Abraham and Jehuda Cresques, Sultan of Babilonia, Catalan Atlas
Forthcoming
“Searching for Lorenzo Ubiles, Alcalde de barrio, Humacao, 1873.” To appear in AAHGS Journal, June 2024.
Panelist, Mareas de Memoria: Black History and Genealogy in Puerto Rico. Taller Entre Aguas, MSU, 25 April 2024.
“Archives, eBay & Historical Amnesia: Remembering the Ancestors of the Registro Central de Esclavos.” MS in progress.
“Not Yet Completely Free: Gradual Emancipation and the Family of Moses Williams, Philadelphia, 1776-1833.” To be submitted to AAHGS Journal.
Northwest Puerto Rico’s Missing Volume of the Registro de Esclavos. MS in progress.
with John D. Kysela: The Man Who Painted on Light: Andre Girard. Overview of art produced by Andre Girard (1901-1968) from advertising to fine art between 1923-1968. MS revisions in progress.
Publications & Workshops
“Reconstructing District 3’s Missing Volume of the 1872 Registro de Esclavos for Northwest Puerto Rico, Part 4” Hereditas. 24:2, 2023, 49-99. [Coffee plantations, Laguerre/Laguer families in Ceiba Baja, Aguadilla; Transcription of Caja 2, Item 3]
“Coartacion: Between Enslavement and Freedom in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, 1868.” AAHGS Journal of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. Vol 40, Summer 2023, 71-85. https://www.academia.edu/104184389/Coartaci%C3%B3n_From_Enslavement_to_Freedom_in_A%C3%B1asco_and_Mayag%C3%BCez_Puerto_Rico
The Genealogy of Boriken. Zoom, 17 June 2023. Workshop for Iukayeke Guainia.
“The Unbearable Whiteness of Being: Early Founders and the Fourth President of NGS, Joseph Baillie Bulloch MD.” November 2021. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34789.17124
Aragones-Panis Family History Workshop. Zoom, 30 May 2023.
Ubiles: AfroIndigenous Families of Northeast Puerto Rico. ebook. May 2023.
“Reconstructing District 3’s Missing Volume of the 1872 Registro de Esclavos for Northwest Puerto Rico, Part 3”. Hereditas: Journal of the Sociedad Puertorriquena de Genealogia, 2022. [Benejan/Benejam families; plantation La Balearica; Moca, Aguadilla, Isabela]
“Dying to Know You: Critical Insights from a Case Study of Indigenous Representations in Museums of the Early Republic”. Nancy Mithlo & Yve Chavez, Editors. Visualizing Genocides: Retelling Native American Survival Through Art. University of Arizona Press, 2022, 212-236. Includes works by James Luna
“Y tu abuela, donde estas?” An Introduction to Puerto Rican Genealogy. Presentation for the Broward County Public Library, September 25, 2021. View at link below: https://broward.webex.com/broward/lsr.php?RCID=7d7d2eab29b63bdecf09d7377b97d1fb
Lavanderas: Laundresses and the Fabric of Family History. Presentation for the Sociedad Puertorriquena de Genealogia, August 28, 2021.
A History Unraveled: Slavery and the Babilonia Family. Rye Historical Society, 29 April 2021.
“Bound to History: Leoncia Lassalle’s Slave Narrative from Moca, Puerto Rico, 1945.” Genealogy 2020, 4(3), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy4030093
“Reconstructing District 3’s Missing 1872 Registro Central de Esclavos for Northwest Puerto Rico, Part 2.” Hereditas: Journal of the Sociedad Puertorriquena de Genealogia, 21:2 (2020): 105-132. [Ley Moret; List of Enslavers; Transcription of Caja 4, Aguada, Aguadilla, Moca, Isabela, San Sebastian & Lares]
“Reconstructing District 3’s Missing 1872 Registro Central de Esclavos for Northwest Puerto Rico.” Hereditas: Journal of the Sociedad Puertorriquena de Genealogia,, Part 1: 20:2 (2019), 68-90. [Overview of collection on FamilySearch]
“You Go, I Stay: James Luna.” X-TRA Journal. Winter 2019.
PDF: “You Go, I Stay: James Luna.” X-TRA Journal, Winter 2019.
“Eugenics, Identity & the California Genealogical Society’s International Congress of Genealogy at the Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915.” The California Nugget, Journal of the California Genealogical Society. Special Edition, Fall 2018, 18-31.
“Slavery, Freedom and the Babilonias of Puerto Rico: Re-visioning a Family History: Part 1.” The Baobab Tree: Journal of the African American Genealogical Society of N. California, Spring 2017, 8-13. Republished in The California Nugget : Journal of the California Genealogical Society,
“Slavery, Freedom and the Babilonias of Puerto Rico: Re-visioning a Family History: Part 2.” The Baobab Tree: Journal of the African American Genealogical Society of N. California, Summer 2017, 20-23. Republished in The California Nugget : Journal of the California Genealogical Society,
“James Dent Walker.” Wikipedia. October 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dent_Walker
Don Miguel Babilonia Polanco (1743-1813) and his Descendants: From Mallorca, Spain to Moca, Puerto Rico. Hereditas, 16:1, 2015, 6-47.
“Historia Breve de la Familia Babilonia.” pamphlet, 2013. [Translated & updated text of 2008 Nuestra Herencia article]
“Los Alcaldes de Barrios de Moca, Puerto Rico, Noviembre 1847.” Hereditas: Revista de Genealogia Puertorriquena, 12:1, 2011,
“El Cuaderno de Altas y Bajas de Moca, 1849.” Hereditas: Revista de Genealogia Puertorriquena, 9:2, 2008, 71-104.
The Descendants of Capitan Miguel Babilonia Polanco, Part I.” Nuestra Herencia: A Hispanic Genealogical Society of New York Publication, Sp/Su 2008, 1, 8.
“Caribbean,” Billy G. Smith, ed. The Encyclopedia of American History Series, Volume 2: Colonization and Settlement, (1585-1763). Facts on File, 2002.
Articles on other (related) topics
“Juan Bautista de Anza Traveling Exhibit: Discover the Diversity of Early California.” California Genealogical Society and Library blog, February 2013. http://blog.californiaancestors.org/2013/02/juan-bautista-de-anza-traveling-exhibit.html
“Museums.” Chapter 36, Blackwell Companion to Gender Studies, Blackwell, 484-494.
‘Check Your Baggage: Resisting Whiteness in Art History’ [focus diversity in Art History & importance of work of performance artist James Luna] Art Journal, V60, 2001, 58-61.
Social Media
Blog, Latino Genealogy and Beyond: Diasporic journeys across time & place.
Guest, International Organization of Lacers. Sustaining Tradition: El Museo del Mundillo [Video available for IOLI Members]
Guest, AAHGS-Tampa, What’s in a Name: Aragones or Panisse?, Guayanilla, PR, 1857.” 11 Nov 2023.
El Registro de Esclavos: An archive you need to know. AAHGS Conference, 18 Oct 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJRGOk3YEkY&t=1s
Guest, Broward County Public Library, “Y tu abuela, donde estas?” An Introduction to Puerto Rican Genealogy. September 25, 2021. View at: https://broward.webex.com/broward/lsr.php?RCID=7d7d2eab29b63bdecf09d7377b97d1fb
Guest, Sociedad Puertorriquena de Genealogia. Lavanderas: Laundresses and the Fabric of Family History. 28 August 2021. [Video available for SPG members]
Guest, Rye Historical Society, A History Unravelled: Slavery and the Babilonia Family. 28 April 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7App2kHdJUw&t=5s
Guest, Genealogy Adventures Live, Hosts Brian Sheffey & Donya Williams. S03E11: Researching Puerto Rican and Caribbean Genealogy. 9 Dec 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j79zR-mkfjI
Perspectives on Genealogy: Diversity and Inclusion. Video by Colleen Robledo-Greene, MLIS. 21 Aug 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtEA-FLx1Wk&t=2s
Curatorial team, Panelist, Black ProGen Live. Hosts Nicka Smith & True A. Lewis, YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/user/whoisnickasmith/videos
Guest, Family Sparks History Hour. K-SQD, Santa Cruz, CA. Host: Daniel Spelce, Dec. 2019.
Guest, Bernice Bennett, Research at the National Archives and Beyond: Latino Genealogy and Beyond with Dr. Ellen Fernandez-Sacco, June 16, 2018. https://radiopublic.com/research-at-the-national-archives-GbPZJ6/s1!82f19
Education
Group 4, Enslaved Communities Project, Nicka Smith Patreon. April 2024.
ProGen Law Beta, 2014
ProGen 16, 2013
Ph.D. Art History, Dissertation: Spectacular Masculinities: The Museums of Peale, Baker & Bowen in the Early Republic. D. Preziosi & A. Boime, Co-Chairs. University of California, Los Angeles, 1998.
School of Criticism and Theory, Dartmouth College, 1996.
M.A. Art History, Hunter College, City University of New York, 1991.
B.A. cum laude, Anthropology, Hunter College, City University of New York, 1986.
A.A. Liberal Arts, Queensborough Community College, City University of NY, 1986.
Service
Co-moderator, founder, Sociedad Ancestros Mocanos. History & genealogy of NW PR discussion list serve & FB group. 2004- present.
Co-moderator, co-founder, Historia y Genealogia de la Esclavitud en PR/ Slavery & Genealogy of PR. FB group. 2018-present.
DEI (Diversity, Equality & Inclusion) Steering Committee, National Genealogical Society. 2021-Oct 2022. Researched early founders of NGS, involvement in supremacist organizations and connections to settler colonialism.
Past President, California Genealogical Society, Oakland, CA, 2015-2017.
President, California Genealogical Society, 2014-15.
Vice President, California Genealogical Society, 2013
Director, Board Member, California Genealogical Society, 2011- 2017
Strategic Planning Committee, California Genealogical Society, 2012-2013
Publications Committee, California Genealogical Society, 2017- present
Research Committee, California Genealogical Society, 2012- 2015
Curator, Museo del Mundillo Puertorriqueno, Moca, PR, 2006-2007
Community Advisory Board Member, CAL-PEP [California – Prevention & Education Project] Oakland, CA, 2007
Grantwriter, CAL-PEP, Oakland, CA 2005-2006
Tutor, Second Start Adult Literacy Program, City of Oakland, California, Summer-Winter 2001.
Academic Employment
Curator, Museo del Mundillo, Moca, Puerto Rico, 2006- 2007
Visiting Scholar, History of Science & Technology Program, University of California, Berkeley, 2004-2016.
Visiting Faculty, Department of Expressive Arts.
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington, 2003 – 2005.
Research Fellow, History of Science and Technology Program. University of California, Berkeley, 2001-2004.
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Art & Design. Evergreen Valley College, San Jose, Spring 2002.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Beatrice M. Bain Research Group on Gender. University of California, Berkeley, 2000-02.
Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Architecture. University of California, Berkeley, 2000-01.
UC President Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Architecture. University of California, Berkeley, 1998-2000, Professor Dell Upton, Mentor.
Teaching Assistant, Department of Art History. University of California, Los Angeles, 1995-1996.
Curatorial Consultant and Research Associate.
Interpretive Site for the David Alfaro Siqueiros Mural at El Pueblo National Historic Site, Los Angeles. The Getty Conservation Institute & IQ Magic, June 1996- December 1997.
Awards & Grants
Latino Studies Senior Fellowship, Smithsonian National Museum of American History & Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C., 2006.
Phillips Fund Grant, Library Resident Research Fellowship, American Philosophical Society, 2004.
Barra Foundation & Edward C. Carter III Library Resident Research Fellowship, American Philosophical Society, 2003 (declined).
Participant, NEH Summer Institute, Working from Community: American Indian Art & Literature in Historical and Cultural Context. Evergreen College, Olympia, WA, Summer 2003.
Batten Fellowship, Resident Research Fellow, International Center for Jefferson Studies, 2002.
Beatrice M. Bain Research Group on Gender, University of California, Berkeley, 2000-01; 2001-02.
Andrew W. Mellon Resident Research Fellowship, American Philosophical Society, 1999.
Visiting Scholar, McNeil Center for Early American Studies, University of Pennsylvania, 1999.
Resident Research Fellow, International Center for Jefferson Studies, 1999.
UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California, Berkeley, 1998-2000.
Student Processional Marshall, Ph.D. Conferral, UCLA, June 1998.
Travel Grant, Graduate Division, University of California at Los Angeles, 1997.
Dissertation Year Fellowship, Office of Special Fellowships, UCLA, 1997-98.
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship, Library Company of Philadelphia, 1997.
Fellowship Grant, “The Futures of American Studies” Conference, Humanities Research Institute, Dartmouth College, August 10-17, 1997.
Edward A. Dickson History of Art Fellowship, Department of Art History, UCLA, 1996-97.
Scholarship Grant, School of Criticism and Theory, Dartmouth College, 1996.
Scholarship Grant, UCLA, Art Council, Department of Art History, 1996.
Teaching Assistant, Department of Art History, University of California, Los Angeles, 1995-96.
Project 88 Fellowship, Graduate Division, University of California, Los Angeles, 1994-1995.
Travel Grant, Graduate Division, University of California, Los Angeles, 1994.
Project 88 Fellowship, Graduate Division, University of California, Los Angeles, 1993-1994.