Researching the Past. Preserving Its Stories. Bringing History to Life.
For more than two decades, my professional work has connected historical research, museum interpretation, archival collections, journalism, and education.
From my years with the National Park Service to developing public programs, documenting historical collections, researching American history, and creating engaging educational experiences, I have dedicated my career to making history accessible, meaningful, and memorable.
My work combines scholarly research with the art of storytelling—transforming historical evidence into exhibitions, publications, programs, and experiences that connect people with the past.
National Park Service | Fort Scott National Historic Site
March 2005 – October 2013
Historical Interpretation • Museum Collections • Public Programming
National Park Service | Fort Scott National Historic Site
March 2005 – October 2013
My work with the National Park Service encompassed historical interpretation, public education, museum collections, archival documentation, and the preservation of American history.
My responsibilities and projects included:
Developing and presenting historical interpretation and educational programs for diverse audiences.
Supporting museum exhibits and interpretive experiences.
Cataloging and documenting archaeological artifacts, including objects recovered from historic latrine excavations.
Accessioning, arranging, and documenting historical collections.
Using Encoded Archival Description (EAD) in archival work.
Participating in historical preservation and restoration-related projects.
This experience continues to shape my approach to historical research, material culture, museum interpretation, and public engagement.
Peru Cemetery Commission
Historic Cemetery Preservation • Massachusetts
Bringing History to Life: Education & Public Programming
Historical Persuasions | National Park Service | Independent Education
Curriculum Development • Museum Education • Historical Interpretation • Public Programs
Throughout my career, I have developed and delivered educational experiences designed to make history engaging, accessible, and meaningful for audiences of different ages and backgrounds.
My work encompasses historical interpretation at National Park Service sites, community history programming, curriculum development, and interactive online education.
Selected Experience
National Park Service Interpretation: Developed and presented historical programs connecting visitors with American history, historic places, and the people who shaped them.
Community History Programming: Created and delivered historical learning experiences through local community venues, including the Peru Public Library in Massachusetts.
Historical Curriculum Development: Designed history and humanities curricula incorporating primary sources, historical inquiry, literature, and creative projects.
Interactive Online Education: Developed and taught courses exploring American history, world civilizations, historical mysteries, and lesser-known events.
Public Engagement: Used storytelling, historical objects, discussion, and hands-on activities to make complex historical subjects approachable.
My Approach
I believe the most memorable historical experiences begin with a question, an object, or a human story.
Whether developing a museum program, leading a historical investigation, or designing an educational resource, I combine careful research with creative interpretation to encourage curiosity and meaningful engagement with the past.
Historic Cemetery Preservation & Community Heritage
Peru Cemetery Commission | Peru, Massachusetts
Historic Preservation • Community Heritage • Municipal Service
I served on the Peru Cemetery Commission in Peru, Massachusetts, contributing to cemetery preservation efforts and the stewardship of local burial grounds.
Historic cemeteries are more than places of remembrance. They are cultural landscapes that preserve evidence of community life, family histories, local traditions, and the people who shaped a town's identity.
My work with the commission reflects my commitment to preserving these important historical places and recognizing their value to future generations.
This experience complements my background in public history, museum collections, and historical interpretation, bringing together community service and the preservation of local heritage.
Escape the Revolution: Spy School Challenge
An Interactive Revolutionary War History Experience
Peru Public Library | Peru, Massachusetts | September 23, 2026
Program Design • Historical Interpretation • Experiential Learning • Community Education
What if learning about the American Revolution meant becoming part of a secret intelligence network?
Escape the Revolution: Spy School Challenge is an original, immersive history program I developed for young learners ages 8–14, combining historical research, storytelling, cryptography, and collaborative problem-solving.
Set in 1779 during the American Revolutionary War, the 75–90-minute experience transports participants into the world of George Washington's intelligence operations. Young recruits undertake a series of historical missions inspired by Revolutionary-era espionage.
Program Features
Decoding historical-style ciphers and secret messages
Investigating suspicious documents and historical clues
Exploring Revolutionary War intelligence networks
Evaluating the reliability of historical sources
Searching for a concealed intelligence drop
Completing a collaborative mission for Agent 711, George Washington's intelligence designation
Designed to resemble an escape-room adventure rather than a conventional classroom lesson, the program combines historical inquiry with hands-on discovery.
Project Significance
This project demonstrates my ability to transform historical research into engaging, audience-centered educational experiences suitable for libraries, museums, homeschool communities, and cultural organizations.
Original program developed and presented by Colette Lefebvre Davis, Historical Persuasions.
Historical Research & Scholarship
Graduate Research | Shays' Rebellion and Early American History
Master of Arts in Public History — Southern New Hampshire University, 2026
My graduate research has explored the political, economic, and social tensions of early American history, with particular attention to Shays' Rebellion and its significance in post-Revolutionary Massachusetts.
Through my master's capstone research, I examined the historical circumstances surrounding the uprising and its place in the larger story of the early American republic.
My scholarly interests extend to the experiences of ordinary people, particularly women and communities whose perspectives have often received less attention in traditional historical narratives.
My research practice brings together historical documents, archival investigation, material culture, and public interpretation to develop historically grounded narratives for contemporary audiences.
Areas of Research Interest
Colonial and Revolutionary America
Women's experiences in eighteenth-century history
Early American political and social movements
New England history and community heritage
Material culture and historical collections
Historical memory, folklore, and public interpretation
Connecting Scholarship With Public History
I believe historical research should reach beyond academic settings. Through Historical Persuasions, I translate scholarly investigation into accessible writing, interpretive programs, educational resources, and meaningful historical experiences.
Have a Historical Project in Mind?
Every collection, community, and historic place has a story worth telling.
Whether you're developing a museum exhibition, researching a historic property, documenting a collection, planning an educational program, or bringing a historical narrative to life, Historical Persuasions can help.
I work with museums, historical societies, libraries, educators, writers, and individuals to create thoughtful, research-driven historical projects.
Let's uncover the past together.