Benjamin Marnell
Research Historian | Passionate Educator
“I equate my study of history to spelunking in a cave. I shine my flashlight, its beam of light illuminating only a small area of the dark expanse.”
Work at HAI
At HAI, Benjamin is a researcher, educator and writer. With background in archives, education and cultural resource management, he is prepared to navigate the many paths of historical sources to piece together compelling narratives. Drawing from his diverse portfolio of skills and education, he works diligently to tackle client research objectives and needs.
Recognizing that clients will have different goals and expectations, Benjamin tailors his research to meet specific demands of each client. Though he specializes in 19th and 20th century British Colonial History, he has a passion for integrating different aspects of history and technology together in order to make history more approachable.
Path to HAI
Prior to joining HAI, Benjamin worked as a clerk at the Monongalia County Records Management Office. While working for the Records Management Office, Ben worked to clean, organize, digitize and store county records in order to facilitate access for researchers. He also held internships with the United States State Department, Office of the Historian and West Overton Village and Historic Site.
Benjamin graduated from West Virginia University with an MA in Public History and British Colonialism and earned two certificates in Cultural Resource Management and Geographic Information Systems. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017, majoring in History and minoring in Secondary Education.