Moving History Forward

Mario Nicolas ‘24
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Major: Undecided
Archives Intern, Yosemite National Park Archives

Why did you want to do this internship?

I wanted to learn more about the history of my favorite national park and the organization and methods required to preserve it. I loved my experience hiking in Yosemite five years ago, but this internship has given me behind-the-scenes experience in what it takes to make Yosemite, a park with many branches and over 1,200 staff members, function.

How does your role support the host organization’s mission?

I'm helping the archives make their resources more accessible and easy to navigate for researchers. In our digital age, we need archival systems and technological methods that can keep up with the rapidly growing pace of information availability and research demand.

Describe a project you will be working on this summer.

I'm designing a file-naming standard to be used by all the departments of Yosemite National Park. This project will allow staff from across the different branches and departments to share files in an organized way, which will increase the speed at which staff members can locate and access information as well as increase the organization of files by grouping files from similar departments together and listing files chronologically,

Another project I'm doing involves giving video tours on different aspects of the archives, from discussing certain collections to addressing how to access the archives. These tours are another great step in making the archives easier to understand and more accessible to all.

How does this project relate to your studies and/or career goals?

It has allowed me to delve into parts of the park's history and archives that relate to urban design and environmental sustainability. I've gained a lot of insight through exploring the archives featured collections and photographs. I'm also gaining research skills and grant writing knowledge that will serve me in the long term.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I've been exploring San Francisco and its many trails, museums, and landmarks. My favorite morning activity is riding my bike through Golden Gate Park and then cruising along Ocean Beach. I've also enjoyed cooking meals with my roommates and starting some great new books: Kazuo Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun and Walter Johnson's The Broken Heart of America.

Read more at the Out West Student Blog »