Caitlin R. D. Klepper

Caitlin Donnelly Klepper
  • Assistant Librarian
  • Public Engagement Librarian

Contact Info

785-864-4456

Biography —

Caitlin Klepper is the Public Engagement Librarian at Kenneth Spencer Research Library. In that role, her primary focus is connecting community members (including K-12 students and educators, civic groups, and partner organizations) with the library's collections, services, and staff. Previously, Caitlin was Spencer's Head of Public Services (December 2012-January 2026) and the Archivist at the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library at the Alamo­ in San Antonio, Texas (July 2008-December 2012). Caitlin has additional professional experience with Documenting the American South at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the Special Collections Research Center at North Carolina State University, the Government Documents Library and the Preservation Services Unit at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the National Park Service.       

   

Education —

Certified Archivist, Academy of Certified Archivists, 2009
M.S. in Library Science (concentration in archival studies), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2008
M.A. in Public History, North Carolina State University, 2006
B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences – Humanities – American Civilization, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2004

Selected Publications —

Klepper, Caitlin Donnelly. 2018. "Archives." Book chapter. Be Credible: Information Literacy for Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing Students. Peter Bobkowski and Karna Younger, University of Kansas. https://oen.pressbooks.pub/becredible.

Selected Presentations —

Klepper, C. D. (11/21/2019). Studying Slavery through Primary Sources and Personal Stories. Kansas City Area Archivists Fall Symposium. Miller Nichols Library, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO

Donnelly, C., & Kottman, M. (8/8/2017). Mapping Aeon Activity Data for Use in Annual Statistics. Intersections: Technology and Public Services in Special Collections. Penn State University, State College, PA

Donnelly, C. (5/27/2017). Genealogy Resources at Kenneth Spencer Research Library. Johnson County Genealogical Society General Monthly Meeting. Johnson County Central Resource Library, Overland Park, KS

Whittaker, B., Donnelly, C., & D'Antonio, S. (10/23/2015). Exhibit Design to Engage Students in Recovering History. Missouri Association for Museums and Archives Annual Meeting. Columbia, MO

Donnelly, C. (10/14/2011). We Are Besieged by a Thousand or More Visitors: The DRT Library and the 175th Anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo. Sixth Annual Archives Day Celebration: Archives and Anniversaries. The Wittliff Collections, Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, TX

Exhibitions —

Celebrating Watson Library: Impacts, Innovations, and Renovations, curated with Letha Johnson, Molly Herring, and Meredith Phares. Kenneth Spencer Research Library, 2024.  

Photographic Treasures of Historic Leavenworth, Kansas, curated with Kathy Lafferty in conjunction with a traveling exhibit from the Leavenworth County Historical Society. Kenneth Spencer Research Library, 2023.

Meet the Spencers: A Marriage of Arts and Sciences, curated with Marcella Huggard. Kenneth Spencer Research Library, 2019.

In the Shadow of Cortés: From Veracruz to Mexico City, curated with Kathy Lafferty in conjunction with a traveling exhibit from Indiana University Bloomington. Kenneth Spencer Research Library, 2016.

The Magic of Oz: A Collection Celebrating a Classic, curated with KU alumna Jane Albright featuring materials from her personal Wizard of Oz collection. Kenneth Spencer Research Library, 2014.