Christopher Flores-Bravo is a third-year History and French double major at the University of Virginia. As a student editor with the Center for Digital Editing, he works on cataloging and researching maritime sources from the Revolutionary era, specifically on Franco-American materials and naval ballads. In this blog post, he shares his perspectives on working on NDAR. He has worked on this project since early 2025.

I first learned about this position through the history majors’ email list, which advertised an internship with the Center for Digital Editing. The announcement described opportunities for students to work on the Naval Documents of the American Revolution (NDAR) project, and I applied soon after. I was excited to be accepted and to join the team.

Most of my work so far has involved building out the NDAR website by cataloging documents using digital notecards. These notecards serve as organizational tools that describe letters, journals, logbooks, and other primary sources in the collection. For each document, I create a unique page that includes key metadata such as the author, recipient, and all people, places, and ships mentioned. I then “tag” each of these entities so they are connected across the site. When an individual, place, or ship has not yet been documented, I create a new ID for it and add a brief summary and relevant background information. Sometimes this process is straightforward and quick—for example, when documenting well-known figures like Alexander Hamilton.

My background as a French major has been especially helpful in this work. Some entries require more in-depth research, and relevant sources are often in languages other than English. One recent example involved Louis Alexandre, 6th duc de La Rochefoucauld d’Enville. While creating his summary, I located a French-language book dedicated to his life and career. By skimming and translating key sections, I was able to gather valuable information about his role during the American Revolution. Working with NDAR has given me the chance to apply and strengthen my French reading skills in a real research context.

From the moment I started working on this project, I knew it was something I would enjoy. Each day I learn more about the people involved in the American Revolution, particularly figures connected to maritime warfare and diplomacy. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of naval conflict and of the significant French role in the war, especially through commanders like the Comte d’Estaing. I’ve really enjoyed contributing to NDAR and am excited to see how both the website and the project continue to grow.