For Immediate Release
August 27, 2026
CHEEYEON PARK NAMED JOSEPHINE FORMAN SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
UCLA graduate student receives $10,000 award
Madison, N.J. – Cheeyeon Park is the 2026 recipient of the Josephine Forman Scholarship, an award sponsored by the General Commission on Archives and History (GCAH) in cooperation with the Society of American Archivists (SAA). The $10,000 scholarship provides financial support to students of color pursuing graduate education in archival science, encourages students to pursue careers as archivists and promotes the diversification of the American archives profession.
Park is enrolled at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in the Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program.
“The Josephine Forman Scholarship provides invaluable support for my goal of preserving the histories of underrepresented diasporic communities,” Park says. “As I complete my MLIS, it will help me conduct thesis research on Korean American Catholic community archives, pursue relevant coursework, and gain hands-on experience at community archives. Most importantly, I am encouraged by this recognition to work toward becoming an archivist and scholar who helps communities preserve their histories and see themselves represented in the historical record.
“Cheeyeon’s work underscores why the Josephine Forman Scholarship is so important,” said Dr. Ashley Boggan, GCAH general secretary. “Her research into Korean American Catholic community archives demonstrates the vital role archivists play in ensuring that communities that are too often underrepresented in traditional collections are able to preserve their own stories and see their experiences reflected in the historical record. We are proud to support Cheeyeon in her goal to carry this important work forward.”
The Josephine Forman Scholarship, made possible through a donation to GCAH to support more ethically and racially diverse candidates entering the archives and history field, is named in honor of Forman, archivist for 18 years of the Southwest Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church and author of "We Finish to Begin: A History of Travis Park United Methodist Church, 1846–1991." As Conference Archivist, Forman collected records from closed churches along with administrative records for the Conference. For many years she was the church historian at Travis Park UMC in San Antonio, Texas. She was also committed to training and education for archivists and church historians.
About General Commission on Archives & History
The General Commission on Archives & History (GCAH), organized in 1968, is one of the general agencies of The United Methodist Church, with offices located in the Archives & History Center. on the campus of Drew University in Madison, N.J. GCAH offers assistance to local churches and Annual Conferences through publications, workshops, research services, and other programs. The Commission maintains relationships with the five Jurisdictional Commissions on Archives and History, the Central Conferences, the World Methodist Historical Society, the World Methodist Council, and the Charles Wesley Society.
Media contact:
Crystal Caviness
ccaviness@umcom.org
615-306-3401