Jessica Taylor

Jessica Taylor is an Associate Professor of Oral and Public History in the Department of History at Virginia Tech's College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Her work bridges academic scholarship with community engagement, focusing on making historical narratives accessible to broader audiences through digital platforms and public projects.

Dr. Taylor's research interests center on Public History, Oral History, African American History, and Virginia's historical landscape. She specializes in recovering marginalized narratives, particularly those related to formerly enslaved communities and their descendants. Her scholarship demonstrates how historical archives can be transformed into accessible resources that connect contemporary communities with their historical roots, as evidenced by media features like 'Descendants of a formerly enslaved family re-connects' (WVTF, 11/29/2019) and 'Stories project illuminates university's past' (The Roanoke Star, 11/21/2019).

Her recent scholarship reveals a consistent focus on Virginia's historical records, particularly through the Dangerous Harbor Project which systematically digitizes and analyzes Lancaster County documents from 1653-1850. This body of work spans colonial legal systems, economic structures, and social hierarchies, with special attention to African American experiences. The project's comprehensive approach—from Oaths of Allegiance to Suits Involving Negroes to Tobacco Records—demonstrates how diverse archival materials can collectively illuminate complex historical realities.

Dr. Taylor's significant contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards:

• Ernest A. Lynton Faculty Award (2022) for innovative integration of scholarship, teaching, and service
• Elizabeth B. Mason Multimedia Award (2020) for the Voices of Virginia Digital Project

As an educator, Dr. Taylor has developed and taught courses including Public History, Oral History Methods, Native American History, and The Politics of Memory. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes experiential learning and community engagement, incorporating field work and digital humanities approaches. Professional development activities reveal her commitment to anti-racist teaching, accessible learning, and community-centered pedagogy through participation in the Engaged Scholars Institute and various Summer Institutes.