Cherry Hill resident David Niescior is the 2016 recipient of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of New Jersey’s District Graduate History Award, presented every three years by the society to an outstanding graduate student in the field of history. This is the third year the New Jersey Dames Society has presented scholarship awards to history students at Rutgers-Camden. Annually there is an award to an undergraduate student and every three years to a graduate student from the three Colonial Dames societies of Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey rotationally.
Niescior’s nominating professor, Dr. Wendy Woloson summated, “This paper examines the way soldiers and civilians in Boston interpreted the meaning of uniforms and armaments in the period before and after the Boston Massacre…Using a wide variety of sources, including newspapers, individual accounts, military correspondence, and surviving uniforms from the period, this paper analyzes the way Army uniforms and armaments were politicized by even the lowest ranking in Boston’s social strata during the garrisoning of the town.”
Niescior graduated from Rutgers-Camden earlier and entered the graduate program, finishing his final semester this spring. His focus is largely on the 18th century and concepts of “Britishness” and the formation and nature of the British national identity, particularly in America. His career goal is pursue and academic career in history. He enjoys working in public history at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton noting the significant role the New Jersey Colonial Dames and the Daughters of the American Revolution played in the realization of the property as a significant historic site.
In addition to a monetary award, Niescior will be presented with a Certificate of Merit at the May 19 annual meeting and luncheon of the New Jersey Colonial Dames Society at their historic museum property, Peachfield, in Westampton. His nominating professor will also be in attendance. Additionally, certificates will also be presented to the annual undergraduate history award student and the winner of the Washington Congressional Seminar Essay Contest for high school students sponsored by the New Jersey Society Dames annually.
