Sophia Lopez and Vivian James at the Chenango County Historical Society in Norwich
Sophia Lopez ’25 is one of 31 student fellows who completed research with a community-based organization in upstate New York this summer as a part of the Upstate Institute Summer Field School. She describes the project below in her own words:
In 1939, local historians and community leaders established what is now known as the Chenango County Historical Society and Museum (CCHS) to preserve the history of their community. The organization serves as a resource for education and a tool for preservation. Until 1958, society members met in local establishments such as churches, libraries, and the courthouse. Now, CCHS is located at Ward School No. 2 on Rexford Street in Norwich.
The acquisition of Ward School No. 2 is significant and fundamental to the organization’s current mission. Following the purchase of the building for one dollar, CCHS dedicated years to renovating and restoring it, ultimately opening its doors to the public as a valuable community resource. The mission of CCHS today is leading and supporting the advancement of research, education, and enjoyment of Chenango County’s history.
As an Upstate Institute Summer Field School Fellow, I have had the opportunity to work with CCHS and witness the integration of this essential mission into everyday events. Whether it be hosting elementary school children to come tour the museum or attending archaeology meetings, where local residents present their own research, it has been clear to me that CCHS strives to be of use to the community by fostering knowledge.
I am nearing the halfway point of my time as a research fellow at CCHS and have learned what it means to put the mission into action. Executive director of CCHS Jessica Moquin has been a beacon of passion and light throughout my time here. She has trusted me with the research project’s creative direction and guided me to gain the full experience of working at CCHS. With her assistance I have had the privilege of attending local committee meetings, observing the preparation of a major fundraising event, and communicating with active members of the community. By attending these meetings, speaking to local residents, and learning how the museum engages with the community, I have developed a new understanding of what it means to be immersed in the tight-knit community of central New York.
When I initially got the opportunity to do research at CCHS, I did not know what my work days would look like. I anticipated that I would be in an office all day glued to my laptop, but was surprised to find that there are so many other moving parts to completing a community-based research project such as this, which enables you to communicate with the audience you are serving.
Within my first week of working at CCHS I was in contact with Henry Drexler, a local historian, and Vivian S. James, osteoarcheologist and museum consultant. Henry and Vivian worked together to help create the research project I am working on, and they have been excellent aids in this process. Not only have I been granted incredible mentors, but I have also engaged with local community members as a part of my research. I attended the archeology association’s monthly meeting, where I listened to a presentation about a member’s research in Turkey and met many faces that I continue to see at Ward School No. 2.
The connections that I have made to local residents is something that I did not expect. CCHS is intended to be a resource used for community growth, serving as a center of knowledge of the community’s history. With goals that are focused on the community, it only makes sense that I meet the people of Chenango County. Despite only having been a part of CCHS for a few weeks, I find that I have learned how important it is to have a connection to the people you serve.
As a summer fellow, I am working on a new research project titled “Uncovering the Hidden Stories of Migrant Labor Camps Along the Chenango River Valley.” Migrant labor camps have historically had a presence in Chenango County and in all of upstate New York. Migrants, both foreign and domestic, were traveling along the Eastern Stream throughout the year to maintain steady employment. Once reaching upstate New York, the migrant workers would stay for the summer to work on farms.
Migrant laborers have been the backbone of our agricultural systems and contribute to our daily lives, but they remain invisible agents in history. This research project begins to restore agency to migrant laborers in Chenango County by identifying where they were present, what their lives were like, and how the local community interacted with them.
As I have been conducting research on this topic, I have learned a lot about the struggles migrants faced when it comes to being protected by the government, gaining fair pay and housing, and how institutions stepped in to alleviate some of the stressors migrant workers faced. With this information, I hope to compile these findings into an educational resource to be accessed by the residents of Chenango County and beyond. The stories of migrant workers will be brought to light so local residents can learn more about the history of the land they call home.
In addition to creating an informational online platform, I am adding to Chenango Stories. Chenango Stories is a local history project of CCHS that collects and organizes 3–5 minute audio stories and related photographs from Chenango County community members to share the rich social and cultural history of central New York with future generations. For this installment of Chenango Stories, I am reaching out to residents of Chenango County who remember the migrant camps in order to create a time capsule of the community’s history.
Bringing together these stories from real people today is immensely important to the mission of CCHS because it utilizes the network of connections built by the organization to share forgotten stories of the past. While gathering participants for this project has been difficult so far, I find that this may be one of the biggest contributions I can make to CCHS this summer. This research project is in its very beginning stages and has the potential to expand beyond this summer, so that it may grow and continue to be looked into after my contributions. Since Chenango Stories is especially new as well, I believe that gathering as many stories as I can to be accessed online will be a major help, as it aids in making more residents of Chenango County aware of this resource.
Taking on this role as a researcher and active member of the community has been an amazing experience so far. Initially, I was drawn to CCHS and this project because of my own interest in immigration throughout history. As a history major at Colgate, I have focused my coursework on the topic of immigration both within and outside of the United States. As I progress through the history department, I have been able to integrate my previous studies of immigration in the class with independent research projects.
When I learned about the Upstate Institute through Professor Melanie Kiechle ’03, I was excited at the prospect of continuing my own studies of migrant laborers that I began in spring 2023. I anticipated overlaps in the way the media produced coverage of migrant laborers and the lack of documentation of migrant workers within New York State. This has proven to be true, but beyond this finding and strengthening of my research skills, I was eager to be a Field School Fellow this summer because of the potential of an immersive and rounded experience.
After two years of attending Colgate University, I was unaware of the nonprofits and agents of care that existed within the surrounding communities. The Summer Field School allowed me to be exposed to the people that live beyond Colgate. In addition, I now have a sense of what it feels like to give back to the community that supports you. This experience has shown me the importance of fostering good relationships and believing in the purpose of the organization you work for — and what the inner workings of a nonprofit organization look like. Despite being nearly halfway through my Summer Field School experience, I am sure that I will continue to expand my knowledge, both academically and professionally, with the remainder of my fellowship.