The Scribe

Quick Information: A New Course for Fall 2010

2010-04-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Dr. Skip Knox will be offering his HIST 380: History of the Late Middle Ages, online, in Fall 2010.

Walker Wins Fellowship to Israel

2010-04-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

David Walker, one of our faculty members, has been named an academic fellow by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and willtravel to Israel in June for an intensive course in terrorism studies and how democracies can defeat the worldwide terrorist threat.

Walker, a special lecturer in the Department of History, teaches classes in military and diplomatic history as well as world history, historiography and historical methodology. His current research investigates the links between military innovation and imagining future war.

The FDD Academic Fellows program provides a 10-day learning experience to U.S.-based teaching and research professionals to provide them with cutting edge information about defeating terrorist groups. The program will be conducted at Tel Aviv University May 29-June 9 and includes lectures by academics, and military and intelligence officials, as well as diplomats from Israel, Jordan, India, Turkey and the United States. It also includes “hands on” experience through visits to police, customs, and immigration facilities, military bases, and border zones to learn the practical side of deterring and defeating terrorists.

“I’m hopeful for a fresh perspective on how people that live with terror as a daily threat adapt and confront that threat,” Walker said. “There are few places in the world that can offer a better view on the shifting nature of fighting terror than Israel.”

Introducing New Courses in Fall 2010

2010-03-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

The history department will be offering three courses for the first time in the fall semester:

HIST 381: "Issues in Public History," MWF 10:40-11:40, taught by Leslie Madsen-Brooks, will "look at how people engage with history outside the classroom" Madsen-Brooks writes. "We’ll learn from changing urban landscapes, consider what everyday objects can tell us about an historical moment, and reflect on how and why people collect and catalog photos and texts. Along the way, we will meet practicing historians and think through what it means to practice and preserve history in an increasingly digital world."

HIST 381: "The United States and the Wars in the Middle East," TuTh 1:40-2:55, taught by David Walker, will examine US involvement in the Middle East in the twentieth century.

HIST 380: "The Cultural Logics of Death and Dying," TuTh 3:15-4:30, taught by Sarah Hoglund, who offers this description: "This course will focus on eighteenth and nineteenth century Britain and its colonies, tracing the cultural, social, economic, and political transformations in the conception of death and dying. We will draw on works of literature, art, history, philosophy, and theology, unpacking the multiple meanings of nineteenth century cemeteries and sepulchral monuments, funeral rituals and the cult of mourning."

History Department Hires New Public Historian

2010-03-11T10:25:00.001-08:00

The department has hired Leslie Madsen-Brooks to be its new public historian, beginning in August 2010. Madsen-Brooks received her doctorate from UC Davis in Cultural Studies in 2006. She writes about women in science, material culture, museums, and digital history (of which she is a practitioner as well as a student). She will teach undergraduate courses in public history and US gender history, as well as graduate seminars in public history.

Center for Idaho History and Politics Lassoes Some Grants

2010-03-11T10:20:00.000-08:00

Todd Shallat reports that the Center for Idaho History and Politics heard back on a couple of successful grants last week. One, for $5,000.00, comes from the Library of Congress to create a workshop to train Boise school teachers to use historical documents that relate to Idaho history. The other, for $3,500.00, is from the Idaho Humanities Council. John Bieter and Nancy Tacke wrote the application, and will fund the placement of ceramic and cast-iron historical markers at some "ethnic landmarks," notably the all-Basque chapel, now a law office on Idaho Street.

Kasey Reed Studying at Oxford

2010-03-11T10:18:00.000-08:00

Kasey Reed, a Boise State University graduate in ancient history, has been accepted to study Roman history, with a focus on economics, at Oxford University, beginning in October 2010. Congratulations, Kasey!

New Exhibit at the Idaho Black History Museum

2009-10-30T15:54:00.000-07:00

The Idaho Black History Museum has installed a new exhibit: "The History of the NAACP in Idaho," honoring local faces, places, and histories of many great leaders behind the movement to instill civil liberties and Civil Rights legislation in the state of Idaho. For more information, contact Chandra Silva at 426-4879.

Student Scholarship Opportunity

2009-10-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

"Students in Service" is a part-time AmeriCorps program that offers scholarships to college students who participate in community service.

Contact Jiliana Finnegan at 426-5631 or jilianafinnegan@boisestate.edu. Go to
www.studentsinservice.org for more information.

Introducing the History Department Librarian!

2009-08-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Erin Passehl, and I am a Librarian/Archivist in Special Collections, located on the 2nd floor of Albertsons Library. I am also the liaison to the history department. A Midwest native, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor degree in history and political science. I also have a Master of Science in Information (MSI) from the University of Michigan where I specialized in archives. I am excited to work closely with students, faculty, and staff in the history department.

I encourage everyone to check out the History Subject Guide that serves as a starting point for library research using books, journals, and databases, as well as links to other useful information such as websites and digital collections that may relate to your studies or research. Albertsons Library also has a blog that provides information on news and resources from the library, and a Twitter feed that showcases new resources both on and off-campus.

I am here to help faculty, staff and students with any questions related to historical research using the library or special collections. Please contact me anytime to schedule an appointment, request/suggest a purchase of materials for the library, or for help in general. You can find my contact information on my profile page.

Have a great semester!
Erin Passehl

Our "Top Ten Scholars"

2009-04-23T10:21:00.001-07:00

Two of this year's Top Ten Scholars, Pankhuree Dube and Dane Vanhoozer, were history majors. Here they are, pictured just before the reception held in their honor on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Conference

2009-04-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

Pictures of some of our participants: Brian Lawatch (with McNair Program advisor David Walker), Amber Thompson (with McNair Program advisor Lisa Brady), and Dane Vanhoozer. Caroline Valderrama, who will enter our graduate program next year, also presented.

Two Historians among 2009 Top Ten Scholars

2009-04-17T19:51:00.000-07:00

Pankhuree Dube and Dane Vanhoozer have been selected as Top Ten Scholars for the 2009 graduating class. Dube focused on Latin American history while an undergrad at Boise State, while Vanhoozer worked on US history. Congratulations to them both for their achievements, and good luck in their future endeavors!

Graduate School Beckons Lawatch, Dube

2009-04-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

Two history undergrads, Brian Lawatch and Pankhuree Dube, have been admitted to graduate programs in their chosen fields. Lawatch will attend George Washington University in Washington D.C. to study international history, and Dube will head to Emory University, which offered her a five-year fellowship to study the history of Mexico.

History Undergrads Present Their Research...

2009-04-17T19:43:00.001-07:00

...at the Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Conference on Monday, April 20. Dane Vanhoozer, Brian Lawatch, and Amber Thompson will be presenting their work. The conference will be held in various rooms in the student union building from 1 to 4 p.m. The conference program will help you find your way through the many presentations.

New Courses This Fall!

2009-03-19T17:37:00.000-07:00

The history department made several revisions to its major this year; those revisions will go into affect next fall (2009). In general, we suggest that history majors to meet with an advisor to discuss the implications of these changes! Specifically, though, there are a few new courses that students need to know about:

History 100: This is an introductory course designed as a core option for non-majors. If you are a history major and do wish to take it, it will count for elective credit only.

History 199: This was until this semester History 291. We have changed the content slightly and now urge students to take it during their first year.

History 498: This is now the only history seminar we will offer, and is designed solely for senior history majors. This new seminar will not be a traditional "lectures and books" class. Instead, it will be entirely devoted to the writing, sharing, presenting, and critiquing of a historical research paper. The professor of record in the course will determine the fields covered by the seminar. Thus, in the fall of 2009 we will offer two of these seminars, one by Michael Zirinsky and the other by Shelton Woods. You can assume that in Zirinsky's seminar, you will be writing a paper on Middle Eastern and Islamic history, including US policy in the region. You can also assume that in Woods' seminar you will be writing a paper on East Asian history.

If you are a history major, please spread the word about these changes! There will probably be some confusion at first, but that's what advisors are for.

Night Stalkers

2009-03-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

On March 13, 2009, Phi Alpha Theta volunteered at "Night Stalkers," a flashlight tour of the Old Penitentiary. Students helped by taking tickets, handing out brochures and programs, and helping keep the guests safe from the ghosts of...

Masters Defenses Coming Up

2009-03-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

There are a number of masters defenses coming up in the next couple of weeks. They are open to the public:

Alissa Peterson, "Traditions in Transition: Basques in America" (Schackel) March 18, 2009, Wednesday, 3:30 pm, Library 170, Sociology Conference Room

Karen Wadley, "The King and His Council" (Odahl) March 20, Friday, 1:30 - 3:00 pm, Library 194, History Conference Room

Josh Bernard, "History and Beauty: The History of the Idaho State Parks" (Shallat) March 30, Monday, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, Library 170, Sociology Conference Room

Kelly Orgill, "Bequeathment: How the Hardships of Idaho's Settlers Have Shaped Idahoan Identity" (Brady) March 31, Tuesday, 3:00 - 5:00 pm, Library 170, Sociology Conference Room

Olivia Umphrey, "From Screen to Page: Japanese Film as a Historical Document, 1931-1959" (Woods) April 3, Friday, 12:30- 2:00 pm, Library 194, History Conference Room

Students: The Library Wants You

2009-03-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

The library has created a new committee called the Student Library Advisory Committee. That committee will help the library administration learn what students think about library operations and how they could be improved. The first meeting will take place March 18, at 4:20 pm in Library 201C. If you are interested, please RSVP to Kim Leeder at 426-1621 or KimLeeder@boisestate.edu.

Lubamersky and Miller Lecture at UC Berkeley

2009-03-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

This week Professors Lynn Lubamersky and Nick Miller will be delivering lectures at the University of California, Berkeley. Lubamersky will discuss commemorations and national identity in Lithuania since independence, and Miller will give the annual "Peter Kujachich Lecture in Serbian and Montenegrin Studies." His talk will be titled "Serbia in 1989: Where Was the Serbian Havel?"

Carissa Black Wins Photo Contest

2009-03-07T12:52:00.000-08:00

Graduate student Carissa Black, who will soon defend her Masters project, recently won a photo contest hosted by the Idaho State Historical Society in honor of 2009's Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month. We've asked Carissa if we can post the photo, and await word on that front. More on the award at the Idaho State Historical Society.

A Night at the Movies

2009-02-24T10:26:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, Lisa McClain hosted a showing of "Braveheart" for Phi Alpha Theta. Rumor has it that there was some detailed discussion of the relationship of kilts to freedom.

Scholarship Season: Applications Due March 1 (Earlier Posting In Error!)

2009-02-19T17:14:00.000-08:00

The history department has a number of scholarships totalling several thousand dollars to offer undergraduate and graduate students every year. Applications are due March 1! Think about applying. Questions? Call 426-1255.

Reel vs. Real: Lisa McClain to Host "Braveheart"

2009-01-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Phi Alpha Theta is sponsoring another 'Reel vs. Real' event:

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Papa Joe's Italian Restaurant (in the TV lounge area)

1301 S. Capitol Blvd.

7:00 p.m.

The movie is: Braveheart

The professor leading the discussion will be Dr. Lisa McClain.

Synopsis:

This 1995 film is about William Wallace, a Scottish rebel who leads an uprising against the cruel English ruler Edward the Longshanks, who wishes to inherit the crown of Scotland for himself. When he was a young boy, William Wallace's father and brother, along with many others, lost their lives trying to free Scotland. Once he loses another of his loved ones, William Wallace begins his long quest to make Scotland free once and for all, along with the assistance of Robert the Bruce.

Both food and drink are available for purchase. Join Phi Alpha Theta for this fun, 'historical' gathering!

If you have questions or want more information, please feel free to call!

Megan Jamison, Phi Alpha Theta President

meganjamison@u.boisestate.edu

426-1255

Scholarship Applications Due February 15

2009-01-23T05:06:00.000-08:00

The History Department has scholarships to offer students. They range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per year, so they are worth the effort of applying. The application deadline is February 15, which is approaching fast. For details, check out the BSU and History Department scholarship information sites.

More Scenes from the Inauguration Party

2009-01-20T13:08:00.001-08:00

Scenes from an Inauguration Party

2009-01-20T10:37:00.000-08:00

This morning's inauguration-viewing-party, hosted by the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, was a huge success, with wall-to wall attendance estimated at 600 people. The history department was well represented, with Professors Klein and Schackel bringing their classes (Jill Gill's 200-student section watched in their lecture hall, fearing they would overstuff the Jordan Ballroom).

Presidential Inauguration Gathering January 20

2009-01-17T07:44:00.000-08:00

On January 20, between 9 and noon, there will be a Presidential Inauguration watch party and information session in the Jordan Ballroom, hosted by the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs.The swearing-in is supposed to take place “around” 9:30 mountain time, but the big screen televisions will be showing the subsequent news and analysis, and some experts from SSPA will be on hand. This is a “drop-in” affair, so come over when you can.

Changes to the History Major for 2009-2010

2009-01-17T07:42:00.001-08:00

This year, the department developed a series of changes to the history major, all of which we believe will benefit students. These changes will take effect in the 2009-2010 catalog. Overall, we have reduced the size of the major from 45 to 36 credits. This reduction will allow students to minor in other fields more easily, and brings the size of our major into line with others nationwide. More specificially, we have introduced new lower division surveys on Islam, Africa, and Latin America, some of which all majors will now have to take. Finally, we’ve introduced a new “capstone” seminar (History 498), which will be offered three times a year and will be required of all majors. This course will be devoted entirely to writing a research paper in a seminar setting. Different professors will offer the seminars. In the fall, our first two seminars will be offered by professors Michael Zirinsky and Shelton Woods, and students who take those seminars will write research papers that fall into those professors’ areas of expertise.

The changes in the major will force many students to make a choice: graduate under the new requirements, or under the old ones? Generally, if you are well on the way to graduating under the old requirements, you should probably continue on that path. But if you have questions, get in touch with a faculty member in the department, who can advise you on the best strategy for you.

Please note that the History/Secondary Education and History/Social Sciences/Secondary Education majors will not change.

Patty Pierose (III)

2008-12-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

On her motivations to study history, and her research:

“The project I have been working on concerns the Prisoner of War Camps in the Magic Valley during World War II. Italians, Germans, and some Russians (called Mongols by some newspaper reports) lived and worked at the Rupert Prisoner of War Camp from late 1944 to 1946. Branch or site camps existed all over the valley, and I am particularly interested in those. My father had said there was a camp at Filer where we lived and that POW’s worked in his fields. My mom said they were so very young and though she wasn’t supposed to feed them, she often baked cookies, bread and cakes for them. Thus, I had always been interested in the fact that a POW camp was in Idaho…so I began reading what I could about camps in the United States and then more specifically in the west…In part, I am pushed by the fact that very few people know that this camp existed outside of Rupert and also that people keep trying to associate it with the Japanese Internment camp in Jerome county. I have taught myself a great deal about researching…I have collected many photographs from people, a particularly significant set of photos of prisoners in the fields. It was illegal to take photos of prisoners for national security reasons, so I prize those...I’m still researching, though the text is pretty well finished about the Magic Valley. Now in the spring I am moving on to the Treasure Valley sites.”

Patty Pierose (II)

2008-12-03T10:28:00.000-08:00

Part II of an interview with Patty Pierose, who tells us about one of those moments in class when you say to yourself, "Aha!":

"Holy Cow Moments...the one that leaps to mind happened in Todd Shallat’s class. I was researching the Oakland fire in the early 90’s, and I was stunned to find out that Proposition 13 came into play. A cap on taxing of the especially valuable homes in the foothills left fire services woefully underfunded. Then the wealthy homeowners turned on the city for not protecting them. So, in the aftermath, a great number of changes came into play; insurance prices rose, which meant everyone had to pay for the wealthy to have left their cities in disastrous shape. Also, the 1989 earthquake had an enormous impact on homes in lower income areas, but no one rushed to help them out (of course). Jill Gill is fond of pointing out that the sin of greed is mentioned more times in the Bible than any other one. I mean the thing is, I would not have picked the topic as near and dear to me, but I ended up teaching myself so much about a relatively recent event…"

Kimberly Cochrane Blogs From Russia

2008-12-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

This is it.

Student Focus -- Patty Pierose (I)

2008-12-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

Periodically (very periodically) we will be posting interviews with history students. Brian Lawatch gamely answered some questions for us earlier in the semester, and now it's the turn of Patty Pierose. Today, the first installment. The question (drumroll...) "What drew you back to the university, and the study of history, after a bit of time away?" Her answer:

"I really just began at Boise State because the description of Dr. Gill's American Religious History interested me….I took it for graduate credit as that was the only spot open. I had already done some reading about American religion and how and where denominations took root, so it was an avocational interest with me….Gill is a great professor: she's organized; she is wonderfully enthusiastic; she can handle a delicate classroom question with great skill and finesse….After that is was "Katy, Bar the Door" to quote my farmer father. I decided to get a third degree, an undergraduate degree in history. For THE Fun OF IT. People crack up when I say that. Zirinsky and Gill told me I should go for a Master's Degree in History, but my ancient 20 credits of mostly American History left me feeling like I didn't know enough. I should have done it… I'm still having a wonderful time….I can't really have a bad instructor or class because as an adult learner, I know exactly how to learn and I don't stop at the grade. I mean, I want to be challenged and held to a decent, strong standard, and I'll keep reading everything, so mostly it's on me."

Come back soon for Patty's history class "wow moment"...

Phi Alpha Theta in Action

2008-12-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

News (and pictures) from the field:

Phi Alpha Theta held a Reel vs. Real event on November 7th at Papa Joe's (the film was "Cross of Iron," and the host was Dr. David Walker).

One day later, Phi Alpha Theta President Megan Jamison and PAT member Hanako Wakatsuki ran the hot chocolate/coffee station at the Idaho Military History Museum's Veterans Open House and Night Fire. Somehow they managed to meet up with Abraham Lincoln, who allowed a photographer other than Matthew Brady to snap his picture.

Study Tour To Greece, Summer 09

2008-11-26T18:10:00.000-08:00

Professor Nick Miller will be leading a study tour for the Honors College to Greece in May 2009. The trip will include Athens and other mainland sites of interest, as well as a few days touring several islands. It will focus on the entire sweep of Greek history, from ancient to modern. If you are interested, get in touch with Miller (426-3902, nmiller@boisestate.edu) or Chris Hyer in the Honors College (christopherhyer@boisestate.edu).

Important Note for Majors! Department of History Revises its Curriculum

2008-11-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

Recently, the department of history proposed a series of wide-ranging changes to its undergraduate curriculum. Last week, the university approved those changes. We had two purposes in mind: one was to introduce World History into the lower division curriculum; the other was to reduce the size of the major, which is now 36 credits instead of 45. (the History/Secondary Education major remains virtually as it was). The changes will be present in next year's catalog. Keep in mind that you can choose which catalog they use to graduate, so get together with an advisor to see how the changes could affect you.

(Edited slightly at 2 pm)

Workshop on the Basque Farmhouse: Nov. 1-2

2008-10-31T09:05:00.000-07:00

This workshop studies the Basque family farmhouse, which is core to the Basque Culture and determines many of its unique and universal characteristics. (There will be a field trip to the Basque Museum). The workshop takes place Nov. 1 and 2 (Saturday and Sunday) in the Multipurpose Classroom Building, room 201. If you need another credit for fall, this is something you could add to your schedule (especially if you are a full time student who doesn't have the maximum credits one could enroll in per semester!)

Find it on BroncoWeb (History 494-1094) and learn about Basque culture! For questions on this workshop contact Alberto Santana Ezquerra at 426-5331.

Reel vs. Real: David Walker Talks "Cross of Iron"

2008-10-31T09:03:00.000-07:00

At Papa Joe's on Capital, 5:30 P.M. on Friday, November 7.

Join us for the first Reel vs. Real of the year, sponsored by Phi Alpha Theta, the history honors student club. You don't have to be a member to come and watch the movie and partake in the discussion! All are welcome!

Dr. David Walker is offering "Cross of Iron" directed by Sam Peckinpah. This movie was filmed in 1977 and is about World War II. Papa Joes has a large menu, and an espresso and wine bar too so there will be plenty of food and drink available for purchase.

We've reserved the TV 'lounge' area, so please come join us! Seating is limited....please reply to this message to let us know if you will be able to come!

Women and the Vote: Lisa McClain in the News

2008-10-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (October 28), the Idaho Statesman published an opinion piece co-written by Boise State University's Dr. Lisa McClain and Linda Basch, the president of the National Council for Research on Women. A teaser:

Women, who are being aggressively courted by both campaigns, have much at stake in this election. Now that attention has turned from lipstick to the economy, perhaps we can start a dialogue on what really matters to women voters in Idaho.

Click on the link above to read the article.

Phi Alpha Theta

2008-09-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

Every school year, the Boise State University chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honors society, hosts events ranging from "Reel to Real" film evenings to social gatherings. The highlight of the year comes with the Phi Alpha Theta regional conference, held at a different university in the Pacific Northwest every year, where students present their research and receive comment (firm but friendly) from faculty and students from other institutions.

Megan Jamison is the president of PAT this year. She's scouting for other officers (VP, secretary, treasurer). She can be reached at 426-1255 and at meganjamison@u.boisestate.edu. Get in touch with her! PAT is a great way to meet up with other history students and to get started as a scholar.

Fulbright Applications Due Soon

2008-09-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

It's getting late, but not too late: Fulbright student program applications are due on October 20. If you are interested, get in touch with Nick Miller in the history department (426-3902, or nmiller@boisestate.edu).

If you are a freshman, sophomore, or junior who would like to talk about this fabulous program (which sends great students abroad every year after they earn their Bachelors degree), set aside some time to talk with that same Nick Miller, in Library 193 or at the above number and email.

The Museum Came to Life!

2008-09-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

At the "Museum Come to Life" event at Julia Davis last Saturday, September 27, 2008, Dr. Barton Barbour was there as a fur trapper displaying his artifacts.

Idaho Council for History Education, Oct. 2-3

2008-09-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

On Thursday and Friday of next week, the Idaho Council for History Education meets at Boise High School for its annual conference. Among BSU historians, Shelton Woods, Michael Zirinsky, Bart Barbour, and Bob Sims will speak on Thursday, while Lisa Brady and Jill Gill will be there on Friday. The keynote speaker on Friday is award-winning historian of the Great Plains, Elliott West. This conference is always a huge draw with informative and entertaining lectures -- make your way over to Boise High if you can!

Late Add: Elliott West will be speaking at the Fettuccine Forum the evening of Thursday, Oct. 2 for those who won't get to see him Friday, or who can't get enough. His talk will be at 6 p.m., doors open at 5:30 p.m. in the Rose Room. For more information, call 426-1255.

Focus on: Brian Lawatch

2008-09-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

Once in a while, we’ll be talking to people we know and reporting what we hear, in only slightly edited fashion. Today’s victim: Brian Lawatch, history undergrad.

Why Did You Decide to Major in History?

I'm a history major because history is the one subject that I'm most passionate about. I feel that in order to understand the present, I need to have knowledge about our past. When I first started classes at BSU I was not sure what I was going to major in. I thought I would get a degree in business or some "practical" profession that could bring in a steady income. However, after my first year, I realized I was not going to be happy pursuing a degree I didn't enjoy learning about. I took a leap of faith deciding on history.

And why attend Boise State University?

Right out of high school I thought I did not want to be in Boise any longer so I joined the Army. It turned out that I missed this town and decided I wanted to return here for college and to be near family and friends.

You are a McNair Scholar – which means that you are the first member of your family to attend college – what has that meant to you?

Being a McNair Scholar means having a stellar opportunity to become an extremely competitive candidate for graduate studies toward a Ph.D. The program has given me the tools and knowledge required to develop the scholarly disposition that graduate institutions look for. The seminars make available time and resources toward hunting for schools, studying for the GRE, and developing healthy mentor-student relationships. Most importantly, the McNair program provided me with a $2,800 grant this summer to write a quality research paper for publication, presentation at a national conference, and submission to graduate schools. This program has helped me in countless ways and I encourage every undergraduate history major at BSU that fits the criteria to apply to the McNair Scholars Program.

How did you spend your summer?

This summer, as stated above, I used my $2,800 grant from the McNair Program to fund my undergraduate thesis paper: "Legitimizing Torture: How Similar Ideologies of the French in Algeria and the United States in the War on Terror Led to Torture." That took up most of my summer.

Didn’t you have any fun this summer?

For fun this summer I rode my mountain bike up in the foothills. I went to a cabin in Crouch, Idaho with about 20 friends and went rafting and enjoyed some home-made beer. I spent some time with new friends, old friends and family. Other than that, my summer was uneventful. I'm saving all my traveling for next summer after I graduate.

What’s your favorite piece of clothing?

My favorite piece of clothing... I would have to say is my "Members Only" jacket, which I do not actually have but wish I did.

What was your most memorable “Holy Cow” moment in a history class?

My "holy cow" moment in class was in David Walker's Western Europe after WWII class when we were learning about decolonization, specifically the French decolonization in North Africa. Learning about the frustration of the French soldiers, the people of France and Algeria, and all the politics reminded me very much of my own experiences in the Army. The superior French fighting force had a world of trouble against a rag-tag militia because the rules of warfare and clashes with Frances own humanitarian values dictated the direction of the war and the eventual outcome. This piqued my interest greatly and has been part of the focus of my research.

Whose shoes...

2008-09-10T15:19:00.001-07:00

whose feet?

The Queen of Homecoming!

2008-09-10T15:05:00.000-07:00

Megan Jamison (top), one of the History Department's intrepid student employees, has singlehandedly raised the department (close) to the pinnacle of homecoming hysteria, bringing home the second-place prize for best homecoming decoration on campus.

Edit: Actually, we won the prize for best thematic tie-in (click on the Bronco version of the Gettysburg Address, above).

Jill Gill Speaks at the City Club

2008-09-03T20:26:00.000-07:00

Today, Professor Jill Gill discussed the role of evangelical Christians in American politics to a full house at the City Club in downtown Boise.

Alissa Peterson at Old York

2008-08-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

Alissa Peterson (MAHR student) spent much of the summer in York, Maine working as an Elizabeth Bishop Perkins Fellow at the Museums of Old York (she's on the far right in the photo above, with other Perkins fellows). We can't do a better job describing her summer than the local paper, which we'll let fill you in.

Teaching in Thailand: Carole Schroeder

2008-07-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

From adjunct Carole Schroeder, who teaches History of Eastern Civilizations, History of Western Civilization, and in the fall
semester, Korean History and Culture Through Film:

"I have just returned from five weeks in Thailand, where I taught
Conversational English at Muang Thalang School. I was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Boise Southwest, and the club donated my airfare, expenses, and 100 pounds of books. I flew into Bangkok, spent time there, and then flew to Phuket Island where I taught and left the books from Boise Southwest Rotary. I visited four provinces of Thailand while I was there, driving hundreds of miles on the 'wrong' side of the road while miraculously avoiding mishaps. I also traveled to Phi Phi Island where the movie 'The Beach' was filmed; there are no motorized vehicles allowed on the island, so the exciting driving was not part of that weekend."

Orgill and Black Preserve Idaho's History

2008-05-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

Kelly Orgill (above) and Carissa Black have been entrusted with additional duties and asked to stay on as full time staff members at the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office, part of the Idaho State Historical Society. As far as grad school goes, Kelly Orgill’s MA work focuses on Idaho identity and environmental issues, and she is working with Dr. Lisa Brady. Carissa Black is not only working full time for the Historic Preservation Office, but is also an intern at the Public Archives and Research Library as part of her MAHR project where she is conducting oral histories and compiling research on Idaho’s conservation movement. Carissa will also be traveling (thanks to funding from the History Department) to Oregon and Washington this summer to attend archival training workshops.

Have News?

2008-05-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

Write to profnjm@gmail.com.

Kim Cochrane Goes to Russia

2008-05-20T08:26:00.001-07:00

Kim Cochrane, who graduated with honors on Saturday, sends this report: "...I am fascinated by Russia's history and culture, and in September I will head to Moscow, Russia for a year to teach English as a foreign language with EF English First. I am excited to live and work abroad, learn Russian, and experience Russian culture. This experience will help guide me toward a career in education, which I plan to pursue after attending graduate school."

News from the Classics

2008-05-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

Charles Odahl reporting:

-- Kasey Reed, History Major and Latin Minor graduate (2006), completed an MA in Greek Language and Civilization at The University of Reading in 2007, and is currently working at the Boise Library before going on to more graduate studies in Classics.

-- Mark Hibbard, History Major and Latin Minor graduate (2007), has been accepted into a graduate program in Comparative Linguistics at the University of Leiden for the fall of 2008.

-- Matt Recla, MA in Ancient History and Religion (2006), has now completed his second year of doctoral studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and participated in an archaeological dig at Ephesus, Turkey, last summer.

-- Karen Wadley has completed the first year of her MA program in Medieval History, will be doing museum and site research in Britain this summer (thanks to a travel grant from the department), and will be writing and defending her thesis next year.

Graduation Day

2008-05-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

Professors Lisa McClain, Nicanor Dominguez, Nick Miller, and Jill Gill, at graduation, May 17, 2008. It only seems like it took a long time for them to get their degrees.

Congratulations to Susan Emerson!

2008-05-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

She hasn't been "our" student for a few years now, but we still claim her: Susan Emerson is graduating this weekend with her Masters in Public Administration. Historian, globe-trotting volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Network Administrator, TVTV devotee: what comes next?

Other students spotted, but not long enough to snap a photo: Aimee Thacker, Chris Blanchard, Alicia Cowger, Jake Bradford, Dairus Barnes, Joe Rollins, John Rollins.

Summer Plans: Odahl

2008-05-15T14:28:00.000-07:00

Charles Odahl always puts his summers to good use. Last summer, he attended the international Constantine exhibition in Trier, Germany (for a book signing of his biography of the emperor); did research in Rome and Tuscany, Italy for a book he is writing on Cicero; and did archaeological and museum research at the ruins of Carthage in Tunisia for a future project. This summer, he is teaching Medieval European History and Medieval Latin Literature in BSU's first five week summer session; completing his book on Cicero and the Catilinarian Conspiracy; and taking some time off for surfing and sailing on the Oregon coast before starting the fall semester and new projects.

Audra Green Heads to Notre Dame

2008-05-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

Audra Green, who received her BA in history from Boise State University in December 2006, will head to the University of Notre Dame in the fall on a Gaia Fellowship, which provides for living expenses and tuition for five years. She will study modern Latin American History and Migration Studies. Congratulations, Audra!

MAHR Student News

2008-05-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

Todd Shallat reports that many of our students in the Master of Applied Historical Research program have gotten jobs or fellowships "doing what they love:

-- Patrick Taylor has a real job with the National Park Service

-- Alissa Petersen has a cool museum fellowship in Maine

-- Don Anderson got money from Canyon County to do a film of Celebration Park for their new museum

-- Marc Frisk has a job with the Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge, where he is building an interpretive trail

-- Susan Whipple is producing a tourism book for the Snake River Scenic Byway, working via the City of Caldwell and Planmakers, Inc

-- Tully Gerlach has developed some art-history tours, and you can see him on the city streets with mobs of school children

-- Chris Blanchard has been hired as the "production editor" for the new online version of Idaho Yesterdays, working with ISU and the Idaho State Historical Soceity

-- Amber Beierle is now the state's historical librarian in the state historical society

-- Ann Felton has been appointed to the graduate faculty at BSU and will be teaching local history workshops, including a workshop on the past and future of the railroad in Boise, part of an effort to get AMTRACK back."

Whew. More better details as I get them.

Summer Plans: Gill

2008-05-15T11:08:00.001-07:00

Jill Gill is scheduled to give a few talks this summer: the first set will be in Sun Valley in July, where she is doing a series of 3 talks on American religious history for a Jewish-Episcopal alliance that brings in speakers every summer on religion-related topics; then, in August, she'll be giving a talk on religion and politics for the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship in Boise. Jill will also continue working her book manuscript into shape for publication, and preparing for a new fall class of graduate students.

Summer Plans: Brady

2008-05-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

Lisa Brady will be teaching a workshop June 23-24 on Deserts in World History, affiliated with the Desert Studies Institute, and will be one of the Lead Scholars for the Idaho Humanities Council's summer Teaching Institute on Environmental Literature, "A Word for Nature." Finally, She'll be completing the revisions for her manuscript on ideas of nature and strategy in the American Civil War.

Summer Plans: Miller

2008-05-13T13:10:00.000-07:00

Nick Miller will spend much of June working in the National Archives (above) and the archives of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. He will be using collections related to the apprehension and punishment of (alleged and real) war criminals in Yugoslavia after the Second World War.

John Bieter Wins 2007 Advising Award

2008-04-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

John Bieter, who serves the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs as its secondary education advisor, recently won the Provost's Excellence in Advising Award for 2007. In the History Department, we've known of John's excellence for years; it's nice to see that he's getting some recognition outside of our corner of the campus.

Holocaust Scholar Visits BSU

2008-04-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, April 23 at 7 pm in LA 106, Dr. Geoffrey Megargee will speak on the role of the German army in the killing of Jews on the Eastern Front during World War II. Megargee is a research historian at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. He is the author of War of Annihilation: Combat and Genocide on the Eastern Front, 1941 (2006) and Inside Hitler's High Command (2002).

Phi Alpha Theta in Spokane

2008-04-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

The photo you all have been waiting for: Brian Lawatch, Dane Vanhoozer, Pankhuree Dube, and Tamara Mackenthun at the Phi Alpha Theta Northwest Regional Conference at Gonzaga University in April, where they each presented a paper.

Phi Alpha Theta Sends Students, Professor to Spokane

2008-04-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

Professor Jill Gill is accompanying four of our students (Dane Vanhoozer, Tamara Mackenthun, Pankhuree Dube, and Brian Lawatch) to Spokane this weekend to take part in the regional conference of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honors society. The conference, hosted this year by Gonzaga University, provides an opportunity for students (undergraduate and graduate) to present their research in a formal setting.

Lynn Lubamersky to Study at the Holocaust Museum

2008-04-10T11:28:00.000-07:00

Lynn Lubamersky has received a fellowship from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (above) to participate in the "Curt C. And Else Silberman Seminar for University Faculty on Teaching the Legacy of the Holocaust: Poland, Lithuania, And Ukraine" in June 2008.

Portugal for Historians

2008-03-14T08:47:00.001-07:00

Pictures of our intrepid historians (Joanne Klein, in jeans, and Lynn Lubamersky) as they attend the European Social Science History Conference in sunny Lisbon, Portugal in February: the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos on the left, with the Belem Tower on the right.

Student News: Margaret Parker Goes to Korea

2008-03-04T16:14:00.000-08:00

Margaret Parker, a student in our master of arts program, is in Korea on a Fulbright grant this school year. She is studying the status of Korean national identity. Students interested in Fulbright grants should check out the Fulbright Program website. They should also contact Nick Miller (Department of History, 426-3902) or Sabine Klahr (Director of International Programs, 426-3652) for more information. Applications for 2009-2010 will be due in mid-September, 2008.

2007: A Good Year for the History Department

2008-03-04T11:59:00.000-08:00

Since you asked, in 2007:

-- Joanne Klein's article "Traffic, Telephones and Police Boxes: The Deterioration of Beat Policing in Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester between the World Wars" appeared in Policing Interwar Europe: Continuity, Change, and Crisis, 1918-1940, edited by Gerald Blaney for Palgrave-MacMillan.

-- John Bieter published "Lorenzo's Letters: A Basque Immigrant's Story in the American West," in Judy Li, editor, A Sense of Place: Cultural Ecology in the American West (Oregon State University Press).

-- We hired a new Latin Americanist, Nicanor Dominguez, who received his doctorate from the University of Illinois and writes about seventeenth-century Peru. He will teach courses on a wide range of topics in Latin American history. He is also, and almost as importantly, a film lover.

-- Lisa Brady's article "Negotiating The Thin Red Line" appeared in April in Environmental History.

-- a Romanian edition of Charles Odahl's Constantine and the Christian Empire (originally published in 2004 by Routledge) was published. Odahl continues work on his study of Cicero.

-- Lynn Lubamersky published her article "The Status of Idaho Women Lawyers Today," in the The Advocate, the official publication of the Idaho State Bar.

-- Todd Shallat's Ethnic Landmarks, which examines Boise's multiethnic past, was published, as was Mobile Home Living In Boise, which was the product of a task force headed by Shallat.

-- Lisa McClain's article “’They have taken away my Lord’: Mary Magdalene, Christ’s Missing Body, and the Mass in Reformation England” was published in Sixteenth Century Journal XXXVIII/1 (2007): 77-96.

-- Nick Miller's The Nonconformists: Culture, Politics, and Nationalism in a Serbian Intellectual Circle, 1944-1991 (by Central European University Press) appeared; Miller also testified at the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia in September in the trial of Jadranko Prlic, et al.

Nick Miller to talk on Kosovo's Independence

2008-03-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

Nick Miller of the history department will speak on March 18 at noon in the Hatch Ballroom at Boise State University on the background to and implications of Kosovo's recent declaration of independence. The talk will be hosted by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Sandy Schackel and Lisa McClain on Gender, Race, and Politics

2008-03-02T12:10:00.001-08:00

Sandy Schackel and Lisa McClain of the history department have separate opinion pieces in today's Idaho Statesman. McClain's can be found here, Schackel's here. Each of them addresses issues of race and gender which have been brought to the fore by the democratic presidential primary.

Todd Shallat: In the News

2008-03-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

Today's Idaho Statesman has a front page report on the decline of trailer-park living in Idaho; the report draws on the research of a BSU team headed by professor of history Todd Shallat. If you are interested in a copy of their report, which is not the usual dry-as-dust policy stuff, give Shallat a call at 426-3701.

Lisa Brady: Woman of the Year

2008-02-28T15:01:00.000-08:00

Professor Lisa Brady has been named one of the Boise State University Women's Center's Women of the Year, for her work as founder of and scholar-in-residence at the Renaissance Residential Community at Boise State.

Boise Hosts Environmental Historians

2008-02-27T20:13:00.000-08:00

March 11-14: Boise will host the national conference of the American Society for Environmental History. Several hundred environmental historians will be in town (dressed in green, yes, that's it). The conference is being organized by Lisa Brady of Boise State's department of history, along with colleagues from Idaho State University and the University of Idaho. For information, call Professor Brady at 426-4309.

Lynn Lubamersky and Joanne Klein: Doing History in Portugal

2008-02-25T21:44:00.000-08:00

Professors Lynn Lubamersky and Joanne Klein are in Lisbon, Portugal, at the European Social Science History Conference. Lubamersky is presenting her paper on the eighteenth-century Polish doctor Regina Salomea Pilsztynowa, and Klein is commenting on a panel on policing right-wing and communist dictatorships.

Lisa McClain: Woman of the Year

2008-02-25T21:43:00.000-08:00

Lisa McClain, professor of history and director of the Gender Studies Program, has been named one of two Women of the Year from Boise State University by the Idaho Business Review. Congratulations, professor McClain!

Welcome to The Scribe

2008-02-25T21:32:00.001-08:00

The BSU Department of History Blog.