Rebekah Oakes

About Rebekah Oakes

I am currently the agency historian for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A passionate advocate of public service and nuanced historical interpretation, I seek to increase relevance and understanding of the past for all Americans. My experience in government service has highlighted the importance of comprehensive and continuing training for staff, robust digital outreach, and exhibits and programming that encourage dialogue between the public and practitioners. I am dedicated to inclusion, equity, and anti-racist action in public service. My past positions with the National Park Service include experience as the Chief of Interpretation at Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, a public affairs specialist with the NPS\'s Region 1, and as an interpretive ranger and webmaster with Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. I have a history of establishing rapport and building relationships, solving problems and developing ways to effectively employ communications to achieve long-term goals.I am a proud alumna of Gettysburg College and West Virginia University, and hope to foster more collaboration between the academy and public history sites through my career.

Experience

1. Lead Historian

   USPTO

   Oct 2024 — Present

   As the USPTO\'s Lead Historian, I create historical content for the agency’s publications, maintain the agency’s institutional history, and serve as the designated USPTO authority on the history of the agency and the American intellectual property (IP) system. A sampling of my work includes:• Planning, coordination, and subject matter expertise for major projects and milestone events.• Accurate and relevant historical information for speeches, talking points, press releases, blogs, social media posts, and more. • Lectures, presentations, and trainings on specialized historical topics for both external and internal audiences. • On-record subject matter expertise for press outlets, podcasts, and multi-media presentations. • In-depth historical research, fact-checking, and writing for both agency and external publications. • Physical and digital exhibit design.• Educational materials for K-12 and college-aged audiences. • Maintains the USPTO’s oral history program for the agency’s official records. • Provides preservation guidance and coordinates digitization of historical materials, as well as maintains a small physical archive of agency history.

Education

• Gettysburg College

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), History

  2009 — 2013

• West Virginia University

  Master of Arts (M.A.), Public History & 19th Century U.S. History

  2013 — 2015

• Conneaut High School

  High School Diploma

  2005 — 2009

Skills

• Historical Interpretation
• Blogging
• Research
• Guided Tours
• Coordinating Special Events
• Teaching
• Historic Preservation
• Library
• Critical Thinking
• American History
• Historical Research
• Writing
• Visitor Management
• Organization
• Microsoft Office
• Communication
• Photoshop
• Social Media
• Tour Planning
• History