manifold (B.S. in recording industry, MTSU) is in his second year of the graduate program in computer science at MTSU. At the CHP, Manifold provides technology support to staff and students and administers the server. Originally from central Indiana, he has lived in Tennessee since 2000.


Katherine M. Merzbacher (B.A. in history, MTSU; M.A. in history with a concentration in Public History, MTSU) is in her second year in the Ph.D. in Public History program. This semester, she will complete a National Register nomination for the Asia School in Franklin County and a history and conditions assessment for the Buchanan Log House in Nashville.


 Lauren Pate 

Katie Randall (B.A. in history, University of Alabama at Birmingham) is in her second year in the M.A. in Public History program. This semester, she will be assisting with various heritage development projects in Alabama.


Sara Rieger (B.A. in international studies, University of Tennessee at Martin) is in her second year of the graduate program in Public History. A native of Union City, Rieger has been a volunteer at the Obion County Museum.  At the Center, she is working with the Tennessee Century Farms program and writing a National Register nomination for the Henry Farm in Blount County.


Jessica White (B.S. in interior design, MTSU) is assisting in the development of exhibits and furnishings for the Nenney House, Confederate Lt. Gen. Longstreet's headquarters in Russellville during the winter of 1863-1864.