Internship Spotlight

Steve Filoromo Class of 2020

The ability to perform hands-on historical research and participate in public history education is by far one of my most treasured academic experiences. While historical research courses prepared me with a set of methodologies, researching and educating visitors at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark helped me to realize a clear career path built around my interests in historical archaeology, public history, and civic engagement.

During my time at Sloss, I aided with public interpretation for public and private tours, while also developing and researching historic industrial communities utilizing public and private records in Birmingham and field-based neighborhood surveys. This resulted in my article  "Mountains, Mines, and Quarters: Life, Labor, and the Sloss-Sheffield Steel & Iron Company, 1880-1950" (Vulcan Historical Review 24, 2020). Moreover, my internship helped me to develop an understanding of site-specific issues in historic preservation and public history.

Photo credit: Ty Malugani