Last updated: August 21, 2024
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Q&A With Cultural Resource Management Intern Cristóbal López
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What is your job title and duties this summer?
My job title was Cultural Resource Management Intern for the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, located in San Antonio, Texas. My duties, and the goal of my internship, was to research the origins of the cemetery located in front of the church at Mission San Jose, one of the four missions of the park.
Throughout the summer, I conducted archival research at repositories in San Antonio such as the Texas A&M-San Antonio Archives, San Antonio Conservation Society Library, Bexar County Spanish Archives, and the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Library, where my office was located. I also utilized many online databases such as Bexar County Public Records and FamilySearch.com, which is an extremely useful website for conducting genealogical research.
The result of my research was a forty-page report titled “Historical Overview of the Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo Cemetery,” which will be housed at the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Library.
How did you get involved with your internship program?
I am currently a graduate student at the University of Texas at San Antonio working on my M.A. in History. One of the many great aspects about my program is that they constantly share internship and career opportunities in or around San Antonio with their students. I received an email from my program administrator back in January of this year regarding this internship with the Latino Heritage Internship Program and after reading the description, I knew it was something that I wanted to further pursue.
What inspired you to do an internship at the National Park Service?
I have always been open to different possibilities and career paths, and working for the National Park Service has always been something that I have been interested in. Moreover, the description for this internship fit everything that I am interested in and the type of work and research that I enjoy doing. My area of study at UTSA is the Spanish Borderlands, and the Spanish Missions were some of the most important characteristics that defined the borderlands. I also deeply enjoy doing public history and local history, and my internship allowed me to learn the history of the Mission San Jose community and meet and hear the stories of mission descendants.
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What is something unique and special about your site?
The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is unique and special in many ways. In 2015, the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park a World Heritage Site. It is one of twenty-four World Heritage Sites in the United States and the only World Heritage Site in the state of Texas. The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, along with Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo) make up the largest collection of Spanish colonial resources in the United States.
Lastly, the Park Rangers make my site truly special. All of the Rangers are extremely helpful, welcoming, kind, and they strive to ensure that every visitor has a memorable experience.
How has your cultural background influenced your passion for conservation?
When it comes to conservation, I primarily focus on the preservation of history, heritage, and culture. I am the son of two Mexican immigrants who immigrated to the United States at a young age in search of prosperity. In doing so, they left behind their friends, family, history, and heritage. Therefore, I have dedicated my academic and professional career to preserving the rich history and heritage of people, such as my parents, whose history tends to be lost, forgotten, or not included in certain narratives.
What advice do you have for youth who are interested in getting involved in stewardship and into the conservation field?
There are many ways to getting involved in the conservation field, so my advice would be to find a path that best suits you, your skills, and your passions, and have fun with it. The conservation field is immensely rewarding, and the reward is greater when you are passionate about what you do. Also, don’t hesitate to reach out to people when you have questions. Whether it be your professors, supervisors, family, friends, or even me, reaching out shows interest and helps establish the building blocks to wonderful relationships.
Lastly, keep looking forward. I have learned the hard way that plans do not always go the way we would like, but in those moments, it is important to keep looking forward and to keep reaching for your goals.