Claire Oberon Garcia Is the New State Historian in Colorado

Claire Oberon Garcia, professor of English at Colorado College, was appointed State Historian for the state of Colorado. She will also lead Colorado’s State Historian’s Council.

Dr. Garcia has been a professor at Colorado College for more than three decades. Her research focuses on the experiences of women of the Black Atlantic in the beginning of the twentieth century.

“As an interdisciplinary scholar whose focus is on untold or underappreciated writing by Black women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, I look forward to bringing new frameworks and conversations to our understandings of Coloradoans’ lived experiences and historical narratives,” said Dr. Garcia. “Stepping into this role – which has been around for 100 years – provides me a chance to show how much our state has changed and reemphasize the importance of well researched, engaging, and accessible public history to building successful and inclusive democracies.”

Dr. Garcia is a graduate of Bennington College in Vermont, where she majored in philosophy and literature. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in English and American literature from the University of Denver.