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Member Directory AHA members only: contact information for collaboration and community www.historians.org/myaha From the President 5

The Power of Public History By Vicki L. Ruiz

From the Executive Director 7

The Business of the AHA By James Grossman

News 9

Hit by the Wrecking Ball: Historic Buildings from the Recent Past FEATURES By Shatha Almutawa

Advocacy 11 People’s Histories in the 21st Century 34

NCH Marks Numerous Achievements Toward a People’s History of Climate Change in 2014 By Lee White By Pallavi Das 34

AHA Activities 13 Marx in the Mountains: Poverty and Environment in and outside of the Classroom What’s in the February AHR? By Robert By Gregory Rosenthal 36 A. Schneider 13 Actions by the AHA Council, June 2014–January 2015 15 Decolonizing the Newspaper: The Historian and the Op-Ed 129th Annual Meeting 16 By Frank P. Barajas 38 Academia in Prison: The Role of the University in Awards, Prizes, and Honors Conferred an Era of Mass Incarceration Compiled By Dana Schaffer 16 Career By Kelsey Kauffman 40 Diversity for Historians at the Annual Meeting By Emily Swafford 22 Historians, Women’s Prison History: The Undiscovered Country Activism, and Gender By Debbie Ann By Michelle Jones 42 Doyle 24 AHA 2015 in Pictures Photos By Marc Monaghan 25 History and Historians in the Ukraine Crisis By Sarah Fenton 29 Behind the Scenes Viewpoints 44 at the Annual Meeting By Jeanne Gardner Gutierrez and Nora Slonimsky 30 Connecting the Dots: Why a History Degree Is Useful in the Business World Digital Dispatches 32 By Christopher Brooks

Remember, Remember the Fifth of November: Modeling John Donne’s Gunpowder Day Sermon By Seth Denbo On the Cover Letters to the Editor 46 he 129th Annual Meeting of the Member News 46 TAmerican Historical Association was Perspec- In Memoriam 47 held in New York. This issue of tives on History contains a photo essay ◆ Thomas William Heyck By Guy Ortolano and several articles about the sessions and Meredith Veldman and events held this year. The cover Endnote 48 photo was taken by Denis Messié (www. flickr.com/photos/denismessie/) and The Historian and Social Justice is used with permission. By Shatha Almutawa

Job Center 49 Perspectives on History (ISSN 1940-8048) is published nine times a year, monthly September through May, by the American Historical Association, 400 A St., SE, Washington, DC 20003-3889. (202) 544- 2422. Fax (202) 544-8307. World Wide Web: www.historians.org/ perspectives. E-mail: [email protected] (editorial issues) Newsmagazine of the or [email protected] (membership and subscription issues). Perspectives on History is distributed to members of the Association. Individual membership subscriptions include an amount of $7.04 to cover the cost of Perspectives on History. Institutional subscriptions 400 A Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003-3889 are also available. For details, contact the membership department of 202.544.2422 • Fax 202.544.8307 the AHA. Single copies of Perspectives on History—if available—can E-mail: [email protected] be obtained for $8 each. Material from Perspectives on History may Web page: www.historians.org/perspectives be published in Perspectives Online (ISSN: 1556-8563), published by the American Historical Association at www.historians.org/ perspectives. For information about institutional subscriptions, see www.historians.org/members/subscriptions.htm. Staff Articles, letters to the editor, and other items intended for publication Perspectives on History should preferably be submitted online at www.historians.org/ Interim Editor perspectives/upload. They may also be sent as attachments to e-mail Shatha Almutawa messages addressed to [email protected], or by regular mail (in Coordinator, Professional Data and Job Center which case, the hard copy text should be double-spaced). Manuscripts Liz Townsend accepted for publication will be edited to conform to Perspectives on Associate Editor, Web Content and Social Media History style, space limitations, and other requirements. Prospective Stephanie Kingsley authors should consult the guidelines available at www.historians. Editorial Assistant org/perspectives/submissions.htm. Accuracy in editorial material is Jacob Ingram the responsibility of the author(s) and contributor(s). Perspectives on American Historical Association History and the American Historical Association disclaim responsibility for statements made by contributors. Executive Director James R. Grossman Individual articles in Perspectives on History for which the American Director, Meetings and Administration Historical Association holds the copyright may be reproduced for Sharon K. Tune noncommercial use under Creative Commons license CC-BY- Director of Scholarly Communication and Digital Initiatives NC-ND 4.0. Attribution must include author name, article title, Seth Denbo Perspectives on History, issue date, and a link to the online version of Coordinator, Committees and Meetings the article (which can be found at www.historians.org/perspectives). Debbie Ann Doyle For more on the Creative Commons license, please visit Membership Manager http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0. This license does Pamela Scott-Pinkney not apply to text or images reproduced here for which the AHA does Assistant Membership Manager not hold the copyright. Michelle Hewitt Periodicals class postage paid at Washington, DC, and at additional Controller Randy Norell mailing offices. Associate Director ©2015 American Historical Association. Dana Schaffer Postmaster: Send change of address to Perspectives on History, Special Projects Coordinator Julia Brookins Membership Department, AHA, 400 A St., SE, Washington, DC Programs Manager 20003-3889. Emily Swafford Publisher’s Statement Staff Accountant Phu Pham The American Historical Association is a nonprofit membership Administrative Office Assistant corporation founded in 1884 for the promotion of historical research, Matthew Keough study, and education. The Association reserves the right to reject Program Assistant editorial material sent in for publication that is not consonant with Elizabeth Elliott the goals and purposes of the organization. The Association also assumes the right to judge the acceptability of all advertising copy Editorial Advisory Board and illustrations in advertisements published in Perspectives on History. Prasenjit Duara (National Univ. of Singapore) Advertisers and advertising agencies assume all liability for advertising Elise Lipkowitz (Northwestern Univ.) content and representation and will also be responsible for all claims Aaron W. Marrs (US Department of State) against said publisher. Trudy H. Peterson (Archival Consultant) John D. Rogers (Independent Scholar) Abby Smith (Cultural Heritage Resources Consultant) Emily Sohmer Tai (Queensborough Community Coll.) Robert Brent Toplin (Univ. of North Carolina at Wilmington)

4 Perspectives on History February 2015 FROM THE PRESIDENT The Power of Public History

Vicki L. Ruiz

he next time you find yourself Set Expectations publics. Over 20 years ago, I was part of in Atlanta (perhaps for our 2016 a consulting trio that assisted an intrepid annual meeting), I encourage you eaningful collaborations begin with young curator with the task of refreshing toT visit the National Center for Civil and the main exhibits in a small museum that Msetting clear parameters for the proj- Human Rights. At the museum, take your ect and your potential participation. Can focused on an area’s rich agricultural heri- seat at a replica of the Woolworth’s lunch you realistically invest the effort, given your tage (a large assortment of aging farm im- counter that was the site of pivotal sit-ins current commitments? Once I scoured ar- plements graced the property). During the in Greensboro, North Carolina, in February chival sources for an exhibition only to learn formal presentation to the trustees, the cura- 1960. Don the headphones that are later that I had been recruited less as a histor revealed plans for a section highlighting provided, and experience a virtual onslaught torical consultant and more as a research as- everyday life for migrant workers at the turn of racial taunts and threats that rise in sistant for the senior scholar who wrote the of the 20th century—from modern dormi- volume as the seconds tick by. One leaves exhibition catalog. Although I did receive tories for single white men to more modest the exhibit shaken, with a visceral sense compensation, if I had understood my role dwellings for Asian and Mexican families, of Jim Crow in the everyday, along with a more clearly, I could have at least made an all located in segregated enclaves. Tighten- profound appreciation of those courageous informed decision about my involvement. ing his jaw, one trustee made the connection young Americans who took their seats in But expectations cut both ways: I once deep- between portraying inequality in the past history. Examples abound of the historical ly disappointed a public history team when I and bringing unwanted attention to current immediacy conveyed in exhibits in museums could not devote the required time or travel inequality: “I will have no red flag of that and national parks and on city streets, to for the project. Caesar [sic] Sha-vez [sic] in my museum.” mention just a few venues. As innovators Anticipating such criticism, the staff had al- and storytellers, public historians calibrate Own Your Words ready secured board support for a more in- and transform academic scholarship into clusive depiction of the region’s immigrant experiential journeys for a wide audience. or an on-camera interview, prepare, roots. The curator pointed out that many Although I lack formal training in this Fprepare, prepare. Request the questions local visitors had farm worker grandparents vital field, public history has touched my in advance, or at least anticipate them. Ap- or parents, and the section would resonate scholarship and teaching at every turn. At proach a taping session as though you were with them in ways that weather-beaten times intensely satisfying (though occasion- on a job interview, mindful of what you say equipment had not. Making clear why our ally frustrating), my participation in over 70 and how you say it. You may have to de- scholarship matters constitutes the first step projects, including National Park Service flect the videographer’s attempts to feed you in any public history enterprise. (NPS) theme studies, museum exhibits, lines. I have been told more than once by Guidelines and cautionary tales aside, documentaries, and even an ill-fated histo- a filmmaker: “You are not giving me the moments of serendipity do occur. As an ry-themed venue in an amusement park, has narrative I need.” Remember: your words example, the proposed Women of the West reinforced my belief that our professional will be edited, so strive for interesting, suc- Museum created a space of meaningful pos- responsibilities extend past the confines of cinct, declarative sentences (informed sound sibilities. During the summer of 1996, I the college campus. Each project took on a bites), rather than long, involved explana- learned a great deal from colleagues Susan life of its own, well beyond the purview of a tions, which can create opportunities for Armitage, Elizabeth Jameson, and Patricia single consultant—yet another demonstra- inadvertent editorial mischief. “I was taken Albers as we moved toward a shared vision, tion of how meaningful collaborations are out of context” seems a particularly bitter guided in the process by retired Motorola rooted in mutual respect and shared goals. admission. executive Toni Dewey and Victor Danilov, With this idea in mind, I offer a few guide- director and president emeritus of Chicago’s lines—revolving around communication Know Your Audience Museum of Science and Industry. The am- and audience awareness—to consider when bitious goal was to create “the first museum we are presented with opportunities for ost importantly, consider the stakes . . . dedicated to the history of women of public engagement. Mwhen you are engaging multiple all cultures in the American West.”1 The February 2015 Perspectives on History 5 of Karen Wilde, NPS tribal liaison, “You feel a presence here rather than just taking in the sights.” Horowitz interviewed one resident who connected the Sand Creek site to a larger story: “Something happened here that nobody should have ever did. Which makes me wonder what else happened in our history that we weren’t told about.”5 In her recent testimony before the Texas State Board of Education, distinguished historian Jacque- line Jones underscored precisely this point: “We do our students a disservice when we scrub history clean of unpleasant truths. . . . Unless we enable them to understand the historical roots of the here and now—and those roots are admittedly tangled and messy—we cannot prepare them to be informed, engaged Flickr user Bradley Huchteman, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, flic.kr/p/p3pa96. citizens of the United States.”6 In conveying National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia. America’s stories, which include events such as the tragedy at Sand Creek and the bravery intellectual imprints from those brain- Multicultural Reader in U.S. Women’s History.4 at the Greensboro lunch counter, public his- storming meetings have lingered not only As more than just names on a masthead or torians stand at the front lines of historical in my work but also in the work of those as window dressing, scholars must be involved knowledge and collective memory. who would inherit the Women of the West from the outset in program planning, not Museum’s mission. Despite Dewey’s inde- brought in after the fact (or in some cases, Vicki L. Ruiz is president of the American fatigable efforts, which spanned almost a the fiction). Rather than presenting a tri- Historical Association. decade (she even recruited five former first umphal story of progress, such a museum ladies to serve as trustees), a brick-and-mor- should provide opportunities for searching Notes tar museum never materialized, but in 2002 dialogues on women’s conflicts, complex in- 1. Joan Giangrasse Kates, “Toni Dewey, 1928– its spirit migrated to the Autry National teractions, and contributions (dare I say as 2014,” Chicago Tribune, July 29, 2014, http:// Center. Eight years later, Carolyn Brucken, unequal sisters). And there are literally dozens my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/ curator of western women’s history at the of public historians and academics eager to p2p-80929983/. Autry, and Virginia J. Scharff, regents’ pro- provide assistance. On an institutional level, 2. Amy Pallas, “Home Lands: How Wom- fessor at the University of New Mexico, the National Women’s History Project and the en Made the West,” Cowboys & Indians (July co-curated the landmark exhibition Home National Collaborative for Women’s History 2010), http://www.cowboysindians.com/ Lands: How Women Made the West, using Sites offer two terrific examples of informed, Cowboys-Indians/July-2010/Home-Lands- material culture to tell the stories of women’s dynamic partnerships. How-Women-Made-the-West/. Though it was daily lives in three diverse regions: northern For well over 20 years, the National Park a temporary exhibit, Home Lands lives on in a New Mexico, the Colorado Front Range, Service has worked with historians across the companion book of the same name: Carolyn Brucken and Virginia J. Scharff, eds., Home and Washington’s Puget Sound. In Brucken’s country to revise dated narratives and create Lands: How Women Made the West (Berkeley: words: “Women were at the heart of turning new landmarks. In 2011, César E. Chávez’s University of California Press, 2010.) Western places into homes and fighting home and the United Farm Workers’ 2 3. Telephone conversation with Virginia over who has the right to make it a home.” compound Nuestra Señora Reina de La Scharff, December 5, 2014. I would like to Reflecting on the freighted meanings of Paz were added to the National Register of domestic spaces, Scharff, whose previous thank Susan Armitage, Elizabeth Jameson, and Historic Places, one of the first Latino-themed Virgina Scharff for sharing their thoughts and work had emphasized independent women sites not associated with colonial Spanish memories. and the open road, declared, “Home Lands settlements. Another prominent example 4. Ellen Carol DuBois and Vicki L. Ruiz, transformed me as a scholar.”3 is dedicated to an often-hidden chapter of eds., Unequal Sisters: A Multicultural Reader in As plans get underway for a congressional the American Civil War: the Sand Creek U.S. Women’s History (New York: Routledge, commission dedicated to the creation of a Massacre National Historic Site commem- 1990), xi. National Women’s History Museum, I cannot orates the slaughter of 200 Cheyenne and 5. Tony Horowitz, “Massacre at Sand Creek,” stress enough the importance of collaborative Arapaho—mostly women and children— Smithsonian, December 2014, 50–57. Quotes partnerships built on trust and an inclusive by the US Cavalry. Writer Tony Horowitz taken from pp. 52 and 57. mission. We cannot replace “the universal referred to it as “the My Lai of its day.” Despite 6. Jacqueline Jones, “Testimony before the man of American history . . . with the uni- the controversy that preceded its opening in Texas State Board of Education Hearing on versal woman,” as Ellen Carol DuBois and I 2007, Sand Creek has become a place of pil- Proposed Social Studies/History Textbooks,” wrote in the introduction to Unequal Sisters: A grimage for American Indians. In the words September 14, 2014.

6 Perspectives on History February 2015 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Business of the AHA

James Grossman

y December column urged resolution went beyond matters “of concern instance, does the AHA lean so heavily on all members of the AHA to to the Association, to the profession of codified formalities, whether the letter of consider various ways in which history, or to the academic profession.” The the bylaws or the procedures specified in theyM might participate in the Association’s two new resolutions were conveyed to the Robert’s Rules of Order? Why couldn’t the activities, even at the most elementary level AHA on December 22 by Van E. Gosse of group just have a conversation about the of voting or attending a business meeting. Franklin and Marshall College, and satis- issues raised in the resolutions without On Sunday, January 4, nearly 200 colleagues fied each of the requirements save their sub- having to take a vote, and hence without took me up on the invitation, resulting in mission seven weeks beyond the deadline. having to suspend the bylaws? What did roughly ten times the normal attendance at After being informed by then AHA presi- Council actually think about the content of a business meeting. The published agenda, dent Jan Goldstein that the submission had the resolutions, which, after all, should be however, was not the attraction, not even failed to meet formal requirements, Gosse what matters? the promise of stirring annual reports to requested that Council, at its scheduled These are only a few of the questions be delivered by the executive director and meeting on January 2, place the resolutions that arose at the time or have arisen since. the vice presidents. What drew a crowd on the agenda of the business meeting that Moreover, like any simple narrative qua was the spreading word of resolutions to be would take place two days later. After a timeline such as the one offered here, the introduced from the floor addressing the thoughtful discussion, Council did not historian makes decisions about what to conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. take action on that request. As I explained include and what not to include—deci- These resolutions differed from the one to at the business meeting, Council had two sions that are inherently interpretive. I which I referred in my December column, concerns relating to the request’s timing: will no doubt receive e-mail asking why I and were brought forth by another member. many members already had travel plans left out this or that element of the story. The initial petition had not satisfied two of that could not be altered at such a late As always, I will reply to all e-mail from the five requirements established in AHA date; and given the seriousness of the issues members. bylaws for resolutions seeking consideration involved, members ought to have time to But a few responses here. The AHA at a business meeting: explore and certify the many allegations of adheres strictly to rules so that everyone fact in the two resolutions. knows before and during a meeting what Such resolutions must be received This left one avenue open for the reso- will happen there, or has an opportunity to in the office of the executive lutions to be considered at the business learn the process. Some know the process director not later than November meeting on January 4: a motion from more thoroughly than others and come 1 prior to the annual meeting, to the floor to suspend a specific rule in the to the table with that advantage. (Anyone allow time for publication. They bylaws, in this case the requirement for who watched Sam Irvin 40 years ago must be in proper parliamentary submission of a resolution by November knows how a shrewd participant with full form; must be signed by at least 1. An appropriate motion was offered and knowledge of the rules can benefit from fifty members of the Association seconded; debate focused solely on whether that expertise.) We evened the playing field in good standing; must not be the rule should be suspended. Did the im- as best we could by distributing digitally more than three hundred words perative for discussion of an important issue in advance to all members, and then again in length including any introduc- trump the intent of the bylaw to provide on paper at the meeting, a nontechnical tory material; and must deal adequate time for members to plan their summary of procedures, written by AHA with a matter of concern to the schedules and prepare for the discussion? parliamentarian Michael Les Benedict Association, to the profession The members at the meeting decided it did of Ohio State University. Our goal is to of history, or to the academic not. By a vote of 144–51 (with three voting maximize fairness by using the same rules profession. present), the assembly declined to suspend for each meeting, regardless of the issue As I noted in the December issue of Per the relevant bylaw, leaving the floor closed before us. Although some organizations spectives on History, the initial petition bore to new resolutions. have put Robert’s aside in the interest of the signatures of an insufficient number of This skeletal narrative leaves much of informality, the AHA has instead pushed AHA members in good standing, and the the story unexplained, of course. Why, for it further by adopting careful rules in the

February 2015 Perspectives on History 7 spirit of Robert’s even for Council’s e-mail focus could throw the meeting into chaos side or the other effectively tipped Coun- deliberations. A great virtue of Robert’s with no end—an impossible program cil’s inclinations and hence kept some- is its ability to anticipate just about any for people with busy lives, of which an thing off the agenda through the exercise possibility combined with its capacity AHA business meeting is just one piece. of influence, or succeeded in “squelching” for moving a meeting towards a decision Informality is nice, but there are times without denying minority factions their when both democracy and efficiency tilt debate, has no basis in fact. Because much opportunity to be heard. in favor of a consistent set of procedures of this lobbying was directed at me (and These rules are what made it impossi- known to all beforehand. at then President Goldstein) I will reiter- ble, after the motion to suspend the rules, I hope this narrative, bare-bones as it ate here what I said to everyone who con- to just stop the process and have a con- must be, provides some understanding tacted me with substantive arguments: my versation about the substantive issues in of what happened in New York and why. opinion on the content of such resolutions the resolutions (which at that point were Council felt strongly that members had still not on the agenda). As the parlia- not received enough notice to include im- is irrelevant. My job is to work with the mentarian explained, once a motion has portant and controversial new business on staff and the president to assure a fair and been made and seconded it belongs to the agenda. That decision was informed by transparent process. This is what I did in “the meeting.” The discussion must be conversations with members beforehand, New York and what I will do in the future. germane to the motion. Without that which is as it should be: Council represents rule, a conversation with no specified the membership. But the notion that one Finally, let us all remember that we are an organization of historians, with a mission to promote historical thinking and historical work. If we don’t inject both into public discourse, we are derelict in our Join the Conversation at responsibility to our discipline. Hence the decision by incoming president Vicki L. AHA Communities Ruiz to devote three “presidential” sessions at the 2016 annual meeting to topics relating to the three resolutions that had failed, for one reason or another, to come before the business meeting. More important, Ruiz and I encourage all members to consider proposing sessions that bring the voices of historians to the table on important issues, from voting rights in the United States to pro-democracy movements in Hong Kong and the Middle East; from conflicts between Palestinians and Israelis to disputes over Tibetan sovereignty; from climate change to water rights. Everything has a history. Not all sessions at our annual meeting have a contemporary valence. But there’s plenty of room for those that do. Ruiz’s decision re- communities.historians.org garding presidential sessions guarantees that at least a critical mass of panels on this par- AHA Communities is an online platform for communication and ticularly divisive issue will include diverse collaboration. Historians can join ongoing discussions on teaching viewpoints, and this is why I support her and learning, remaking graduate education, and the annual meet- decision. That spirit ought to infuse other ing, or launch their own forum, blog, or project space. proposals as well.

James Grossman is executive director of the AHA and tweets @JimGrossmanAHA.

8 Perspectives on History February 2015 NEWS Hit by the Wrecking Ball Historic Buildings from the Recent Past

Shatha Almutawa

n the early 1960s, stained-glass artist replaced with a 50-story apartment building and rob America of an engagingly quirky Robert Harmon depicted Sacajawea if it is dismantled.2 icon of the recent past.”3 The façade was and her son in shades of brown and gray, Owners argue that buildings they would replaced, despite calls to preserve it. Isurrounded by a swirly cactus and peculiar like to demolish no longer meet their Preservation activists often rally around birds. Harmon, who worked with the needs. Some survive, but only after being endangered mid-century buildings to no Emil Frei company in St. Louis, Missouri, altered beyond recognition. For example, 2 avail. In October 2013, Prentice Women’s produced dozens of mid-century stained- Columbus Circle in Manhattan was built as Hospital in Chicago was demolished, glass windows, the majority for churches. a 12-story museum in 1964. The “lollipop despite fundraisers, T-shirts, and aware- Frei’s stained glass creations have intrigued building,” as one critic called it because ness-raising campaigns. The famous ar- historic preservationists because of their of a series of distinctive shapes at its base, chitect Frank Gehry testified against the unique style and modern representations, was controversial for decades; many New demolition, but Northwestern University, especially of Jesus’s life. This particular Yorkers found it ugly, but its celebrated ar- which owned the building, argued that window stood in the Lewis and Clark chitect, Edward Durell Stone, also designed the majority of Chicagoans supported the Library in St. Louis for 50 years, but the the Kennedy Center and Radio City Music building of a new research center on the building that houses it might be demolished Hall, which gave the building addition- site. The university cited a survey in which by the time this issue of Perspectives on al value. The museum, called the Gallery 84 percent of 504 Chicagoans agreed with History arrives in members’ mailboxes. of Modern Art, closed in 1969, and the the statement “Creating new, high-quality The library’s board of trustees has made building was subsequently donated to a research jobs is an important part of keeping the decision to demolish the building as university, sold to a major corporation, and Chicago’s economy strong and growing in part of a plan “to improve the library space gifted to the city of New York. It was vacant the 21st century.” Activists pointed out that throughout St. Louis County.” While there from 1998 to 2004, when the Museum of the research center could have been built are specific reasons for the demolition, it Arts and Design acquired it and announced near Prentice Hospital, on a vacant lot also falls into a wider pattern of considering plans to renovate it. The National Trust for owned by Northwestern. mid-century buildings as obsolete. One Historic Preservation named it one of the Built in 1975, the hospital was designed after another, these buildings are being country’s 11 most endangered buildings and in the Brutalist style, which was created threatened or hit with the wrecking ball. said that the changes planned “could rob 2 by architect Le Corbusier. Buildings in City governments have sometimes argued Columbus Circle of its distinctive character the Brutalist style, like Prentice Women’s that keeping such buildings standing would be expensive. In Portland, Oregon, it would cost $95 million to repair Michael Graves’s Portland Building, which has suffered extensive water and structural damage. Likewise, it would cost the Norwegian government $68 million to repair Brutalist buildings that were damaged in a terrorist bombing in Oslo in 2011; known as H-block and Y-block, these buildings contain murals by Pablo Picasso, making it difficult for the government to make a decision about what to do.1 In the end, the decision was to demolish. Near the centers of cities and in tightly built neighborhoods, buildings no longer in use take up space that could be utilized for much-needed housing. The iconic Shabolovka radio tower in Moscow, only a William Bird Postcard Collection Steve Silverman, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, few miles from the Kremlin, was built in flic.kr/p/6gphoB 1922 and has been abandoned. It could be Architect Edward Durell Stone’s 2 Columbus Circle before and after its renovation.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 9 Credit: Peter Hess Erling Viksjø’s Y-block building in Oslo, Norway. The Fishermen mural was sketched by Pablo Picasso.

Hospital and H-Block and Y-Block in Practical reasons in favor of demolition Shatha Almutawa is interim editor Norway, are especially susceptible to dem- clash with some people’s love for the en- of Perspectives on History. She tweets olition because they are often perceived to dangered buildings. Preservation activists @ShathaInDC. be ugly. In February 2014, the building that see these buildings as representing their housed Third Church of Christ, Scientist, memories and their past. Michael R. Allen met the same fate in Washington, DC. wrote that Richard Nickel “died a martyr Notes while trying to literally save part of Louis 1. Clemens Bomsdorf, “Norway Debates De- Sullivan’s Chicago Stock Exchange building molishing Modern Buildings Containing Pi- as it underwent demolition. His death was a casso Murals,” Wall Street Journal, October 17, milestone in public appreciation of historic 2013, http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB 4 architecture in Chicago and nationwide.” 10001424052702303759604579093533823 This public appreciation, while growing, 266184. is still not significant enough to save thou- 2. Michael Kimmelman, “An Engineering sands of mid-century buildings all over the Landmark Faces Demolition,” New York world. Times, March 16, 2014, http://www.nytimes. Preservation activists working to save com/2014/03/17/arts/design/an-engineering- buildings from the recent past argue that landmark-faces-demolition-in-moscow.html. there is a need for a paradigm shift: when a building is over 50 years old, many devel- 3. National Trust for Historic Preservation, “11 opers and building owners see it as old and Most Endangered Historic Places: 2 Col umbus question its value, but activists believe that Circle,” http://www.preservationnation.org/ such buildings can contain too much history issues/11-most-endangered/locations/ to be razed; this is one argument for preserv- 2-columbus-circle.html. ing the Lewis and Clark Library in St. Louis. 4. Michael Allen, “Is the Demolition of Pren- Although the library will be demolished to tice Hospital Another ‘Penn Station Mo- make way for a bigger building, the stained- ment’?” in Arch Daily, October 24, 2013, Stained glass portraying Sacajawea in St. glass windows will stay. According to a http://www.archdaily.com/441977/is-the- Louis’s Lewis and Clark Library. Photo used with library spokesperson, they will be installed demolition-of-prentice-hospital-another- permission. in the new library building. penn-station-moment/.

10 Perspectives on History February 2015 ADVOCACY NCH Marks Numerous Achievements in 2014

Lee White

n 2014, the National Coalition for definition of federal records to clearly include recommendations for how to improve History had a highly successful year electronic records. This is the first change to implementation of the Freedom of Infor- advocating for federal programs that the definition of a federal record since the mation Act. NCH is one of only 10 private Iaffect the historical community. Over recent enactment of the act in 1950. sector organizations with appointees to the years, in a progressively hostile budget committee. In October, the panel held its environment, NCH has been able to fend off National Women’s second meeting, where it sought to refine draconian cuts to most programs of interest History Museum the issues on which it will focus over the to our members. NCH has also continued next 18 months. to transform itself into an organization that Commission Legislation is able to respond to situations not just at In November, legislation (S. 398) to create Fiscal Year 2015 the federal level but at the state and local a commission to study the potential creation Federal Funding levels as well. of a National Women’s History Museum was passed by the Senate Energy and Natural On December 16, President Obama NCH improved in our efforts to educate signed into law the $1.1 trillion FY2015 our constituent organizations (and potential Resources Committee. In May, NCH sent a letter to the bill’s sponsor, Senator Susan Omnibus Appropriations bill that will fund members) about our important contribu- federal government operations through Sep- Collins (R-ME), withholding our support tions in the past, and how the coalition will tember 2015. unless changes were made to the original continue to play a vital role in policy making NCH and its constituent organizations bill. NCH’s concerns were addressed in the in the future. NCH created an infographic, effectively mobilized their members to contact amended bill passed by the committee. As a or “e-brochure,” that was made available to Congress concerning funding for the National result, NCH sent a letter to Senator Collins existing and prospective members and com- Historical Publications and Records Commis- in November endorsing S. 398. pleted a re-branding that included a new logo sion (NHPRC), the National Endowment for Senator Collins added the language we and changes to our social media sites. The the Humanities (NEH), the National Park requested: that an individual with “experi- brochure is available here: historycoalition. Service, Title VI/Fulbright-Hays Interna- ence as a professional historian with exper- org/brochure/. Development of a new tional and Foreign Language Education, and tise in women’s history” be appointed to the website is also underway with an expected other federal programs. Senior staff members commission. The House passed a similar completion date in early 2015. at the affected federal agencies have credited bill (HR 863) sponsored by Congresswom- Below is a summary of NCH’s major ac- these efforts with preventing deeper cuts or an Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) last spring complishments in 2014. elimination of programs. without these qualifications. One highlight is a modest $500,000 A strategic decision was made by the Dem- Enactment of Presidential increase for the NHPRC, raising its budget to ocratic leadership in the Senate to add the and Federal Records Act $5 million. This represents the first increase National Women’s History Museum com- in the NHPRC’s budget in six fiscal years. Amendments mission bill to a “must-pass” defense autho- President Obama signed into law the Pres- rization bill for which amendments were Congressional History idential and Federal Records Act Amend- not allowed. Unfortunately, the legislators ments of 2014 (PL 113-187). This is a major adopted the language from the House bill, Caucus victory for NCH and the historical com- which did not include the language regard- In 2013, NCH collaborated with Con- munity. We have been advocating for the ing historians that Senator Collins had agreed gressmen John Larson (D-CT) and Tom Cole passage of Presidential Records Act (PRA) to. Nonetheless, NCH and the AHA have (R-OK), and co-chairs Congressmen Ander reform legislation since 2001, when Presi- received assurances that the historical com- Crenshaw (R-FL) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), dent Bush issued an executive order restrict- munity will be consulted in identifying qual- to create a Congressional History Caucus. ing public access to presidential records. ified historians to serve on the commission. Its aims are to provide a forum for members The new law is designed to expedite the of Congress to share their interest in history release of presidential records. Former and Federal Freedom of and to promote an awareness of the subject incumbent presidents will be subject to on Capitol Hill. The House caucus will have specific time limitations as they review Information Act (FOIA) to be reestablished in the 114th Congress, records for constitutionally based privilege Advisory Committee so NCH will be mounting an aggressive against disclosure. In June, Archivist of the United States recruitment campaign this year. NCH will The law also includes provisions to strength- David Ferriero appointed me to serve on a also be working toward establishing a Senate en the Federal Records Act by expanding the federal advisory panel designed to develop History Caucus in 2015.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 11 American Community Supporting New AP In May, rumors spread on the Internet History Framework that the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Survey system was eliminating its history and social In December, NCH submitted a state- Throughout 2014, the new framework for studies department. NCH sent a letter to ment to the US Census Bureau urging it the College Board’s AP US history curric- the BPS seeking assurances that this was not to retain Question 12, the Undergraduate ulum and exam sparked controversy across the case. Shortly thereafter, NCH received Field of Degree, in the American Commu- the country. Conservative opponents main- a response from BPS Interim Superinten- nity Survey. This question provides crucial tained that the teaching of “traditional” dent John McDonough confirming that the data about the value of a history degree. American history—for example, the con- department was not being eliminated. For example, the American Academy of tributions of the Founding Fathers and the Arts and Sciences relies on the data derived theme of American exceptionalism—were Recruited Genealogy from Question 12 to prepare its Human being deemphasized in the curriculum in favor of so-called “revisionist history,” which Groups to Join NCH ities Indicators report, which analyzes allegedly painted America in a negative light. In July, NCH welcomed the Records Pres- earnings and occupations of humanities ervation and Access Committee (RPAC) majors. In September, NCH sent a letter to the state boards of education in eight states to the coalition. RPAC is comprised of the National Genealogical Society (NGS), Adjunct Faculty Loan (GA, TN, LA, SC, NC, TX, CO, NV) supporting the College Board’s decision the Federation of Genealogical Societies Fairness Act to make the AP history course and exam (FGS), and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS). In July, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) flexible and reflect ongoing developments in FGS represents hundreds of genealogical introduced S. 2712, the Adjunct Faculty scholarship. NCH’s letter to the state boards societies, and NGS and IAJGS represent Loan Fairness Act of 2014. The bill would is referenced on the College Board’s website. over 9,000 genealogists. As some of the allow part-time faculty—who are often paid most frequent users of archival records, low wages with few benefits—to be eligible K–12 History Education genealogists add a large, politically active to participate in the federal student loan for- In July, NCH submitted a letter to the US constituency to NCH. giveness program for public servants. NCH Department of Education requesting that sent a letter to Senator Durbin supporting history and civics education be considered Lee White is executive director of the National passage of S. 2712 and will seek to recruit a priority in allocating funds through the Coalition for History. cosponsors when the bill is reintroduced in agency’s discretionary grant programs in the the 114th Congress. same way that STEM education is treated. © 2015 The National Coalition for History

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12 Perspectives on History February 2015 AHA ACTIVITIES What’s in the February AHR?

Robert A. Schneider

hen members receive the range of norms or sets of considerations— household and community as kin, or iegue. February issue of the American which guided their thinking. Importantly, and Unlike European livestock, it was anathema Historical Review, they will find especially in this particular moral field of racial to kill or eat an iegue, though an untamed WJan Goldstein’s Presidential Address and four theory, she urges us to consider “thinking as animal of the same species was eminently articles on subjects as disparate as human- practice, rather than thought as product.” Her edible. Recovered histories of Amerindian animal relations in Caribbean and South account of these writers illustrates their prac- familiarization, Norton argues, compel us to American history, the reception of an 18th- tices by anatomizing the choices they enter- rethink conventional narratives of animal do- century book around the world, the debate tained as they elaborated their views on race mestication, the origin of the European “pet,” over the genocide of Native Americans, and and racial concepts. Goldstein’s essay thus not and the environmental history of the Colum- Nazi-Muslim relations in the era of World only offers us a window into the intellectual bian Exchange. It contributes to a cross-cul- War II—a sampling of the rich range of today’s culture of mid-19th-century France, but also tural and trans-species history of subjectivity. historical scholarship. They will also find, of suggests a model for thinking about race—or In “The Way to Wealth around the World: course, our large book review section of more other morally vexed subjects—in other times Benjamin Franklin and the Globalization of than 200 reviews, including seven featured and cultures. American Capitalism,” Sophus A. Reinert reviews. “In Back Issues” offers readers a glance In “The Chicken or theIegue : Human- analyzes Franklin’s perhaps best-known text, at issues from 100, 75, and 50 years ago. Animal Relationships and the Columbian his 1757 “Father Abraham’s Speech” from Jan Goldstein’s Presidential Address, “Toward Exchange,” Marcy Norton investigates the final edition ofPoor Richard’s Almanack, an Empirical History of Moral Thinking: animal “familiarization” among indigenous and maps its global diffusion up to 1850, The Case of Racial Theory in Mid-Nine- groups in the Circum-Caribbean and demonstrating its hitherto unknown yet teenth-Century France,” confronts the delicate lowland South America over the longue extraordinary popularity in the European problem of the historian’s moral stance when durée from 1492 to today, with a particular world and, eventually, well beyond it. investigating an area in which the so-called emphasis on the periods following European The text was doubtless one of the cardinal verdict of history is loud and clear. Her case contact. The Carib word and concept iegue vehicles of a recognizably capitalist ethos at hand is the fashioning of racial theories in refers to tame or familiarized beings (human in the modern world. Although Franklin’s 19th-century France among a group of intel- and nonhuman alike). In using it, Norton rhetorical strategies proved extremely effec- lectuals and writers, some well-known, such provides insight into fundamental differences tive, Reinert argues that the aphoristic style as Alexis de Tocqueville, Arthur de Gobineau, between European and Amerindian cultures’ of his piece failed to reflect the complexity and Ernst Renan, and others less so. She ways of organizing interspecies relationships. of his political economy and the ethics of strives to take us beyond mere condemnation Both historical and contemporary ethnogra- his economic vision. As he concludes, this is and into a consideration of what she calls the phy show how a wild animal—like an enemy a legacy that continues to color our under- “moral field,” configured by “lines of force”—a or a spouse—becomes assimilated into a standing of “American capitalism.”

VOLUME 120 ● NUMBER 1 ● FEBRUARY 2015 n December 29, 1890, for reasons that remain contested, the Seventh Cavalry Regiment The American Historical Review Oof the US Army opened fire on some 400 surrendered Minneconjou and Hunkpapa Lakota at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota. Several hours later, at least 200 Lakota lay dead or mortally injured. Of those killed, the majority were women and children. In “Reexamining the American Genocide Debate: Meaning, Historiography, and New Methods,” Benjamin Madley explores the question of whether Native Americans suffered genocide during the conquest and colonization of the United States and proposes new methods of inquiry that can also be used to locate and define other potential cases of genocide within and beyond the Americas. Oscar Howe, Wounded Knee Massacre. Casein on paper, 1960. Dwight D. Eisenhower Museum,

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

February 2015 Perspectives on History 13 Before contact, perhaps five million or more suffered genocide during the conquest and the debate forward. Finally, Madley demon- Native Americans populated what is now the colonization of the Americas. Madley first strates these methods in two cases, those of continental United States. By the late 19th explores why the question matters to scholars, Connecticut’s Pequot Indians and Califor- century, fewer than 250,000 remained. What American Indians, and indeed all citizens nia’s Yuki Indians. He concludes by suggest- caused this cataclysm? Diseases, colonial- of the United States before surveying the ing how this approach might be applied to ism, and war all played important roles, but polarized American genocide debate as it locate and define other cases of genocide both was something more sinister also to blame? applies to the United States and its colonial within and beyond the Americas. In “Reexamining the American Genocide antecedents. But his essay also proposes new The last article in this issue is “Muslim En- Debate: Meaning, Historiography, and methods of inquiry—involving detailed counters with Nazism and the Holocaust: The New Methods,” Benjamin Madley pursues case studies and a focus on statements of Ahmadi of Berlin and German-Je wish Convert these and other questions. Academics and genocidal intent, massacres, state-sponsored to Islam Hugo Marcus,” by Marc Baer, who others have long debated whether or not body-part bounties, and mass death in gov- aims to call into question simplistic render- Native Americans, or any groups of them, ernment custody—that, he argues, will move ings of the Nazis’ relationship to Muslims, complicate historiographical accounts of Islam in Europe by underscoring its diversity, and render more complex our understandings of Muslim-Jewish relations. He notes that University of North Carolina Wilmington research on Muslims in the World War II era 14th Annual Sherman Emerging Scholar Lecture Call for Nominations has overwhelmingly looked at Muslims in the Middle East or those who were temporar- ily located in Berlin, focusing on Arabs, and indeed on a single Palestinian, the Mufti of The University of North Carolina Wilmington Department of History invites applications and nominations for the 2015 Virginia and Derrick Sherman Jerusalem, Al-Hajj Amin al-Husayni, whose Emerging Scholar Lecture. This year’s topic is “Catastrophe! Real and notoriety has overshadowed the activities of Imagined Disasters in World History.” Proposed lectures should offer all other Muslims in Germany and elsewhere. historical perspective on momentous, transformative, surprising, and /or Based on an examination of the publications portentous events and developments, natural or man-made, and their and archival records of the first Muslim com- consequences for particular societies. Submissions concerning all munities in Germany, and the personal doc- time periods and all geographic regions are welcome. uments and private correspondence of their

The Sherman Lecture provides a forum for an outstanding junior scholar leading members, Baer focuses instead on an (typically an untenured assistant professor) to offer his or her perspective overlooked yet significant Muslim community, on a selected topic in international affairs. The Sherman Scholar will meet the Ahmadi, based in British India. In 1922, with undergraduate and graduate students, share his or her expertise with they established a mission in Berlin, which the campus community, and be available to the local media. The centerpiece attracted German avant-garde intellectuals, of the scholar’s visit will be the presentation of a major public address, partly through the promotion of conversion as which the university will subsequently publish. a kind of double consciousness, the preaching Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of scholarly accomplishment, of interreligious tolerance, and the admittance relevance of the proposed talk to the year’s theme, and evidence of ability of homosexuals. A decade later, when German in speaking before a diverse audience. The scholar will receive an honorarium society was Nazified, the Ahmadi—unlike the of $5,000. The lecture and associated events will take place on the UNCW other Muslims in Berlin—in one important campus October 20-23, 2015. instance thwarted the Nazi reign of violence. Despite accommodationist overtures to the Applicants should submit a letter of interest with the title and brief description regime, they saved the life of their formerly of the lecture they propose to deliver, current c.v., the names and email addresses of three references, and a recent scholarly publication. Materials Jewish coreligionist Hugo Marcus, who was should be sent as hard copy to Prof. Jarrod Tanny, UNCW Department of also a homosexual. As Baer concludes, this History, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403. We example calls into question the claim that also welcome nominations that are accompanied by contact information. Muslims shared a deep-rooted antisemitism The deadline for submission is March 27, 2015. Finalists must be available with the Nazis. for telephone interviews before May 30, 2015. April’s issue will include articles on medieval law, the Atlantic slave trade, revolutionary Cuba, and the intellectual background to human rights; an AHR Exchange on The History Manifesto; and the UNC Wilmington is an EEO/AA institution. AHR Conversation.

Robert A. Schneider is editor of the American Historical Review.

14 Perspectives on History February 2015 AHA ACTIVITIES Actions by the AHA Council, June 2014–January 2015

Conducted via e-mail from June 25, 2014, to December 19, 2014, and at the Council meeting on January 2 and 5, 2015

hrough e-mail conversation from Government. The statement encouraged ◆ Approved the formation of an ad hoc June 25, 2014, to December the Board of Regents to consider a Advisory Review committee to generate 19, 2014, the Council of the method by which both Global History a list of AHA members willing and AmericanT Historical Association made and Geography and US History and qualified to review state social science the following decisions or actions: Government remain vital components standards upon request. ◆ Approved the nomination of John of the curriculum and the Regent’s ◆ Approved the revised member taxonomy Martin (Duke Univ.) to serve on the Exam. categories. ◆ Board of Editors of the American Approved a change to AHA Bylaws, ◆ Approved the creation of a treasurer Historical Review. Article IV, Section 3.c.ii, clarifying the position on the AHA Council. Changes ◆ Issued a statement endorsing a bill make-up of the selection committee for to the bylaws with respect to this position proposed by Senator Dick Durbin the editor of the American Historical can be found in Article IV, Sections 1–4. (D-IL) to expand student loan forgive Review. The bylaws now reflect that ◆ Approved the nomination of Chris ness to adjunct faculty. the search committee consists of: “in the case of the editor of the American McNickle as AHA treasurer, to serve ◆ Issued a statement in support of the for a term not to exceed five years. College Board’s revised framework for Historical Review: the vice-president for ◆ Approved revisions to sections 6E and the Advanced Placement US history research, a current or past member of 6G of the Annual Meeting Guidelines course. the Board of Editors or a past member of the AHA Research Division, and to expand the Program Committee by ◆ Appointed Peter Jelavich (Johns two faculty members nominated by the two additional members. Hopkins Univ.) as AHA delegate to journal’s host department or university.” ◆ the Friends of the German Historical Approved a revision to item 3.1 of Institute. Jelavich will serve as chair for the Annual Meeting Guidelines, this three-year term. At the meeting of the Council of the “Allocation of Sessions,” authorizing the executive director to organize two ◆ American Historical Association, held Approved a statement of support for sessions on timely issues as they arise. the Council on Graduate Schools’ January 2 and 5, 2015, in New York, the ◆ Resolution on Deadlines for Accepting Council made the following decisions or Approved AHA membership in Scholars Offers of Admission. actions: at Risk, an advocacy organization that ◆ researches allegations from scholars ◆ Approved the AHA to be a petitioner Approved the June 2014 Council whose academic freedom has been in a suit brought by the Reporters meeting minutes. restricted. Committee for Freedom of the Press ◆ Approved the June–December 2014 to unseal the records of a 1942 grand interim Council meeting minutes. ◆ Authorized incoming president Vicki L. Ruiz to write a letter of concern jury proceeding concerning the US ◆ Approved nominations from the to the National Endowment of the government’s investigation of the Committee on Committees, which in- Chicago Tribune for publishing a story cluded the 2015 appointments to vari- Humanities regarding the cancellation regarding the Japanese military’s plan ous AHA prize and other committees. of foreign-based NEH summer seminars to attack US forces at Midway in and institutes. ◆ Approved the appointments of Anand advance of the historic battle. The story ◆ A. Yang (Univ. of Washington) and Approved a reconstitution of the Two- appeared to be based on a leaked top- Year College Task Force to evaluate secret Navy dispatch. Edda L. Fields-Black (Carnegie Mellon Univ.) as the 2017 Program Committee and report on the AHA’s actions and ◆ Agreed to cast AHA’s vote to approve chair and co-chair, respectively. activities regarding community colleges. the National Coalition for History’s ◆ ◆ Approved the selection of the 2015 Reviewed the 2014 Form 990 for the endorsement of the amended version American Historical Association. of bill S.398 to create a commission Honorary Foreign Member (to be ◆ to study the potential creation of a announced at a later date). Received the Fiscal Year 2013–14 Audit. National Women’s History Museum. ◆ Approved discussion time limits for the ◆ Approved Alex Lichtenstein as interim ◆ Approved a statement protesting the January 4, 2015, Business Meeting of editor of the American Historical New York State Board of Regents’ the American Historical Association. Review for one year following Robert proposed modification to the Regents ◆ Authorized AHA President Jan Goldstein Schneider’s departure in July 2015. Examinations allowing students to to set time limits as the need arises at the ◆ Approved the application for affiliation choose between Global History and January 4, 2015, Business Meeting of the from the Berkshire Conference of Geography or US History and American Historical Association. Women Historians.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 15 129TH ANNUAL MEETING Awards, Prizes, and Honors Conferred

Compiled by Dana Schaffer

2014 Awards for courage and nuance about an ambivalent common histories, Plutopia counters dominant Publications and sometimes violent relationship long understandings of the Cold War couched in hidden by celebratory historiographies. terms of divergent or separate paths. Deeply Herbert Baxter Adams Prize and multilingually researched in difficult con- Jerry Bentley Prize ditions requiring perseverance in the face of Daniela Bleichmar, Gregory T. Cushman, official secrecy, courage in the face of personal University of Southern University of Kansas exposure, and empathy in the presence of suf- California Guano and the Opening fering, Plutopia adds to recent scholarship that Visible Empire: Botani of the Pacific World: A emphasizes the costs of the Cold War in the cal Expeditions and Visual Global Ecological History places where it turned hot. Culture in the Hispanic Enlightenment (Uni- Personal photo- (Cambridge University versity of Chicago Press, 2012) graph taken at Paul Birdsall Prize Press, 2013) Daniela Bleichmar has Rapa Nui (Easter Island) This Jacob Darwin Hamblin, produced a compellingly imaginative and far-rang- Oregon State University original and methodolog- ing book argues that Arming Mother Nature: ically sophisticated study guano was key to globally The Birth of Catastroph of how the European transformative phenom- ic Environmentalism Enlightenment sought ena, from industrializa- Credit: Theresa (Oxford University Press, to describe, represent, Hogue tion to “neo-ecological and comprehend the natural world. Imag- 2013) imperialism” in settler colonies and from inative, lucid, and intellectually engaging, Hamblin presents an conservationist visions to spectacular en- it is an example of interdisciplinary history innovative exploration vironmental failures. For fully integrating at its very best. Its particular success lies in of the ways in which Latin America in Pacific history, re-centering Western military officials its skillful embrace of both the visual and 19th-century world history on the Pacific imperial turns in the writing of European and scientists contemplat- region, and artfully combining ecological, ed harnessing natural di- history, and its undeniable achievement in geopolitical, and cultural analysis, Guano shedding new light on both. sasters as weapons of war and the Opening of the Pacific World deserves during the Cold War. Hamblin has crafted an George Louis Beer Prize recognition as a pathbreaking, original con- international history of the creation of “cat- tribution to world history. astrophic environmentalism,” the idea that Mary Louise Roberts, mankind could and should interfere with University of Wisconsin– Albert J. Beveridge Award the environment to achieve strategic ends. Madison The implications of his discoveries will reach What Soldiers Do: Sex Kate Brown, Univer- beyond the fields of military and strategic and the American GI sity of Maryland, Balti- Credit: Narayan in World War II France more County history. Mahon (University of Chicago Plutopia: Nuclear Families, James Henry Breasted Prize Press, 2013) Atomic Cities, and the Great This beautifully written Soviet and American Plutonium Disasters Alex Mullen, All Souls book revises our under- (Oxford University Press, 2013) College, University of standing of the American This comparative history Oxford invasion and liberation of Richland, Washington, Southern Gaul and the of France. Gender and and Ozersk, Russia, centers Mediterranean: Multilin Credit: Guann-Yeu gualism and Multiple sexuality are the windows on a profound irony: di- Chin onto this international visions so deep that they Identities in the Iron Age history: Americans’ attitudes about their role threatened human exis- and Roman Periods (Cambridge University in a postwar world were forged not only at tence fostered commonal- Press, 2013) Yalta and Tehran, Roberts argues, but also on ities among these two plutonium-producing What makes Alex Mullen’s study ex- the ground in relationships between soldiers towns, well before activists from each place ceptional is that she courageously takes in and European women. Roberts writes with connected with each other. By alerting us to hand a very longue durée of Mediterranean

16 Perspectives on History February 2015 history, and truly makes ultimately built a public transportation Leo Gershoy Award use of the totality of the system that entrenched racial division, due, evidence, archaeological in part, to the political interests of a host of Andy Wood, Durham as well as textual. In par- both white and black historical actors who University ticular she succeeds in saw de facto “segregated” neighborhoods as The Memory of the People: making historical sense a more secure basis of political power. Custom and Popular Senses out of a complex body of the Past in Early Modern Credit: Rosa England of inscriptions in several languages. Her John K. Fairbank Prize Simpson (Cambridge Uni- use of sociolinguistics and her sophisticated in East Asian History versity Press, 2013) understanding of identity help to make this Andy Wood’s The Charles K. Armstrong deeply learned study a major contribution. , Memory of the People Columbia University presents a new interpre- Albert B. Corey Prize Tyranny of the Weak: tation of the interplay North Korea and the World, of memory, law, and Lissa Wadewitz, Linfield 1950–1992 (Cornell Uni- custom in early-modern College Credit: Eileen Barroso versity Press, 2013) England. This book’s The Nature of Borders: In this fresh and com- innovative methodolo- Salmon, Boundaries, and pelling narrative, Charles gy deepens our understanding of the social Bandits on the Salish Sea Armstrong methodi- memory of the common folk, arguing that Credit: Tom Mertes (University of Washing- cally probes the appar- popular memory was local, pragmatic, and ton Press, 2012) ently perennial question embodied in customary law, which gave Lissa Wadewitz’s The about North Korea: Why it great staying power across the period. Nature of Borders illu- won’t it fail? Tyranny of the Wood’s extensive archival research and wide minates beautifully the Weak situates the formation and endurance of secondary reading illuminate new aspects of variables that affected the North Korean state in the global context everyday life and together provide a model the salmon population of of the Cold War and engagement with South for future research. the transnational Pacific Korea. Drawing on both well-known and new Northwest during the archival materials from multiple sides of the William and Edwyna Gilbert Award 19th and 20th centuries. Wadewitz finds divide, it offers a rigorously argued and deeply that, rather than mere urbanization or in- Lendol Calder, grounded account that deals deftly with the dustrial innovation, it was the exploitation Augustana College abundance as well as absence of sources. of the porous US-Canada boundary that im- “The Stories We Tell,” periled the species. This careful study speaks OAH Magazine of History Morris D. Forkosch Prize volumes about the impact of borders on the 27, no. 3 (2013): 5–8 historical actor least confined by the dictates Deborah Cohen, North The survey is both our gateway course of the nation-state: the natural world. western University and our greatest challenge. For 10 years, Calder collected and analyzed his students’ Raymond J. Cunningham Prize Family Secrets: Shame and Privacy in Modern understanding of history in such courses to Jacob Anbinder, Yale Britain (Oxford Univer- better comprehend his students’ perceptions University (BA, 2014) sity Press, 2013) and approaches. His consequent switch to emphasizing narrative and the telling of “The South Shall Ride This is an astound- “stories” in his courses over approaching Again: The Origins of ingly original book that the materials conceptually and theoretical- MARTA and the Making provides great insight ly merits great attention as we think about Credit: Jason of the Urban South,” into the intimate Renker how to both encourage historical under- Yale Historical Review 2, workings of families in standing and inspire enthusiasm in the no. 3 (Spring 2013): 37–57 modern Britain. Utiliz- general population. Faculty adviser: Glenda E. Gilmore, Yale ing rich archival sources University like diaries and clinical Friedrich Katz Prize in Latin American Anbinder’s meticulous analysis, based on records, Cohen discusses why some Britons and Caribbean History extensive primary and secondary sources, revealed secrets while others obscured them. demonstrates how a chronological study of Examining diverse topics ranging from Piero Gleijeses, School Atlanta’s transportation system (MARTA) mixed-race children and the treatment of of Advanced Internation- can provide rich insight into the race and mental disability to illegitimacy and homo- al Studies, Johns Hopkins class issues impacting a city’s economic de- sexuality, Cohen showcases the complexities University velopment. His work exposes how a southern of familial shame and revelation while bril- Visions of Freedom: city that styled itself in the post–World War liantly charting the uneven rise of contem- Credit: Naoya Havana, Washington, Hanabusa II era as modern, tolerant, and progressive porary confessional cultures. Pretoria, and the Struggle

February 2015 Perspectives on History 17 for Southern Africa, 1976–1991 (University of Dams, Displacement, This is a career-capping North Carolina Press, 2013) and the Delusion of De tour de force. Jouanna’s Based on monumental velopment reveals the mastery of primary and research in archives on human and environmen- secondary sources in many three continents, includ- tal costs of a high-mod- languages allows her to ing Cuban archives that ernist project undertak- weave together a compelling narrative of no other foreign scholars en by a racist colonial the political and diplomatic history of have been allowed to state and continued by Saint-Barthélemy as event. She combines use, Visions of Freedom its independent successor. Using a wide lens her narrative with insights from recent puts Cuba’s long military that examines hydrology, food security, po- scholarship about religious violence and the mission to Angola at the center of the litical economy, and political conflict, and cultural history of the fight against apartheid and at the heart of drawing on a vast set of oral histories, the period. This timely and Cuba’s self-image as a revolutionary nation. authors explore how the project fundamental- important book sets a Defying both the Soviets and the United ly changed the ecology of the Zambezi Valley very high bar. It is sure to States, Cuba emerges in this absorbing nar- and the lives of many thousands of Africans be the standard account rative as relatively autonomous and as pow- while yielding little development for Mozam- of this still-controversial erfully influential on the global stage of the biquans. This elegantly written, multi-faceted subject for a long time. Cold War. account raises vital questions about political sovereignty and development in colonial and Helen and Howard R. Marraro Prize Joan Kelly Memorial Prize postcolonial Africa. in Women’s History in Italian History Afsaneh Najmabadi, Littleton-Griswold Prize Nicholas Terpstra, University of Toronto Harvard University Michele Landis Dauber, Cultures of Charity: Professing Selves: Trans Stanford Law School Women, Politics, and the sexuality and Same-Sex The Sympathetic State: Reform of Poor Relief in Desire in Contemporary Disaster Relief and the Credit: Gianni Renaissance Italy (Harvard Iran (Duke University Press, 2013) Origins of the American Trambusti, Villa I University Press, 2013) Afsaneh Najmabadi Credit: Josh Welfare State (University Tatti, Florence, Italy Edelson Drawing on his deep skillfully combines of Chicago Press, 2013) analysis of historical texts knowledge of Bologna’s archives and his In The Sympathetic State, and life stories with decades of anthropolog- Michele Landis Dauber ethnographic observa- ically inflected work on skillfully and persuasively tion of meetings among confraternities, Terpstra argues that the long tra- medical professionals, analyzes a series of social dition of federal disaster government officials, and experiments in public relief provided political prospective patients for sex-reassignment welfare as women’s and constitutional prec- surgery to trace the complex genealogies of life-cycle poverty com- edent for the American homosexuality and transsexuality in Iran pelled the attention of social welfare state. This ambitious, compel- beginning in the mid-20th century. Explor- politically anxious male elites. This humane ling book provides important insights about ing how nonnormatively gendered Iranians and engaging study of collective action revises legal debates within the Roosevelt administra- drew from both local and global discourses how historians understand early-modern tion and historical interpretations of the Con- to narrate their experiences and influence European poor relief, and provides a supple stitution’s general welfare clause. Dauber pow- policy, her multilayered account illuminates model for investigating pragmatic and aes- erfully contests the notion of a 1930s judicial the spaces for agency within a discriminato- theticized responses to the poor in other revolution and contributes significantly to a ry state biopolitics. times and places. revisionary legal history of the New Deal. Martin A. Klein Prize George L. Mosse Prize in African History J. Russell Major Prize Derek Sayer, Lancaster Allen F. Isaacman, Arlette Jouanna, University University of Minnesota Université Paul-Valéry Prague, Capital of the Barbara S. Isaacman, Montpellier III Twentieth Century: A independent scholar Joseph Bergin, trans- Surrealist History (Princ- Dams, Displacement, lator, University of Credit: Yoke-Sum eton University Press, Wong and the Delusion of De Manchester 2013) velopment: Cahora Bassa and Its Legacies in The St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre: The In a scintillating challenge to more conven- Mozambique, 1965–2007 (Ohio University Mysteries of a Crime of State (Manchester tional narratives of 20th-century Europe and Press, 2013) University Press, 2013) indeed to ways of writing history, this book

18 Perspectives on History February 2015 positions Prague’s dis- acculturation complicated rigid notions Roy Rosenzweig Prize for tinctive artistic and intel- of Islamic and non-Islamic identity, and Innovation in Digital History lectual achievements as a reveals the contingent and shifting nature of “prehistory of postmoder- ethno-religious identity. It is a compelling nity.” Set against the city’s and sophisticated book with applications recurrent and often brutal beyond al-Andalus and the Islamic world. political dislocations, with vast erudition that incorporates the litera- John F. Richards Prize ture, music, arts, and architecture of Prague’s in South Asian History cultural avant-garde from before World War I Sunil S. Amrith through the Velvet Revolution, this study is as , Birkbeck College, Uni- conceptually bold as it is impressively learned. Civil War on the Western Border: The Missouri- versity of London Kansas Conflict, 1854–1865, Kansas City James A. Rawley Prize Crossing the Bay of Public Library in Atlantic History Bengal: The Furies of Civil War on the Western Border (www. Aaron Spencer Fogleman, Nature and the Fortunes of Migrants (Harvard Northern Illinois University University Press, 2013) civilwaronthewesternborder.org) presents Two Troubled Souls: Taking the Bay of several thousand digitized documents and An Eighteenth-Century Bengal as its unit of study, images gathered from 25 different archives Couple’s Spiritual Journey this innovative work high- to illuminate the social and political lights the interconnected Credit: Vera Lind in the Atlantic World history of the 1854–65 Missouri-Kansas (University of North histories of South Asia and conflict. The site offers a range of innovative Carolina Press, 2013) Southeast Asia across a pathways through the sources, including Two Troubled Souls is the common body of water. It gripping account of a is pathbreaking in linking the social and politi- maps, timelines, scholarly thematic essays, restless missionary couple cal history of migration to a changing physical topical encyclopedia entries, lesson plans, who left Europe behind environment and global economic context. and an interactive relationship viewer that for adventures in North Combining sweeping vistas that span centu- provides dynamic graphical representations ries with intimate portraits of individual lives, America and the Greater of the connections between people, places, Caribbean. Providing this highly readable book gives new meaning groups, and events. deep insights into their private lives, Aaron to oceanic history. Fogleman examines sources in four languages and nine archives in three countries and James Harvey Robinson Prize Wesley-Logan Prize expertly reconstructs the disease environments Trevor R. Getz, San they entered, the religious landscapes they tra- Jacob S. Dorman, Francisco State University versed, and the forms of unfreedom they wit- University of Kansas Liz Clarke, illustrator nessed as they crisscrossed the Atlantic world. Chosen People: The Rise Abina and the Im of American Black Israel Premio del Rey portant Men: A Graphic ite Religions (Oxford University Press, 2013) Janina Safran, Penn- History (Oxford Univer- sylvania State University sity Press, 2012) Chosen People is a bold, Defining Boundaries This innovative, com- compelling history of in al-Andalus: Muslims, pelling “graphic history,” Black Israelite religions Christians, and Jews in created by historian among African-descend- Islamic Iberia (Cornell University Press, Credit: Juliana Trevor Getz and illustra- Severe ed people in places as far 2013) tor Liz Clarke, uncovers Safran’s book explores the story of an enslaved West African woman afield as Kansas, Harlem, complex issues of eth- seeking freedom. Weaving together a court and Ethiopia. Highlight- no-religious identity and transcript from 1876 and Abina’s story ing Jewish, Christian, and Muslim ideas and communal relations in before the trial within a broader context of practices, the book explores the dynamic, al-Andalus after the gender, colonialism, and historically specific “bricolage” that made eighth-century Muslim world history, the book Black Israelite religions. It is a novel in- conquest and the impli- shares historical evidence tervention in scholarly debates of cultural cations of the elaboration as well as interpretation and maintenance of community boundar- to present a powerful tool change in the African diaspora, a must-read ies. Using complicated juridical texts, Safran for teaching history and for scholars of the African diaspora, religious traces how conversion, intermarriage, and teaching about history. studies, and cultural production.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 19 2014 Awards for engaged the fifth-grade students at the heart has mentored African American students Scholarly and of the program, while involving students who have majored in history and produced of other ages and the community general- 75 alumni who have earned PhDs in history. Professional Distinction ly in a way that can be learned from and reproduced by teachers elsewhere. They Herbert Feis Award Eugene Asher Distinguished exemplify excellence in both teaching and Teaching Award Naomi Oreskes, innovation. Harvard University Clif Stratton, Wash- Naomi Oreskes, prof Equity Awards ington State University essor of the history of Stratton has success- Individual Award: science and affiliated fully engaged students in Ernesto Chávez, Univer- professor of Earth and planetary sciences at his classes using inqui- sity of Texas at El Paso Harvard University, has shaped the practice Credit: Jamie ry-based frameworks and of public history as an internationally Seckington Ernesto Chávez, prof has made these techniques essor of history, is the recognized historian of science; she has scalable and applicable to a contemporary recipient of this year’s individual Equity engaged with communities and professionals issues course for Washington State Universi- Award in recognition of his achievements across the disciplines who wish to maintain ty’s general education curriculum. The course in mentoring a new generation of Latina the primacy of evidence, context, and truth promises to apply historical inquiry to con- and Latino scholars to enter the study of in the dialogue between historians and temporary issues of equity, race, class, justice, Chicana and Chicano, Mexican American, public decision makers. By insisting that and global conflict. By offering thousands of and borderlands history and earn doctoral “history matters,” she has interjected and students a context for these issues, he has a degrees. Professor Chávez’s scholarship has extended the role of the past in the public deep impact. Stratton stands out as an excep- focused on Mexican Americans in the 19th- policy debates of the present, shaping the tional teacher-scholar. and 20th-century United States. careers of her students, colleagues, and the Institutional Award: communities they serve. Beveridge Family Teaching Award Jim C. Harper II, Laura Gagnon, Pamela O’Connor, Tara chair, on behalf of the Nancy Lyman Roelker Coppolo, Donna Pacatte, Jen Hanes, Meka Department of History, Mentorship Award Osterhoudt, Rosemary Peterson, Cathy North Carolina Central Leonard N. Rosen- Dewitt, Susan Ginsburg, and Elizabeth University band, Utah State Uni- Bisnett, Joseph B. Radez Elementary School, The Department of History at North versity Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School Carolina Central University is the recipient With a deep commi District, New York of this year’s Equity Award for an institution tment to history and The Radez Elementary School education that has achieved excellence in recruiting to the life of the mind, Rosenband has team “brought history to life” by integrat- underrepresented racial and ethnic groups taught, advised, and mentored generations ing mapmaking, audio-visual production, into the historical profession and retaining of Utah State students. For the thousands of writing, and acting with basic research and them. Since 1939, the history department students he has engaged with his magnetic project collaboration in producing multi- has produced important African American lectures, his guidance of their research, and media local history projects. These projects scholars. Through the decades, the faculty his readiness to talk about their studies and their lives, Rosenband remains a lasting influence.

Honorary Foreign Member Roger Chartier, Collège de France, Paris The 2014 Honorary Fo r e i g n Membership is awarded to Roger Chartier of the Collège de France. Throughout his long career, most of it at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Chartier has been an innovative and border-crossing historian. He reori- ented the celebrated Annales school of Credit: Eileen McGrail historiography by incorporating cultural The education team at Joseph B. Radez Elementary School, Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School and intellectual life into its earlier focus District, New York. on society and economy; he energized the

20 Perspectives on History February 2015 field of the history of the book with studies the interpretive power and label otherwise feminist scholarship by including the of reading practices and attention to the inchoate events as constituting a “revolu- Chinese historical experience within its ways the material features of texts shaped tion.” His book represents the most in- purview. Neither field will ever be the their uses and reception; joining literature fluential and theoretically sophisticated same. to history, he explored early-modern play- statement of the autonomy of political writing. Fluent in several languages, he discourse and its role in bringing about Jan Vansina, University of Wisconsin, routinely reaches out to colleagues in the the great upheaval of 1789. Madison United States, Spain, and Latin America. Baker’s intellectual rigor is legendary Jan Vansina (PhD, University of Leuven) His robust American connection includes among his students, as is his generosity as is professor emeritus at the University of informal mentoring of young historians a mentor. He is a model of what it means Wisconsin–Madison, where he taught from doing research in France and, since 2001, to be an analyst of texts, a historian, and a 1960 until his retirement in 1994. Together a regular visiting appointment at the Uni- teacher. with his colleague Philip Curtin, he versity of Pennsylvania. As one of the letters Susan Mann, Univer- founded the first African Studies program in endorsing his nomination for this honor sity of California, Davis aptly put it, Chartier is “a modern-day Susan Mann (BA, the United States and trained the first gen- Erasmus.” University of Michigan; eration of US historians of Africa. Vansina PhD, Stanford Univer- was an accidental Africanist. A specialist Awards for Scholarly Distinction sity) is professor of history, emerita, at in medieval European history who had Keith M. Baker, UC Davis, where she taught from 1989 studied some anthropology, he did not im- Stanford University until her retirement in 2010. She chaired mediately embark on a teaching career but Keith M. Baker (BA, the departments of history and of East took a research position with the Royal MA, Cambridge Univer- Asian languages and cultures, and served Museum of the Belgian Congo at Tervuren as president of the Association of Asian sity; PhD, University of and began fieldwork among the Kuba. He London) is the J. E. Wallace Sterling Pro- Studies. soon extended his work outside Congo to fessor in the Humanities at Stanford, where Mann is unquestionably the premier he has taught since 1988. He served as the historian of women and gender in Rwanda and Burundi. cognizant dean for the humanities, School late-imperial/early-modern China. Her Vansina’s cross-disciplinary experience of Humanities and Sciences, and director Precious Records: Women in China’s Long enabled him to provide a methodolog- of both the Stanford Humanities Center Eighteenth Century (1997) received the ical paradigm for studying the precolo- and the France-Stanford Center for Inter- Association for Asian Studies’ Levenson nial African past. At a time when many disciplinary Studies. He began his profes- Prize for the best book on pre-1800 scholars believed that cultures without sional career at the University of Chicago, China, and The Talented Women of the written records had no history, or at best where he pioneered the wildly successful Zhang Family (2007) won the AHA’s institutional form that he later introduced Fairbank Prize for the best book in East an unknowable history, Vansina discov- at Stanford: the workshop tailored to the Asian history. Both were pathbreaking ered that he could analyze the stories he needs of advanced graduate students writing interventions, the first in recognizing the heard from his Kuba informants with the dissertations. influential role of elite Chinese women, methods he had learned for extracting his- Baker is universally acknowledged as the second in exploring the importance torical information from medieval dirges. a brilliant and original intellectual his- of same-sex social environments for elite The result was his pioneering Oral Tradi torian and a preeminent interpreter of Chinese women and men. Moreover, tion (1961). Reworked in Oral Tradition as both brilliantly demonstrated how the 18th-century Enlightenment. In his History (1985), it became the indispensable monumental, prize-winning Condorcet: placing women and gender at the center manual not only for Africanists but also for From Natural Philosophy to Social Mathe of the inquiry changes our overall view a wide array of scholars dependent on oral matics (1976), he tackled the problem of of Chinese history—especially by illu- the origins of the social sciences, consid- minating the changing class dynamics of evidence. ering not only their epistemological un- the Qing dynasty. Vansina published numerous monographs derpinnings but also their political and Mann has made exceptional contri- on Central Africa, continuing to innovate bureaucratic preconditions. He next ad- butions to the growth of her field. She methodologically. Paths in the Rainforests dressed the relationship of the Enlighten- has provided elegant translations of (1990), for example, relies primarily on ment to the French Revolution. Inventing Qing texts, written a widely used AHA comparative linguistic data and archaeolog- the French Revolution (1990) thorough- pamphlet on women and gender in East ical evidence. Vansina’s most recent book ly altered the terms of a discussion that Asia, mentored numerous young scholars, had once turned on the direct translation and been a prizewinning teacher of both appeared in 2013. We honor him here as a of the philosophes’ ideas into revolu- undergraduates and graduate students. creative scholar, an institution builder, and tionary action. Baker argued that avail- Her work has promoted feminist scholar- a mentor. able 18th-century “political languages” ship as a powerful lens through which to enabled those familiar with them to seize reimagine Chinese history and enriched Dana Schaffer is the AHA’s associate director.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 21 129TH ANNUAL MEETING Career Diversity for Historians at the Annual Meeting

Emily Swafford

he AHA’s Career Diversity for special posts on AHA Today; overviews of employed beyond the professoriate who Historians initiative continues several are featured on the Career Diversity want to share their experiences and the to increase its presence at the for Historians resources web page. number of new historians who are eager to TAssociation’s annual meeting; this year it Representatives from the initiative’s pilot hear about career paths beyond the professo- was complemented by an unprecedented programs found the sessions helpful as they riate. AHA staff members have noticed over number of sessions organized by members continue to learn from one another and the past few annual meetings an increas- interested in broadening the career horizons the broad community of historians whose ing demand for this kind of information, a and opportunities of history PhDs. Coupled experiences have been central to the evo- demand that does not disappear at the end with the second annual Career Fair, these lution of the project. Karen Wilson, the of the meeting. sessions offered attendees looking for careers Mellon-funded graduate career officer at To help meet this need, the AHA is in history exposure to a wide variety of the University of California, Los Angeles, starting Career Contacts, an online service career pathways. Representatives from a observed: “One idea that emerged was that matches historians working beyond variety of careers for historians staffed over powerful in its simplicity—that profession- the professoriate with graduate students 35 Career Fair tables. More than a hundred al development should be stressed from day or early-career scholars who would like to individuals at various stages of their career one of graduate school by faculty, depart- learn more about a variety of career paths. search passed through the fair. ments, and graduate divisions.” The service, generally featuring one-time Historians also gave career advice at The wealth of sessions highlighted the informational interviews, was officially Interviewing in the Job Market in the continuing interest of the many historians launched during the Career Fair at the Twenty-First Century, a workshop the AHA’s Professional Division has organized every year for over a decade. Volunteers shared their experiences working for non- AHA Career Contacts profit organizations, publishing companies, AHA Career Contacts is a new service that matches history PhDs employed university administrations, museums, and beyond the professoriate with graduate students and recent PhDs who are in K–12 teaching, as well as at the wide interested in broadening their career horizons. Contacts are matched accord- variety of colleges and universities where ing to preferences for employment sector, type of work, geographic location, historians teach. Professional Division Vice and/or field of study. To participate, please visit www.historians.org/aha- President Philippa Levine described the career-contacts or contact Emily Swafford at [email protected]. participation as “tremendous,” and from “a wide variety of people whose backgrounds in history have helped shape productive Regional Events on Career Diversity and satisfying careers both outside and in History within the academy.” The workshop’s continued success indicates that “growing Historians interested in learning more about career diversity are invited to numbers of PhD candidates are recogniz- two upcoming regional events: ing the tremendous range of opportunities What Use Is History? that an advanced degree in history might bring with it.” University of New Mexico Participants in sessions devoted to February 26–27, 2015 careers beyond the professoriate ranged history.unm.edu/career-diversity/symposium-2015.html from college and university administra- tors to historians working in the federal History in Action II government, nonprofit organizations, and cultural institutions. Other panels Columbia University featured less well-known paths, including March 6–7, 2015 two on historians writing fiction. Some of historyinaction.columbia.edu/hia-programs the lively conversations were captured in

22 Perspectives on History February 2015 annual meeting and is part of ongoing helping history graduate students become rations for history graduate students. Those efforts to extend the benefits of Career better informed about career options and interested in Career Diversity for Histo- Diversity for Historians to the broad mem- more capable of taking charge of their rians are invited to two regional events, bership of the AHA. career plans; and two, working within the “What Use is History?” at the University of department and university culture to ensure The annual meeting also presented a New Mexico (February 26–27, 2015) and we are preparing PhDs for career success rare opportunity for representatives of the “History in Action II” at Columbia Uni- pilot projects, funded by a grant to the in their chosen professions.” The programs versity (March 6–7, 2015). Further updates AHA from the Andrew W. Mellon Foun- have begun to integrate careers beyond the dation, to meet and exchange ideas. The academy into existing professionalization and activities will appear on the Career Di- four pilot programs all have projects that workshops or seminars, and are exploring versity for History website (www.historians. are underway and many more that they internship opportunities, whether within org/careerdiversity) and in future issues of are hoping to unveil in the coming year. the university or in the surrounding com- Perspectives on History. As Karen Wilson put it, pilot programs are munity. They also are initiating projects working toward two general goals: “One, that harness local resources for career explo- Emily Swafford is the AHA’s programs manager.

FILLER

history.unm.edu/career-diversity/symposium-2015.html

February 2015 Perspectives on History 23 129TH ANNUAL MEETING Historians, Activism, and Gender

Debbie Ann Doyle

t the annual breakfast of the AHA’s Committee on Women Historians, Jacqueline Jones, University of ATexas at Austin, gave an address titled “Women and Social Justice: What’s History Got to Do with It?” Jones considered the relationship between scholarship on the history of gender and the current status of gender relations. Citing a book reviewer who lamented that all of the resourcefulness, creativity, and energy going into historical scholarship might be better directed to political activism, she asked whether it is worthwhile for historians to wonder if the work we do as scholars has an impact on the larger society. Many scholars of women’s and gender history chose their subject because they were interested in understanding the roots of inequality and were fascinated by how hierarchies of difference are embedded into our culture. Yet, while Jones was preparing to testify to the state board of education about the planned adoption of inaccurate, ideologically biased textbooks, she had the discouraging experience of reading an interview with a school board member who said he did not care what academics thought. Moreover, how, she asked, can historians get our message out to the public, when trade publishers are interested in only a narrow range of historical subjects, primarily military history and biography? The media are interested in history, but tend to privilege immediacy and seek out historical precedents, which can lead to discussions of the past without context. The media prefer brevity and clarity, while historians traffic in nuance and ambiguity. The photo was taken by Marc Monaghan. Given this, she asked, can historical schol- A brainstorming session was held after the Committee on Women Historians’ breakfast. Attendees arship make the world a better, more just split into groups and discussed work-life balance, preparing for tenure, mentoring, and career diversity. place? She called on her audience to take a generous look at the role of scholarship in the struggle for justice. Even historians who broad understanding of where we are now, today, by implication at least we also reveal are not actively involved in public history or and how we got here. A fuller understanding what the future might be. media outreach teach their students to look of the human condition benefits everyone. at the world in a critical and analytical way. If we continue to explore the past and in Debbie Ann Doyle is the AHA’s coordinator, Those who care about social justice need a the process reveal why the world is what it is committees and meetings.

24 Perspectives on History February 2015 129TH ANNUAL MEETING

AHA 2015 in Pictures

Photos by

Marc Monaghan

February 2015 Perspectives on History 25 26 Perspectives on History February 2015 February 2015 Perspectives on History 27 28 Perspectives on History February 2015 129TH ANNUAL MEETING History and Historians in the Ukraine Crisis Sarah Fenton

tudying Ukraine is not for the faint of Enter President Vladimir Putin, that scrupulous and precise without losing the heart, nor for those seeking comfort master manipulator of past narrative. forest for the trees (or for that matter, without about the current state of geopolitics. “Though he’s an awful historian,” Columbia losing their audience). HearingS from historian Kate Brown at AHA University’s Tarik Amar said, welcoming I’m happy to report that this high-wire act Session 12, “History and Historians in the laughter, Putin nevertheless “makes constant was achieved during this session with im- Ukraine Crisis,” that “we’re spending more reference to the past,” establishing “guilt by possible aplomb, which is perhaps why as I on nuclear weapons now than we did at the association or analogy” on the part of those left it in a hurry for the next one, I had to height of the Cold War” could unsettle the who would resist his imperial reach. The wend my way through small knots of people most sanguine student, and likewise those struggle over terminology in Ukraine is, carrying on intent conversations, reluctant seeking a story with unambiguous heroes according to Amar, a struggle over “truth to leave such a bracing discussion. It might and villains. As the University of Chicago’s claims.” What is a coup for one side is for Faith Hillis said, to understand the roots the other a revolt; a terrorist by one reading also explain why a panel that could provide of this crisis requires acknowledging that is a rebel by another; a conflict cannot be no comfort could nonetheless be as enliven- “victims can also be perpetrators” (this is in termed a “civil war” if it’s due entirely to an ing as the brisk wind whistling at my back reference to Poles in Ukraine, who have been outside force. outside the midtown Hilton. both an oppressed minority and historically Getting mired in an arcane linguistics spat Sarah Fenton is an AHA contributing editor. complicit in oppression). The crisis in is only one hazard for historians participating Ukraine has seen thousands of people killed in open, politically charged debates. As one This article first appeared onAHA Today. and millions displaced, but humans are attendee put it in the animated Q&A period: This piece is the first in a series of guest blog not its only victims. As panel chair Jeffrey “the less nuance, the wider the audience.” In posts published on AHA Today covering the Mankoff (of the Center for Strategic and other words, historians entering the fray of annual meeting. Posts report broadly on topics International Studies) put it, in this conflict an ongoing political crisis with far-reaching discussed during the meeting, such as career di “truth itself is a victim.” results are asked to do two things simultane- Thus the heightened role of historians, ously that can seem irreconcilable: to voice versity, public history, and teaching. They also whose job it is to dig up the truth and an argument with clarity and courage while reflect on specific sessions, such as the embargo piece together those layers that have been at the same time remaining true to stubborn policy debate, the Voting Rights Act, and obfuscated or denied. In a region where facts and moral complexity. They must be Ferguson panels. many of the 20th century’s most painful episodes were wiped clean from collective memory (not least the Holodomor, the man-made famine of 1932–33 in which Stalin allowed millions of Ukrainians to die from starvation), the historian’s task takes on at once added difficulties and significance. Studying Galician Jews, for instance, as does Brown University’s Omer Bartov, requires unearthing the past of a people who are no longer present. What remains, Bartov AHA Today: said, is “anti-Semitism without Jews.” This News, Community, and Historical Thinking was a region that traded one oppressor for another throughout the 1930s and 1940s, blog.historians.org from the Soviets to the Nazis and back again. When the Red Army returned in 1944-47, the few Jews remaining saw it as a libera- Check out AHA Today, the official blog of the American Historical Association, tor; Ukrainians as an occupier; and Poles for news about the Association and the discipline. We’ve simplified the design, as both. This is thus a history from which made it mobile-friendly, provided social media streaming, and added a new competing populations can draw whichever commenting platform to make it easier for you to join the conversation! lesson they find politically expedient.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 29 129TH ANNUAL MEETING Behind the Scenes at the Annual Meeting Jeanne Gardner Gutierrez and Nora Slonimsky Inside the Meeting: Sheraton, or outside to the far reaches of the luncheons and breakfasts, and the tours (see Behind the Scenes with five boroughs. Wherever our staff ended up, opposite page). Despite a few glitches, inev- though, they kept the conference on an even itable at any meeting of this size, I was able the Hourly Workers keel. to leave my post to resolve problems, usually or 96 hours from January 2 to 5 There were the standard shifts, which of the technological variety, because hourly this year, more than 80 student included checking that every single AHA workers were on top of everything they had workers in neon-orange T-shirts from panelist on the program had everything he to do. programsF around the Northeast ensured or she requested, from AV to microphones With very rare exceptions, workers were on that all aspects of the AHA annual meeting to water on the tables. Student workers time, professional, and eager to help in any ran smoothly. Periodically appearing from also observed every panel to ensure that it way they could. But different workers had and disappearing into a hidden corner of the was running smoothly and on time, and different takeaways. One worker humorous- Hilton’s third floor, the graduate students provided assistance at the exhibit hall, infor- ly compared the process of fielding attendees were assigned a very wide range of tasks at mation desks, Job Center, and headquarters. through the massive Friday registration lines the meeting. Regardless of specialization, And then there were the unusual shifts. to his second job as a Brooklyn bar bouncer; professional role, or career stage, there was Students assigned to work these shifts took another noted how the position, which something for each one of us at Americas care of everything else that was scheduled on top of compensation also provides free Hall I. From Mission Control, we found at the conference: the business meeting, registration, made her attendance possible. ourselves dispatched to the exhibit hall the receptions, the photography, the work- Money is a tough subject for most graduate in the Hilton, to the fifth floor of the shops and interviews, the film festival, the students, and this job gave many of us the

Museum of the City of New York evening reception and exhibition tour.

30 Perspectives on History February 2015 opportunity to attend a conference that would have been financially out of our reach otherwise. Similarly, some workers were from MA programs, others toiling toward a PhD; some were interested in an academic track, others in public history, still others in K–12 education. As we learned how to participate in such a huge professional gathering, networking with each other was tremendously helpful. And the free T-shirts were also a pretty good bonus. Outside the Meeting Hotels: Behind the Scenes with the AHA Tours

irst, a confession: I’ve been known Eric K. Washington of Tagging-The-Past leads his “Melting Pot, Six Feet Under” tour through Trinity to grumble while dodging through Church Cemetery in Washington Heights. Photograph by Marika Plater. tourist-heavy areas of New York City, whichF includes the stretch of 34th Street the United Nations archives, are not to be students did, a combination of the two), a between Herald Square and the Graduate taken for granted! (These two tours were Center of the City University of New York, behind-the-scenes view of the AHA provided the sold-out sleeper hits of the conference.) where I attend classes. Whether I am running two major benefits. On the one hand, we And whether you visit familiar or unfamil- late for class or musing over a meeting with saw the scholarly side of the conference as we iar territory, it takes guts to venture out on my adviser, when yet another tourist blocks sat in on panels, walked through the exhibit a two-hour walking tour in early January, my path while angling to squeeze the entire hall, or interacted with other historians at the especially with the variable weather that we Empire State Building into her selfie, I tend had. Several attendees and hourly workers receptions. On the other hand, we saw the to put my head down and my elbows out. signed up for multiple excursions, and if administrative component and got a taste of Despite all my grousing and muttering, it wasn’t 23° and snowing as I write this, the amount of work members of the regular however, I secretly love to host out-of-town I would take off my hat to all the hardy friends and colleagues, and I suspect many AHA staff do to make an event like this souls who braved the wind and wet (espe- other New Yorkers do too. It’s a splendid possible every year. For us in particular, this cially Saturday’s punitive “wintry mix”). excuse to visit new places and break out of balance between the various components of one’s own little orbit of school, work, and While the weather is beyond our control, the conference was a sobering peek into the home. there are always a few things that could be future. Once we are outside the precincts of improved. For example, the fact that public The roster of tours assembled by the AHA graduate school, this kind of balancing act transportation would be used to reach Local Arrangements Committee was an will be part of our everyday work lives, not various destinations (and therefore that the ambitious one for those who were willing confined to a four-day whirlwind. to venture from Midtown—and that was museum/archive tours might entail subway station stairs and several blocks of walking) true for many of the LAC staff as well as Nora Slonimsky is a doctoral candidate the visiting participants. Even if New York was not made sufficiently clear to some par- in history at the Graduate Center of the City is your home turf, you will always have ticipants, an issue I hope future program City University of New York, where she is plenty to discover—perhaps a relatively planners will address. And we New Yorkers recent addition to the cityscape that you would do well to remember that the instant working on her dissertation on the political haven’t visited yet, such as Four Freedoms we get too cocky and too eager to flaunt our development of copyright in the 18th- and Park on Roosevelt Island. Or you may re- local knowledge, the city is likely to throw early 19th-century colonial British Atlantic a curve ball. I think it will take a while to discover an institution that’s changed since and early national United States. She was a expunge from memory the exact moment you last visited, like the New-York His- graduate assistant to the Local Arrangements when 21 historians, standing in a drizzle torical Society or the Tenement Museum. Committee and conference liaison for the As I watched tours depart and return over on Madison Avenue, realized that I had 2015 annual meeting. Jeanne Gutierrez is the course of the weekend, I confirmed my grossly overestimated my ability to catch an a doctoral candidate in American history at assumption that locals share the pleasure uptown bus. of seeing the city with a visitor’s fresh eyes. the Graduate Center of the City University of We also benefit from being reminded that Conclusion New York. She was also a graduate assistant to the academic resources we enjoy, such as Whether we worked at the conference the Local Arrangements Committee and tour New York City’s Municipal Archives and locations or on the tours (or as several liaison for the 2015 annual meeting.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 31 DIGITAL DISPATCHES Remember, Remember the Fifth of November Modeling John Donne’s Gunpowder Day Sermon Seth Denbo

n November 5, 1622, John Harvest and Trading Consequences provided to experience dimensions the text does not Donne, then rector of St. Paul’s examples of the use of several different tools provide. But the development of the models Cathedral in London, gave a and methods that digital history practitioners that allowed the scholars to generate what sermonO that commemorated the day 17 years the project website calls an “evidence-based utilize. Befitting the theme of the meeting before when the notorious Guy Fawkes and this year—history and the other disciplines— restoration” required extensive syntheses of a group of coconspirators were discovered in we concluded with a look at the Virtual the history of early modern London. The their plot to blow up Parliament. In early Paul’s Cross Project. This digital installation researchers modeled that day’s weather using modern England, where conflicts between and website is a groundbreaking attempt to historical data and information about current Catholics and Protestants shaped much combine historical scholarship with work patterns, consulted contemporary accounts of politics of the period, November 5 had from archaeology, architecture, and acoustical of the number of spectators in the church- quickly become an important date in the engineering to recreate some of the elements yard to estimate the size of the crowd, and calendar and a moment for reflection on the of that London afternoon in 1622. read descriptions of Donne’s oral sermoniz- English monarchy and divine providence. The Virtual Paul’s Cross website models ing. The extensive bibliography demonstrates We know the words that Donne spoke on the past. Like all historical work, the project engagement with historical knowledge about this day because the text was written down creates representations of the lived experi- the full range of relevant contexts. and eventually published. What we don’t ence of historical actors. The website’s 3-D I like this project because it shows the pos- know is how someone attending the sermon models of the churchyard, the static and sibilities that can be realized by combining would have experienced it, what he would moving images that show the view from traditional historical methodologies with those in fields that are much more driven by have heard from any particular spot, the various vantage points, and the acoustic technology, such as the acoustical engineering cadences of the preacher, and so on. representations that allow us to listen to the techniques used in the project. In combining On January 2 of this year, 150 attendees sermon all build a rich descriptive and inter- primary sources with secondary literature on at this year’s annual meeting got up early pretative framework for understanding. the period, this solidly historical undertaking to participate in a workshop on how to get In common with many digital history also takes a novel approach to the presentation started in digital history. As an introduc- projects, Virtual Paul’s Cross has elements of scholarship. It makes the most of digital tion, we looked at a few exemplary projects that make it both research and presentation. technologies and uses the web to provide that provided a view of some of the kinds of The finished product allows a broad audience descriptive and interpretive elements. things that scholars who are new to digital to understand what it was like to attend a One criticism often leveled at 3-D modeling history should know. Projects like History public sermon in 17th-century London and of historic spaces is the lack of intellectual transparency of the completed model. This is a valid concern. Scholars using such non- About the Project traditional tools as Google SketchUp and Photoshop should be thinking about how to he Virtual Paul’s Cross Project is based at North Carolina State University. make their methods and research conjectures TThe project includes both an installation at the James B. Hunt Library on transparent. It is true that the assumptions of the Centennial Campus of NC State University and a website that provides the scholar are intrinsic and therefore often an overview of the project, images, videos, and a detailed bibliography. The hidden from view, but the Virtual Paul’s project received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities Cross Project uses its website to explain these under the Office of Digital Humanities Start-up Grant program. John N Wall, methodologies. It makes clear what is known professor of English at NC State, is the principal investigator for the project. about the space that it models and explains David Hill, associate professor of architecture at NC State, supervised con- the bases of inference. This allows the user to struction of the Visual Model, with the assistance and guidance ofJohn understand how the interpretive work that is Schofield, archaeologist at St. Paul’s Cathedral. part of all scholarship in history was done. The project website can be found at vpcp.chass.ncsu.edu. It could be argued that such transparency should be part of all historical interpretation.

32 Perspectives on History February 2015 Credit: Virtual Paul’s Cross Project Paul’s Churchyard, from the visual model constructed by Joshua Stephens and rendered by Jordan Gray.

This project is an excellent example of a historiographical intervention into a rich scholarly conversation. It furthers our understanding of the sermon itself, provides an idea of the experience of attending a sermon of the time, and enriches our knowledge of the wider historical context. It does so using platforms that are divorced from the usual outputs of historians and other humanities scholars. As such it is also an example of the kind of scholarship that departments must take into account when evaluating the work of scholars who are doing digital work. Only by allowing exper- imentation in both methodology and form, and by expanding our view of practice, can the discipline continue to create history that is both engaging and relevant. Far from merely imagining new business models for journal publishing, or lamenting the demise of the scholarly monograph, projects like Virtual Paul’s Cross evince creativity and place a value on ingenuity as they produce meticulous scholarship.

Seth Denbo is the AHA’s director of scholarly communication and digital initiatives. He tweets @Seth_Denbo.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 33 PEOPLE’S HISTORIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY Toward a People’s History of Climate Change

Pallavi Das

s I was searching for newspaper of ordinary people and over a substantial based on how they impact their lives. For articles on the environment in period of time is necessary to understand the example, Quechua-speaking farmers in India, an article on climate change impacts of climate change and to mitigate Bolivia perceive climate change in terms of andA apple production in the Western them. Engaging in such a study would allow the decrease in the number of nights when a Himalayas caught my eye. It was about how historians to contribute to the shaping of frost occurs because they grow potatoes that climate change has affected apple production public policy concerning climate change. require nights of frost alternating with days in India over the past three decades, and how Therefore, I propose an approach for such a of intensive sunlight to process the potatoes this in turn has affected the livelihood of the study—a people’s history of climate change. and freeze-dry them.3 apple farmers. I could immediately relate This approach to history, as I provisional- Historians working on a people’s history of because I could see this change in my own ly envision it, would focus on vulnerable climate change would, I imagine, examine garden. In late summer last year I noticed sectors of society. the factors that ordinary people perceive as that there was hardly any fruit on my My proposed people’s history of climate responsible for and contributing to climate apple trees because of the harsh winter the change has four components: defining the change and its impacts, which would form previous year. The right winter temperature people to be studied; understanding how the third component. The factors that and precipitation in the form of snow are they perceive climate change and its effects ordinary people hold responsible for climate important climatic factors for the flowering on their lives; examining their perceptions change might include industrialization, of apples. Any change in temperature or about the causes of climate change; and population growth, angry gods, and many precipitation can affect apple production, understanding how they cope with climate others. Historians would also examine which in turn impacts the communities change. whether these perceived contributing factors that depend on apples for their livelihood. A people’s history of climate change would have changed or remained the same over a Apples are an important commercial crop of start with a focus on a particular sector of time frame of at least 50 years. In addition, the Himalayas region; more than 200,000 ordinary people living and working in a I hope that people’s historians of climate farmers are engaged in growing them.1 particular place that is undergoing climatic change would investigate how ordinary And millions of small farmers around the (as well as economic and social) changes. people’s perceptions of climate change are world depend on seasonal bio-indicators For example, it could be the poor who influenced by local and national discourses (the annual rhythms of flowering, rainfall, live in Chicago, which is projected to face about the topic. etc.) for the planting and harvesting of severe heat waves more often in the coming The fourth component of my proposed their crops. However, climate change has decades due to climate change. In the 1995 made these seasonal indicators erratic and heat wave, African Americans had a 50 people’s history of climate change would unreliable, thus threatening the livelihood percent higher mortality rate than whites, be a study of how people cope with it. As of small farmers. a figure that may reflect their economic people interact with nature, they develop Humans are collectively responsible for reality. Extreme heat combined with high a knowledge system made up of technolo- climate change, but neither the causes nor humidity can be fatal for the old and the gies, beliefs, and skills that enable them to the consequences of climate change are eq- frail who do not have access to air condi- maintain their livelihoods by using natural uitable across the world. Ordinary people, tioning, and lower-income people generally resources and interacting with the local particularly the poor, suffer more and are can suffer great discomfort when they lack environment in a more or less sustainable more vulnerable to the impacts of climate this amenity. way. For example, Inuit hunters in the change, including floods, droughts, and The second component of a people’s Canadian Arctic have detailed knowledge of other impacts. history of climate change would focus on sea ice, along with a deep familiarity with As I began reading more on the socioeco- how people perceive the effect of climate wind and current conditions that they can nomic dimensions of climate change, I was change on their lives. This component, of use to forecast ice safety. This knowledge surprised to find that there are no historical course, would be shaped by where people live allows them to avoid dangerous conditions studies on anthropogenic climate change and how they obtain their livelihood. People and travel and hunt successfully. This Inuit and its impact on people.2 I feel that his- may not use the term climate change per se, knowledge is built through previous ex- torical study of the socioeconomic dimen- but they can certainly describe the climatic perience with thin ice conditions, strong sions of climate change from the perspective changes in their immediate environment wind currents, etc., and is passed from one

34 Perspectives on History February 2015 Credit: Raja Islam, www.flickr.com/rajaislam Apple trees grow in Skardu, a town under Pakistani control near the Karakoram mountain range in India.

generation to another through stories, anec- Although some historians have studied the South Asian history at Lakehead Universi dotes, and so forth. climate in the distant past and its impact on ty, Canada. She has published articles on the Historians working on a people’s history society, they have largely ignored not only environmental history of South Asia. Her of climate change would study this knowl- contemporary society but also the lives and forthcoming book (to be published in 2015 by views of ordinary people in various geo- edge and examine ordinary people’s Palgrave Macmillan) examines the ecological graphical contexts. Anthropogenic climate coping mechanisms and responses to the consequences of colonial development policies change is one of the most pressing global impacts of climate change over time. One in India. environmental problems today. This was response might be to spatially relocate highlighted by the recent People’s Climate their economic activities. For example, March in New York City, the largest march Notes in the last two decades, due to increas- for action on climate change ever to be held. ing temperatures in the lower altitudes, 1. H. R. Gautam, I. M. Sharma, and R. Kumar, A people’s history approach to climate the apple farmers in the Himalayas have “Climate Change Is Affecting Apple Produc- change will allow historians to develop a moved to higher altitudes for apple culti- tion in Himachal Pradesh,” Current Science better and more in-depth understanding vation. Or people whose livelihood prac- 106, no. 4 (February 25, 2014): 498–99. of local concerns about the climate; of how 2. Historians have studied climate in relation tices are deeply rooted in their culture and climate change impacts people’s lives over to societies in the distant past when changes religion might respond to climate change time; and how people respond to these in climate where due to natural causes rather through rituals or other religious practices; changes. This is my vision. I want to start than human activities. for example, in Tanzania, when the rains a dialogue with ordinary people and un- fail, people perform rituals to please the derstand their ideas about climate change 3. S. Boillat and F. Berkes, “Perception and In- rain god. Other people might respond to before these ideas are lost. terpretation of Climate Change among Quec- climate change by forming social-political hua Farmers of Bolivia: Indigenous Knowledge organizations to highlight the problems Pallavi Das is an associate professor of as a Resource for Adaptive Capacity,” Ecology they face due to climate change. world environmental history and modern and Society 18, no. 4 (2013): 21.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 35 PEOPLE’S HISTORIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY Marx in the Mountains Poverty and Environment in and outside of the Classroom

Gregory Rosenthal

hat is the relationship between environment and poverty? I asked my students this Wquestion at the Middlebury School of the Environment—a new, interdisciplinary, immersive six-week summer program. In my class “Environmentalism and the Poor,” we read scholarship in environmental history, environmental economics, and political ecology. Moving beyond strictly deterministic explanations of poverty (racial, environmental, or otherwise), I encouraged my students to dig deeper into the processes by which people have made (and make) poverty by altering the natural environment and by limiting the ability of others to use and access those environments. I organized the course around what I identify as major themes in any environmental history of poverty: commodities, disasters, dispossession, wage labor, and resistance. I assigned influential books and articles written by labor and Students gleaning at Dutchess Farm, Rutland County, Vermont. environmental historians, and also essays by journalists reporting on these same issues in our contemporary world.1 passé, many college students are deprived Do You Work for a Living?’: Work and We also read Karl Marx. My colleagues of the opportunity to better understand Nature,” all of which argue that poor and in New York, where I normally teach and how the mode of production (e.g., capital- working-class people experience the envi- live, had introduced me to Marx. The great ism) shapes nearly every aspect of human ronment differently than wealthy people 19th-century historian’s insights on the society, culture, and history. My students do, my students got excited about the origins of poverty and inequality—on the admitted their interest in knowing more spotted owl controversy that White alludes origins of capitalism—have found a ready about this: about Marx, his writings, and to in his essay.3 Tis led us to a debate on audience among today’s generation of how they relate to environmental issues past nature’s intrinsic versus utilitarian values. graduate students and rising scholars, the and present. So we read Marx on Mondays, When we read Marx, my students encoun- so-called “millennial Marxists.”2 But as I followed each week by more contempo- tered yet another distinction: use versus prepared to teach in Vermont, I wondered: rary scholarship and journalism on similar exchange values.4 We ended up taking a big What would it look like to read and critique topics. One student, reflecting on our scenic step backward at this point to talk about Marx at an interdisciplinary environmen- surroundings, called this “Marx in the the word value itself. Students identified tal-studies school in rural New England in Mountains on Mondays.” Marx’s definition of value (to paraphrase, 2014? Would Marx make as much sense The first topic we considered was com- the amount of labor socially necessary for a here as he does on Wall Street or in Union modities. After reading Ramachan- thing’s production) and disagreed strongly Square? dra Guha’s Environmentalism: A Global with it. What about moral and ethical Only two of my students had previous- History; Joan Martinez-Alier’s Environ values? What about nature’s intrinsic, ly encountered Marx. In the post–Cold mentalism of the Poor; and Richard White’s noncommodifiable values? In the ensuing War American academy, where Marxism is essay “‘Are You an Environmentalist or discussion, students realized that truly

36 Perspectives on History February 2015 anything in nature can become a com- of our course—environment, poverty, and my students’ concerns with hunger and modity. We had an interesting discussion justice—to a contemporary issue in the poverty, and we are committed as a class about the commodification of water, of air, local community. They suggested that we to struggling with these issues. In the ideal of living things like plants and animals. It spend one day gleaning on a small farm college classroom—one in which Marx has is not that nature lacks intrinsic value or in Rutland County, 30 miles from Mid- a place—students and faculty will realize even use values, but rather that the origins dlebury. We drove to the farm at 8:00 that the intersections among theory and of environmental inequalities lie in the a.m. on a Wednesday morning and began practice, research and teaching, ideas and processes by which natural things are ex- our day picking green beans, herbs, and materiality are not just the keys to getting tracted and exchanged not for their own lettuce. In two hours, the eight of us har- a good grade or building a teaching portfo- good or for their usefulness to us, but for vested approximately 100 pounds of food lio but are also the keys to making effective their exchangeability in the marketplace. that otherwise would have gone to waste. change in this world. One student remarked, regarding the com- The students connected us with a local non- modification of natural resources, “I never profit, Rutland Area Food and Farm Link Gregory Rosenthal is a doctoral candidate in realized that one thing can be so many dif- (RAFFL), that helped coordinate the distri- history at the State University of New York at ferent things at the same time.” bution of our harvest to area food pantries, Stony Brook and an instructor in environmen Another lesson concerned what Marx calls halfway houses, and homeless shelters. tal humanities at the Middlebury School of the “primitive accumulation.” We watched a Earlier in the semester, I had accompanied Environment. documentary film, Land of Oil and Water, one of my students to a community supper about indigenous experiences of, and forms in downtown Middlebury, where a church of resistance to, oil sands development group each week provides free dinner to Notes in Alberta, Canada. This story seemed to approximately 200 people. There I learned 1. The syllabus for “Environmentalism and the directly relate to Marx’s writings on prim- that one in six children in Addison County itive accumulation.5 My students were (where Middlebury is located) goes hungry Poor” is available at http://sites.middlebury. quick to grasp that Marx’s history of the at some point each year. Hunger and edu/schooloftheenvironment/files/2014/08/ transition from feudalism to capitalism in poverty are real issues in rural Vermont, and Environmentalism-and-the-Poor-syllabus. England was more than just a presenta- my students taught me to see this through 2014.pdf. tion of facts and figures; it was a theory of their engagement in service learning. 2. Timothy Shenk, “Thomas Piketty and Mil- change that could be tested against other Back on campus, the students gave a final lennial Marxists on the Scourge of Inequal- places and time periods. So when we read presentation to the School of the Environ- ity,” The Nation, May 5, 2014, http://www. about the great rural-to-urban migration of ment on their gleaning experience. Marx thenation.com/article/179337/thomas-piketty- China’s “floating population,” or about the was in their mouths, and I could see the and-millennial-marxists-scourge-inequality. growth of urban slums, we recognized that many threads of our class coming together. 3. Richard White, “‘Are You an Environmen- modern primitive accumulation creates not In making sense of gleaning, they demon- talist or Do You Work for a Living?’: Work and just a wage-working proletariat, as Marx strated that the commodification of food Nature,” in Uncommon Ground: Rethinking the had supposed, but also massive amounts of resulted in increased food insecurity among Human Place in Nature, ed. William Cronon homelessness, unemployment, and partic- the poor; they talked about the origins of (New York: W. W. Norton, 1996), 171–85; ipation in the informal economy. Students urban poverty in Vermont, where increas- Ramachandra Guha, Environmentalism: A recognized that environmental histories of ing numbers of residents do not have access Global History (New York: Longman, 2000); “the land” often tell only half the story; they to the means of production and must rely Joan Martinez-Alier, The Environmentalism fail to narrate the post-expropriation strate- on either wage labor or state welfare for of the Poor: A Study of Ecological Conflicts and gies of landless people. As we watched Land survival. They explained the market mech- Valuation (Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar of Oil and Water and learned about aborig- anisms of how and why food goes to waste Publishing, 2002). inal Canadians’ struggles against economic on the farm; and they offered thoughtful 4. Karl Marx, Capital: Volume I: A Critique of and ecological exploitation, we were better solutions for how gleaning, as a form of Political Economy [1867] (New York, 1906), able to understand their predicament as a resistance, can reconnect the working class 41–96. legacy of historical (and ongoing) disposses- to a historical, agricultural commons that sion and settler colonialism. We wondered if once provided people with the means of 5. Marx, Capital, 784–848; Land of Oil and Marx would be surprised to see that in 2014 subsistence. Water, directed by Neil McArthur and Warren native peoples are still struggling against the It turns out that Marx makes a lot of sense Cariou (Winnipeg, Canada: Winnipeg Film same processes he wrote about a century and in the mountains. My students helped me Group, 2009). a half earlier. think about the links among labor, nature, 6. See our collectively written document While our discussions of Marx often and poverty in new ways, and reading “Forms of Working-Class / Peasant Environ- bled into the abstract, I was floored by my Marx helped them better understand the mental Resistance,” at The Stream: a Blog for students’ abilities to move these ideas off linkages between past and present, between the Middlebury School of the Environment, the page. Halfway through the semester, city and country, and between labor and August 25, 2014, http://sites.middlebury. they proposed a service-learning final capital.6 We also learned something about edu/schooloftheenvironment/2014/08/25/ project that would tie the major themes the dialectic of theory and practice. I share forms-of-environmental-resistance/.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 37 PEOPLE’S HISTORIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY Decolonizing the Newspaper The Historian and the Op-Ed

Frank P. Barajas

n a democratic society, debate over ideas Iand an appreciation for the past are dependent on multiple perspectives. Only recently have the historical vantage points of racial minorities, the gay community, and women, for example, been given increased space by newspaper editors. For me, it is important that intellectuals from a demographic group that has been studied in the past voice a perspective in the present. Oth- erwise, the discipline becomes a colonial enterprise. Origins

uring my doctoral studies at the Cla- Dremont Graduate University in the mid-1990s, I was fascinated by the public intellectual prose of historian Robert Daw- idoff, which was featured regularly in the Los Angeles Times. His pieces addressed protean A newspaper seller in Berlin, Germany. The photograph, now at the Library of Congress Prints and questions of civil and gay rights. They were Photographs Division, was taken between 1908 and 1919. sagacious reflections that linked the past to the contemporary. One 1995 essay—which I use in my undergraduate methods course Mexican experience, popular and scholarly, pursued the elimination of bilingual edu- The Historian’s Craft—critiqued presiden- are dominated by onlookers. I am equally cation. (The electorate of California passed tial candidate Senate Majority Leader Bob concerned when newspapers identify a both initiatives.) I argued that, as with the Dole’s attack on the National History Stan- writer or two to be the lead voices of a group. discrimination directed toward the Joads of dards. Dawidoff complicated the senator’s Hence, I write to “messy” the discussion on the Great Depression, these anti-immigrant election-year call for a symmetrical teach- a topic involving people of Mexican origin propositions arose out of economic despair, ing of US history with a discussion of the in the United States. this time that of the early 1990s. The es- historical realities in Dole’s state of Kansas. say was nearly accepted by the HNS for its Dawidoff reminded readers of the civil war The First Attempt publication online and syndication in print in “Bloody Kansas” before the nation’s Civil media outlets. My perspective and byline, I War and the unfinished pursuit of equality n 1996, I submitted an essay to the brand- thought, were going to run nationally. and opportunity 100 years later in Brown Inew History News Service, an informal But I learned a valuable lesson from this v. Board of Education of Topeka, decided in syndicate of historians founded by Joyce Ap- attempt, which was, alas, unsuccessful: 1954. pleby (a Claremont alum like myself) and follow the directions of editors. The HNS As a motivation to draft op-ed essays, I James M. Banner, Jr. The piece compared tentatively approved my piece but directed have customized a sentiment expressed in the struggle of Dust Bowl migrants with me to pare it down by 200 words, as many Edward Said’s The Question of Palestine to that of Mexican families targeted by two newspaper op-ed sections enforced a strict the experience of Chicanas and Chicanos: pieces of proposed California legislation: limit of 1,000 words. I extracted 100, “Everyone speaks for Chicanas and Chicanos Proposition 187 of 1994 and Proposition believing the balance to be too critical to except Chicanas and Chicanos.” Certainly, 227 of 1996. The first proposition was -de discard, and resubmitted the essay. I waited people of Mexican origin are not voiceless, signed to deny education and health services for a reply of acceptance that never came. but I am uneasy because narratives of the to undocumented immigrants; the second So now when the op-ed guidelines of a

38 Perspectives on History February 2015 newspaper list a word maximum, I do not exceed it. Resources and Tips Rewards and Recognition ◆ Read newspapers’ submission guidelines, including these two ince my initial learning experience with New York Times essays by op-ed editors: Spublic intellectual writing, I have pub- ◆ www.nytimes.com/2004/02/01/opinion/01SHIP.html lished several essays, largely in the local newspaper of the counties of Kern, Orange, ◆ www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/opinion/op-ed-and-you.html and Ventura in Southern California. And in ◆ Consider the style and formatting of your favorite newspaper 2011, the HNS ran and distributed anoth- columnists. er piece I wrote on the history of Mexican ◆ migrant workers and a National Park Ser- Anticipate a holiday and submit an essay about it that is situated vice project’s preservation of the stories of in history. this group. My name is now humbly listed ◆ For topic ideas, attend the meetings of your local government, among an august group of historians such as and pay particular attention to the public comments part of the Joyce Appleby and others who have written agenda. outstanding academic publications and also ◆ Submit an op-ed within days of a hot-topic issue. contributed to a more public dialogue in the popular press. ◆ As you plan the article, create a succinct hook immediately. Although public intellectual writing ◆ Write plainly and boldly, in prose that is stripped of academic carries limited weight in the rewards system jargon. of academe, especially at R1 institutions, it does have its benefits. First, it can hold accountable the often decontextualized and triumphalist memory of prominent public outlets, one of them the History News Dawidoff informed readers that history figures. The past chair of the National Network. Friends in my community and itself was becoming more democratic— Endowment for the Humanities, Lynne colleagues on my campus have expressed messy, if you will—with the steady rise Cheney, who led the charge against the an appreciation for my historical points of of voices once silenced by the forces of National History Standards before Dole, view. Receiving such kudos is always nice. power and privilege. To write this peoples’ history, however, more academics need to comes to mind, as does former House Public intellectual writing also offers a be civically engaged in their communities, Speaker Newt Gingrich. Readers also ap- more immediate sense of accomplishment. heeding the debates of the present in order preciate fearless muses who unequivocally If a piece is picked up, you see your name to comment on the echoes of the past, both tether the local events of their communities in the byline within a week, instead of the to national currents of the past. mythic and real. months or years involved in the publica- For example, in January 2014 I wrote tion of a peer-reviewed article or book. about a 2013 Dodge Ram truck commer- Frank P. Barajas is a professor of history This exercise also increases the reservoir of cial, titled “To the Farmer in All of Us,” aired and Chicana/o studies at California State goodwill you and your institution enjoy in during the television broadcast of Super University Channel Islands. He is also Bowl XLVII. The commercial perpetuated the community. Furthermore, students who the author of Curious Unions: Mexican the myth of the Jeffersonian yeoman but read newspapers value the civic engagement American Workers and Resistance in ignored wage-earning Mexican immigrant of their professors who write op-eds. Oxnard, California, 1898–1961. farmworker men, women, and children. The scenes in the Dodge commercial emphasized predominantly a patriarchal, individualist, white ideal of agricultural Would you like to help select the life. I responded by highlighting how pres- AHA's book prizes and awards? ently in the Southern California county of Ventura, as in the past, immigrants from Mexico dominate the landscape of commer- CouldCould yoyouu cocontributentribute ttimeime anandd enenergyergy ttoo cial agriculture. And in the nation’s larger highlight the issues of history, African Americans (many as slaves), minority and women historians? Asians, Europeans, and Native Americans toiled land they did not own. The Committee on Committees welcomes suggestions for committee appointments. The piece was picked up by my local news- AHA members are invited to send in their own or others' names with brief CVs for consideration. paper, the Ventura County Star, and by the Submit nominations to Sharon K. Tune at [email protected] Bakersfield Californian and several online

February 2015 Perspectives on History 39 PEOPLE’S HISTORIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY Academia in Prison The Role of the University in an Era of Mass Incarceration Kelsey Kauffman

n August 2012, two friends and I started prison system. Since then I have maintained Not only do people in prison make highly a small college program at the Indiana a keen interest in prison history, includ- motivated, often strikingly original students, Women’s Prison (IWP), which historians ing the Indiana Women’s Prison, which is research shows that attending college while Iconsider to be the first women’s prison in the in prison also substantially improves recid- how I knew of the documents and various nation. Over two years, our program grew accounts by historians about that prison. ivism rates.1 Another benefit is that college to 15 teachers and 80 students. Although It was not until we were well into our programs change prison environments by many of our students need remedial help, history project at IWP that I realized that giving hope and meaning to those who are some are truly outstanding, and nearly all historians and I had been asking the wrong enrolled, as well as to those who aspire to be are highly motivated. Our faculty members questions about the prison. My students, on enrolled. are mostly retired professors from some the other hand, have consistently asked the Yet college programs exist in only a of central Indiana’s best universities. For right questions—often-cynical, penetrating, small fraction of prisons in the United example, John Dittmer, a retired historian exacting ones that not only have exposed States. Many more programs existed before from DePauw University, teaches two of new information about the founders of this Congress passed the Omnibus Crime Bill of our most popular courses—on the US civil prison, but have challenged prevailing ideas 1994, which included a ban on Pell Grants rights movement, and the United States in about where, when, and by whom prisons to people in prison. The United States had the 1960s. for women were started and, most impor- already begun its mad rush to incarcerate A major challenge for college faculty in tantly, why. Jones’s article discusses some of people—especially people of color—that prisons is finding a way to teach students their key findings. would increase the number of state and how to do research when they have no access federal prisoners seven-fold in 30 years. This is not the first time that I have come to the Internet and virtually none to books Indiana was one of the few states that main- to realize how valuable my prison students’ and articles. I knew that our prison and the tained college programs using state funding, insights are and what we miss by excluding Indiana State Archives had reams of original and it soon had perhaps the best and most their voices. One of the courses we teach at documents about the prison dating back extensive prison college program in the IWP is Public Policy; in it the students learn to its founding in 1873. Thus, I set out to nation. Ten percent of all men in prison standard information about state and local teach our best students how to do research in Indiana were enrolled full-time and 15 governments and how to analyze existing by writing a history of the prison—in one percent of women. Then, in 2011, abruptly policies and advocate effectively for new semester. Four semesters later we are still at and without debate, the legislature withdrew ones. Then they turn their attention to bills it. Along the way, our initially happy tale all funding. College programs in all but one of two noble Quaker women who rescued before the Indiana state legislature on which of the state’s prisons collapsed almost over- their sisters from a brutal male prison and they have genuine expertise—prisons and night as colleges and universities—public founded the nation’s first women’s prison the criminal code, of course, but also poverty, and private—quickly withdrew not only has taken many dark and surprising turns, sexual assault, drugs, and mental illness. their instructors but also their books, com- some of which are noted in the accompany- After careful analysis and much debate, puters, and supplies. The thousands of men ing article by Michelle Jones. In the process, they write testimony on these bills that and women who had been enrolled in those the students have begun to present their others present on their behalf before House programs were, of course, deeply disappoint- research at academic conferences via video- and Senate committees. (For example, our ed; so too were many of those who worked conferencing and to publish their findings, students were the first to bring to the at- in Indiana’s prisons. When we approached a process that I expect will continue for at tention of the legislature that none of the the Indiana Department of Correction and least four more semesters. nearly 30,000 people in Indiana prisons is the Women’s Prison a few months later with I am not a historian, but I am no stranger currently diagnosed as having autism, and the idea of restarting the college program at to prisons and prison history. After grad- that some behaviors that are construed as IWP with an all-volunteer faculty and at no uating from college, I worked as a prison oppositional by prison staff may be due to cost to the state, we were welcomed with officer at the Connecticut State Prison for autism instead.) So useful and constructive open arms. Women, and I later went to graduate school have their insights been that Indiana state The only problem was finding a private at Harvard, where I wrote Prison Officers and legislators of both parties regularly come to college that would partner with us. We Their World (1988). The book includes a long the prison to discuss these issues with our would spend no money, but we would also chapter on the history of the Massachusetts students. generate none. Plus, there was the prickly

40 Perspectives on History February 2015 Women feeding chickens at the Indiana Women’s Prison. problem of giving college degrees to prison- create them soon. Prisons in the United a female population whose median age ers—not good for the college brand. Finally, States are, as Michelle Alexander observes, is the late 30s.) Between John Dittmer’s a small private college with a mission close the “new Jim Crow” and have done much seminars and the prison research project, to our own agreed to be our degree-grant- to destroy what the civil rights movement our advanced students have had excellent ing institution, only to have to withdraw 18 gained, to say nothing of efforts to lessen opportunities to study and research history. months later for reasons unconnected to our poverty in this nation.2 Yet, ironically, But we don’t currently offer any 100- or program. We have now spent nearly a year prisons today offer an extraordinary op- 200-level history courses even though our searching for another Indiana college to take portunity to provide quality higher educa- beginning students are keenly interested in us on, with no luck. Thus, we find ourselves tion to historically marginalized groups of taking those courses. a thriving college program with wonderful all colors if only we will seize it. So far, we If you are interested in volunteering, please students, strong faculty, great courses, sup- have not. contact me at [email protected]. portive administration, no cost—and no I would like to end with two invita- college. tions. The first is to retired historians and Kelsey Kauffman is the volunteer director It has been a frustrating quest, yes, but other researchers. As Michelle Jones notes of the Higher Education Program at the in the process we’ve learned the essen- in her article, one of the greatest frustra- Indiana Women’s Prison and also teaches in tial lesson that the problem isn’t Indiana’s tions that my students in the prison history the program. She has worked as a prison officer alone. Colleges and universities, in general, project experience is how long it takes me and has taught in three prisons. Her research, are loath to provide credit and degrees to to respond to their many requests for infor- which has taken her to more than 80 prisons prisoners. Of the prison college programs mation. I need help tracking down myriad on four continents, focuses primarily on the that exist, far too many allow “inside” and leads on such topics as Sarah Smith’s roots impact prison employment has on officers, “outside” students to take courses together in England; the history of the Magdalene problems of white supremacy among prison or in parallel, yet they grant credit only to laundry in Buffalo, New York; 19th-century employees, and mothers in prison. the “outside” students, a model that I think sewage systems; and the incidence of female is unfair and perhaps exploitative. A few circumcision in the 1870s. We would be de- colleges—most notably Bard—do grant lighted and grateful to have your help. Notes degrees, but those programs tend to be The second invitation is to historians 1. Wendy Erisman and Jeanne Bayer Contar- highly selective and take few students. We in the Indianapolis area to teach in our do, “Learning to Reduce Recidivism,” Insti- have too many “gems in the rough” at our program. The courses we offer are those tute for Higher Education Policy, November prison to pass up the opportunity to educate that our volunteer faculty members want 2005, http://www.ihep.org/sites/default/files/ as many people as we possibly can. to teach. Thus, math has become our top uploads/docs/pubs/learningreducerecidivism. I don’t know what the solutions are—one subject for the simple reason that we have pdf. might be consortiums of colleges to grant four excellent math teachers willing to teach 2. Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow: credit and degrees to people in qualified every semester. (Next semester we will have Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness prison programs—but we need to find or eight women taking calculus—not bad for (New York: New Press, 2010).

February 2015 Perspectives on History 41 PEOPLE’S HISTORIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY Women’s Prison History The Undiscovered Country Michelle Jones

he Indiana Women’s Prison (IWP), the abandoned.”1 Smith was handpicked to for prostitution. Hadn’t the prison been founded in 1873 in Indianapolis, is serve as the superintendent for the newly created for all the “fallen” women? If they often described as the first separate opened female prison on the strength of her weren’t at IWP, where were they? prisonT for women in the United States. For work and dedication at the Home for the Terre A clue came in a 1967 article from the the past 18 months, students in the college Friendless. Rhoda Coffin initially chaired Haute Tribune mentioning that the Sisters of program at the prison have been researching the Board of Visitors at the Indiana Refor- the Good Shepherd had come to Indianap- and writing a book on the history of our matory Institution for Women and Girls olis in “1873 to operate a correctional insti- prison’s first 15 years. Our class has been until she led a coup against the all-male tution for women prisoners.” That was the fortunate to obtain original sources for Board of Managers, after which she chaired same year that the Indiana Reformatory for our research from the Indianapolis Public that board. Together, Coffin, Smith, and Women and Girls had opened, but we knew Library, the Indiana State Archives, and others associated with the prison extolled that none of the women working there in the IWP itself, including detailed prisoner their great successes in the reformation of 19th century were nuns. Sarah Smith and demographic data from 19th-century prison the women and girls incarcerated there. Rhoda Coffin were Quakers, and as far as we registries that we have digitized. Smith said, “What, it will be asked, has been can tell, all others associated with the prison This project is unusually collaborative. the result of all this improvement in prison were Protestants. Could there have been Students are organized into groups that life? We answer: In most cases restored two prisons for women started in Indianap- discuss, research, and study a particular area womanhood, to enter again in life able to olis in the same year? If so, where was the of the prison’s history that will be covered in care for themselves and not a terror or an other prison, and what was the relationship the book. Our professor, Kelsey Kauffman, expense to society.”2 In 1878, the Board of between the two? Could there have been an facilitates meta-discussions in which Managers reported an 82 percent success agreement between the two prisons, such as singular topics are interwoven, providing a rate for women and girls reentering society, “you get the prostitutes and we get the mur- cohesive look into our prison’s past. measured by Smith’s visits and correspon- derers and thieves”? This hypothesis led to After reading many of the historical and dence. According to the report, this social our discovery that the Sisters of the Good contemporary accounts available to us, we experiment in the rehabilitation of women Shepherd had indeed established a House initially believed we were writing a feel-good and girls in the sole charge of women was of the Good Shepherd in Indianapolis in story about two Quaker women banding working. The first women’s prison in the 1873—five months before the founding of together with other Quakers and the state United States was saving “fallen” women. IWP—that operated much like a prison, to create a safe and rehabilitative environ- At the time, women who were forced or even receiving convicted felons from county ment for “fallen” women. The social and consented to engage in prostitution were courts. Our current theory is that in the economic climate at the end of the Civil considered fallen and remained fallen by the earliest years of the Indiana Women’s Prison, War was abysmal for women. Prostitution, standards of the day. As a journalist for The the most “fallen” of women—prostitutes— theft, and fraud, the only alternatives to des- Fort Wayne News put it succinctly in 1897, were not admitted there but were sentenced titution and death for many marginalized “. . . in the minds of legislators and public to the HGS instead. Moreover, we have now women, often led to their incarceration. In men generally, a woman fallen is down found 15 Catholic prisons for women in the Indiana, Rhoda Coffin and her husband, forever. That an unfortunate or criminal United States that predate IWP, all modeled Charles, both Quakers, exposed the sexual woman or girl is so much worse than a on the infamous Irish Magdalene laundries. abuse and exploitation of women held in criminal man or boy, that there is no hope Magdalene laundries led by Catholic nuns the men’s state prison in Jeffersonville. This for her reformation.” were institutions where women commit- exposure ultimately compelled Governor But here is where it gets interesting. When ted by family, priests, or courts performed Conrad Baker and the state legislature to we started to analyze crimes recorded in arduous physical labor washing the clothing create the Indiana Reformatory Institution the prison registry for the first 15 years, of others. The work was punitive and was for Women and Girls (now known as the we stumbled upon a glaring omission. Not figuratively and literally a means by which Indiana Women’s Prison). one woman was incarcerated for prosti- women could turn from their “sin” and We learned that another Quaker, Sarah J. tution or any sexual offense. Indeed, not “cleanse” themselves. Commitment to a Smith, had opened a Home for the Friend- until October 27, 1897—24 years after the Magdalene laundry was often indeterminate less in 1865, using her own money to prison’s founding—did Estella Koup arrive and, at least in Ireland, some women spent “develop a wonderful facility for reforming at the prison as the first woman sent there their lives “washing” away their sins.

42 Perspectives on History February 2015 As a different picture of our prison began to form, we came to understand that its self- proclaimed successes in reformation would Doing Historical Research in Prison have to be tempered against a dramatic leg- ncarcerated historians don’t have access to the Internet; our library is mi- islative investigation in 1881 into physical Inuscule and primarily stocked with romance novels; interlibrary loan takes abuse of inmates by Superintendent Smith months if it works at all; and, of course, we can’t search archives or other and her staff at the prison. We learned of repositories ourselves. We faced extreme challenges in researching our book allegations of water-boarding or “dunking,” on the first separate prison for women. of outright physical abuse, of women stripped naked and put in solitary confine- Our professor and others invested countless hours at the Indiana State Library ment. These acts against women in prison and the Indiana State Archives and on the Internet gathering materials for often were perpetrated by Sarah Smith us and spent hundreds of dollars photocopying them. Because we couldn’t herself. Imagine our shock. We had been directly sift through available materials, our research requests were filtered completely convinced by the angelic picture through another person’s judgment of what would be valuable to us. As our of Smith and Coffin that had been painted topic developed, following up on leads took weeks and sometimes months; for us via primary and secondary historical some students received more information than others; and sometimes the research provided wasn’t particularly useful. sources, only to find this. Further, we discovered that an acclaimed Expediting our research meant asking pointed questions. For example, after doctor who cared for the women and girls we digitized and analyzed the prison registries and studied Indiana history, at the prison from 1873 to 1883 advocated we realized that women convicted of crimes of a sexual nature like prosti- female circumcision and removal of women’s tution weren’t at the prison. Yet our reading of contemporary accounts of ovaries to cure nymphomania and mastur- postbellum Indianapolis convinced us that they should have been. We asked bation. As revealed in the 1881 legislative our professor and state librarians to search county jail records for prostitutes; investigation, Theophilus Parvin performed when that failed to yield results, we pressed them to keep searching. It was operations on the women for reasons not only then that a state librarian found a critical article stating that the Sisters always clear to the inmates. During each of of the Good Shepherd had opened a facility for women prisoners in 1873, the 10 years that Parvin worked at IWP, he the same year our facility had opened. This discovery sparked a new field of inquiry for us that led to the heretofore-unknown role of a Magdalene had nearly unfettered access to an average laundry in Indianapolis as a prison. of 25 women and 100 girls. Only three years after leaving, he published one of the As incarcerated students we are often frustrated by the unusual methods we most extensively illustrated and detailed are compelled to adopt, but we have come to weigh such difficulties against textbooks on gynecology and obstetrics of the riches of discovery, the expansion of our ideas and viewpoints, and the his time, which established him as an inter- development of a clearer view of history. nationally recognized authority in the field of gynecology. Did he use his 10 years of —Michelle Jones employment at the women’s prison to study and experiment on the women prisoners as he cataloged female anatomy, diseases, and pressure to depict ideals of perfect man- we know the right questions to ask. As we treatments? Thus far, we have positively agement, measurable reformation, and proceed with our joint venture, we feel identified three incarcerated women Parvin above-reproach Christian principles creates more and more like great explorers in un- used as study subjects in one peer-reviewed representations that come apart under the discovered country. article in a medical journal. onslaught of reality? Are there correlations Our initial questions are leading to ad- today in our prisons? Michelle Jones is a graduate of Ball State ditional ones about the real origins of As new historians, we are trying to University and a teaching assistant in the women’s prisons in the United States, about answer some really difficult questions. Martin College program at the Indiana the evolving relationship between IWP Others have written histories of the Women’s Prison. She has been incarcerated and the House of the Good Shepherd, and Indiana Women’s Prison, but except for since 1997. about Smith, Coffin, and Parvin. A possible passing reference to the 1881 investiga- fallout from the 1881 investigation was the tion, none have uncovered this material or subsequent resignations of Coffin in 1881 put it together to develop a full history. Notes and of Smith and Parvin in 1883. Mary We are committed to gaining a true con- 1. “A Model Female Prison,” Greencastle Press, Humphries, a white federal prisoner from textual insight into our primary sources, December 22, 1875. Ohio, pled for another investigation into while using our secondary sources to form 2. Superintendant’s Report, Fourth Report of cruelty at IWP in 1887. What was hap- strong compelling arguments. Having the Indiana Reformatory Institution for Wom pening at IWP, the bastion of reform and incarcerated women write the history of en and Girls, Year Ending December 31, female management? What happens when their own prisons is significant because 1875, 11.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 43 VIEWPOINTS Connecting the Dots Why a History Degree Is Useful in the Business World Christopher Brooks

ost faculty members have nontraditional students who are footing the heard cynical parents making college bills with ROI as their primary goal. arguments like, “My kid should We in academia ask students, “Why are goM for a straight business degree. I am not you in college?” The usual reply is, “To get paying for this fun stuff, like history. He a job,” not “to get an education,” which is needs a job to pay off all these loans! Besides, the response we academics yearn for. When unlike majors such as engineering, computer we ask them why they are required to take science, and business, most college degrees general education courses, there is silence are useless, for jobless blowhards. Right?” or “My adviser told me I needed this,” In response, I offer the following story. conveyed with classic bureaucratic flare— While studying in Germany, an American that is, no flare at all. legal history graduate student took freelance What representatives of higher education jobs on the support staffs of various business- seldom, if ever, explain is that the liberal arts es to pay the bills. One day, he put in a bid can find application in the business world. for an assignment for a pretty big client and History is a perfect example. was invited to give his sales pitch. The com- But what about those who foot the tuition pany’s European head of research and devel- bills? How can recent graduates or their opment, a German, interviewed him. The parents pay the bills when it appears that discussion began with basic courtesies and few if any jobs are offered to those with talk about what the company needed; there Credit: Bob Weidner history BAs? was little discussion about the American’s Christopher Brooks Anne Hyde, a history professor at academic background. About five minutes Colorado College, relays a point history into the interview, the German pointed to faculty members might consider. “We I was that history student, one of the a reproduction of a painting on the wall should, in class and in advising sessions, lay many with history degrees who have been behind his desk and asked the American, out what students are learning and what this gainfully employed outside of the field. 2 “Who painted that?” The American replied, will enable them to do.” We are obliged to What about the ones who graduate with “Matisse, I think.” The German responded, teach our students that academic training “Good! Now, what are your thoughts on the “only” a baccalaureate, you ask? More to the and praxis are not disparate but linked. Marshall Plan?” point, do degrees in traditional subjects— Admittedly, one of the issues to overcome And so the discussion went, for about such as history—have any real-world utility? is that academics and business leaders often 10 more minutes, after which time the Well, that depends on your perspective. refer to each other as “them” rather than American interjected: “Excuse me, sir, but While most academics are fulfilled by a part of “us.” History faculty with some why are you asking me all of these history producing well-rounded, well-read citizens, business experience could be instrumental in questions?” The German: “Well, we had those footing the college bill often argue that effecting change by explaining how the skills an American VP who was in a meeting a liberal education is a luxury they cannot acquired in studying history find utility in the corporate workplace. Let’s expose the recently with a French client, me, and my afford. They are interested almost solely in reciprocal relationship between these studies boss. The Frenchman looked up to the wall, ROI: return on investment. All the while, and business. pointed at the painting before him, this very many academics have been reluctant to rec- ommend fields of study with which they are one, and asked, ‘Who painted that?’ The How does our discipline American VP said, ‘I don’t know. I don’t not familiar. Enter the business organiza- need to know that stuff.’ At that moment, tions that need workers who can do the job, benefit someone in the the French client left the room, along with or at least do it with minimal training. corporate world? his three-million-euro account.” To respond to the teeming foes of liberal Historians are well-equipped to under- “Why did I ask you about history?” the arts education, faculty members have been stand the impact societal development has German continued. “It is important for our saying (for years!) that the liberal arts on financial and nonfinancial events, as well business. And since you could answer my provide an educational basis. True, but it as financial transactions and models. As a questions, you have the job.” has not convinced too many parents or graduate student, I was a mere support staff

44 Perspectives on History February 2015 member who produced translations and A 2011 study showed that 16 percent of And if they are asked, “Why bother with taught English and negotiation skills. But so social science majors end up working in the a history degree?” they can reply, “Why many history majors, like one of my own finance sector, and many more work in areas do you not ask why so many with history students, who works in sales and support providing professional services (e.g., ac- degrees are succeeding in a corporate en- for a Fortune 500 tech company, go further countancy, appraisal, business consultancy, vironment?” Academics can teach our (and his boss has a BA in history as well). development management, underwriting, students to connect the dots in order to fully public relations, recruiting, and translation). demonstrate the transferability of the skills How can the academy Even more surprising is that 40 percent of the discipline offers them. benefit from business? graduates with an American history under- Answer: by paying attention to a diver- graduate degree end up working in man- Christopher Brooks is an associate professor sity of ideas and approaches to problem agement or sales. For general history BAs, of history at East Stroudsburg University of the number was 29 percent for the same Pennsylvania. He serves as the university’s solving. Colleagues in my department 3 have backgrounds in subjects ranging from sectors. adviser for pre-law students and Phi Alpha music therapy to physics to business. Why Given these facts, faculty members must Theta. He publishes in history, politics, policy, is that good? It affords students perspectives work to convey the connection between and law. His most recent book, coauthored on historical events that they never would business, other practical areas, and the with Nicole Elert, is German Employment have had and that benefit the profession as academic sphere. Most history students who Law: 618 Questions Frequently Asked by a whole. Inverting that argument, knowing ended up working in business had to connect Foreigners (2013). history clearly allows for broader approaches the dots for themselves, probably with some in these fields. frustration, and we could mitigate that by helping them along throughout their college Notes What does a history careers. We must take the time to make these 1. Anthony T. Grafton and Jim Grossman, connections clearer to our students, even if “No More Plan B: A Very Modest Pro- graduate have that doing so digs into our research time. Why? posal for Graduate Programs in History,” businesses need? There is no academy without students. If Perspectives on History, October 2011, A student of history acquires skills that we don’t address their practical needs, they http://www.historians.org/perspectives/ are fundamental not only to success in could fall prey to the danger of the narrow- issues/2011/1110/1110pre1.cfm. academia but also in business. The suite of ing of their academic curriculum, often due 2. Anne Hyde, “Advising Mom and Dad: His- valuable skills includes: to the demands of misinformed (though tory Majors and Family Worries,” Perspectives well-intentioned) parents. on History, April 2013, http://www.historians. ◆ Strong analytical skills A 2010 Association of American Colleges org/perspectives/issues/2013/1304/Advising- ◆ Exceptional oral and written commu- and Universities board of directors state- Mom-and-Dad.cfm#note1. nication skills ment explains that the “narrow training— 3. Anthony P. Carnevale, Jeff Strohl, and ◆ A detail-oriented approach the kind currently offered in far too many Michelle Melton, “What’s It Worth?: The degree and certificate programs—will Economic Value of College Majors,” George- ◆ Experience presenting research and actually limit human talent and opportu- town University Center on Education and using technology to do so nity for better jobs in today’s knowledge the Workforce, May 24, 2011, http://cew. ◆ Skills for working independently economy.”4 The narrow thinker who works, georgetown.edu/whatsitworth. ◆ Excellent interpersonal and problem- machine-like, off a book’s script makes for 4. Board of Directors of the Association of solving skills an ineffective problem solver—yet another American Colleges and Universities, “The reason to strengthen the reciprocal relation- ◆ An ability to meet deadlines in fast- Quality Imperative: Match Ambitious Goals ship between corporate needs and academic paced environments for College Attainment with an Ambitious teachings. Vision for Learning,” 2010, http://www.aacu. ◆ A systemic understanding of human By doing this, we can better equip our org/about/statements/documents/Quality_ institutions students to utilize what we teach them. Imperative_2010.pdf.

What most young historians lack are accounting and statistics course work and ex- Jobs & Professional Development on Historians.org perience and exposure to advanced software functions. These are the keys to the entry level in many businesses, which is why we e AHA’s Jobs & Professional Development page has the latest job must encourage students to enroll in at least FILLER a general course in statistics and perhaps a postings, career-development pamphlets, and advice on the types of general accounting course, to master Excel, jobs available for history majors and PhDs. Visit the page at: and to take internships that broaden their perspectives. A minor in business could also www.historians.org/Jobs-and-Professional-Development fill the void.

February 2015 Perspectives on History 45 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

On Inclusivity Wake-Up Call: Technologists’ Take at the AHA on History Is Coming to HBO

To the Editor: To the Editor: University are also delving into such inves- tigations. Bill Gates’s sponsorship of Big Interstellar’s screenwriter Jonathan Nolan A few issues ago, I had a letter printed in History is yet another example of tech- Perspectives on History (April 2014). I pointed recently announced that he is developing nologists moving into the field of history. out that the American Historical Associa- an HBO series to adapt science fiction This is on top of longer-standing efforts by tion focused mainly on college professors author Isaac Asimov’s Foundation novels. University of Connecticut population biol- and other historical professionals, with no Asimov’s story line portrays a future group input by independent scholars, public histo- of mathematicians who develop a powerful ogist Peter Turchin, the Santa Fe Institute, rians, businesspeople, and others. science of history to rule future millennia. others, and myself. This has changed, and I thank you for it. In Although the award-winning Foundation The HBO series could have a lasting the September 2014 issue, a notice by Per series has been popular among science effect on public perception of how the spectives on History requested “essays, letters, fiction fans, 10 years ago this HBO series field of history should evolve, and this and ideas.” A notice welcoming letters to the would have been marginalized as a mere could shape and direct the future of the editor, with submission guidelines, was also “blip” on the radar. field. The danger is that technology does printed. Now there are concurrent developments not hold all the answers. Traditional Congratulations on expanding your that will make this HBO series hard to methodologies and humanistic analysis horizons to the general readership of Per ignore. The accession of “big data” is will remain essential. Further, a misguided spectives on History. It is a welcome change. perhaps the greatest driver of interest in portrayal of a science of history on HBO the development of a science of history. may make a whole generation dismissive Alfred Elkins Even if big data itself can be dismissed as of the strengths of established methodol- The Bronx, New York hype as far as history is concerned, the ogies as well as mislead viewers as to the Stay Connected with the hype itself is already inspiring technologists to take a broader look at history and real capabilities and limitations of the AHA the social sciences. MIT computer scientist emerging science of history. Sandy Pentland’s social physics approach to Historians of all stripes perhaps have 18 f human dynamics is an example. Stanford months before the HBO series is aired. University has recently created a CS+X The community of historians should use twitter.com/AHAhistorians facebook.com/AHAhistorians joint-major program in which undergrad- this time to prevent misconceptions, and uates can earn a joint degree in computer to guide increased interest in history into science and history (or another humanities channels where it can be most effective and linkd.in/1uf9XpF bit.ly/1ufaact subject). beneficial. Literally down the street, the Google Scholar project is said to be scanning historical works to discover historical Mark Ciotola Pinterest.com/AHAhistorians data patterns. Participants at Singularity San Francisco State University

MEMBER NEWS

eorge Thelen of Thelen Creative created and developed the History Trekker series and produced the half- Ghour pilot episode, titled History Trekker: Northern California Edition. The pilot episode of the proposed television series, which features people, places, and events that shaped history, is a finalist for a pair of video production awards: the 2014 CreaTiVe Citizen journalist and educator awards given by CreaTV of San Jose, California. Thelen, a freelance content producer, received the 2013 Citizen Journalist Award for his production of the documentary The San Agustín: California Shipwreck, which aired on PBS earlier this year. Winners will be announced on January 10, 2015, at the CreaTV Awards Gala presented by TiVo at the historic California Theatre in downtown San Jose.

46 Perspectives on History February 2015 IN MEMORIAM

Thomas William Heyck undergraduates. The resulting “Heyck Report,” which offered a blueprint for the renovation 1938–2014 and transformation of undergraduate life at Northwestern, grew directly from Heyck’s belief Historian of Modern Britain that a university is first and foremost an intellectual community. His own commitment to that homas William Heyck wrote about community was never in doubt, as the Council intellectual over-specialization, but for the Advancement and Support of Education he did not practice it. A professor recognized in 1991 when it named him Illinois ofT modern British history at Northwestern Professor of the Year. University for more than 40 years, Bill Heyck’s Heyck was a devoted and prolific PhD adviser, scholarship covered Liberal politicians and Photo courtesy of Denis Heyck supervising 19 dissertations. He insisted to his Victorian intellectuals, freelance writers and Thomas William Heyck graduate students that “teaching is scholarship,” redbrick universities, W. B. Yeats and E. P. and—in a career that spanned more than four Thompson, analytic philosophy and the history History. He vividly recalled reading Harold decades; saw the publication of four books, of golf, “four nations history” and “history from Perkin’s The Origins of Modern English Society 16 articles, and 90 reviews; and included terms below.” The Charles Deering McCormick as college master, department chair, associ- Professor of Teaching Excellence, Heyck taught on the trip from Austin to Chicago, shortly ate dean of the college, president of the Mid- undergraduate courses on the Victorian crisis of after accepting his position at Northwestern. western Conference on British Studies, and faith, the conflict in Northern Ireland, and the He had already written the lectures for his new member of the editorial board of Albion and history of environmental thought, in addition British history survey, which he had organized the Journal of British Studies—he maintained to a blockbuster survey of British history for around a conventional political narrative, “the teaching of teachers” to be his most im- which he literally wrote the book. His extra- when Perkin’s “total” history convinced him portant work. Heyck always made time for his curricular interests ranged more widely still, that he had to throw them all out and begin students: almost every meeting was over lunch, including contemporary politics, the historical again from scratch. This intellectual encoun- and many stretched nearly to dinner. Whenever Jesus, and the Chicago Cubs—the latter he ter reverberated throughout Heyck’s career: in students appeared at Heyck’s office door, his believed to be a communist plot, designed to The Transformation of Intellectual Life, a social genuine, enthusiastic welcome—“There she sap the will from America’s heartland. history of Victorian intellectuals; in his recruit- is!”—had the uncanny effect of making them Born in 1938 in Beaumont, Texas, Heyck ment of Perkin to Northwestern, where they feel as though he had been sitting there all day grew up in Florida but returned to Texas to were colleagues from 1985 to 1997; and in his just waiting to see them. attend Rice University. He earned both his groundbreaking undergraduate textbook The Peoples of the British Isles: A New History (pub- Heyck retired from Northwestern in 2007, BA (1960) and MA degrees (1962) in history but continued an active life as a historian and from Rice, where he was active on the univer- lished in Britain as A History of the Peoples of the British Isles). Informed by Perkin’s analysis, public intellectual, championing environmental sity tennis team and in ROTC. Heyck served causes and gun control while working on his with high politics taking its place within the in the US Army from 1964 to 1966, earning cultural history of golf. He battled fiercely against larger framework of British society, Peoples the rank of captain, before returning to Texas leukemia, before passing away in his Evanston was also the first textbook in the field to treat to complete his PhD at the University of Texas home on September 7, 2014. On November Scottish, Welsh, and Irish history as more at Austin. Texas was also where Heyck met and 15, Heyck’s family, friends, colleagues, and than ancillary to English history, and the first married his wife of 50 years, Denis Daly Heyck, students gathered in the Vail Chapel on North- to focus on the evolution (and devolution) of professor of Spanish language and literature at western’s campus to pay tribute to his life and British national identity. But perhaps the real Loyola University in Chicago. In 1968, Heyck career. They remembered a man who possessed a strength of the book appears in Heyck’s me- headed north to take up the position of assis- clear moral compass and a sharp sense of humor, ticulous excavation of those strata where high tant professor of history at Northwestern Uni- who delighted in his family, and who somehow culture and culture-as-lived-experience meet versity in Evanston, Illinois. He published his always had time to talk. and social values form. first book, The Dimensions of British Radicalism: Bill Heyck is survived by his wife, Denis; his The excellence of Heyck’s textbook (now in The Case of Ireland, 1874–1895, in 1974, and children: Hunter Heyck, chair of the depart- its fourth edition) reflected his passion for un- Choice named his second book, The Transfor ment of the history of science at the University dergraduate education. Just one year after he mation of Intellectual Life in Victorian England, of Oklahoma, and Shannon Heyck-Williams, arrived on campus, Heyck chaired the univer- an Outstanding Academic Book of 1982. a public health policy adviser with The Pew Other awards included an ACLS Fellowship sity committee that established Northwestern’s Charitable Trusts; and his five grandchildren. in 1974–75, an NEH Fellowship in 1984–85, residential college system. Heyck himself served and a Faculty Fellowship at Northwestern’s as faculty fellow of the Humanities College Guy Ortolano Kaplan Center for the Humanities in 1997–98. from its foundation, and as its master from New York University Though trained as a political historian, and 1985 to 1989. In 1988, Heyck chaired the by inclination an intellectual historian, Heyck’s 50-member university task force that reviewed Meredith Veldman career was decisively shaped by the New Social every curricular and extracurricular program for Louisiana State University

February 2015 Perspectives on History 47 ENDNOTE The Historian and Social Justice

Shatha Almutawa

erhaps because of the ongoing They must be open to the possibility that the ologies and even instilling in young people a protests for racial justice in the United truth might not support their cause. will to die for the revolution. States; perhaps because of the news For the historian, Fea argues, changing the The panel on revolutions examined issues Pof extremist groups who terrorize, torture, world is a by-product of careful study. When related to social justice through the lens of silence, and kill people in parts of Asia and the historian takes on the role of “a tour emotions. Other panels at the annual meeting Africa, and, most recently, in Europe as well, guide through foreign cultures”—cultures dealt with social justice while engaging with many historians who attended the AHA’s from the past—“that has the best potential other disciplines. In the roundtable discussion 2015 annual meeting asked: What is the to transform our lives and the lives of those “Capitalism, Global Business, and Inequality,” historian’s role in relation to social justice? around us,” he writes. “It is our engagement Bartow Jerome Elmore talked about studying At the Committee on Women Historians with the otherness of these lost worlds that, the history of Coca-Cola from an environ- breakfast, Jacqueline Jones argued that histo- ironically, prepares us well for life in the mental and a business perspective. His book, rians should not apologize for their historical present.” Citizen Coke, was published this year and was work, or for their commitment to social justice When history is practiced in a responsible reviewed by the New York Times. It does exactly (see Debbie Ann Doyle’s report on the talk in manner, Fea argues, it allows us to develop what Jacqueline Jones hopes that history books this issue). Historians can take a more active and acquire virtues that are important in civil can do—reach a wide audience while present- role in learning to communicate with journal- society. These virtues are needed in a democ- ing historical context for important social ists, she said, because “a keen understanding racy but have impact on the world at large. issues. (Jones’s own books have been published of history presents solutions to problems” As historians encounter foreign settings, by commercial presses; A Dreadful Deceit: The that the public should know about. In sharing people, and actions, we develop empathy, Myth of Race from the Colonial Era to Obama’s their knowledge with members of the media, even with characters we might otherwise find America was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.) and consequently with a larger number of repulsive. This skill to empathize is required Finally, in a panel organized by the American in civil society, and without it people become members of the public, historians could make Society of Church History, the speakers dis- divided. Building community among people a difference. At the same time, Jones cau- cussed the history of hell from a time (in the who have different beliefs, backgrounds, and tioned that historians “work more deliberately fourth century) when it was imagined by inclinations requires this skill. and we are more attuned to nuance; at times Christians in Egypt as a physical place, to When historians remember that every it is not possible to give the media what they an era (the Gilded Age) when that vision of human has faults and makes mistakes they want and stay true to the evidence.” hell was seen by some American theologians are more likely to be compassionate in their Jones’s question about whether historians as unjust, and punishment in the afterlife study of historical actors, and this compas- can in fact combine scholarship with activism as cruel and obsolete. Panelists showed that sion translates into everyday life; actors in the definitions of justice and injustice are reminds me of John Fea’s book Why Study our own time are equally imperfect, and ever-changing. That Christians were some- History? Reflecting on the Importance of the Past. equally worthy of respect and dignity. times seen as heretics for raising ethical In this work Fea admits that the combina- Fea further argues that historians must take questions proves that the act of defining and tion of scholarship and activism has a volatile into account the viewpoints and actions of redefining a concept—a scholarly pursuit— history, but can be a moral stance nonethe- actors who are not traditionally seen as “im- can be a courageous act with wide-ranging less. He argues effectively that the work of the portant”—namely, those who were not the and lasting implications for society. historian is fundamental to democracy, and victors, who were not in the upper classes, and This issue of Perspectives on History deals believes that the world can be changed with whose voices were suppressed. At the annual with the issue of social justice through the study of even the most obscure of histories. meeting panel “Experiencing Revolutions,” the forum “People’s Histories in the 21st Fea points to the tension between histor- speakers Wendy Pearlman and Lillian Guerra Century.” We’ve also published Sarah Fenton’s icism—looking at history according to its modeled this. Pearlman talked about her in- report on the AHA panel on Ukraine, which own terms—and activism. He writes, “Good terviews with Syrian refugees who have been highlights the important role historians play scholars of the past must, at some level, practice experiencing one type of fear after another, in the fight for social justice. We hope that historicism. By trying to understand the past on and asserting their agency and ethical outlooks you enjoy these articles and find them useful its own terms, the historian treats it with integri- through protest. Some said that “they felt as you think about your own relationship ty rather than manipulating it or superimposing like a citizen for the first time” when they to social justice. Please share your thoughts his or her values on it to advance an agenda in demonstrated. In her talk, Guerra discussed with us at [email protected]. the present.” In practicing historicism, histori- her analysis of essays written by K–12 Cuban ans must understand and accept that they have students. She came to interesting conclusions Shatha Almutawa is interim editor of no control over the outcome of their research. about the role of education in spreading ide- Perspectives on History.

48 Perspectives on History February 2015 JOB CENTER

Positions are listed alphabetically: first by state, then city, institution, department, Ad Policy Statement and academic field. Find more job ads Job discrimination is illegal, and open hiring on the basis of merit depends on fair practice in online in the AHA Career Center at recruitment, thereby ensuring that all professionally qualified persons may obtain appropriate historians.org/careers. opportunities. The AHA will not accept a job listing that (1) contains wording that either directly or indirectly links sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, ideology, political affiliation, age, disability, or marital status to a specific job offer; or (2) contains wording requiring applicants to submit special materials for the sole purpose of identifying the applicant’s sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, ideology, political affiliation, veteran status, age, Florida disability, or marital status.

The AHA does make an exception to these criteria in three unique cases: (1) open listings for Miami minority vita banks that are clearly not linked with specific jobs, fields, or specializations; (2) ads that require religious identification or affiliation for consideration for the position, a preference that Florida International University is allowed to religious institutions under federal law; and (3) fellowship advertisements. Modern Europe. The Department of History at The AHA retains the right to refuse or edit all discriminatory statements from copy submitted Florida International University is hiring a visiting to the Association that is not consistent with these guidelines or with the principles of Title VII of assistant professor in modern European history. the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The AHA accepts advertisements from academic institutions whose The person to be hired would offer courses at both administrations are under censure by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the undergraduate and graduate levels, and contrib- but requires that this fact be clearly stated. Refer to www.aaup.org/our-programs/academic- ute not only to our Atlantic History PhD program, freedom/censure-list for more information. but also interface with the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum, and the European Studies Program in the School The AHA recommends that all employers adhere to the following guidelines: (1) All positions for International and Public Affairs. The preferred for historians should be advertised in the job ads section of Perspectives or the AHA website. candidate would be able to offer courses in modern If hiring institutions intend to interview at the AHA annual meeting, they should make every French and European history. Qualified candidates effort to advertise in the Perspectives issues for the fall months. (2) Advertisements for are encouraged to apply to Job Opening ID 508886 positions should contain specific information regarding qualifications and clear indication as at facultycareers.fiu.edu and attach a cover letter, to whether a position has actually been authorized or is contingent upon budgetary or other CV, statement of teaching philosophy as a single administrative considerations. (3) Candidates should seek interviews only for those jobs for pdf file. Please send a copy of the same materi- which they are qualified, and under no circumstances should they misrepresent their training als to Dr. Rebecca Friedman, Chair of the Search or their qualifications. To do otherwise is unprofessional and wastes the time and energy of Committee, at [email protected]. Candidates are everyone concerned. (4) All applications and inquiries for a position should be acknowledged requested to provide names and contact informa- promptly and courteously (within two weeks of receipt, if possible), and each applicant should be tion for at least three references who will be con- informed as to the initial action on the application or inquiry. No final decision should be made tacted as determined by the search committee. To without considering all applications received before the closing date. (5) At all stages of a search, receive full consideration, applications and required affirmative action/equal opportunity guidelines should be respected, as well as the professional materials should be received by February 15, 2015. and personal integrity of candidates and interviewers. (6) As candidates are eliminated, they Review will continue until position is filled. FIU is a should be notified promptly and courteously. Some hiring institutions notify all candidates when member of the State University System of Florida their search is completed. Unsuccessful candidates may wish to ask how their chances might and an AA/EOE. All qualified applicants will receive have been improved. Hiring institutions often respond helpfully to such inquiries but they are not consideration for employment without regard to obliged to disclose the reasoning leading to their ultimate choices. race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other char- For further details on best practices in hiring and academic employment, see the AHA’s acteristic protected by law. Statement on Standards of Professional Conduct, www.historians.org/standards; Guidelines for the Hiring Process, www.historians.org/hiring; and Policy on Advertisements, www.historians. org/adpolicy. Indiana

History, Ballantine Hall 742, 1020 E. Kirkwood Ave., Applications will be considered until the position Bloomington Bloomington, IN 47404-7103. Search Committee is filled, but review of applications will begin on co-chairs are Edmund Russell (Univ. of Kansas), February 1, 2015. Indiana University is an AA/EOE Indiana University e-mail: [email protected] and Mark Roseman and a provider of ADA services. All qualified ap- (Indiana Univ.), e-mail: [email protected]. plicants will receive consideration for employment Editor, American Historical Review. The American Historical Association and Indiana University are searching jointly for a scholar whose responsibilities will be divided between the duties of a journal editor and the responsibilities of an Indiana University faculty member. The appointment will be with tenure Center for Africanamerican Urban Studies and the Economy at the senior associate or full rank, with service as editor of the AHR set initially for a five-year term Postdoctoral Fellowship 2015-2016 beginning on August 1, 2016. Field of specialization is open to any and all world regions and time periods. Experience in scholarly editing is desirable but not essential; an interest in the future of journal publishing in a digital age is essential. Candidates must possess a doctoral degree and have achieved excellence in scholarly research and teaching. In- terested applicants should review position requirements and apply at https://indiana.peopleadmin. com/postings/1338. Those desiring further information on this position may contact the Department of History at [email protected], 812-855-3236, or by sending mail to Indiana University, Dept. of

February 2015 Perspectives on History 49 JOB CENTER without regard to age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, recommendation may be mailed to Dr. Emilie Amt, is for one year and includes benefits and a $5,000 sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, Search Committee Chair, Dept. of History, Hood research stipend. The recipient will teach at least disability status or protected veteran status. College, 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick, MD 21701. one small course in the history department and For fullest consideration, the deadline for receipt participate in the seminar series at one of three of applications is February 15, 2015. The search Rutgers’ Centers/Institutes. For information regard- committee anticipates conducting telephone inter- ing the Rutgers Center for Historical Analysis, the Maryland views of semi-finalists in March 2015 and inviting Institute for Research on Women, and the Center for finalists to campus after that. Additional materials Race and Ethnicity, see their respective websites. may be requested at a later date from candidates Applications should be addressed to Prof. Deborah Frederick who advance in the search. If you need assis- Gray White, Postdoc Search Chair, and submitted tance with the online application process, please electronically to Interfolio: http://apply.interfolio. Hood College email [email protected] or call 301-696- com/28250. Applications should include letter of 3592. Hood College is committed to diversity and interest, CV, research proposal, writing sample, and Non-Western. (SEARCH RE-OPENED; NEW subscribes to a policy of hiring only individuals at least three letters of reference. The deadline for CRITERIA) Hood College seeks a full-time, ten- legally eligible to work in the United States. EOE. applications is March 15, 2015. ure-track assistant professor of history, with a Hood College does not discriminate on the basis specialty in non-Western history, starting August of sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orienta- 2015. The successful candidate will be a gener- tion, marital status, pregnancy, disability, religion, alist who is qualified to teach courses in at least or age in recruitment, admission and access to, or Ohio two of the following areas as well as world history: treatment, or employment in its programs, services, East Asia, South Asia, Africa, Latin America. benefits, or activities as required by applicable laws. Teaching excellence and strong scholarly potential For complete information on Hood College’s non- Cleveland required. Teaching load 3:3. PhD in hand by July discrimination policy, please visit www.hood.edu/ 2015. For fullest consideration, apply by February non-discrimination. 15, 2015. Qualified candidates are invited to apply Case Western Reserve University online via our electronic application, https://re11. Postdoctoral Fellowship in African American ultipro.com/HOO1003/JobBoard/JobDetails. Studies. The College of Arts and Sciences at aspx?__ID=*2A8B677EF7A112AB, which requires Minnesota Case Western Reserve University is offering a the following materials: cover letter, CV, and, if postdoctoral fellowship for historical research in available, evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., African American Studies. The fellowship is open syllabi or course evaluations). Please append, or Winona to scholars committed to university-level research include in your cover letter, a list of the courses you and teaching. Fellows must have their PhD at the could teach and develop at Hood; or list teaching Winona State University time of appointment and not exceed the rank of areas clearly in your CV. Three letters of recom- assistant professor. The one-year appointment in Latin America. Teach 12 credits (4 classes) per mendation should be submitted to the online ap- the History Department begins August 1, 2015, semester. Teach multiple sections of Latin American plication site or e-mailed to [email protected]; if and carries a stipend of $45,000 plus medical history surveys and upper-division classes in Latin electronic submission is not possible the letters of benefits and up to $5,000 for relocation and re- American history and other areas of department search-related expenses. The Fellow is expected needs. May be asked to teach in a variety of dif- to teach one history course (to be cross-listed ferent locations or formats, including traditional with Ethnic Studies) in the spring semester, give face-to-face classes at Winona and Rochester a public presentation, and submit a report to the campuses as well as online, hybrid, or distance Panzers, Landsers director on the year’s activities. Completed appli- learning classes. Engage in research/publica- cations must include a cover letter, CV, a sample and Politics tion in areas of Latin American specialization and of scholarly writing, and a project proposal (not to participate in service to the university community. exceed five double-spaced pages) that outlines the Minimum Qualifications: PhD in Latin American applicant’s scholarship and research agenda for history by date of hire and substantive course work Short Stories the fellowship year. Send three confidential letters and dissertation in Latin American history. Preferred of recommendation, including preferably one from Qualifications: experience/course work in any of and Epic Novels the dissertation advisor, c/o Emily Sparks, Post- the following: Atlantic history, environmental history, doctoral Fellowship in African American Studies, borderlands; demonstrated teaching effectiveness Department of History, CWRU, 10900 Euclid Ave., in survey courses; demonstrated teaching effective- Cleveland, OH 44106-7107. Electronic applications ness in upper-division courses; scholarship/creative accepted at [email protected]. Deadline achievement in a subfield of Latin American history; for receipt of all materials is Tuesday, March 17, interest in study abroad or other experiences in 2015. Notification anticipated in early May. In em- Latin America; and contributions to university/de- ployment, as in education, Case Western Reserve partment life. The applicant should demonstrate a University is an EOE committed to diverse faculty, knowledge of and interest in diverse cultures and staff, and student body. Women and underrepre- Versailles to populations. Apply at http://agency.governmentjobs. sented groups are encouraged to apply. the Eastern Front com/winona. Oberlin New Jersey “ A great victory Oberlin College New Brunswick Environmental History/History of Public Health. is The History Department at Oberlin College invites Rutgers University, New Brunswick applications for a full-time, non-continuing faculty a great danger.” position in the College of Arts and Sciences. Appoint- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Race and Gender ment to this position will be for a term of one year History. The Department of History at Rutgers beginning fall 2015 and will carry the rank of visiting Friedrich Nietzsche University announces a postdoctoral fellowship 1870’s assistant professor. The incumbent will teach a total for scholars pursuing research in race and gender of five courses in the general area of environmental Visit our website studies. The successful applicant must have the and public health history, including a one-semester doctorate in hand at the time of application, be no survey of environmental history (regional focus www.panzerschlacht.us more than six years beyond the PhD, and be able open). Other classes will address the history of to teach history courses. The fellowship of $60,000 environmental pollution, public health aspects of

50 Perspectives on History February 2015 JOB CENTER environmental history, history of public health and/ tions will not be accepted. All offers of employment link to an Online Portfolio that includes examples or medicine, and topics related to the candidate’s are contingent on successful completion of the uni- and descriptions of digital work and/or research. area of specialization. Attention to race and gender versity’s background check policy process. South- Additional materials will be requested of those is encouraged. Among the qualifications required western University is an M/F/EOE. candidates selected for interviews. The review of for appointment is the PhD (in hand or expected by applications will begin on January 15, 2015. The first semester of academic year 2015). Candidates appointment will begin August 25, 2015. Ques- must demonstrate interest and potential excellence tions regarding the application process should be in undergraduate teaching. Successful teaching ex- Virginia directed to: June Webb, 434-924-6608. Direct ques- perience at the college level is desirable. For more tions about this position to Alison Booth, Professor information on the History Department, please of English, Search Committee Chair, Dig-hum@ see http://new.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/ Charlottesville virginia.edu. The university performs background departments/history/index.dot. Inquiries should checks on all new faculty hires prior to making a be addressed to history.environment@oberlin. University of Virginia final offer of employment. The University of Virginia edu. Oberlin College was among the first colleges is an AA/EOE committed to diversity, equity, and in the nation to offer environmental history, and is Digital Humanities. The College of Arts and inclusiveness. Women, minorities, veterans, and home to a vibrant Environmental Studies Program. Sciences of the University of Virginia invites ap- persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information on the Environmental Studies plications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Program, please see http://new.oberlin.edu/ assistant professor in digital humanities (DH), with arts-and-sciences/departments/environment/ a focus on textual analysis or big history. Applicants index.dot. To be assured of consideration, send should have a PhD at the time of appointment, and Washington the following (hard copy or Interfolio only): a letter should have a record of interdisciplinary research of application, a CV, graduate academic transcripts, in computer-assisted analysis of large corpora, and at least three recent letters of reference (by pro- archival documents, or other materials. Candidates Tacoma viding these letters you agree that we may contact should demonstrate competencies in one or more your references) to Chair, History Dept., Oberlin of the following: visualization, network analysis, University of Puget Sound College, Rice 317, 10 N. Professor St., Oberlin, software development, bibliometrics, and quantita- OH 44074 by March 1, 2015. Application materials tive approaches to evidence, text processing, com- Africa. Full-time (3/3 load), one-year visiting received after that date may be considered until the putational linguistics, natural language processing, position for the 2015-16 academic year at the Uni- position is filled. Salary will depend on qualifica- or computer-assisted reading. We will consider ap- versity of Puget Sound. Teaching responsibilities tions and experience. Oberlin College is an EOE plications from scholars investigating any historical include lower-division surveys of early and modern committed to creating an institutional environment period or cultural context, genre, theory, or method African history and upper-division courses in areas free from discrimination and harassment based within humanities. A specialist in DH who is trained of interest. PhD (ABD considered) in African history on race, color, sex, marital status, religion, creed, in large-scale analysis would complement Virginia’s and a commitment to liberal arts education. Special- national origin, disability, age, military or veteran traditions of excellence and innovation in DH. The ties in Northern Africa, Africa’s relation to the Middle status, sexual orientation, family relationship to an appointed scholar will foster interdisciplinary collab- East or Islamic World, or diasporic communities are employee of Oberlin College, and gender identity oration, pedagogy, and public access to research in particularly welcome. Interested individuals should and expression. DH. This position is one of several interdisciplinary submit an online application including a letter of lines sponsored by the Mellon Foundation. The suc- interest, CV, sample syllabus, and writing sample cessful candidate will participate in activities of the (short sample of scholarship) no later than March 6, Mellon-funded Institute of Humanities and Global 2015, to ensure consideration. Applicants will also Texas Cultures, including one team-taught course in the be prompted to submit contact information for three first two years. The teaching load is two courses reference providers. For complete job announce- each, in fall and spring semesters. Teaching ex- ment and online application, visit www.pugetsound. Georgetown perience at the undergraduate and/or graduate edu/employment. All offers of employment are con- level is preferred. To apply, submit a Candidate tingent on successful completion of a background Southwestern University Profile through Jobs@UVa (https://jobs.virginia. inquiry. As a strategic goal and through our core edu), search on posting number 0615478 and elec- values, University of Puget Sound is committed to US Environmental. Southwestern University, a tronically attach the following: CV; cover letter that an environment that welcomes and supports diver- national liberal arts college in the Austin metro area, includes a description of your research in the field; sity. We seek diversity of identity, perspective, and invites applications for a two-year benefits-eligible the names and contact information for three refer- background in our students, faculty, and staff. The position as a visiting assistant professor in US en- ences; a statement of teaching philosophy; and a University of Puget Sound is an EOE. vironmental history. The position requires teaching both halves of the US survey, and other US and environmental history courses in a 3/3 course load. The History Department is wide-ranging in its geographical coverage and interests, and its Grants and Fellowships five current faculty members participate in several interdisciplinary programs (including Environmen- tal Studies, Race and Ethnicity Studies, Feminist e AHA is pleased to Studies, International Studies, and Latin American support the study and and Border Studies). We look for similar breadth in our candidates for visiting positions. Qualifications exploration of history preferred include PhD completed by time of ap- through our annual pointment. Candidates must demonstrate interest and potential excellence in undergraduate teaching. grant and fellowship Successful teaching experience is desirable. Candi- dates who have a strong commitment to enhancing programs. For more diversity in academia are also preferred. South- information, visit western University is a selective, undergraduate institution committed to a broad-based liberal arts, www.historians.org/grants sciences, and fine arts education. To be assured of consideration, a letter of application, CV, a writing sample (chapter or article), and three letters of reference should be submitted by March 6, 2015 to Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress http://apply.interfolio.com/28225. Application materials received after that date may be considered until the position is filled. Email and paper applica-

February 2015 Perspectives on History 51