Katey Watson
Clinical Assistant Professor, France A. Córdova Archivist
Archives & Special CollectionsFaculty Rank: Clinical Assistant Professor
HONR 49900 Purdue University and the Gender Revolution (co-instructor), Purdue University 2019
ILS 59000 Archival Theory and Practice
ILS 20100 Introduction to Digital Humanities
M.I., Archives and Records Management, University of Toronto, 2013
B.A. (Hons), History and English, York University, 2011
Dean's Team Award, Purdue University (2020)
Dean's Award for Significant Advancement of a Libraries Strategic Initiative, Purdue University (2021)
Libraries Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Award, Purdue University (2024)
Bravo+ Award, Purdue University (2024)
Society of Indiana Archivists - Webmaster, Vice-President (2020 - Present)
Articles and Forewords
Watson, K. (2025). Foreword in Purdue’s Female Founders: The Untold History of Trailblazing Women Faculty by Angie Klink. Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, IN.
Morris, S.L. & Watson, K. (2019). Success and Silences: Diversifying the Purdue Archives and Special Collections. Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence and ADVANCE Working Paper Series: Navigating Careers in the Academy: Gender, Race, and Class, 2(2): 25-36. https://www.purdue.edu/butler/documents/WPS-Fall-2019-Issue_final-1.13.20.pdf
Exhibitions
Watson, K. (2023-2024). Amelia Earhart: Life and Legacy. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Garrett, M., Pleasant, V., Sandgren, E., and Watson, K. (2021-2022). Not Given but Earned: Women’s Fight for the Vote. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Digital Initiatives
Basmaz, O. and Watson, K. (2025). We were always here: Purdue Women’s History Timeline. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. https://collections.lib.purdue.edu/timelines/purdue-women
Anand, G. and Watson, K. (2023). Not Given but Earned: Women’s Fight for the Vote: Women’s Suffrage Online Exhibition. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. https://collections.lib.purdue.edu/womens-suffrage/
Anand, G. and Watson, K. (2021). Susan Bulkeley Butler Women’s Archives. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. https://collections.lib.purdue.edu/womens-archives
Conferences
Basmaz, B. & Watson, K. (2024). Overlooked No More: Women in the Making of Purdue’s History. Hoosier Women at Work Conference. Indianapolis, USA.
Holland, A., Orazem, K., Reiher, E., & Watson, K. (2024). Tending the Untold: Contemporary Issues in Women’s Archives. 2024 Annual Meeting, Midwest Archives Conference, Des Moines, USA.
Child-Hilton, S., Miller, E., & Watson, K. (2022). Anniversary Celebrations: A Chance to Collaborate and Build Connections. 2022 Annual Meeting, Society of Indiana Archivists, Danville, USA.
Watson, K. (2019). Conducting historical research. 2019 Indiana League of Women Voters State Convention, Indiana League of Women Voters, Lafayette, USA.
Invited Talks
Watson, K. (2025). Introduction to the Purdue Archives and Purdue Women’s Club records. Spring Luncheon, Purdue Women’s Club, Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2025). Architect? Anarchist? Wait, what do you do? Demystifying archives and the role of archivists. Mary L. Matthews Club, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2025). Introduction to Purdue Archives. Meadowlarks Homemakers Club, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2025). Purdue Firsts: Making Inroads for Women. Women’s History Month, Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence. Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2024). Preserving the history of purdue women. Women’s History Month, Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence. Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2023), Helen Bass Williams. Portrait Unveiling, Purdue University College of Liberal Arts, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2023). Women in Purdue History. Women’s History Month, West Lafayette Public Library, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2021). Women’s Archives: Recent Projects. Dean’s Advisory Council, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2021). Powerful Women of Purdue. Tippecanoe County Historical Association, Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2021). What is an archivist. Career Fair, BC Girl Guides, Zoom.
Watson, K. (2019). Introduction to Archives. Member’s Meeting, Tippecanoe County Extension Homemakers, Lafayette, IN.
Grants
Efficiency in industry, the workplace, and the home: Preserving the films and audio recordings of time and motion study pioneers Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, Council on Library and Information Resources, Recordings at Risk program, PI. (2024)
Media Appearances
Podcasts
Full Steam Ahead: Black History Month (2021, February 10). Fox59. https://fox59.com/news/full-steam-ahead-podcast-episode-91-black-history-month
Hoffman, N. and Savage, S. (2024, October 28). Polly, Petrina and Charlotte: Purdue’s forgotten female athletics mascots. Purdue Exponent. https://www.purdueexponent.org/sports/polly-petrina-and-charlotte—purdues-athletics-female-mascots-that-didnt-last-long/article_285d4678-9477-11ef-bf8f-0f963cb4035e.html
Thomas, K. (2024, February 4). Earhart’s Purdue legacy resurfaces. Purdue Exponent. https://www.purdueexponent.org/campus/article_a576afd8-c39d-11ee-a0cd-df29af0c15e1.html
Tufts, J. and Shafiq, S. (2024, February 1). Purdue helped buy the plane Amelia Earhart flew when she disappeared. Has it been found? IndyStar. https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2024/02/01/amelia-earhart-missing-plane-found-purdue-university-lockheed-electra-west-lafayette-indiana/72407672007/
Beckwith, J. (2024, January 29). Amelia Earhart: Aviator. Legend. Boilermaker. The Persistent Pursuit. Purdue University. https://stories.purdue.edu/amelia-earhart-aviator-legend-boilermaker
Ellison, J. (2023, March 29). How America’s Queen of Agriculture shaped Purdue University. Agricultural Communications. https://ag.purdue.edu/news/2023/03/how-americas-queen-of-agriculture-shaped-purdue-university.html
Mattingly, A. (2022, September 26). Purdue’s First African American professor’s impact felt across generations. Purdue Marketing and Communications. Purdue University. https://stories.purdue.edu/purdues-first-african-american-professors-impact-felt-across-generations/
PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION
Faculty Rank: Clinical Assistant Professor
HONR 49900 Purdue University and the Gender Revolution (co-instructor), Purdue University 2019
ILS 59000 Archival Theory and Practice
ILS 20100 Introduction to Digital Humanities
M.I., Archives and Records Management, University of Toronto, 2013
B.A. (Hons), History and English, York University, 2011
Dean's Team Award, Purdue University (2020)
Dean's Award for Significant Advancement of a Libraries Strategic Initiative, Purdue University (2021)
Libraries Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Award, Purdue University (2024)
Bravo+ Award, Purdue University (2024)
Society of Indiana Archivists - Webmaster, Vice-President (2020 - Present)
PUBLICATIONS
Articles and Forewords
Watson, K. (2025). Foreword in Purdue’s Female Founders: The Untold History of Trailblazing Women Faculty by Angie Klink. Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, IN.
Morris, S.L. & Watson, K. (2019). Success and Silences: Diversifying the Purdue Archives and Special Collections. Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence and ADVANCE Working Paper Series: Navigating Careers in the Academy: Gender, Race, and Class, 2(2): 25-36. https://www.purdue.edu/butler/documents/WPS-Fall-2019-Issue_final-1.13.20.pdf
Exhibitions
Watson, K. (2023-2024). Amelia Earhart: Life and Legacy. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Garrett, M., Pleasant, V., Sandgren, E., and Watson, K. (2021-2022). Not Given but Earned: Women’s Fight for the Vote. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Digital Initiatives
Basmaz, O. and Watson, K. (2025). We were always here: Purdue Women’s History Timeline. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. https://collections.lib.purdue.edu/timelines/purdue-women
Anand, G. and Watson, K. (2023). Not Given but Earned: Women’s Fight for the Vote: Women’s Suffrage Online Exhibition. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. https://collections.lib.purdue.edu/womens-suffrage/
Anand, G. and Watson, K. (2021). Susan Bulkeley Butler Women’s Archives. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. https://collections.lib.purdue.edu/womens-archives
PRESENTATIONS
Conferences
Basmaz, B. & Watson, K. (2024). Overlooked No More: Women in the Making of Purdue’s History. Hoosier Women at Work Conference. Indianapolis, USA.
Holland, A., Orazem, K., Reiher, E., & Watson, K. (2024). Tending the Untold: Contemporary Issues in Women’s Archives. 2024 Annual Meeting, Midwest Archives Conference, Des Moines, USA.
Child-Hilton, S., Miller, E., & Watson, K. (2022). Anniversary Celebrations: A Chance to Collaborate and Build Connections. 2022 Annual Meeting, Society of Indiana Archivists, Danville, USA.
Watson, K. (2019). Conducting historical research. 2019 Indiana League of Women Voters State Convention, Indiana League of Women Voters, Lafayette, USA.
Invited Talks
Watson, K. (2025). Introduction to the Purdue Archives and Purdue Women’s Club records. Spring Luncheon, Purdue Women’s Club, Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2025). Architect? Anarchist? Wait, what do you do? Demystifying archives and the role of archivists. Mary L. Matthews Club, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2025). Introduction to Purdue Archives. Meadowlarks Homemakers Club, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2025). Purdue Firsts: Making Inroads for Women. Women’s History Month, Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence. Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2024). Preserving the history of purdue women. Women’s History Month, Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence. Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2023), Helen Bass Williams. Portrait Unveiling, Purdue University College of Liberal Arts, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2023). Women in Purdue History. Women’s History Month, West Lafayette Public Library, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2021). Women’s Archives: Recent Projects. Dean’s Advisory Council, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2021). Powerful Women of Purdue. Tippecanoe County Historical Association, Lafayette, USA.
Watson, K. (2021). What is an archivist. Career Fair, BC Girl Guides, Zoom.
Watson, K. (2019). Introduction to Archives. Member’s Meeting, Tippecanoe County Extension Homemakers, Lafayette, IN.
OTHER INFORMATION
Grants
Efficiency in industry, the workplace, and the home: Preserving the films and audio recordings of time and motion study pioneers Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, Council on Library and Information Resources, Recordings at Risk program, PI. (2024)
Media Appearances
Podcasts
Full Steam Ahead: Black History Month (2021, February 10). Fox59. https://fox59.com/news/full-steam-ahead-podcast-episode-91-black-history-month
Hoffman, N. and Savage, S. (2024, October 28). Polly, Petrina and Charlotte: Purdue’s forgotten female athletics mascots. Purdue Exponent. https://www.purdueexponent.org/sports/polly-petrina-and-charlotte—purdues-athletics-female-mascots-that-didnt-last-long/article_285d4678-9477-11ef-bf8f-0f963cb4035e.html
Thomas, K. (2024, February 4). Earhart’s Purdue legacy resurfaces. Purdue Exponent. https://www.purdueexponent.org/campus/article_a576afd8-c39d-11ee-a0cd-df29af0c15e1.html
Tufts, J. and Shafiq, S. (2024, February 1). Purdue helped buy the plane Amelia Earhart flew when she disappeared. Has it been found? IndyStar. https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2024/02/01/amelia-earhart-missing-plane-found-purdue-university-lockheed-electra-west-lafayette-indiana/72407672007/
Beckwith, J. (2024, January 29). Amelia Earhart: Aviator. Legend. Boilermaker. The Persistent Pursuit. Purdue University. https://stories.purdue.edu/amelia-earhart-aviator-legend-boilermaker
Ellison, J. (2023, March 29). How America’s Queen of Agriculture shaped Purdue University. Agricultural Communications. https://ag.purdue.edu/news/2023/03/how-americas-queen-of-agriculture-shaped-purdue-university.html
Mattingly, A. (2022, September 26). Purdue’s First African American professor’s impact felt across generations. Purdue Marketing and Communications. Purdue University. https://stories.purdue.edu/purdues-first-african-american-professors-impact-felt-across-generations/