Cayla McGrail

MS Historic Preservation

Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2022

Previous Degree: BA, History and Anthropology, Minor in Historic Preservation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR

I’m From: Bentonville, AR

Why I Came to the UO and How I Chose My Major
I have always wanted to attend the University of Oregon because of its commitment to high quality innovative research and knowledge. I am excited to challenge myself in different ways through the College of Design that will not only make me a better student, but a better historian, researcher, and professional. I am honored to be joining this program and that feeling pushes me to do my best and be excited that I am apart of a program that is bringing hands-on experience and social awareness to a dynamic field.

I am looking forward to studying with all the historic preservation professors. I expect to learn how the field is changing. Specifically, I expect to learn what historic preservation means and can do in a social moment where history and the material cultures produced are being evaluated.

Unique Qualities I Bring to My Studies
This past spring I worked on a team project involving digital preservation of the Japanese Interment Camps in Southern Arkansas. Although a majority of my tasks were collecting digital copies of newspapers from the camps and around the area that told daily histories, we also did site visits and theorized different approaches to preserving the site. This team also went to other sites with more architectural elements to study current historic preservation projects and theorize approaches to those sites. This project had more of an emphasis on landscape, rather than architectural historic preservation, but we were able to learn and apply concepts to both areas.

For the last two years, I worked under the Collections Curator at the University of Arkansas as a collections assistant where I gained experience within the History, Ethnology, and Archeology collections. I helped maintain their digital and physical records. I worked on artifact storage and inventories, which included making appropriate acid-free containers, labels, and making minor repairs. Outside of collection management, I collaborated on exhibits with the Arkansas Archeological Survey and the Department of History. During this past spring, I co-authored the Museum Mission Statement while serving on the Museum Council. These experiences gave me introductions into the fields of historic preservation and collection management that I want to continue to nurture through my graduate education and professional experiences.

Extracurricular Activities I Want to Pursue
I’m looking forward to getting involved with the Heritage Center. Although the UO museums are a little far away, I’m excited that the Architectural Heritage Center and other Portland-based museums are close to the White Stag so that I can still be involved within a museum space. This will enhance my studies by being able to build a network of experience and potential career opportunities within an exhibit-focused space. Additionally, the LGBTQIA+ groups at the Portland Campus will be groups I hope I can help. I hope to help  LGBTQIA+ people while building strong personal ties to feel supported in a new city.

After Graduation
My greatest hopes are to achieve a successful museum career with unique work experiences that combine my passions for history, popular culture, and preservation. Following in the steps of one of my mentors, I would love to travel to other countries to be involved in preservation projects that could be documented for film or television so that the projects can be accessible, fun, and informative to a larger audience, inspiring new preservationists. Another great hope and imagination for my degree would be working as a historical consultant on films and television to ensure historical accuracy in their set or costume designs or in the historical information they are telling.

Your Gift
This scholarship is important to me because it validates my hard work preparing for this next chapter.  Receiving this scholarship means that I made the right choice in pursuing a new, exciting field that will challenge me and allow me to grow. It makes it possible for me to attend the University of Oregon, the school I have been dreaming of attending for years. It will relieve some of the financial stress that comes from pursuing a graduate degree, which will allow me to focus on my work in class and developing my professional portfolio.

Thank you so much for assisting me in turning my dreams and passions into a real-life career. It means so much that there is support for historic preservation because history is important and preserving that history for the future is an amazing thing to be doing.