By Emily Slater

A Cal Poly team has made remarkable strides in uncovering the history of California’s African-descended population from 1769 to 1850, as demonstrated by their recent presentation at the annual conference of the Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations in Virginia.  

Led by history lecturer Cameron Jones and computer science Professor Foaad Khosmood, the interdisciplinary group is using advanced data science to reveal an often-overlooked chapter of California’s history. 

“We’re reconstructing a past that was nearly erased,” Jones explained. “It’s about more than just identifying names — it’s about understanding how these communities formed, thrived and contributed to California’s history.”  

The project, one of several sponsored by Cal Poly’s stories