Dean Wanda Pillow Opens REDTalks with "But Where Did York Sleep?"

On Thursday, April 3rd, Dean Wanda Pillow opened REDTalks with a compelling question about American history – who counts, and whose stories are told?

REDTalks are a part of the University of Utah’s 175th anniversary celebrations. Inspired by TED Talks, faculty from around the university shared ideas, experiences, and insights from their research in short, thought-provoking presentations. The sold-out event, hosted at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, was also livestreamed, reaching hundreds of viewers.

"This event was truly moving! The broad range of topics and the depth of knowledge shared by each faculty speaker showcased the university's commitment to innovation and excellence,” praises Morgan Stinson, Director of Advancement in the College of Humanities. “Each presentation was a testament to the intellectual vibrancy of our campus. Dean Pillow’s insightful talk, 'But Where Did York Sleep?' illustrated the importance of the humanities, and captured the audience with critical questions. This event not only celebrated the rich history of excellence at the U but ignited passion among alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and community members who attended."

The research that led to Pillow’s talk was inspired by a question that her then-10-year-old son asked during a tour of Fort Clatsop, where the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition wintered from December 1805 to March 1086. The tour guide had explained where every member of the expedition slept in the fort – except for York, an enslaved Black man owned by William Clark. Inquisitive by nature, Pillow’s son piped up with his question, “But where did York sleep?” The discomfited tour guide, caught off guard, did not have a clear answer for the young visitor.

Since this jarring realization, Pillow has spent years in archives and libraries, poring over primary records and secondary interpretations of the expedition, wading through 200+ years of popular culture adaptations of the voyage, and come to the conclusion that the predominant theme about York is in his absence from the records. He is only mentioned 50 times in all the primary sources. Yet, as Pillow recounts – York was there. “He was there, every day and every night of the expedition. 851 days. 852 nights. So I returned to those archives.”

With renewed purpose, Pillow has been able to trace the outlines of York’s presence, discern what he was doing each day, and place his contributions in the broader context of what has become known as an American odyssey. “York, as it turns out, was one hundred percent responsible for Clark’s safety and well-being on the expedition,” Pillow shares. “He prepared all of Clark’s food, mended his clothing, set out the bedding, and took care of Clark when Clark was ill (which happened quite a bit on the expedition).” She notes that York also engaged in trade, was devoted to his wife, had beloved family members, at least one of whom managed to escape slavery, and that Clark denied York his freedom for over 20 years after the expedition ended despite repeated requests.

Pillow says, “That day at Fort Clatsop when my son asked that question, I began to listen not only as a researcher but as a mother. For my son and our family, “Where did York sleep?” isn’t simply a rhetorical question. It is a question of who counts, and who matters, in American history.” Pillow’s work calls on us to affirm that African American history is an integral part of U.S. history – even the parts that are difficult to confront. Pillow concludes her talk with an invitation to the audience “…to be curious, and a call to care.”

Dean Pillow was in a cadre of competitively-selected speakers for REDTalks. Following Pillow’s presentation, Edward Bateman represented the College of Fine Arts with his talk about dilemmas in teaching artistic intuition, “Color and the Hidden Knowledge of Artists.” From the College of Pharmacy, Daniel Malone spoke about lifesaving interventions in “Healthcare Providers Ignoring Stop Signs – An Odyssey to Novel Drug-Drug Interaction Management.” Samantha Moore-Berg from the College of Social and Behavioral Science addressed ways to tackle political polarization with “Understanding and Overcoming Division in a Divided America,” while Rogelio Cardona-Rivera from the College of Architecture & Planning sketched a vision for the transformative power of video games with “Toward a Science of Game Design.” Finally, Ken Golden from the College of Science inspired with his talk, “Mathemagic of Sea Ice, Semiconductors, and Harry Potter.”

“It is a tremendous honor to join such talented colleagues in sharing impactful academic research with broader audiences in this unique forum,” says Pillow. “I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the people who worked so hard to give us this platform so we could share these important messages with the community.”

Many congratulations to Dean Pillow and each faculty member who delivered a REDTalk on their dedication to sharing research with the community and broadening our collective understanding of what is possible – past, present, and future.