Jason O’Brien
Wapsi Valley Archaeology, Inc.
126 East Main Street
Anamosa, Iowa 52205
Telephone: (319) 462-4760
Email: jobrien@wapsivalleyarch.com
Education
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. M.A in History completed May 2014.
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. B.A. in History completed May 2011.
Front Range Community College, Fort Collins, CO. A.A. completed July 2009
Research Positions
Principal Investigator/Architectural History, Wapsi Valley, Archaeology, Inc., Anamosa, IA. Completion of historic and historic architectural studies. Research, fieldwork, analysis, and product preparation for specific research projects, including writing of technical reports, National Register nominations, and public outreach publications. Identification, documentation, and evaluation of resources for Section 106 and National Register nomination purposes. Documentation of buildings and structures according to professional standards, including photography and descriptions of architectural details.
Research Associate, Public Lands History Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. Managed and lead project contracted by Zion National Park. Established Scope of Work and administered budget and other project members. Inventoried and determined significance of landscape features associated with the historic structures within the Oak Creek Historic District in Zion National Park. Inventoried features utilizing iPad app developed by Zion National Park staff and marked features with GPS equipment. Researched in archives located in the park, additional research outside. Prepared an amendment to the existing Multiple Resources for Zion National Park National Register Nomination form based on all the above gathered information that specifically detailed the newly documented landscape features and the history of use for the remaining existing structures.
Contracted Researcher and Writer, Contracted by Jim Labau, Fort Collins, CO.
Contracted by family to complete military history biography of Benjamin G. Preston, a highly decorated U.S. Navy Pilot from Fort Collins, Colorado. Continued research on the post-World War II life of Preston from 1945 until his retirement in 1970. This portion is the third chapter of the military history of Preston started by another researcher who was unable to complete the project for personal reasons. After finishing additional research, a thirteen-page write-up of Preston’s post-WWII military career was completed.
Digital History Methods Seminar, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Class project associated with larger project developed by the Public Lands History Center. Wrote essay for inclusion on Center’s digital content covering the “History of Agricultural and Urban Water Use in Fort Collins,” covering neighborhood highlights within the city as pertains to water use over time. Visualizations developed to accompany essay (not included in final webpage). Essay edited by Clarissa Trapp before final inclusion on website. Available at http://publiclands.colostate.edu/digital_projects/dp/poudre-river/urban-industrial/neighborhoods/
Historic Preservation Intern, City of Fort Collins Historic Preservation Office, Fort Collins, CO. Researched properties as submitted by homeowners for local historic designation. Including architectural survey and history, ownership history of the property, and research into property owner. Compiled information into designation form that argued of significance based on historical standards. Filed property folders. Did additional research and compiled information for files, as well as put together historic facts for use of historic tours.
Historic Preservation Methods Class, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. This graduate level course involved documentation of architectural resources located with a block of Fort Collins Laurel School Historic District. Completed architectural surveys for selected properties. Filled out Section 7 of National Register of Historic Places designation form and argue historic significance of homes. Completed Historic America Building Survey for selected property. Familiarity and course work on Section 106 process as well as with Secretary of the Interior Standards for historic preservation.
Material Culture Methods Class, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. Researched and created reports on various forms of material culture; including photographs, historical items, and gravestones. Major group research project focused on individuals and families of ethnic and immigrant background buried in Riverside Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. Project included interpreting designs and motifs of grave markers, establishing history and genealogy of selected individuals, determining social context of neighborhoods they lived in, churches they were affiliated with, and context of employment. Major project was meant to provide Fairmount Heritage Foundation with materials to help assist them with management of the cemetery and interpretation for tours they provide.
American Architectural History, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. Learned a broad historical interpretation of the North American built environment. Gained ability to identify major changes in North American architecture, identify and generally date structures, relate changing building technologies to architecture, and to interpret the built environment for the various meanings it can yield for historian and the public. Final project involved completing an architectural description of a local building, narrate its history, and analyze and argue its ties to broader historical trends.
Selected Professional Positions
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Assist professor with teaching responsibilities; including grading quizzes, papers and exams, possible lecturing, entering grades into RamCT class website, proctor exams, lead study sessions, keeping track of student attendance, holding office hours to assist students, keep lecture notes, other duties per professor needs
Specific Projects
2015 Principal Investigator, researcher, and writer for “Cultural Resources Surveys for the U.S. Highway 52 Improvement Project, Dubuque County, Iowa.” Work included doing primary and secondary research, and comprehensive architectural survey of project area documenting any modern structures and completing intensive level historical/architectural surveys of structures over 50 years of age.
2015 Contributing writer for “Phase I Intensive Archaeological Survey for the Amana Road NW Improvement Project, Johnson County, Iowa.” Researched and wrote material for “Results of Historical Research” section of archaeological report.
2014/2015 Research Associate, Writer, and Project Administrator, National Register of Historic Places amendment to “Multiple Resources for Zion National Park” NR Nomination, Public Lands History Center, Fort Collins, CO.
2014 Researcher/Writer, contributor to Fort Collins water history website, Public Lands History Center, Fort Collins, CO
2014 Researcher/Writer, chapter for local Fort Collins biography, Fort Collins, CO.
2013 Research Intern, writing local landmark designation forms, City of Fort Collins Historic Preservation Office, Fort Collins, CO.