Cate LiaBraaten

Cate LiaBraaten

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EMAIL: cliabraaten@luc.edu

OFFICE: Crown Center 557

ADVISOR: Dr. Karamanski

Education

PhD Student, Loyola University Chicago

  • Public History & American History
  • 2017, current student

Master of Arts, Eastern Illinois University

  • Historical Administration
  • Class of 2014, Graduated with Distinction

Graduate Coursework, University of Missouri-Kansas City

  • American History
  • 2012-2013

Bachelor of Arts, Cornell College

  • History (American History)
  • Class of 2012, Graduated Cum Laude

Research Interests

Public history, nineteenth century, twentieth century, history of education, history of childhood, architectural history, playground history, environmental history, history of parks and recreation, World's Fairs, the Great Depression, Progressive reform, material culture, gender history, rural life and agricultural history, museum education.

Publications and Research

File Attachments:
  1. LiaBraaten Schoolhouses.pdf LiaBraaten Schoolhouses.pdf
  • LiaBraaten, Cate. "Fair Play: Adults, Children, and Chicago's Depression-Era World's Fair." presented at the Conference on Illinois History, October 4, 2019.
  • LiaBraaten, Cate. "The Silent Steed So Swift and Blithesome." Frances Willard House Museum & Archives. May 16, 2019. Accessed May 17, 2019. https://franceswillardhouse.org/the-silent-steed-so-swift-and-blithesome/.
  • LiaBraaten, Cate. "The Triumph of Hope School's Desks," presented at the Loyola University Chicago History Graduate Student Association Conference, November 3, 2018.
  • LiaBraaten, Cate. "Playing Properly: Adult Supervision on Chicago's Progressive Era Playgrounds," presented at the Organization of Educational Historians' Annual Conference, October 5, 2018.
  • LiaBraaten, Cate, Review of Farmers Helping Farmers: The Rise of the Farm and Home Bureau, 1914 - 1935. By Nancy K. Berlage, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Volume 110, Number 2, Summer 2017.
  • LiaBraaten, Cate, Review of Bloomer Girls: Women Baseball Pioneers. By Debra A. Shattuck, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Volume 110, Number 3-4, Fall/Winter 2017.
  • LiaBraaten, Cate. "Making Historic Country Schools Modern Community Spaces” Midwest Open-Air Museums Coordinating Council Magazine Fall 2015
  • LiaBraaten, Cate. "From “grim Blot upon the Landscape” to Superior School: Progressivism’s Effect on the Space and Architecture of One Room Schools." The Journal of Illinois History 17 (2014): 119-34.
  • LiaBraaten, Cate. "Putting Preservation in Perspective: Comparing the Historic Sites of Knossos and Prospect Hill Plantation." Presented to an audience of students, faculty, staff, and community members at Cornell College Student Symposium, Spring 2012.

Honors and Awards

  • Loyola University Chicago Robert McCluggage Award for the Best Research Paper by a Graduate Student, 2019. Paper Title: "Playing Properly: Adult Supervision and Gender in Chicago's Progressive Era Playgrounds."
  • Country School Association of America Award for Scholarship and Artistry, Honorable Mention, Spring 2015. Paper Title: " “From ‘Grim Blot Upon the Landscape’ to Superior School: Progressivism’s Effect on the Space and Architecture of One-Room Schools.” 
  • Lavern M. Hamand Graduate Writing Award; Eastern Illinois University, Spring 2014. Award for best paper by a graduate student in the Department of History. Paper title: “From ‘Grim Blot Upon the Landscape’ to Superior School: Progressivism’s Effect on the Space and Architecture of One-Room Schools.” 
  • Robert Hennings Historical Administration Scholarship; Eastern Illinois University, Spring 2014. Awarded based on essay about career preparation and a writing sample.
  • Littell Statesman Award for Excellence in History; Cornell College, Spring 2012. Award for outstanding academic achievement in the field of history.

Public History Work

Conference Co-Organizer, June 2019-November 2019

  • Served as the co-chairperson of the Loyola History Graduate Student Association's 16th Annual Conference.
  • Developed the conference theme, "Conscience-Driven History," and solicited submissions from graduate student scholars at a variety of institutions.
  • Created panels based on thematic content of presentations.
  • Managed a group of faculty and graduate student volunteers.
  • Organized a lunch panel of professional historians, developed questions, and moderated the panel.
  • Developed the conference program and organized day-of logistics including catering and space rental. 

Frances Willard House Museum, September 2018 — Present

  • Museum Operations Manager
  • Oversee day-to-day administration and operational functions of the Frances Willard House Museum.
  • Schedule tours, maintain gift shop, manage membership and donor database.
  • Assist with museum outreach through website, social media, and media release.

Loyola University Chicago, Fall 2017 — Present

  • Teaching Assistant
  • Teach discussion sessions comprised of undergraduate students for History 101 and 102, Evolution of Western Ideas and Institutions.
  • Design lessons, prepare and deliver lectures, and mediate classroom discussion sessions.
  • Write paper prompts, grade papers, and deliver feedback to students.
  • Grade exams, write and grade quizzes.
  • Meet with students individually to discuss their concerns about the material covered in class and to help them prepare for exams.
  • Beginning Fall 2019: Head Teaching Assistant, support new teaching assistants with advice and tutorials.
  • Transitioned to teaching online in Spring 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evanston Women's History Project, Evanston History Center May 2018 — August 2018

  • Vickie Burke Intern for Women’s History
  • Researched local women's history in archival collections.
  • Wrote entries for and updated Omeka website https://evanstonandthe19th.omeka.net/, photographed and added archival documents to the online collection.
  • Prepared an exhibit plan for an upcoming women's suffrage centennial (2020) exhibit, including designing mock-ups of exhibit panels and writing label text.

Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, January 2016 — August 2017

  • Outreach Educator
  • Prepared and provided education outreach programs offered in Chicago and the surrounding areas. 
  • Scheduled and booked programs, communicated with teachers, librarians, school administrators, and community leaders. 
  • Managed Trust's rentable Learning Kits and departmental Facebook and Twitter pages. 
  • Planned, taught, and coordinated educational summer camps for elementary school students. 
  • Developed new programs and initiatives for the Education Department.
  • Managed Education Department interns. 

Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History,  June 2015 — August 2015

  • Museum Educator
  • Taught groups of summer camp students about historical and scientific concepts through a variety of interactive activities.
  • Supervised students in conducting experiments and on field trips.
  • Worked closely with other staff members to coordinate activities and team teach.

Chicago History Museum February 2014 — May 2014

  • Museum Education Contractor
  • Facilitated hands-on educational activities at Chicago Park District after-school programs
  • Taught students about Chicago's history using the Chicago flag as a point of reference
  • Represented the Chicago History Museum and other institutions affiliated with the Museums in the Park alliance
  • Educated students in basic artifact handling techniques and used material culture for teaching.

Historic Wagner Farm August 2014 — December 2015

  • Programmer
  • Facilitated programs for elementary school children, introducing them to farm animals, agricultural history, and the 1920s though hands-on learning experiences.
  • Worked with junior high school students to teach them about farm life and women’s history though historic house interpretation, including cooking on a wood-burning stove and doing laundry with a wringer machine. 
  • Developed programs and supervised volunteers in the historic home and children’s games areas at the Fall Harvest Festival. 

Chicago History Museum June 2014 — November 2014

  • Public Programs Intern
  • Organized and executed week-long Millennium Park Family Fun Festival event tent; project included volunteer scheduling and management, craft design and activity implementation, event supervision and facilitation, and all logistical aspects of the program.
  • Rewrote marketing copy for public programs and tours, restructured tour scripts for volunteer guides.

Eastern Illinois University September 2013 — May 2014

  • Curatorial and Education Team Member
  • Exhibit: “Text and Textiles: Crafting the Life of Guy and Irene Buzzard,” Eastern Illinois University, 2013-2014. 
  • Conceptualized, designated, and explained themes and ideas for the Historical Administration class exhibit, selected artifacts to be included, wrote and edited exhibit labels, and planned supplemental educational exhibit components.
  • Wrote and recorded audio tour, gallery tour, and curatorial talk based on curatorial themes and key artifacts.

Eastern Illinois University August 2013 — May 2014

  • Graduate Assistant
  • Worked with faculty to grade undergraduate history papers, administered examinations for undergraduates. 
  • Conducted research on Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln as parents for a publication.
  • Researched and publicized relaunch of Eastern Illinois University’s digital repositories for historic documents, including writing weblog entries.

Johnson County Museum April 2013 — August 2013

  • Education Assistant
  • Led visitors’ explorations of the 1950s All-Electric House by providing engaging and informative tours and answering questions for multi-aged groups.
  • Interpreted the past as a 1904 schoolteacher at Lanesfield School Historic Site, taught fourth and fifth grade students recitation, geography, and penmanship as part of a Living History program, and supervised lunch, recess games, and a spelling bee.
Author: Catherine Liabraaten
Last modified: 4/21/2020 10:46 AM (EDT)