2008 Newsletter
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Will Work for Food Letter History senior Jeremy Davidson was recently recognized in the Michigan Dai- from ly as one of their “Best of the Leaders,” a title given to only ten UM students this year, students who have truly made a difference. The article highlighted the his “Will Work for Food” charity, which couples advocacy with pledge-based Chair volunteer work. Volunteers get pledges from sponsors for performing one hour or more of Dear Friends, community service. The proceeds go toward relief for the victims of violence This summer I have handed over the in Darfur, Sudan. While helping those displaced by the conflict in Darfur, the baton to my successor Geoff Eley, an volunteer work benefits the local community exceptional scholar and teacher who by providing important services here in Ann brings a wealth of experience to the office. Arbor. The “Will Work for Food” organiza- The Karl Pohrt Distinguished University tion also coordinates a campaign of letter Professor of Contemporary History, Geoff writing to U.S. legislators urging American has authored five books, has co-edited action in the crisis. So far, the group has another ten, and has written scores of raised over $3,000 for Darfur and sent hun- articles. The Chair of German Studies from 2004-2007, he has served on the dreds of letters of concern to Congress. Executive Committees of the College of Davidson (2nd from left) with Senator Carl Levin Literature, Science, and the Arts and the Jeremy thinks the model of “Will Work for Food” can be adapted to other Department of History. Testimonies to causes as well. He attributes much of his charity’s success to the fact that it his teaching include the John H. D’Arms both addresses social needs and undertakes political action. While focusing Award for Distinguished Graduate Men- on the short-term goal of providing relief to victims, it also works toward the toring in the Humanities. long-term objective of getting the U.S. government to intervene in the crisis. Chairing History these last three years has Check out the website at www.willworkforfood.org for more info. been an honor. Individually and collec- tively, much has been accomplished— Endowed Professorships Established by UM Alums History at Michigan numbers eighty faculty, and in the last three years, ten of UM Alumni Robert Donia (PhD ‘76) established an us have been promoted and eleven more David endowed professorship for the study of have been recruited to our department. Evans (‘85) human rights, naming it for Fred Cuny This year alone, we have made five and wife who, during the Bosnian Crisis, secured splendid appointments. Howard Brick, Joan Evans the water supply of Sarajevo when it was an American intellectual historian, will be (‘87), have under seige, and who was later killed our first Louis Evans Professor of History. established while doing humanitarian work in Chech- We are welcoming Sherie Randoph, a the Louis nya. The chair is intended to promote the specialist in African-American women’s Evans Endowed Professorship in History, study of human rights and international history, who will hold a joint appointment honoring David’s grandfather, a Rus- conflict with a focus on the countries in History and the Center for Afroameri- sian immigrant who rose from modest of Southeast Europe. Robert Donia is can and African Studies. Hussein Fancy, beginnings to become a highly respected the author of several who is currently a Fellow at the Michigan specialist in the field of law and finan- publications includ- Society of Fellows, has accepted an as- cial reorganization. Louis Evans had a ing a recent history sistant professorship in medieval history. lifelong love of history and believed that of Sarajevo published Two historians of Africa will be joining knowledge of the past could be a valuable by UM Press, and the Department—Derek Peterson, cur- resource in the conduct of business. His has also served as an rently at Cambridge University, and Butch grandson David had previously chaired expert witness in the Ware, who comes to us from Northwest- the successful effort to create an endow- international criminal ern University. ment for the Sidney Fine Excellence in tribunal for the former (continued on Page 2) Teaching Graduate Student Fellowship. Yugoslavia. 2008 In closing, I would like to thank my col- leagues and the Department’s wonderfully dedicated staff for their support, generos- Gifts ity, and, yes, laughter.. All good fortune to We are extremely grateful to our alums and friends for their generous support over the Geoff as we move forward. past year. Those interested in making future contributions may be interested to learn that the Michigan Difference Campaign’s Presidental Match will provide a 50% match Cordially, for all gifts designated for graduate student support that are received by December Mary Kelley 31, 2008. This also includes pledges, provided the first payment is received by this deadline. If you would like to maximize the impact of your giving, now is this time to act. This Message rare opportunity to secure $1 in matching funds for every $2 contributed, won’t last long. Your gifts, and the associated matching funds, are desperately needed. Graduate from the fellowships are vital to our department’s ability to attract and retain the highest quality New graduate students. We hope you will consider donating to one of our graduate student fellowship endow- Chair ments. Among these are the Sidney Fine Graduate Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching (honoring Professor Emeritus Sidney Fine), the Feuerwerker-Young En- Dear Friends, dowment for the Study of the History of China (established by admiring students of Professors Emeritus Albert Feuerwerker and Ernest Young), and the History Graduate I’m delighted to be writing to you at the Fellowship Endowment (for History graduate students in all areas of study). outset of my period as Chair of the Depart- ment. As I move gradually into the office If you wish to support these or other programs within the Department, please mail at the end of the corridor in Tisch, the your gifts or pledges to: prospect of the next few years seems both a Melanie Panyard pleasure and a challenge. 435 S. State Street The pleasure comes from experienc- 1029 Tisch Hall ing firsthand what I’ve already known University of Michigan for many years on the ground, namely, Department of History our extraordinary strengths in teaching, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1003 scholarship, and general service to the If you have questions about giving, please contact 734-615-0874. University. At a time of continuing budget- ary constraints on the institution and many other extraneous pressures, the Depart- Transitions ment is a stronger, more impressive, and more exciting place than it has ever been. NEW CHAIR IN HISTORY Remarkably, at a time when the talk is so After three years as Chair, Mary Kelley will be passing the torch to Geoff Eley. often about retrenchment and cuts, we have Geoff’s fields of specialty lie in German, British, and modern European history as grown to become probably the largest his- well as historiography and cultural studies. Mary Kelley will be on leave during the tory department in the country. fall term, spending part of that time conducting research at the Huntington Library in The challenge, of course, will be to con- California. She will return to teaching at UM in the winter term. We thank her for a tinue building on these attested strengths. successful three years and look forward to another promising three years from Geoff. But there is a personal dimension to this NEW DIRECTOR OF CLEMENTS LIBRARY combination of pleasure and challenge Beginning November 2008, J. Kevin Graffagnino will take the helm as the new too. On the one hand, it is a privilege to be Director of the Clements Library. Dr. Graffagnino has over 35 years of experience as following a predecessor who chaired the an Americana curator, auctioneer, scholar, teacher, publisher and administrator. He Department with such wisdom, grace, and started his career as an antiquarian book dealer at the age of 17. He later received a success. Entering into such a strong and Bachelors of History and English in 1976 from the University of Vermont, a Masters flourishing operation is a pleasure indeed. of History from the University of Vermont in 1978, and a PhD in History from the On the other hand, such a terrific record of University of Massachusetts in 1993. He has been the executive director of two state accomplishment will be the hardest of acts historical societies: the Kentucky Historical Society from 1999 to 2003 and the Ver- to follow, and I could not be more grateful mont Historical Society from 2003 to present. Under his leadership, the Vermont His- to Mary for leaving me with that very best torical Society recently received a national medal for public service from the Institute kind of challenge. for Museum and Library Services. Among his authored works are over 60 articles, chapters, and other contributions in numerous publications and newspapers across Best Regards, the United States, as well as 16 books including his most recent, All the Good Books: Geoff Eley Quotations for Bibliophiles (2006). Best wishes to Dr. Graffagnino in his new role. 20088 Alumni News Keep in Touch: www.lsa.umich.edu/history/update.asp Edward J. Blum (BA 1999) is a The History Department is waiting to hear from you! Our next newsletter will Professor of History at San Diego include more news about our alumni. If you wish to provide us with information State University. He just published regarding your current activities, interests, and career moves, please go to our a religious biography of W.E.B.