Paul Springer, Jr., M.A.
Public Historian
Applied Public History Fellow
Public History Projects
Paul Springer, Jr. has developed a robust portfolio of public history projects centered on the digital preservation and documentation of African American life. During his tenure as a Robert F. Smith Applied Public History Fellow at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, he spearheaded the MS Delta Community Curation program. In this role, he managed the logistics for four major public programs focused on genealogy and cultural preservation, ultimately curating the forthcoming digital collection, "Gunnison, MS: Landscape and Monument of the Jim Crow South," which features over 50 community-sourced items. His work involved translating complex archival research into documentary-style narratives and collaborating with media producers to create four video oral history interviews and documentary footage. Beyond the Smithsonian, Springer has contributed specialized archival research to family and local histories through African American Historical Research and Consulting, projects that earned recognition from the National Council on Public History. Additionally, he co-authored a preliminary conditions assessment and historic overview for the West Gaines School and completed a master’s thesis detailing the professional legacy of Jessie Carney Smith at Fisk University.
Mississippi Delta Community Curation
Cleveland, Mississippi
February 23- 28, 2026
The 2026 Mississippi Community Curation Program (CCP) was a landmark initiative by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) that focused on preserving the heritage of the Mississippi Delta. Throughout February 2026, the program provided professional digitization services to local residents, converting fragile photographs, family letters, and rare audiovisual recordings into high-quality digital formats.
By partnering with regional institutions like Delta State University, the program moved beyond national museum walls to empower the community. Experts hosted hands-on workshops that taught residents how to research their genealogy and care for physical heirlooms. These efforts ensured that the authentic, lived experiences of the Black community in Mississippi were captured and protected from physical decay. Ultimately, the CCP succeeded in building a lasting digital repository, integrating local Delta legacies into the broader American historical record for future generations to study and honor.
Paul's fellowship project, "Gunnison, Mississippi: Landscape and Monument of the Jim Crow South," culminated in a week's long community curation program. The program featured the following events: Historical Panel Conversation, Community Archiving Workshop, Family History Center Genealogy Workshop. The final event was an expert panel held at Delta State University.
Please check out links to Paul's news features in the DeltaNews.
BTA Archive Project
Summer Research Institute
Harvard University, Graduate School for Education
Research Project:
"Lobbyist for Black Education in Middle Tennessee: The Story of Joe A. Thomas"
Joseph Andrew Thomas, Sr. (1906–1987) was a prominent Nashville educator and "lobbyist for black education in Middle Tennessee". Born in Linden, he was part of the second graduating class of Tennessee A&I. Thomas served as principal of schools in Savannah and Lawrenceburg, where he headed the first black high school . Elected president of the Tennessee Education Congress in 1940 , he spent his career advocating for equal pay and increased funding. He later became the first principal of Nashville’s Providence School. Thomas earned a master's degree from Fisk University in 1949.
Additional summaries and research on the Thomas family, including his wife Alice Thomas, is embedded in the links below:
"Lobbyist for Black Education in Middle Tennessee: The Story of Joe A. Thomas"
West Gaines School
Paul , graduate assistant for MTSU's Center for Historic Preservation, worked on the West Gaines School Project in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Specifically, Paul served as the project's historian and co-wrote the historical summary, used in the historic preservation assessment.
Trail of Tears Project
Paul, along with two of his classmates, worked on the
Twin Forks Trail at Old Jefferson Site, in Smyrna, Tennessee, as a High Potential Site on the National Historic Trails.
Black History of Alabama, 1819-2019
Paul worked on the Alabama Black History Timeline Project as a summer intern for State Black Archives in Huntsville, Alabama. Paul's project supervisor was Dr. Brandon Owens.
Middle Tennessee Regional Contest
History Day Judge
Hosted at Middle Tennessee State University, Paul served as Middle Tennessee History Day judge in 2024.
