Students Hone Research Skills at Historical Society

Kailey Blount and Emily Rentz spend fall semester reading, writing and investigating state’s past

Two Sacred Heart University seniors, Kailey Blount and Emily Rentz, tested their skills, expanded their knowledge and fed their passion for research during the fall semester with internships at the Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society (CTIAHS).

The society, which originated in 1988, collects and shares information about the 350-year history and heritage of Irish people in the state. Besides offering programs and events, the organization maintains a library of books and records concerning Irish history, culture and genealogy at the Ethnic Heritage Center at Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, and publishes a wealth of historical information on its website. Before the end the of the spring semester, the entire CTIAHS library and archives will move permanently to SHU’s Ryan Matura Library.

“It was such a great opportunity to work on history that our classes wouldn't normally expose us to. We were able to explore the material at our own pace and develop a true interest in the information we were uncovering,” said Rentz, who is majoring in history.

Both students conducted independent research on Connecticut’s Irish heritage. The society challenged them to develop their skills independently, so with free reign over how they organized their time, they dove into the past and followed leads. “After starting to do the research, I realized how much I loved it. I felt like a private investigator,” said Rentz. “I enjoyed getting sidetracked and looking at other histories while I searched for information. It was rewarding to feel like I was doing important work.”

Blount and Rentz searched online for stories and leads of how Irish immigrants came to Connecticut and New England. They learned how the immigrants began to build their lives in where they lived, worked, went to church, got involved in local events and even politics.

The students said they are thankful for the skills they developed at SHU, including researching, organizing information and communicating effectively, which proved vital in their work. “Sacred Heart and all my professors helped shape me into the writer and the researcher I’ve become. Having this opportunity my senior year was important because it also gave me the experience I needed to finally find my writing voice,” said Blount, an English major. “I’m really thankful.”

John Roney, history professor, and Abby Bender, director of the Irish studies minor as well as languages and literature lecturer in SHU’s College of Arts & Sciences, arranged the internships. “The historical society is a valuable place to start for any future researcher, and the two students showed much initiative and discipline as they navigated the many tasks,” said Roney.

Roney, Bender and history lecturer Kelly Marino supervised the students throughout the semester and worked closely with Vincent and Mary McMahon, who administer a research grant of up to $1,000 per semester for the Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society.

Not only will Blount’s and Rentz’s research be used on the Irish Heritage Trail section of the society’s website, but the Irish Heritage Trail collection from the society will be archived in SHU’s Ryan Matura Library for students, scholars and the public to access by the end of the spring semester. The material will be available online once it is fully digitized. Additionally, there will be a guidebook of how both students conducted this research with helpful points about which sites yielded the best material and what sites are not worth investigating. This will ensure future students can use their time researching more efficiently.

“As an English major and someone who loves writing and reading, I think it’s amazing that the information Emily and I found is going to be available for so many people to read,” said Blount. Rentz agrees and is proud she played a role in expanding a valuable, historical archive.

Blount will continue working with the historical society this semester and, after graduating, she intends to earn her master’s degree in creative writing. Rentz plans to pursue a master’s degree in education at SHU after she graduates.