The CSPM staff selected Laura Fadely as our September 2026 Volunteer of the Month. Laura served as the Curatorial Research Assistant for the Freedom to Thrive: The American Experiment in Colorado Springs.
Laura’s thesis on the Civil Rights Movement in Colorado Springs was an important contribution to the "Freedom to Thrive" exhibit. She diligently researched to unearth primary sources that revealed new details on the legal cases of Juanita Hairston and George Yamada – who both fought for equal access to public accommodations under existing Colorado Law. Laura proved to be an indefatigable researcher with sharp analytical skills. I am extremely grateful for her assistance and believe she represents the best of what the UCCS History Department has to offer the museum profession.
On September 23, Laura presented her research for the Museum’s Lunch & Learn series. Creating a Disturbance: Black Activism and Civil Rights in the Pikes Peak Region examined how Colorado’s civil rights laws worked—and where they fell short—in protecting Black residents from the custom of racial segregation in public spaces. She shared how this research challenges the idea that the fight for racial equality was limited to the American South. Ultimately, it highlighted how Black Coloradans gave civil rights laws meaning through persistence, activism, and legal action, forcing businesses and communities to recognize rights that often existed on paper but not in practice.
Laura earned her B.A. in History, certificate for Civic Engagement through United States History, and her M.A. in History from University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Her areas of interests span cultural and social histories, with academic focus on Indigenous history, Scottish history, and Civil Rights history. Laura enjoys examining the role of storytelling in shaping historical understanding and has been dedicated to uncovering and sharing meaningful historical narratives.