Week Twelve: "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"

"Lesson for life learned well" by Dick Burdette, Orlando Sentinel Star, 01-28-1982.

Hello, reader! Have you ever thought more deeply about academic integrity in the field you work in? Have you ever found the subject of historical ethics keeping you up at night? Have you ever been in a situation where your research is being plagiarized? If any of the above apply to you, you may be entitled to compensation. 

In all seriousness, it seems to me that in this vast and varied field of study, there is very little done to combat plagiarism and unfortunate unprofessionalism in local-level museums. As you may be able to tell, this blog post takes quite a different turn than my previous writings, considering that this is my last post for the Summer 2026 semester. I’ve recently found myself in certain situations where my work is being shared without credit where credit is due. This post is not about archival dramatics or pointing fingers. Instead, I wanted to take this opportunity to shine light upon this pervasive issue in the field. It happens more often than you would think, and for anyone reading this going through a similar situation, you are certainly not alone. 

This last week has served as a fantastic reflection upon the past semester. Just a year ago, I entered the internship program here at UCF with a simple aim to work with the Michael Gladden Jr. Collection. In what way exactly, I wasn’t quite sure back then. In the year I have been working on the Gladden Collection, I have had the privilege to present, publish, and finally execute my dream of making a rare and awe-inspiring representation of Black American safekeeping accessible to a wider audience through the Gladden Archive online. Outside of Ms. Boykin’s widespread research and media presence on the Gladden family, their story has long been neglected by both historians and historical institutions. I recognized this lack of credit to the Gladden family and decided to take action through my work with Ms. Boykin. This project has never been about myself, but about continuing Mr. Gladden’s mission and tradition of safekeeping. Of course, increased visibility of one’s work naturally attracts situations where the best interests of your research and the community are not kept in mind in favor of achieving a moment in time Andy Warhol dubbed the “15 minutes of fame.” A wonderful piece of advice I was given to combat this issue by my supervisor, Dr. Scot French, is to keep publishing and to keep pushing forward with the research goals you have set for yourself. There will always be people out there looking to ride on your coattails, but as a researcher, you have the right to protect your work, set firm boundaries, and best of all, say no. As I have learned, some do not like being denied the right to research you have volunteered your time and passion to pursue. While we never try to burn bridges as researchers and community stewards, it’s never a bad idea to build a protective moat around yourself and have a trebuchet at the ready to defend your truths. 

The point of this final post is to remind you (and me) that when times are tough, never get discouraged because your work has a place in the world. Having kindness and empathy in the practical aspects of this field are valuable now more than ever, and never let the naysayers dim your sparkle. On that note, I will be back in a couple of weeks to kick off the Fall 2026 semester and begin working on the STARS Gladden exhibit. See you soon, reader! Exciting times are ahead.