Olivia Jacobs

I’m a history and anthropology graduate with museum studies training and hands-on archival experience. My work centers on preserving primary materials, organizing collections, and making research accessible to the public.

Most recently, I served as an Academic Intern at the Madison County Archival Library, where I documented and organized the Bertha Love – Through Her Own Eyes Project in Content DM. I also preserved and organized the Illinois Bell Collection in the PastPerfect Program, and used STimaging Microfilm to observe Madison County land records.

Before that, I was an Academic Intern at the Crisp Museum, photographing and digitizing paintings and photographs and catalogued artifacts such as arrow points, mastodon teeth, and ceramics in PastPerfect. I helped organize and display rotating art collections and provided educational tours to guests, supporting community engagement through museum events.

Alongside archival work, I currently work as a Native Bird Specialist at Wild Birds Unlimited, educating the public on the needs and behaviors of Midwest native birds. I assist with community events focused on native plants and wildlife, address customer concerns about attracting wildlife to their homes, and organize and document weekly inventory—an approach that blends careful information management with real-world public service.