​I am an Information Sciences professional and historian dedicated to documenting and preserving the Black experience. Currently pursuing an MSIS at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, my work bridges the gap between traditional historiography and modern archival science.​

 

My foundation in this field began at Fisk University, where I was a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow and was honored as the Theodore S. Currier Scholar. My early career was shaped by four years at the John Hope & Aurelia E. Franklin Library, where I developed a technical grounding in library services that continues to inform my approach to metadata and digital preservation.

 

During my graduate tenure at Middle Tennessee State University, I served as a Research Assistant for the Center for Historic Preservation. My work there ranging from the West Gaines School preservation project to my thesis on the pioneering career of Jessie Carney Smith solidified my commitment to public history.​

 

As a Robert F. Smith Applied Public History Fellow and a member of the ALA and NCPH, I am focused on the future of Academic Librarianship and Black Archival Studies. 

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Read more about Paul here:

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Student Spotlight, University of Tennsessee at Knoxville​

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​Paul Springer, Jr. Fellow's Page, NMAAHC

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