FARMINGTON – Jamez Terry, a University of Maine at Farmington junior and history major, has been awarded a research grant by the Massachusetts Historical Society, ordinarily given for doctoral research or to established scholars. This prestigious $5,000 New England Regional Fellowship Consortium grant is designed to encourage research excellence at the highest levels and will enable Terry to pursue scholarly research this summer at major historical library collections throughout New England.
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“We are thrilled at this recognition of Jamez’ pursuit of academic excellence,” said Theodora J. Kalikow, UMF president. “This is a wonderful opportunity for him to conduct the kind of intensive research that is usually completed on the graduate level. His previous undergraduate research experience at UMF as a Michael D. Wilson Scholar has helped lay the groundwork for his scholarly success.”
Terry’s archival research will explore the life of Charles J. Guiteau, the 1881 assassin of U.S. President James Garfield, in his own words and the words of people who knew him. Funds provided by the grant will help pay expenses for at least eight weeks of Terry’s research at a minimum of three of the NERFC’s participating institutions, including the Harvard Law School Library.
The premise for Terry’s project, that Guiteau’s rendering in history has been based on caricature and conjecture, originated with a classroom assignment by Christopher O’Brien, UMF assistant professor of history. “Faculty members like Professor O’Brien are a big part of the reason why I chose UMF,” said Terry. “I wanted a small undergraduate campus with an exceptional history program where I could work closely with the faculty. Professor O’Brien meets students where they are academically and encourages them to challenge themselves and then go one step further.”
In O’Brien’s class, students develop a preliminary proposal for an original research article, which in Terry’s case led to his receiving the NERFC grant, became his senior thesis and enhanced his interest in scholarly publication. “Students learn from doing,” said O’Brien. “Undergraduate research allows students to develop their talents and interests through scholarly studies, and Jamez is a natural. I encouraged him to submit the first paper he wrote for me to academic journals. He’s that good.”
Formerly from Fairbanks, Alaska, Terry has actively pursued close connections with both the campus and local communities. He serves as secretary on both the Washburn Norlands Living History Center board of trustees and the UMF History Club; works as O’Brien’s research assistant on his documentary project on religious expression in America; was honored as a spring 2008 Michael D. Wilson Scholar; works with a community program for troubled youth; and is an avid collector of presidential memorabilia.
Terry is interested in attending divinity school after graduation with hopes to pursue a career in classroom or museum education.
