Unearthing Hidden Histories: Jarita Bavido Wins John Anderson Award
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| Jarita Bavido and Assoc. Prof. Kyle Neill |
Her winning submission, “Gold Mountain in the Pinery: Chinese Laundries in the Small Towns of Wisconsin, 1878–1940,” is a remarkable piece of original scholarship. Jarita's project shines a light on the often-overlooked lives and labors of Chinese immigrants who operated laundries across Wisconsin’s small towns. Her research uncovers connections between entrepreneurship, migration, and belonging in communities where these laundries once stood—and where traces of their presence linger today.
The selection committee, chaired by Assoc. Prof. Kyle Neill, praised Jarita's project as a "methodical and exhaustive" undertaking, one that relies not only on secondary sources, but also deeply rooted primary source research: naturalization records, census data, old newspaper articles, and directories. Her work, they wrote, “displays an alignment with the essence of John Anderson’s own community storytelling.”
Jarita has become a well-known figure on campus for her academic talent, her generosity as a peer, and her ability to connect the past with the present. We caught up with her to learn more about her research, her college experience, and what’s next after graduation:
Q&A With Jarita
Name: Jarita Bavido
Hometown: Grew up in Stratford, now in Stevens Point.
Majors: History, International Studies; Asian Studies, Philosophy; Religious Studies
Minors: Women's and Gender Studies; Art
History
Certificates: Geographic Information Systems; Native American and Indigenous Studies.
Q: How has the library been part of your college journey?
There's not a single way the library has not been part of my journey! From bouncing ideas off the reference librarians, to getting the lay of the discourse by looking at encyclopedias, to late nights spent trying different search terms on the main page (we have access to so many great journals and e-books online!), to borrowing board games to play with my friends (and my family members), to watching movies, to using newspaper databases to find historical articles, to going to the archives to find records and items from all over the state through the Area Research Center Network, to looking up information about on Ancestry, to the inter-library loan system and the flexibility on due dates so that I can get my research done without worrying about returning books, to the wealth of databases and dictionaries and libguides available for specific classes — the UWSP library is probably my most visited webpage and the thing I will miss most after graduating!
I keep thinking of more ways the library has been part of my journey! I've borrowed kids books to entertain my kids during classes on no school days. Access to the Oxford English Dictionary is one of the most underrated and fun things the library offers. Poetry month and the Poem in Your Pocket program always brightens the end of the semester when everything is busy by forcing a pause, a reflection. Being able to request books be purchased that are not yet on the shelves has also been fantastic.
Q: What's one library service or resource you wish more students knew about?
I think it has to be the access to Ancestry.com through Ancestry Library! Being able to access census records, yearbook photos, military information and so much more helps bring historical research to life. Plus, you can find out about your own family tree.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of from your college years?
There have been a lot of moments to be proud of, but getting to present my work at the Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs, which took place at Notre Dame last fall, was a highlight!
Q: What’s something college taught you beyond the classroom?
As a nontraditional student, I have spent a lot of my life feeling like I didn't belong and didn't have anything to offer. One of the biggest things college has taught me is that my voice matters.
Q: Do you have any advice for students returning to college?
Don't be afraid to ask for help, reach out, and find resources! Disability Resource Center for accommodations — which can also help support you through things like migraines, Crohn's Disease, and anxiety; Tutoring-Learning Center for help with papers and any courses you're struggling with; ACAC for help with resumes and figuring out what to do for the future; Mantra Health and the Counseling Center if you're struggling with mental health or how to handle roommates or family situations; centers like the QRC, MRC, or NAC if you're feeling isolated and looking for community. And probably my favorite-- any time you have questions or want to learn more, attend your professors' office hours! There are so many people in your corner who want to see you thrive.
Q: What’s next after graduation?
I'm hoping to stay close by and get a job — hopefully somewhere that lets me retain access to the UWSP Libraries! I might eventually go to grad school, but I have a lot of research topics I'm working on in the meantime — stories that I hope to share with the community in the near future!
Jarita's award comes with a $1,000 prize and a copy of A County Sampler by John Anderson himself. Her passion for history, commitment to telling stories that have gone untold, and deep ties to the UWSP library community make her a shining example of what this award is all about.
Congratulations again, Jarita, and thank you for reminding us that libraries help build the future by helping us better understand the past.
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