For Paul Springer Jr., the path to a career in libraries and public history has been anything but linear, but every step has reinforced his commitment to preserving and expanding access to knowledge.
Springer, who is graduating with his Master of Science in Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is also serving as the Robert F. Smith Applied Public History Fellow at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The prestigious fellowship has allowed him to merge his academic training with hands-on, community-centered historical work on a national stage.
A Memphis native, Springer’s academic journey began at Fisk University, where he earned a BA in history. During his undergraduate experience, Springer interned for the HBCU Library Alliance under the encouragement of Nashville’s First Public Historian and former dean of Fisk University, Jessie Carney Smith, and Brandon Owens, Sr., PhD, founder of the African American Historical Research and Consulting (AAHRC). After graduating from Fisk, Springer was immediately hired as a tech services assistant, continuing the work he had done for years as a volunteer. He received his first master’s degree at Middle Tennessee State University in public history, specializing in historic reservation. He was also a graduate research assistant for the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU. His early exposure to libraries came through influential experiences at Fisk University.
“My entire undergraduate experience was shaped by the library at Fisk,” Springer said. “I volunteered there, worked there, and was mentored by incredible librarians who introduced me to this profession.”
One of those mentors, Jesse Carney Smith, would go on to influence Springer’s academic trajectory in a profound way. Not only did she encourage him to pursue librarianship, but she also became the subject of his graduate thesis.
“When I studied her career and the broader history of Black librarianship, I realized how impactful this work is,” he explained. “Librarians were doing public history work long before it was formally recognized as such.”
A Program That Connects Theory and Practice
Springer chose UT’s MSIS program for its accreditation and reputation across the state. What he found exceeded expectations.
“The experience at UT has been extremely beneficial,” he said. “What I’m learning in class directly applies to the work I’m doing at the Smithsonian.”
As a distance education student, Springer has balanced coursework with the demands of his fellowship in Washington, DC. Through classes in digitization, storytelling, and user instruction, he has developed technical and communication skills that translate directly into his professional work.
“I didn’t know how to build a digital exhibit before this program,” he said. “Now, that’s one of my final deliverables.”
Springer also served as a graduate research assistant under SIS Professors Wade Bishop and Rachel Fleming-May, contributing to a large-scale research project examining careers in data science librarianship. The work, while meticulous, provided him with valuable insight into the profession.
“I was able to see the different paths people take in this field and understand what my own career trajectory could look like,” he said.
Telling Stories That Matter
At the Smithsonian, Springer’s fellowship project reflects both his academic interests and his personal history. Centered on his family’s hometown of Gunnison, Mississippi, his work explores the legacy of the Jim Crow South through community-driven research and storytelling.
His project includes oral histories, archival research, and a series of public programs designed to engage residents with their own history.
“A lot of communities study history from the outside,” Springer said. “I wanted people to understand the significance of their own stories and their own place.”
Through partnerships with local organizations and Smithsonian initiatives, Springer organized a weeklong series of events, including historical panels, genealogy workshops, and community archiving sessions. The effort brought Smithsonian resources directly to a rural community that might not otherwise have access.
“My goal was to make sure people who may never visit Washington, DC, could still interact with the Smithsonian,” he said.
Building a Future in the Field
As he prepares to graduate, Springer reflects on both the academic and personal growth he experienced during his time at UT.
“I’m proud to be part of a cohort that brings so many different perspectives to the field,” he said. “We all came in with different backgrounds, but we’re leaving with a shared commitment to access and community engagement.”
He is also mindful of the broader significance of his work.
“As a Black man in librarianship, I’m entering a field where we are underrepresented,” he said. “Now I can say I’m part of that legacy, and that means something.”
Springer will continue his academic journey this fall as a PhD student of history at the University of Maryland, where he plans to further explore the intersection of public history, digital humanities, and librarianship.
“This program has made me a better researcher, a better storyteller, and a better historian,” he said. “It’s given me the tools to not just study history, but to make it accessible.”
For Springer, that mission remains at the heart of everything he does.
“Librarians are pathways,” he said. “We connect people to information, to stories, and to each other. That’s the work, and I’m excited to keep doing it.”