It's easy to assume that history solely belongs to national archives and inside textbooks. Yet, every historical timeline was once an ordinary place with everyday experiences. Jerry Wallace, an NMSU assistant professor of history and director of the Public History Program, said history is in our own backyards.
"All history is local," Wallace said. "We like to think that when we study history, and we write history, we're always writing about these national, regional history narratives. But from the ground up, history is always about local stories."
Recognized for his ongoing commitment to preserving local history, Wallace received this year's Heritage Preservation Individual Achievement Award from the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division, celebrating his impactful work at NMSU and within the Las Cruces community.
"I'm very appreciative of getting this award," he said. "And more importantly, I see this as an extension of the greater Las Cruces."
As Wallace accepted an award that recognized his achievements and dedication to historic preservation, he stressed that these achievements and this award are not just his own.
"It's a little bit awkward to be honest with you," he added. "So many of the things that we work on as public historians are very collaborative. And in this case, at NMSU, especially in the Public History Program, most of the work is really focused on getting students involved in all of these projects. When I was notified that I was nominated for this award and was going to receive it, I was just like, 'Well, that's unfair. That's a little bit weird because it's not like it's just me.'"
Although the award formally honors Wallace's preservation work, he views the recognition as an inspiration for students who are interested in historic preservation.
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-historian-awarded-for-his-local-preservation-efforts/s/ca9f8163-d76f-47ba-a95a-15bbce7a2e40
