Danielle Russell ’25 turned a high school cemetery project into a lasting digital memorial to nearly 600 veterans, thanks to mentorship at Gettysburg College and collaboration with fellow student historians.
When Danielle Russell ’25 first set foot on the Gettysburg College campus, she knew she had found more than just a school—it was a place where her passion for history could evolve into something enduring. Traveling nearly 3,000 miles from Gilroy, California, Russell chose Gettysburg because it was the right choice for her professional aspirations.
“After attending the Civil War Institute (CWI) Summer Conference as a high school sophomore, and sitting down with Dr. Peter Carmichael, I knew this was the place where I could grow as a Civil War historian,” recalled Russell, a history major and public history and Civil War era studies minor.
That summer conference marked the beginning of a journey that would transform a small-town cemetery project into a robust digital database honoring nearly 600 veterans, many of whom had long been forgotten.
A project rooted in persistence
Russell’s project began during her sophomore year of high school. After being dismissed by a local historical society, a determined Russell turned to the Gilroy VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Hall. There, she met Christine West, who handed her a modest task: research a single World War II veteran. That small assignment snowballed into something far more ambitious.
With a stack of outdated cemetery maps from the 1990s and a desire to give voice to the past, Russell began walking through Gavilan Hills Memorial Park, documenting names, correcting misspellings, and uncovering untold stories.
“I spent over 500 hours in that cemetery,” she said. “From an original list of about 230 veterans, we’ve now identified nearly 600, including almost 60 Civil War soldiers—something you wouldn’t expect to find in California.”
A home for passion and purpose
At Gettysburg, Russell found the academic structure to support her interests and the mentors who nurtured her vision. Prof. Carmichael helped sharpen her focus and encouraged her to ask deeper interpretive questions. When Russell enrolled in classes with Prof. Ian Isherwood ’00 during her junior year, the next chapter of the project took off. Isherwood immediately recognized Russell’s potential.
“One of the really special things about being a historian at Gettysburg College is that we attract some really exceptional young historians due to our distinctive and unique place in history,” Isherwood said. “Danielle is one of those exceptional students.”
“Everyone’s story is unique, and those stories still matter.”
– Danielle Russell ‘25
Inspired by the college’s oldest Digital History project, The First World War Letters of H.J.C. Peirs, which was based on letters of Marco Dracopoli’s ‘14 ancestor during World War I, Russell proposed a similar project to house biographical and interpretive information on each veteran she had uncovered in Gavilan. Isherwood wholeheartedly approved of the idea and together with College Archivist Amy Lucadamo ’00 and Digital Initiatives Librarian R.C. Miessler, helped Russell develop her idea into an interactive and informative public database.
“She has achieved national attention for it, and the work is purely her own and that of the students she recruited to help” Isherwood said. “Students like Danielle give me a lot of faith in the future of my profession.”
Teamwork and a shared vision
To assist with the project, Russell brought in two of her closest friends and fellow history majors, Maddie Ulman ’26 and Hayden Strittmatter ’25. All three were immersed in public history through Brian C. Pohanka internships and coursework, and their combined analytical and communication skills expanded the project’s reach.
“Hayden took on a lot of the World War II and Civil War veterans,” said Russell, who will join Strittmatter as doctoral students in history at Louisiana State University next year. “He tracked down information I couldn’t find and confirmed identities that had long been question marks. Maddie amazed me with the level of detail she uncovered—medals, training bases, even specifics about where veterans were wounded or captured.”
Ulman, who is currently studying abroad in Rome, Italy, describes her work on the project fulfilling, adding “my favorite part has been piecing together the stories of these veterans. It’s especially meaningful knowing how passionate Danielle is about the project. She’s a phenomenal leader and friend.”
Building a Legacy
While the software—initially supported by Gettysburg College and now backed by community donations—hosts the technical side of the project, Russell’s vision goes far beyond a list of names and dates. Drawing on battlefield-based coursework, interpretive training, and her work in Special Collections, Russell and her team are adding narrative depth to the profiles.
“These veterans deserve more than just a line of text,” she said. “They deserve interpretation, context—stories that connect them to the broader themes in American history. There’s no such thing as a ‘common’ soldier. Everyone’s story is unique, and those stories still matter.”
After graduation, she plans to expand upon the project. She’s coordinating with the VFW in Gilroy to secure sustainable funding and connect the database to community commemorations like Wreaths Across America and Memorial Day ceremonies.
“This project began as a way to ensure veterans were remembered and honored,” Russell said. “But now, it’s also about showing why their stories still resonate—how they help us understand the past, and ourselves.”
“Danielle will make a really unique contribution to the field of history,” Isherwood added. “She came here because of her love for the Civil War, but she has broadened her interests with this project and leaves Gettysburg with a wonderful legacy. It’s a testament to who she is—and to what’s possible at a place like Gettysburg College.”
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By Corey Jewart
Photos provided by Danielle Russell ’25
Posted: 04/23/25