The University of New Hampshire Library is pleased to announce Evan Christensen '28, of Canterbury, NH, is the recipient of the Roland D. Sawyer Scholarship, awarded to a graduate or undergraduate student whose research draws on primary sources from the Sawyer Papers held in the Milne Special Collections and University Archives.
Elizabeth Slomba, Special Collections Librarian, and Evan Christensen, recipient of the Roland D. Sawyer Scholarship
The Sawyer Papers offer students and scholars insight into a variety of topics including genealogy, New Hampshire history prior to 1969, and the political and social movements of the late 19th and early 20th century, such as temperance, Christian Socialism, the Socialist Party in the United States, and the Populist Party. Roland Douglas Sawyer was a Protestant minister and Massachusetts state legislator from Kensington, NH, who was involved in many of the important issues of his day, from campaigns against prohibition and corruption to the Sacco and Vanzetti case.
Christensen, who is pursuing a B.S. in genetics: genomics from UNH, will receive $1500 in recognition of his creative scholarly engagement with the materials, excellent citation practices, and meaningful research into his chosen topic, the Anti-Profanity League, which was founded by Sawyer. Christensen’s project, tentatively titled, “Crusading Against Vice: The Anti-Profanity League and Its Legacy,” examines the League’s efforts as well as its broader impact on public discourse and reform culture. He plans to present his research at the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference in April, and his project, once completed, will be available through the UNH Scholars Repository.
“The Sawyer Papers have profoundly impacted both the direction and depth of my research,” says Christensen. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity that the Milne Special Collections and Archives offers to engage with these materials and look forward to further exploration of their rich historical significance.”
The Milne Special Collections & Archives are open by appointment. Please call (603) 862-2714 or email archives@unh.edu to schedule your visit.
