Ken Forrest - Success Story

The most rewarding part of my graduate program is my assistantship at SU’s Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture. Without sources, there is no history. The organization of those sources is key. By processing archival collections and drafting finding aids, I am not only assisting fellow historians, but also honing my research and writing skills.

The project of which I am most proud is the Albert Laws papers. Laws, a native of Wicomico County, was a soldier, a graduate of West Point, and a veteran of the Spanish American War and the Philippine American War. The collection consists of letters, reports, maps, photographs and artifacts that offer a glimpse into the life of a soldier at the turn of the 20th century. As a veteran, it was rewarding to make the Albert Laws papers accessible to the public. Through this and other projects, Leslie McRoberts and the entire staff of the Nabb Center have been helpful and supportive.

I also am working on two independent research projects. One involves the origins of the policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. As a gay veteran, the policy had a profound impact on my life. The other involves my great-grandfather, who served in the Navy from 1887 to 1921. His career, spanning the Spanish American War and the First World War, offers insight into the lives of sailors at the dawn of the modern Navy.

History is my passion. After completing my graduate program, I plan to pursue a doctorate in U.S. history.