Randolph-Macon College alumnus Alex O’Gorman ’17 recently learned that a paper he wrote was accepted for publication in the Journal of the West. The paper, “Nimi’ipuu: Religion and the Purveyors of Religious Acculturation,” explains the effects of Christianity upon the Nez Perce Tribe (Nimi’ipuu) between 1820 and 1863. O’Gorman wrote the paper in 2017 when he was a student in History Professor Mathias Bergmann’s Native American History course.

“It feels great to know that my work will be published,” says O’Gorman. “Throughout my research, Professor Bergmann helped guide me away from certain secondary sources, which allowed me to focus more on vital primary sources. I am thankful for his guidance and expertise.”

Hands-on Training
A transfer student, O’Gorman completed three internships: at Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown; The John Marshall House; and Bacon’s Castle/Allen’s Brick House.

“For Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown, I created a dialogue for the Nez Perce’s Chief Joseph panel in an exhibit on the legacies of Patrick Henry’s plight for liberties,” explains O’Gorman. “At the John Marshall House, I researched the economic and social opportunities for free blacks in Richmond during John Marshall’s lifetime; and for Bacon’s Castle, I researched the mysterious lives of Virginia gentry Arthur Allen I and Arthur Allen II.”

The research and reports that O’Gorman completed during his internships provide historic guides and are used by site interpreters at the three locations.

Experiential Opportunities
Bergmann notes that O’Gorman took advantage of the experiential opportunities the History Department offers both in courses that guide students in producing original scholarship and in internships with partners like Preservation Virginia.

“We are proud of his contributions to the realm of public history and I am personally gratified that he further pursued his research on the Nimi’ipuu and secured publication of it,” says Bergmann.

Future Plans
O’Gorman was recently accepted by Washington State University and Villanova for their M.A. programs. He hasn’t yet decided which graduate program to pursue, but “ultimately, I hope to work for a preservation society or at a preserved historic site and research the site or surrounding area,” he says.

“Alex has an unparalleled excitement for history and, thanks to the research and experiential path he deliberately sought out, a great foundation for graduate school,” says Bergmann. “Not many entering graduate students can boast of a peer-reviewed article. Alex is a shining example of where hard work, passion and an RMC education can take you.”