The newest episode of the “Tigers in the Archives” podcast highlights the unique career journey of Nick Richbell, head of Special Collections and Archives at Clemson University.
Podcast host Tara Wood, instruction and outreach archivist for Special Collections and Archives, speaks with Richbell about his path from England to Canada and eventually to Clemson, where he joined the University in 2023.
Before entering the archival profession, Richbell originally planned to become an interpreter and translator during his undergraduate studies. His career took an unexpected turn while working in customer service management for an airline customer loyalty program. After speaking with a friend about archives, records and historical documents, he became interested in the field and applied to McGill University’s archival studies program in 2009.
Richbell earned a Master of Library and Information Studies from McGill University and later completed a Ph.D. in history at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. His dissertation explored the life and career of Maurice Barbanell, a British businessman, journalist, medium and leader of spiritualism.
Before Clemson, Richbell worked at the McGill University Archives and the McGill University Health Centre before becoming the head archivist and third department head in history at the University of Waterloo. Richbell has also been a guest in some episodes of the podcast “Haunted History Chronicles.”
“Tigers in the Archives” is all about Clemson history told through the archival resources found in Special Collections and Archives. It is available on Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify and other major podcasting platforms.
Story by Marketing and Communications intern Megan Lougher ’27