Department Honor Roll

Oakland University HISTORY D E P A R T M E N T

NEWSLETTER Spring 2016

DEPARTMENT 2010 Ann Marie Wambeke lectures by department faculty were VIEW FROM THE supplemented by two distinguished HONOR ROLL guest speakers, both of whom drew The Department of History has a well- CHAIR’S DESK strong crowds as well. All of these established track record of success in ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ventures are part of the way we winning the most coveted prizes As you scroll (or thumb) through awarded by Oakland University. engage with the broader community this newsletter you will find the in mutually productive ways. University Distinguished Professor record of another year in the life of 2007 Ronald Finucane the department replete with It was also a year of milestones and achievements, awards, and activities achievements in faculty research in Research Excellence Award by our faculty, our students, and various ways—publications, 1985 Charles Akers some honored visitors. This record presentations, promotions and more. 1992 Richard Tucker of achievement highlights another I emphasize research in this 1998 Ronald Finucane successful year in the life of the newsletter, both explicitly and 2007 Linda Benson department, both collectively and for implicitly, by focusing on the recent individual members. publications and current research of Teaching Excellence Award both current and former faculty. 1989 Carl Osthaus It was a year of great student 1991 Anne Tripp Other pieces show the impact of 2001 Todd Estes success, as individual students won research accomplishments in the awards, internships, scholarships and department, while many highlight New Investigator Research prizes and as the collected students activities now underway that will Excellence Award of Phi Alpha Theta capped an yield results in the future. And a 1996 Geoffrey Wawro ambitious year by hosting the number of these newsletter entries 2008 Matthew Sutton regional conference at Oakland on reflect the research that our students 2011 Craig Martin an April Saturday. And our faculty have done for their classes and the had another impressive year of ways that such work has paid off for President’s Colloquium Award teaching, service to Oakland and to them. Even the interviews in this 1999 Geoffrey Wawro the profession, and scholarship. newsletter feature the research and 2001 Linda Benson After all, the success of our students publication of a current faculty 2003 Sean Farrell Moran is tied directly to the quality of the 2006 Sara Chapman member (Derek Hastings) as well as 2009 Todd Estes teaching they receive, and that high- one of our emerita faculty members caliber teaching is fueled by the (Mary Karasch), while the faculty College of Arts and Sciences research and writing of our faculty updates section profiles more work Engagement Award of teacher-scholars. —past, forthcoming, and in 2013 Dan Clark progress. It was a year of setting attendance Outstanding Thesis Award for records for our History Comes Alive By focusing on research, however, I Graduate Students lecture series which attracted more certainly do not mean to slight 2008 Jennifer Laam people than ever before. Those teaching or service, the other two 2 dimensions of the traditional students presenting their research for faculty judges who were drawn from professorial triad. The work of the their peers, to professors and parents all participating institutions. Ashley department—which this year watching with pride, to the many Montgomery, Kathryn Austin, featured five personnel reviews and students moderating panels--for all and Sarah Black took home prizes much other important committee concerned, it was a tremendous for their papers and several other work—could not go on without the event and a great way to cap an OU students were finalists for selfless contributions and hard work academic year. honors as well. The department is of many hands. And the results of Special thanks are due to the student proud of all our students who our teaching are often the least chapter members from Oakland who worked hard to write and revise their visible but most significant results of helped plan and organize the event papers, practiced diligently to our labors. This is borne out by the and who often did double duty, improve their presentation, and third interview in these pages with a presenting papers and then also benefitted from the experience of recent graduate who has done—and moderating other panels while sharing their research with peers in a is doing—some remarkable things acting as friendly hosts for our scholarly setting. They, and our with his History degree. He reflects guests. Special thanks are due the dedicated PAT advisors who helped on how it all got started in a PAT faculty advisors--Dan Clark, them every step of the way, deserve classroom at OU. Once you have Liz Shesko, and James Naus--who our praise. read this interview, I am sure you did a fantastic job organizing, will agree that Chris Gillies planning, overseeing, and The Department was pleased to embodies student success in the coordinating a hundred matters large contribute support to this program most genuine sense. and small to make sure the and is especially grateful to Dean conference came off well. History Kevin Corcoran for his generous I trust you will learn a great deal department faculty members were financial support as well as his below about our department and its especially generous with their time presence to provide welcoming exciting activities this past year. and expertise by serving as remarks. This was a hugely Despite grappling with the inevitable commentators and panel judges. successful day and our entire challenges, we have accomplished James Naus, Dan Clark, Craig department can take pride, not only much and laid a great foundation for Martin, Jeff Powell, Derek Hastings, in the success of our students but the the future. Enjoy reading all the Bruce Zellers, George Milne, Karen overall success of the regional news. Miller, and Todd Estes all helped in conference. OU has set a high bar this capacity. The PAT student for other chapters to try to emulate By: Todd Estes moderators executed their roles with in future meetings. professionalism and skill. Lastly, PHI ALPHA THETA guest keynote speaker Jacob Remes, PHI ALPHA THETA a professor at Empire State College, CHAPTER HOSTS delivered a thoughtful, engaging, CHAPTER HAS REGIONAL and well-received luncheon talk on ACTIVE AND the often serendipitous ways that CONFERENCE AT research questions, topics, and SUCCESSFUL YEAR OAKLAND insights emerge for historians. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Hosting the regional conference was The student members and faculty A total of 20 students from only the high point of what was a advisors from Oakland’s Phi Alpha Oakland’s chapter presented papers very busy and productive 2015-16 Theta chapter played host to the at the meeting, including Bryan academic year for our PAT chapter. PAT Michigan Regional Conference Furgal, Ashley Montgomery, Chapter members and advisors at Oakland University in April Brittany Barron, Mark Chasney, participated in weekly meetings and which was an unqualified success. Kathryn Austin, Rowa Altattan, took part in a range of other Over 70 people representing Justin Schnurer, Christopher Blaker, activities during the year. Here are a approximately a dozen universities Steven Schatzberg, Michael few clear highlights: or colleges attended as participants Leskoviansky, Mara Armstrong, or observers in fifteen conference Kenny Plont, Rose Walsh, Katie Phil Alpha Theta students hosted panels held in a daylong meeting at Chaka, Matthew Ciaravino, Roger their annual "Careers in History" the Oakland Center. In talking to Biernat, Nick DiPucchio, Floriana panel in late October in the Oakland student presenters and their Berishaj, Amrita Prakash, and Sarah Center for history students and any professors--and overhearing other Black. Oakland students did interested participants. Panelists this conversations taking place—it extremely well in bringing home year, all chosen to represent the became clear what an enjoyable and honors for their papers as well, range of careers open to History meaningful experience this was for winning three of the seven "Best majors, included Tobi Voigt of the those who participated. From Paper" awards given out by the Detroit Historical Society; Joshua Miller, attorney at law; Tara Fugate, 3 secondary school teacher; Chris Dinner, once again held at Lino’s. Our patrons—many of whom have Gillies, MBA student following a James Naus offered a thoughtful talk been attending the series for years, military tour of duty in Afghanistan; about his journey to become a even as we continue to draw and Dominique Daniel of Kresge historian. newcomers at each lecture— Library. All of the panelists except routinely tell us how much they Daniel were Oakland undergraduates Continuing a tradition, Phi Alpha appreciate this series and the so they were able to speak Theta students gathered at the Red opportunity it affords them to spend authoritatively about the challenges Ox before every History Comes one evening a month listening to and and opportunities available to OU Alive presentation for dinner and discussing a history lecture. The students. There was an excellent conversation. department is fortunate to be able to turnout, a great discussion, and lots engage with the local history- of follow-up conversation afterwards Phi Alpha Theta students were also minded public in this way and we between panelists and the audience heavily involved in the visit by are delighted that they turn to as attendees sought out panelists University of London historian Oakland to connect with us for these individually for one-on-one Jonathan Phillips and his family, lectures. It is clear our efforts at conversations. Dean Kevin Corcoran arranging a luncheon presentation, community outreach--which we and Associate Dean Robby Stewart going out for meals, and benefiting enjoy a great deal--are greatly both attended and the guests from Professor Phillips’s in-class appreciated in return. This is a themselves made it clear how much visits. meaningful series and it is always they appreciated being asked to nice to hear from our audience how participate and how much they 2015-2016 PHI ALPHA much the lectures and the experience enjoyed the event itself. This panel mean to them. is an annual success and one of the THETA INDUCTEES best means the department has of ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ The department is deeply communicating to students the range Mara Armstrong, Kathryn Austin, appreciative of our generous of career options open to history Robert Belcourt, Mikayla Benton, sponsors who make these lectures majors. Floriana Berishaj, Matthew possible: the Knudsen Family Ciaravino, Bryan Furgal, Rachael Foundation, the office of the Senior PAT’s longtime faculty advisor Dan Kroll, Michael Leskoviansky, Vice-President for Academic Affairs Clark was elected to the Phi Alpha Anastacia Maurer, Dean Michel, and Provost, and the Office of the Theta National Council and attended Ashley Montgomery, Chad Samson. Dean of the College of Arts and the biennial PAT National Sciences, and our founding Conference in Florida in January. HISTORY COMES sponsors, the late John Carter and Council members review the late Annette Carter who helped applications for new PAT chapters, ALIVE SERIES SETS launch this program in 2004. CAS determine national Best Chapter RECORDS Dean Kevin Corcoran attends nearly Awards, participate in budget and ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ every lecture as does CAS Associate bylaw sessions, and are called upon The 12th edition of the department’s Dean Robby Stewart. Judy Christie, to weigh in on issues that arise acclaimed “History Comes Alive” the administrator of the Knudsen throughout the year. lecture series in 2015-16 proved to Family Foundation and a frequent be a record-breaking success. The attendee of the series commented, The chapter hosted a special panel six lectures in the series, beginning “It's a pleasure to support a program discussion for students interested in in September and concluding in that informs so many people of graduate school. James Naus, Liz March, broke the department’s all- differing ages. I'm happy to be able Shesko, Don Matthews, Derek time attendance record. A total of to support [the department’s] Hastings, and Yan Li offered 723 people attended this year’s talks. efforts!” sobering truths about how That number exceeded our previous competitive it is to get into top record (set in 2013-14) by more than A special word of thanks goes to graduate programs and how difficult a hundred. This means that an department secretary Johanna the job market is. The excellent average of 121 people attended each McReynolds for all of her behind the session, the first of its kind held by lecture, and all the talks exceeded 90 scenes work on publicity, signage, our chapter, was very well attended. attendees with three of the sessions reservations, refreshments, and topping the century mark. We also arrangements with assistance from The Holiday Party at Rochester broke the single lecture attendance Janet Chandler. Plans for the 2016- Mills saw a great turnout of students record in November with Erin 17 “History Comes Alive” series are and faculty for informal Dwyer’s presentation on the Lincoln being finalized now and another conversation. Students managed to assassination drawing a remarkable exciting year of talks is in the works. defeat the faculty yet again in Quiz audience of 234 people. Bowl at the annual Induction 4 Here were the lectures presented in apply their energies to attacking Philosophy, Political Science, and 2015-16: injustice today. Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice. Sara Chapman Williams, “Early A key part of the power and Detroit for Parisians: Cadillac’s authority of Nash’s talk stems from DEPARTMENT 1701 “Description of Detroit”, her extensive and courageous Tuesday, September 15, 2015 personal involvement in so many HOSTS PROMINENT path breaking aspects of the Civil MEDIEVALIST FOR Weldon Matthews, “The Kennedy Rights movement. A native of Administration and the Kurds of Chicago, Nash became a passionate GUEST LECTURE Iraq”, Tuesday, October 6, 2015 advocate for civil rights while she ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ was a student at Fisk University in The department had the honor this Erin Dwyer, “The Deaths of Nashville, Tennessee. She was a April of playing host to Jonathan Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes leader of the sit-in movement to Phillips, Professor of Crusading Booth: Rumor, Conspiracy, and integrate lunch counters in Nashville History and Head of Department at Collective Memory”, Tuesday, and became active with the Freedom Royal Holloway College, University November 17, 2015 Riders who worked to desegregate of London for a formal lecture and a bus travel. Nash was also a founding series of other events. The lecture Derek Hastings,“ Rituals, Rallies, member of SNCC (the Student Non- discussed the memory of Sultan and the Creation of Sacred Space in Violent Coordinating Committee) Saladin and the long, continuing Nazi Germany”, Tuesday, January and was very active in the voting impact of the crusading movement 12, 2016 rights movement as well. A close on modern political culture. An ally of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., enthusiastic and attentive audience Jeff Powell, “ Laborers, Unions, and she worked to help his Southern of 124 people heard his fine public the Public Welfare: The Taftville Christian Leadership Conference lecture on "Saladin: Life and Strike of 1875 and Gilded Age develop strategies for integrating the Legend--The Memory of the America”, Tuesday, February 9, Birmingham, Alabama business Crusades in the Near East." 2016 district and was one of only four Professor Phillips’s talk was women given special recognition at exceptionally well-pitched for our Elizabeth Shesko, “In the Green the March on Washington in August audience: serious and informative Hell: Bolivia’s Choco War, 1932- 1963. Nash has also won numerous yet witty and accessible. The 1935”, Tuesday, March 8, 2016 awards and honors during her question and answer session had lifetime of involvement to causes remarkable energy and engagement and commitment to social justice. and many of our patrons NOTED CIVIL complimented the great talk RIGHTS ACTIVIST Both lectures were well attended and afterwards. generated extensive, engaged DIANE NASH questions and audience discussion In addition to his successful public LECTURES AT afterwards. A combined total of 117 lecture, Professor Phillips was very people attended the two generous with his time and expertise OAKLAND and gave our students a terrific ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ presentations. A handful was present for both--including a pair of opportunity to learn, discuss, and ask The department was pleased to host attendees who drove up from questions of an internationally noted Civil Rights activist and Youngstown, Ohio just for this acclaimed scholar. The department speaker Diane Nash to kick off the event. benefitted from having Phillips university’s African-American around for several days during Celebration Month in February. She A special thanks to Professor De which time he participated in gave two public lectures for Witt Dykes, whose hard work and classes, guest taught some lectures, students, alumni, and members of inside connections allowed us to met with students, had lunch with the community on “The 1960s Civil bring Diane Nash to campus and Phi Alpha Theta students, and Rights Movement: Past, Present, and who made arrangements for the visited with faculty. Future.” Nash showed very clearly events. We also acknowledge the why she carries so much moral very generous support of the Office Phillips has authored numerous power as her understated but deeply of the Dean, College of Arts and books on the Crusades including meaningful talks made a lasting Sciences, the African-American Holy Warriors: A Modern History of impression on the audience. In a pair Celebration Committee, and our co- the Crusades, The Second Crusade: of fascinating lectures, she shared sponsoring departments: Extending the Frontiers of her experiences of the 1960s and Communication and Journalism, Christendom, and also The Fourth used those examples to challenge Modern Languages and Literatures, Crusade and the Sack of particularly the students attending to Constantinople. Professor Phillips, 5 in addition to his extensive and eight peer-reviewed journal situation or development. It is also publication record, also frequently articles since earning tenure. clear that she is enormously well appears on television documentaries respected across campus by and news programs such as The These successful promotion reviews administrators, faculty, and the other History Channel and the BBC. help to replenish the department’s administrative professionals with ranks. Martin and Estes become the whom she interacts regularly. We Many thanks go to Oakland’s own unit’s first Full Professors since are delighted that this program Medieval specialist, Professor James Linda Benson retired in 2012, filling honored Janet’s service to the Naus, for inviting Phillips to campus a void at that level. With lots of institution, and the department is and then for planning and scholarly work contracted, underway gratified to have had the benefit of coordinating the events during his and/or forthcoming from our her presence these many years. stay. The department is grateful to historians, the department will look Congratulations to Janet! Dean Kevin Corcoran of the College to add to the lists of both Professors of Arts and Sciences for his strong and Associate Professors in the next INTERVIEWS financial support of this program several years, continuing to reshape ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ which made it possible to fund this the department’s faculty roster. event. We also want to thank the Each year in this space we select a few faculty members or alumni who Office of the Provost for support JANET CHANDLER and, as always, we appreciate the are doing interesting things and seek efforts of Janet Chandler and MARKS 20 YEARS OF them out for interviews to share. Johanna McReynolds for all the This year we spoke with a retired SERVICE AT OU professor, a current professor, and a behind the scenes work that went ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ into making this visit so successful. recent alum. Here is what they had Janet Chandler, the History to say. department’s Administrative ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ TWO HISTORIANS Secretary since 1998, was among 25 INTERVIEW WITH MARY EARN PROMOTIONS people honored at an Employee KARASCH Recognition Program in February to ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ IN RANK salute those with 20 years of service Mary Karasch earned her Ph.D. from ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ to the institution. OU President the University of Wisconsin and Two members of the History George Hynd and Provost James taught Latin American history at department faculty have earned Lentini were on hand to speak and to Oakland from 1970 until her promotions as a result of personnel congratulate the employees on retirement in 2010. She has authored reviews conducted this past year. reaching this milestone in their years numerous publications including Craig Martin and Todd Estes have of service. The program and Slave Life in Rio de Janeiro been promoted from Associate reception, held in the Oakland published by Princeton University Professor to the rank of Professor. Center, recognized those employees Press in 1987 which won the Albert who have served Oakland for ten or J. Beveridge Award from the Promotion reviews are originated in twenty years and featured members American Historical Association, the department and go from there to of the Board of Trustees as well as given annually for the best book in college-wide and university-wide the President’s Cabinet. English on the history of the United promotion review committees for States, Latin America or Canada review and approval, then on to the Janet joined Oakland in 1995, from 1492 to the present. She keeps Provost and the Board of Trustees. working first in the Admissions in touch with former colleagues, Reviews are based on strong records office before coming to the History students, and friends in the area and in research, teaching, and service department. In her time in the she graciously took time out from with the scholarship component department, Janet has made herself copy editing her most recent book to weighing most heavily. Martin invaluable for her many talk with us. (History of Science and Technology contributions in serving both faculty and Renaissance Europe) since and students on a daily basis. Q: What do you miss most about tenure has published a second Visitors to the department office your time at Oakland? monograph, a raft of book chapters appreciate her good spirit and and peer-reviewed journal articles, enthusiasm and all benefit from her I especially miss students and and has won major research professionalism and efficiency. The colleagues, as well as Janet and fellowships including the Rome four department chairs she has Johanna. I have fond memories of Prize and a Folger Shakespeare worked with are particularly grateful working with students, especially in Library grant. Estes (Early U.S. for her expertise. Janet’s extensive history seminars. I also enjoyed history) has published a monograph, experience means that she has “seen giving lectures on Latin America to an edited volume, two book chapters it all” over the years and knows local community groups, and I miss instinctively how to handle any 6 lively discussions with interested attempted to govern the region. The Q: What is the next project? senior citizens. Since I now live in Portuguese divided society into the desert southwest in Arizona, I white, black, and the racially mixed, The next research project will take also miss the natural beauty of OU’s which was in turn reflected in local me back to Portugal (Lisbon and campus, especially the trees and militias and churches that served as Evora) and then to Rome (the wildlife. a focus of community building. The Vatican archives). I am going to try final result was the transformation of and find the Jesuit relations for the Q: What kind of activities have a society from a slave society in late seventeenth and early eighteenth you undertaken since leaving OU? which as many as seventy to eighty centuries for Central Brazil. My I have continued to serve on the per cent of the people were defined goal is to locate what they wrote editorial board as an assistant editor as slaves to one in which most about the indigenous populations of the journal, The Americas, which people were free or freed men and and enslaved Africans before 1759, takes me to Philadelphia four times a women of color, although when they were expelled from year for editorial board meetings. autonomous Indians still lived Brazil. We also meet at the American independently and fought local Historical Association each January. settlers. Q: What are some of the most After the June meeting, I usually exciting and promising directions stop in Detroit to visit the Q: How long have you been in Latin American history department, friends, and former working on this book? scholarship? students. Too long! One might say the What I find most exciting is the The major focus of my activities has genesis of the book was a trip I global access to scholarship on Latin been the completion of the book made in 1969 when I visited the America that is available using manuscript, including research trips Karajá, who lived along the electronic sources. Our journal The to London and Vienna. I have just Araguaia River. Initial research Americas is now being published by finished the review of the edited began in 1977-1978, when I Cambridge University Press, which manuscript, and page proofs will received a Fulbright award to do gives us access to global readers. come in June. We have an expected research and teach at the University We now have an international publication date of the fall, 2016. of Brasília. Since then I finished audience that was never possible The title is “Before Brasília: Frontier Slave Life in Rio de Janeiro in 1987 before this. In a recent study of our Life in Central Brazil.” and served as the Brazil editor for readership, we found that we had In addition to the book, I have also the Encyclopedia of Latin American readers in Europe, the Middle East been publishing articles, book History and Culture (1996) after and Asia, as well as the United chapters, and short biographies. which I worked sporadically on this States and Latin America--and at When possible, I have given papers book manuscript until I retired and Oakland University. at the Brazilian Studies meeting in could devote full attention to London, two border lands revisions on the manuscript. The internet also makes possible conferences in Mexico City and collaborative research and North Carolina, a regional Latin Q: Was it easier or harder to write publication projects with scholars in American history conference in the book in retirement? Europe, Latin America, and the Santa Fe, New Mexico, and a United States. I have participated in Brazilian slavery conference held in Because of the complexity of the one in Spain on the history of Franca, São Paulo last year. book project, I could not have women in Latin America, another in finished it while still teaching. Brazil on a collection of essays on Q: What is the book about and When I made the decision to retire, I black women in Brazil, and yet a what does it argue? believed that I would have lots of third with Mexican scholars on the time to just write and revise. The history of borderlands in the “Before Brasília” is a comprehensive reality was that family obligations, Americas. For the future, I expect survey of the evolution of the including five weddings of nieces that more publications in Latin population of Central Brazil from and nephews, and my sister’s American history will involve such the 1590s to c. 1835. The central illnesses took more time than collaborations on broad historical theme is slavery, both indigenous anticipated. I also had health issues, themes as opposed to narrow studies and African. Not only does the book including cataract surgery. In effect, on one country’s political history. document as much as possible about it was often difficult to find the time In terms of sources online, one that the indigenous populations who to work on the book. What I found has been most useful to me is the occupied the region, but it also most useful in moving the book Trans-Atlantic slave trade data base demonstrates the role of enslaved along was to set a schedule of three directed by David Eltis at Emory Africans in the mining economy and or four hours per day. University. This web site on 35,000 that of the Portuguese elite, who voyages that carried enslaved 7 Africans to the Americas has belonging, and rival loyalties like which I've worked on one project or contributed greatly to African regional and religious attachments. the other. I started the Röhm project Diaspora studies on Latin America. I also focus on how nationalism earlier, but changed its structure and What I also appreciate is the ability interacted with other markers of scope dramatically, and then the to publish both hard copy and identity, such as gender and class. opportunity to write the nationalism electronic versions of books. My Since the book covers all of Europe book came along. Since my contract own book will have that feature, but and goes far beyond my own field of with Bloomsbury has a deadline, I've Oxford University’s Dictionary of German history, it has forced me to been forced to work almost Caribbean and Afro-Latin American read a tremendous amount of exclusively on that project in recent Biography to which I contributed material that I wouldn't have read months. three biographies will have an otherwise. Overall, it has been Q: You teach a course on electronic version that can be revised challenging, but fun. The other European nationalism. What is the when new sources or books are book is a biography of the early relationship between your available. Nazi leader Ernst Röhm, who was teaching this field and your gay and was executed on Hitler's writing the book? Are they Yet another important development orders in 1934. What I find mutually reinforcing? is the placement of Latin American especially interesting about Röhm is themes within an Atlantic world that, as a gay man in a homophobic The book on nationalism grew context, both for the colonial and political movement, he not only directly out of the course I've taught national periods. New research on played an important role in helping for several years on that topic. In the Haitian Revolution and its bring Hitler to power but also helped initially assigning readings for the impact on the Americas is but one forge the Nazi ideal of masculinity. class, it was difficult to find texts example. Röhm's killing was partly justified as that fit well with my approach as a the removal of an immoral cancer historian. To begin with, most of the Finally, I especially appreciate the within the Nazi leadership, but it works on nationalism have scholars who have mastered also forced the Nazis to rethink their been written from a largely indigenous languages, such as ideas about masculinity and identity ahistorical perspective by Nahuatl and Quechua, enabling on a fundamental level. sociologists, anthropologists, and historians to read colonial texts in political scientists. And while a the original indigenous language. Q: Did either of these grow out of large number of historians have also The location and translation of your first book? And how so? written about nationalism, they have writings by the conquered are typically done so by focusing on changing our visions of colonial Neither project grew directly out of limited temporal and geographic Latin America. my first book, which focused on the contexts (like nationalism in religious orientation of the early interwar France or the revival of INTERVIEW WITH DEREK Nazi movement. But in doing the ethnic nationalism in the Balkans HASTINGS research for that book, I came across after the Cold War). The relatively ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ a lot of peripheral material about small number of broad historical Recently we sat down with our Ernst Röhm, so that did play some surveys that exist typically approach German historian, Derek Hastings, role in my decision to write about the topic thematically rather than to talk about his current research and him further. Also, having focused chronologically. So I decided to try scholarship. Here is our interview on the relationship between Nazism to write a book that covers the entire with him: and religion, I was looking for a period since the French Revolution window into the relationship in a chronological narrative that Q: You are currently writing two between Nazism and gender, maintains equal focus on western books simultaneously. Could you particularly conceptions of and eastern Europe. I certainly tell us a little bit about each one? masculinity, and Röhm seemed like wouldn't have done that if not for the an ideal choice. experience of teaching the class on One book is on the history of nationalism. nationalism in Europe from the Q: How do you juggle these two French Revolution up through the books? Do you work on both of Q: What kinds of research have recent Ukraine crisis. It is under them at the same time, or do you you had to do for these projects? contract with Bloomsbury, an alternate and spend blocks of time Trips to the archives? academic press in London, and the on first one and then the other? manuscript is near completion. One Yes, archival research has been of the main themes emphasized in I don't juggle particularly well, absolutely central to my work on the book is the interaction between either literally or metaphorically, so these projects. I am grateful for the nationalist sentiment, as an what has happened in practice is that research funding provided by OU, extremely powerful form of I have alternated stretches of time in which has enabled me to spend 8 several summers in Europe doing mainly on visual representations your responsibilities? What led archival research. of film stars and athletes. you to pursue this?

Q: Has your conception of either I joined the US Army in 2009. I book changed, expanded, or been INTERVIEW WITH spent six years as an intelligence refined as your work on it? In CHRISTOPHER GILLIES officer, where I served in a other words, have the projects ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ variety of management roles evolved now from what you Christopher Gillies is a recent including intelligence operations, originally planned? How so? Oakland history graduate who made training, project management, and an enormous impression on the logistics. I chose intelligence The book on Ernst Röhm has audience when he spoke last October because I thought that intelligence changed dramatically. It began as an at Phi Alpha Theta’s “Careers in analysis was a lot like the analysis investigation of Nazi conceptions of History” to discuss his experience that historians do. I chose to be an masculinity, and Röhm was since Oakland. Since not everyone officer in the Army because I knew originally just the point of entry into could attend the panel, we thought it would be scary and challenging. that set of issues. But as I did more many more might benefit from Army officers lead soldiers, and I research, I found a tremendous learning more about Chris and his had never really led anything in my amount of material that had not been career path. We spent some time life. I also chose the Army because dealt with in the only other scholarly recently catching up with him. people told me it was a bad idea. I biography of Röhm ever written remember telling an OU classmate (much of the new material I have Q: What do you remember most that I had joined the Army and he assembled is on Röhm's childhood about your time as a History responded with "oh wow, what did and adolescence). So I decided to major at Oakland? What led you you do?" As if I was forced into write a full-fledged biography, to become a History major? servitude! (I still laugh about this) In which has taken a longer amount of short, I've always loved doing things time. I most enjoyed my time researching that people tell me are foolish. for the two seminar classes that were People told me that I shouldn't get a Q: When and where do you do required for a major in History. I history degree because it had limited your best writing? Do you need a enjoyed these because the classes career opportunities (not true), but I consistent time and place or can empowered me to conduct my own did it anyways. People told me not you be more flexible with this research in challenging topics and to join the Army (especially because work? transform my research to the written I had a four year degree) but I did page. I felt it challenging to write that, and don't regret either one. I've found that the best time for me something over 20 pages, and it to write is at night, stretching into really forced me to focus and Q: Did any of the skills and the early morning hours. Reading produce something worthwhile. knowledge you gained as a History and outlining can be done in shorter major help you in your military windows of time, but I need at least What led me to become a History career? How so? What was most several hours in a row to have any major is simple. When I first started valuable? success in the writing process. at OU I had no idea what I wanted to Nights seem to work best in that do and no idea what I wanted to Bottomline, researching and writing regard. major in. By chance, I enrolled in skills helped me greatly and set me Dan Clark's intro to American ahead of my peers in both my Q: Even with two books in the History course, and after a few military career and now in my works, do you have any ideas for classes, realized that history was graduate education. Researching and books or other scholarly work something that greatly interested me. writing lend themselves well to once these projects are completed? Through classroom discussion I intelligence work. Historians and learned that History was not just a intelligence analysts really do just My problem is that I'm interested in Wikipedia page with a scroll down about the same thing, in that they too many things and have too many record of dates and facts. Instead I both utilize multiple sources of ideas for future projects. The two learned that History was exciting, information to create products. The most likely options at this point are, full of nuance and conflict, and major difference between these first, a history of Nazi domestic dependent on the perspective of the professions is that the sources and programs that failed spectacularly in storyteller. So yeah, after that class I end products are different. the 1930s and, second, something on was hooked. the emergence of a new kind of Further, the general writing ability celebrity pop culture in Germany Q: You joined the military after has helped me immensely; whether between 1900 and 1930, focusing Oakland. When and where did it’s an essay, intelligence report, or a you serve and what were some of simply worded email... when you get 9 out into the workforce, you'll be majors? What would you tell them These latest awards continue the surprised at how many of your peers based on your experiences? department's very strong record of have not acquired the ability to write winning URC summer grants. This either effectively or concisely. The best advice I can give is to do is the third year in a row that the what you want and never let anyone History department has had three Q: You are now enrolled in an tell you otherwise. When I look back recipients, giving us a total of nine MBA program at Michigan State. on the decisions I have made, I fellowships over the last three years. Tell us about that--what are you remember people telling me not to This is a great record of achievement studying and learning? Why did get a history degree, not to join the and is testimony to the excellent you select this program? Army, not to join the intelligence research being carried out by our branch, then not to leave the Army, faculty. I just finished my first year as a full- and then that I did not have the time MBA candidate at Michigan quantitative background to get into a FACULTY State University. I decided to go top ranked business school. But in back to school because my six years the end, I did all of these things. And PUBLICATIONS THIS of military service entitled me to the I don’t regret even one of them. That YEAR G.I. Bill, which has afforded me to would be my other piece of advice: ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ go to school at no cost. (Pretty great, don’t ever regret. I’ve never seen the History faculty members are all right!) In short, I determined that if I point in it. Instead of regretting, just actively engaged in research and didn't go back to school now, I'd do what you want to do. You should scholarship which can take years of probably never go back. I selected be just fine. labor before seeing the light of the MSU MBA because it is a top 50 publication. As the interviews with MBA program (and climbing) and THREE HISTORIANS current (Derek Hastings) and retired because of the working class and WIN SUMMER (Mary Karasch) faculty made clear, familial attitude of the program. research and publishing is an RESEARCH GRANTS ongoing process for historians. This The first year was a whirlwind of ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ past year has been a very productive general business courses from Three faculty historians have each one on the publishing front for our finance, accounting, economics, to won $10,000 Summer Research faculty members. While other work management and business Fellowships for 2016 from the is forthcoming soon, a number of communication. If you plan on a University Research Committee. faculty publications came into print career in the business world, I would Derek Hastings, Yan Li, and James this past year. (Note: this may not be recommend a few courses that Naus all received these awards, a complete list). develop quantitative skills like announced in December, to aid their finance or accounting. Having never work next summer. Derek's proposal Craig Martin published three pieces: taken a college level math class, I is entitled “Nationalism in Modern “Lodovico Settala’s found those courses difficult. Europe: Identity and Belonging Aristotelian Problemata since the French Revolution.” Yan Commentary and Late-Renaissance Q: What are your career goals has received funding for her project, Hippocratic Medicine,” in Early now? Where do you hope to be in “One World, One Language, One Modern Medicine and Natural 5-10 years and beyond? Alphabet: Soviet Influence on Philosophy, eds. Peter Distelzweig, China’s Language Education and Benjamin Goldberg, and Evan Having lived in ten different places Reform, 1949-1958.” And James's Ragland (Dordrecht: Springer, in the past six years, I am glad to be successful proposal is on 2016), 22-43; "Providence and back in Michigan. This summer, “Multiplicity and Transformation: Seventeenth-century Attacks on after a study abroad program for Re-evaluating Crusader Motivations Averroes,” in Averroes’ Natural international business in Munich and in the Central Middle Ages.” All Philosophy and its Reception in the Vienna (I’m actually in the air flying three deserve congratulations for this Latin West, ed. P. J. J. M. Bakker to Munich as I write this!), I’ll be recognition of their superb work and (Leuven: Leuven University Press, interning at a leading automotive for the tangible support that these 2015), 193-212; and “The Invention supply firm doing projects in human fellowships bring. of Atmosphere,” Studies in History resource management. After that, I and Philosophy of Science Part A 52 honestly haven’t given it that much These fellowships are by application (2015): 44-54. thought, other than I’d like to stay in only, are open to all members of the Michigan for the rest of my life and university faculty, and are intensely Elizabeth Shesko published “‘Same start a family. competitive since only twenty-five as Here, Same as Everywhere’: or so grants are awarded each Social Difference among Bolivian Q: What messages or advice do summer. Prisoners in Paraguay” in The you have for current History Chaco War: Environment, Ethnicity, 10 and Nationalism, edited by Bridget paper at the Phi Alpha Theta University Press, and, on campus, is María Chesterton (New York: regional conference in April and the Coordinator of the Urban Studies Bloomsbury Academic, 2016), 21- won a “Best Paper” prize for it. Concentration. He also continues to 41. Michael Leskoviansky has been serve as a historical consultant to the named the department’s Graduate Detroit Historical Museum on their Also of note, Dan Clark received a Assistant for 2016-17, replacing the projects. He authored text for panels book contract from the University of very able Katie Chaka. on African Americans in baseball as Illinois Press for his manuscript, The part of an upcoming exhibit on Elusive Post-War Boom: Metro- "Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Detroit Autoworkers, 1945-60. Dan FACULTY UPDATES Becoming American" to be will deliver his revised manuscript to ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ exhibited in 2016, and wrote a book the press by early next year. And De Witt Dykes had a very active chapter on race relations in Detroit, Yan Li has recently received a book year giving lectures and 1860-1915 for an upcoming book to contract from Routledge Press to presentations, attending conferences, accompany the planned exhibit on publish her book, China's Soviet and engaging in a variety of the 1967 civil disturbance. Finally, Dream: Propaganda, Culture, and activities. He spoke to the Dykes he continues research and analysis Popular Imagination. Yan also is set Family History Association in for a future book on the history of to deliver her revised and completed Newport, Tennessee, the Fred Hart African Americans in the State of manuscript to the press by next year. Williams Genealogical Society at Michigan. the Detroit Public Library, and the Plymouth United Church of Christ in Todd Estes participated in various HISTORY STUDENTS Detroit. He introduced a speaker, conferences during the year that took WIN HONORS, Tim Wise, at the "Equity and him to Charlottesville, Virginia, AWARDS, AND Student Success in the Classroom" Hermosa Beach, California, and Conference sponsored by Oakland Indianapolis. He completed an RECOGNITION University at the Troy Marriott article manuscript, “The 18th Century ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Hotel and, again at the "Diversity Origins of the Modern American It gives us great pleasure to and Inclusion" Program at Oakland. Presidential Campaign,” which is recognize two outstanding History He authored biographical articles on now under review at a journal, and majors as recipients of major "Josephine Baker" and "Bessie he wrote a book review essay for scholarships. Quinn Malecki has Smith," in Lean'tin L. Bracks and Presidential Studies Quarterly as been awarded a Holzbock Jessie Carney Smith, (eds.), Black well as individual book reviews for Humanities scholarship for 2016-17. Women of The Harlem Renaissance Journal of American History and the Anastacia Maurer has been named Era, (Scarecrow Press, 2015). As a Journal of Church and State. Todd the recipient of the George conferee, he attended the Textbook also served as the content advisor for Matthews department scholarship and Academic Authors Conference a program on “The Bill of Rights” for next year. Maurer also won an in Las Vegas last June, the Annual developed by WGBH-TV, the internship with the Smithsonian Meeting of the Association for the Boston PBS station. Additionally, he Institute for the summer. She is Study of African American Life and was an external referee for a tenure excited about the work and the History in Atlanta last September, and promotion case at IU-PU Fort opportunity and grateful to and the Historical Society of Wayne and also refereed an article undergraduate advisor Craig Martin Michigan's "Local History manuscript for The Register of the for recommending that she apply. Conference" in Sterling Heights in Kentucky Historical Society. Karl Martin Adam, a triple major March. (Philosophy, History, and Yan Li has recently secured a book Anthropology) was selected as a As part of Oakland University's contract with Routledge for her recipient of the Meritorious African American Celebration manuscript titled "China's Soviet Achievement Award and was Month, De Witt coordinated for the Dream: Propaganda, Culture, and recognized at the April History Department two Popular Imagination.” She has commencement ceremony as a presentations in February by Diane received a URC Fellowship to featured speaker at the 2 p.m. Nash, a major civil rights activist of support the manuscript revision in commencement on April 29. He was the 1960's and Co-Founder of The Summer 2016. She presented a also the subject of a nice feature Student Non-Violent Coordinating chapter of the manuscript related to article on the Oakland website. Committee, who later worked with the promotion of Soviet literature in Sarah Black won first prize in the Dr. M. L. King's Southern Christian communist China at the Association Frank Lepkowski Research and Leadership Conference. for Asian Studies Annual Writing Award presented by Kresge He serves as a member of the Conference. For professional Library for her HST 300 paper. She Advisory Board for the Great Lakes service, she served as a discussant presented a shorter version of her Book Series of Wayne State for a film screening and a panel 11 during the 2015 Taiwan Week. She Capetian Monarchs of France and History Bachelor of Arts degrees also delivered a public lecture on the the Early Crusades that will be Summer 2015: Emma Helen history of Republican China at Troy released by Manchester University Barko, Jane L. Dixon, Aaron P. Public Library. She has been Press in July 2016. He also Kapanowski, Andrew Michael Laux, appointed the accompanying contributed a chapter to a book on Stephanie L. Montgomery, Carly instructor for the 2016 China Study the memory of the crusading Jean Puzniak, David G. Reynolds, Abroad program, and she is excited movement that will be published in Edward D. Sitek, Abdullah A. Sobh. to take 7 OU students to study in September 2016. Thanks to a URC Beijing and tour other parts of China Research Fellowship, Professor Fall 2015: Bruce E. Bakken, between May and June. Naus will spend time this summer in Connor Sean Beltramo, Shawn Ryan various European archives Delgado, Elisabeth Ann Freeman, Craig Martin returned from his undertaking the early stages of Paul Hunt Gardner, Bennett C. year at the Folger Shakespeare research for his next project, a Gillam, Neill Jason Harris, Anib A. Library to teach classes on magic detailed study of the Norman first Issac, Erin Christine Kleist, Diane and alchemy, the history of science, crusader, Bohemond of Antioch. M. Kurkowski, Reid J. Majewski, and the Italian Renaissance. Several While in Europe, Naus will deliver a Tracy Margaret McLarty, Ashley of his writings came out in the past lecture in Odense, Denmark. During Lynn Montgomery, Huma Riaz, academic year. These articles and the summer, Professor Naus will Brandon M. Sackett, Michelle book chapters looked at Renaissance also spend time writing a chapter for Schilling, Sarah Evelyn Schneider, medicine, Arabic philosophy in the inclusion in the Cambridge History Justin J. Schnurer, Mark Kenneth Renaissance, and the origins of the of the Crusades. Strube. concept of the atmosphere. He presented at the annual meeting of This winter, Elizabeth Shesko’s Winter 2016: Michael F. Aiello, the History of Science Society in chapter on Bolivian prisoners of war Robert Glen Belcourt, Roger A. San Francisco and at a small was published in an edited volume Biernat III, Sarah Kay Black, Kyle conference at Harvard University on entitled The Chaco War: Wallace Cooper, Jade M. Cummins, early modern religion and Environment, Ethnicity, and Adam Leo Derington, Nicholas philosophy. He'll be spending the Nationalism. In October, she Gianfranco DiPucchio, Ian Robert summer in Italy doing research and presented a chapter from her book Grabski, Dan Ramiro Ibanes, translating Latin medical texts from manuscript at the annual meeting of Shanna Elizabeth Johnson, Michael the Renaissance. the Social Science History John Leskoviansky, Ryan William Association in Baltimore. Professor Parish, Ashley Renee Raymoure, Don Matthews’ article on the Shesko is also presenting a new Nigel D. Salaz, Melissa M. Stewart, Kennedy administration, the piece on separatism in Santa Cruz Joseph Eric Tinnion, Michael D. International Federation of during the Chaco War at the meeting Walter, Joseph August Whitmer. Petroleum Workers, and Iraq, which of the Latin American Studies was published in Journal of Cold Association in New York City. This Winter 2016 STEP Majors: Edwin War Studies, was the subject of a academic year, she served as an Joseph Hanson IV, Jessica Kaljaj, (positive) review by Tareq Ismael anonymous peer reviewer for two Sophia P. Kalliantasis, Jessica for the H-Diplo list serve. Don article manuscripts. She also helped Elizabeth Robbins, Meghan M. continues to work on his book organize the Phi Alpha Theta Starr, Jeremy Michael Tadros. project on the US and Iraq in the Regional Conference, which the 1960s, and he is also at work on an Oakland chapter hosted in April. FULL-TIME article addressing methodological Professor Shesko added two new issues in the literature on the origins courses (the colonial and modern FACULTY 2015-16 of the 2003 Iraq War. surveys of Latin America) to her ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ teaching rotation this year. She also Bekele, Getnet (PhD Michigan George Milne delivered a paper designed a new course on Latin State 2004; assoc. prof.) Africa entitled “To Box Their Ears : American Revolutions that has been [email protected] Etienne Perier, the Moors, the added to the catalogue and that she Natchez, and Indigenous looks forward to teaching in the Chapman Williams, Sara E. (PhD, Sovereignties in Africa and future. Georgetown 1997; assoc. prof.) Louisiana," at a conference at the Early Modern Europe, France University of Nantes in March. LIST OF GRADUATES [email protected] James Naus had a busy and ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Clark, Daniel J. (PhD, Duke 1989; productive year. He put the Congratulations to the following assoc. prof.) US Labor finishing touches on a book called history students who earned [email protected] Constructing Kingship: The degrees the past year: 12 Dwyer, Erin (PhD, Harvard Naus, James (PhD, St. Louis University 2012; asst. prof.) 19th- University 2011; asst. prof.) McReynolds, Johanna (Secretary) Century U.S., African-American Medieval Europe History [email protected] History, Civil War and [email protected] Reconstruction [email protected] Shesko, Elizabeth (PhD, Duke University 2012; asst. prof.) Latin Dykes, De Witt S. (MA, Michigan American History, Race and 1961; assoc. prof.) African Ethnicity American, US Urban, Family and [email protected] Gender [email protected]

Estes, Todd A. (PhD, Kentucky 1995; assoc. prof.) Early National PART-TIME US, Revolutionary US, Political FACULTY 2015-16 Culture ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [email protected] Greenspan, Ian (PhD, University of California (Berkeley) 2006; lect.) Hastings, Derek K. (PhD, Chicago Early Modern and Modern Europe. 2003; assoc. prof.) Modern Germany [email protected] [email protected] Holland, Robert M. (MA, Wayne Li, Yan (PhD, Northeastern State 1972; lect.) US University, 2012; asst. prof.) [email protected] Modern China, Sino-Soviet, Relations East Asia Londo, William (PhD, Michigan [email protected] 2004; lect.) East Asia, Japan, Religion & Society Martin, Craig (PhD, Harvard, [email protected] 2002; assoc. prof.) Renaissance Europe, History of Science & Miles, Mary Jo (MA, Detroit 1991 Technology & Oakland 1992; lect.) US [email protected] [email protected] Matthews, Weldon C. (PhD, Powell, Jeffrey (PhD candidate, Chicago 1998; assoc. prof.) Modern Wayne 2006; lect.) US Middle East [email protected] [email protected] Prentiss, Dale (PhD Stanford 1990; Miller, Karen A. J. (PhD, lect.) US Columbia 1992; assoc. prof.) US [email protected] 1877-present, Diplomatic, Political [email protected] Shelly, Cara L. (MA, Michigan 1990; lect.) US Milne, George E. (PhD, Oklahoma [email protected] 2006; assoc. prof.) Early American and Native American History Zellers, Bruce L. (MA, Clark 1978; [email protected] lect.) US [email protected] Moran, Seán Farrell (PhD, American 1989; assoc. prof.) Modern Britain, Ireland, 19th- and th DEPARTMENT STAFF 20 -century European Intellectual ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [email protected] Chandler, Janet (Administrative Secretary) [email protected] 13

History department contact information:

Department Chair: Todd Estes Office Address: Department of History 416 Varner Hall Rochester, MI 48309 Website: www.oakland.edu/history/ Department Phone: (248) 370-3510 or (248) 370-3511

If you have information about yourself to contribute to the next newsletter please send it to [email protected]. We especially love to have the latest news from our alumni.