HISTORY NEWSSUMMER 2021 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
GREETINGS TO THE STUDENTS, as instructors for the year; and a alumni, staff, faculty and friends of new cohort of graduate students, IN THIS ISSUE Dal History, near and far. amongst others. We had reason Instead of dwelling, yet again, on to celebrate Afua Cooper’s 2 Undergraduate History the strangeness of this year, let contributions to the study of Black Update me open by offering my thanks to Canadian history, which continue 4 Undergraduate Student everyone who stepped up to make it to stand out. Even in the move Spotlights as good as it could be: staff, faculty, to online teaching for the year, alumni, and above all, our students. colleagues offered new courses, 6 Graduate History Society Everyone found it a challenge, some proving once again that History Update more so than others, but time and is ever changing. We also get to 7 Graduate Student Spotlight time again, we all had reason to congratulate a group of students be grateful to our fellows for their who earned their degrees this year 8 Congratulations, Graduates! generosity, patience, and grace. (and I do mean ‘earned’!) Once 10 Departmental Student Thank you. again, but I do hope for the last Awards time, we could not gather in person I invite you to read in the pages that to celebrate the achievements of 11 Faculty Spotlight follow news from or about students our students, but I hope you’ll join 12 Faculty Updates and faculty, past and present. Sadly, me in wishing them all the very best we lost three former members of for the days to come. 14 Alumni Feature the department this year: Peter 19 New Courses Waite, Michael Earle, and Peter As ever, please do get in touch with Burroughs. We bid a happier though any news you might like to share. In 21 Stokes Seminars still bittersweet farewell to Valerie the meantime, please accept best 21 In Memoriam Peck, our long-time grad program wishes for the future from all your administrator who retired this friends in History. 23 Miscellaneous year. But we also welcomed new 24 Historians in the Media members: Michele Edgerton as the Krista Kesselring new grad program administrator; 26 Farewell Alana Toulin and Katherine Crooks STAY CONNECTED Department of History Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building, 1st Floor 6135 University Avenue PO Box 15000, Halifax NS B3H 4R2 902.494.2011 [email protected] dal.ca/history Follow us on social media and stay up to date @Dal_History @dal_fass @Dal_ALUMNI @Dal_FASS
Visit alumni.dal.ca to update your contact information and stay connected with Dalhousie University. For information on events within the Faculty or to plan a reunion, visit dal.ca/fass or email [email protected] UNDERGRADUATE HISTORY UPDATE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, RONNY BLANCHARD
The Undergraduate History Society the diversity of interests, topics, Department. We hope that readers (UGHS) was created to foster a and periods studied throughout will recognize that throughout sense of community among history the History Department. It also history, challenges have arisen, and students. Thanks to the pandemic, presents the exceptional papers yet we have continued to rise above this was especially difficult this written by our fellow students, and navigate through them. This year. Although online meetings with the hope of inspiring future has been a historic year, and we are not as much fun as in person students to continue pursuing are incredibly proud of everyone for gatherings, the UGHS met once historical research. When we getting through it. We are extremely a week throughout the year and started advertising for papers, grateful for everyone’s support of held a variety of successful virtual UGHS and especially to the faculty events. These meetings were open who attended and assisted with to anyone who was interested in events. We wish everyone a safe the happenings of the Society, and happy summer and hope and attracted a group of persistent to see you in person in the fall! members – members who the Executive would like to thank for their enthusiasm. Another challenge was the relative newness of UGHS; this was only the second year the Society was active after a few years of dormancy. However, we were able to hold events like a guest lecture from Graham EXECUTIVE TEAM: Thompson of Harvard University and an Honours information Ronny Blanchard, President session that expanded the presence of UGHS on campus. Hannah Wygiera, Vice President
To bring our community together, Kyle Jordan, Treasurer we produced the Pandemic Cookbook [pdf], a collection of Catherine Charlton, Secretary recipes from faculty and students in the History Department. We also Emma Whaley, produced Pangaea: The Dalhousie we did not anticipate the record DASSS Representative Undergraduate History Journal number of submissions we would [pdf], a collaborative effort between receive – over 20! They explored a Amy Paleczny, Social Media UGHS and the Honours History large variety of historical research Seminar. UGHS collected the and we believe the papers included submissions from students, and the this year reflect the diversity Honours Seminar edited the journal. of research in the Department. This year, the editors were Hannah Although this year was challenging, Wygiera (also the UGHS VP!) and Pangaea demonstrates the strength Takdeer Brar. Pangaea showcases and resilience of the History
2 | HISTORY NEWS EXECUTIVE TEAM
3 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
BOTH HANNAH AND CATHERINE WON PRESTIGIOUS GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THE SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL. OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH!
CATHERINE CHARLTON
Dalhousie dances were held. I found it fascinating to learn about the experiences of university students during this transformative period in Dal’s history, especially since this history was written primarily by the students themselves.
When I enrolled in a B.Sc. at the University of King’s College in 2017, fully intending to pursue a career in audiology, I certainly could not have predicted that I would ultimately switch programs and graduate with a B.A. in history! I have never regretted this decision. I have many happy memories of my time at Dal/ King’s, especially attending my very last pre-Covid event at Dalhousie, the Roaring Twenties Gala that was held by the Costume and History Societies. I look forward to returning to Dal in September for an M.A. in history.
MY NAME IS CATHERINE explored the effect that World War Charlton, and I am graduating Two had on Dalhousie students. My with an honours in history and a proximity to this topic also allowed minor in English. Last year, while me to experience Dalhousie’s trying to come up with a research wartime history in some tangible paper topic for Dr. Bell’s World War ways. For example, an employee Two class, I stumbled upon the at the Studley gymnasium gave incredible primary source that is me a tour of the gym, where the the Dalhousie Gazette. The wartime Dalhousie students in the Canadian issues of this paper interested me Officers’ Training Corps used to so much that I used them as the drill, and an equally kind staff basis for my honours thesis. Under member at the Westin Nova Scotian the exceptional guidance of my showed me the hotel’s beautiful supervisor, Dr. Jerry Bannister, I ballroom, where so many wartime
4 | HISTORY NEWS HANNAH WYGIERA
I GREW UP LOVING HISTORY, masters degree at the University home in Alberta and have not but it was not until my last year of of Calgary. actually been in Halifax since March high school that I realized I could 2020. I got married shortly after the study it in university. Now, having Aside from academics, I got pandemic started and have really just completed my Bachelor of Arts involved with the Dalhousie Arts enjoyed spending more time with with Honours in History, I cannot and Social Sciences Society in my my husband. However, imagine studying anything else. first year, and I was treasurer of the I missed Dal and Halifax, especially I came to Dalhousie interested in Chapel at King’s in my second year. the discussions that could have ancient history, especially ancient In my third year, I helped revive the been had in class. Nevertheless, Rome. However, after taking Dr. Undergraduate History Society and I managed to write an honours Kesselring’s class on Tudor and served as secretary. It was a lot of thesis and still learned so much. Stuart England, I quickly realized work, but seeing the society thrive I am so thankful to Dr. Krista where my true interests lay. This made it worth it. This past year I Kesselring, who advised and past year, I wrote a thesis on the was the vice-president and also one inspired me, for Dr. Christopher decriminalization of heresy as a of the editors for the undergraduate Bell, who took care of all of the capital offence in Early Modern journal, Pangaea. I really enjoyed honours students, and for everyone England. I grew up in the Anglican connecting with my fellow history in the department who made this Church and that contributed to my students and getting to be involved year the best it could possibly be. passion for researching the English in the department in such a fun I am so grateful for my experiences Reformation. I have really enjoyed way. at Dal and everything I have learned. researching the legal aspects of the English Reformation and I plan Graduating from Dal feels a little to continue researching it in my flat this year. I spent the year at
5 GRADUATE HISTORY SOCIETY UPDATE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, KRISTEN BECKER
THE GRADUATE HISTORY SOCIETY Chaos and Continuity. As history On behalf of myself and the was represented by a new executive students, we study the chaotic executive committee of the society, who started in September 2020, events of the past and how I would like to say thank you to composed of new graduate societies and cultures were able to everyone who participated in students who were excited to begin adapt and prosper whether that be making this year’s society a success a new year and a new degree! through plagues such as the black and for their encouragement as we This year the society encountered death, food shortages, rebellions, pursued a new online environment! multiple challenges which affected or war. Thus, as the world remains Congratulations to all of you for many events the society would within a chaotic, although slightly seeing this year through, that in normally hold or have attended. improving, time we chose to itself is a great accomplishment! Nevertheless, we were able to represent societies past endeavours Although this year was interesting, arrange a couple of events which in the hopes of providing a clear let’s hope that next year is better! met the Covid guidelines, including image of prosperity. Our broad a small museum trip at the theme and online setting allowed Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, for graduate students with a variety thanks to Amber Laurie, assistant of topics from Nova Scotia and EXECUTIVE TEAM: curator and fellow MA student, and Ontario to participate. It was our hosted some online gatherings for pleasure to have alumnus Dr. Colin Kristen Becker, President master’s students. Rose (Brock University) as our keynote speaker, who reminded Emily Fenton, Vice President/ Although the pandemic posed us that even our dedication to Secretary many challenges for us this holding the conference, despite the year, the executive and graduate circumstances, pointed towards our Jacob Bolton, Treasurer students were very excited to host dedication to finding continuity in a successful history conference chaos. Ultimately I feel confident online. This year’s theme reflected in stating that it was a highly ongoing events within the world successful online conference! but still contained some originality:
6 | HISTORY NEWS GRADUATE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT AMBER LAURIE
My name is Amber Laurie and I am a M.A. student in history at Dalhousie University. My research explores a period characterized by negotiated Indigenous-settler relationships and enslavement within Liverpool, Nova Scotia, from 1760-1812. Primarily focusing on the diaries of Simeon Perkins while incorporating additional material culture sources, my thesis will ask how did social identity, mobility, and exchange inform cross-cultural relationships around Liverpool? And did the relationships among the enslaved, indentured, and free reflect broader patterns of social change in Nova Scotia? Although my research focuses on the early modern period, the concept of freedom, however it is defined and experienced, is what unites my interest in history across centuries.
ASIDE FROM STUDYING AT DAL, supervising and training interns, If anyone is interested in learning I also work full-time in the public and answering research enquiries. more about working in museums history sector. I am currently the One of my favourite things about and public history career paths, Assistant Curator/Registrar of my job is constantly learning about please feel free to get in touch. Marine History for the Nova Scotia a wide range of historical subjects My email is [email protected]. Museum. My duties range from while meeting some really great exhibit content development, caring people. I am also very fortunate for the marine history collection, to have amazing colleagues. Their handling artifacts, providing support has been invaluable while collections assistance at any of I navigate work and school. For that, the Nova Scotia Museum’s 28 sites, I am extremely thankful.
7 CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES!
This past year has been different from any other, and has impacted graduating students in distinctive ways. Finishing their theses from their homes, defending online, or having an online convocation was not an easy experience. The Department of History would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to all our 2020/21 graduates for their patience, dedication,and hard work. Good luck with all your future endeavours!
UNDERGRADUATES (BA OR BSC, DAL OR KING’S, WITH A MAJOR OR HONOURS IN HISTORY):
Kevin Dacey Lisa Ball Alexander Kennedy Jeremy Spronk James Lees Samuel Eisner Isabel Brechin Marcus Kessler Kylor Stewart Caroline Madeleine Girgis Jonathan Brundige Leah Lowe-Davies Imani Theodore Michaud Rebecca Liptay Sophie Carmichael-Hanlon Jack MacKenzie Michael Weaver Christian Alexander Long Catherine Charlton Adam MacLaren Hannah Wygiera Bellows Katelyn Park Mitchell Coulombe John Marshall Craig Boehmer Marta Podvolotskaya Natasha Danais Robert Messick Joy Shand MASTER’S Derek van Voorst Cole De Jager Emma Moore Raymond Michael Warner Armaan Dhillon Blake Morton GRADUATES 2020/2021: Moylan Landon Warnica Claire Dreyfuss Samantha Mulyk Mahira Qadri Lianne Xiao Caroline French Miles Saltmarche Holly Hanes Matthew Kaut Catherine Hutt Emily Sawchyn Madison Gateman Yufan Wang Caroline Jones Georgia Simon Melissa Glass Matthew Zolkivski Kyle Jordan Kiana Sokolic Elizabeth Hogan
MASTER’S GRADUATES 2020/2021 CONTINUED:
CHRISTIAN BELLOWS related legal issues. She credits her time in the History After moving to Halifax Department with helping to prepare her for the rigours from Newfoundland a of law and the development of her research skills, which few years ago, Christian aid considerably in the work she does now at the clinic. has thoroughly enjoyed She sends her best to all her fellow graduates. his time at Dalhousie MELISSA GLASS and in the city. He Melissa Glass is wishes that more of this fascinated by how past year could have social relationships been spent on campus shape and are shaped and with new friends. by the institutional Christian is now in the process of relocating to Wolfville and legal frameworks where he will be starting a B.Ed at Acadia University. that guide daily life, MADISON GATEMAN especially in early After graduating from modern England. Her Dalhousie’s MA in thesis project, titled History program last “Custom and Coverture spring, Madison left the in the Manor Courts: Women as Tenants in Early Maritimes, moved to Modern England,” explored these ideas by examining Toronto, and finished women’s experiences at the lowest level of early modern her first year of virtual England’s legal system. She recently had an article law school at Osgoode published in the Canadian Journal of History that was Hall. She is currently based on some of her thesis research – check out “’The working full-time Rust of Antiquity’?: Print Culture, Custom, and the for the summer at Manorial Court Guidebooks of Early Modern England” Parkdale Community in volume 56. Melissa will soon be moving back to her Legal Services, where home province of Alberta, but she has enjoyed her she assists clients with their immigration and refugee- time in Nova Scotia immensely. She won’t forget the
8 | HISTORY NEWS people she met at Dal, the seminars she attended that he completed his thesis: “Samuel Ringold Ward’s challenged her thinking, or the oceanside walks she Examination Day: The Education of A Black Abolitionist”. took when procrastinating. This summer he is moving to Vancouver with his wife JAMES LEES and continuing his teaching career. James G. Lees graduated in JOY SHAND autumn of 2020 Originally from with an MA in Toronto, ON, Joy History from moved to Halifax Dalhousie. His in 2008 to do her thesis focused on bachelor’s degree the development at the University of of state forestry King’s College. She in seventeenth- immediately fell in century England. love with Halifax On a personal note, and the East coast, members of the and spent the department will be next 12 years there happy to know that James and his wife, Rebecca Ford studying and getting involved with the local community (2020 Dal Costume Studies graduate), were married through her volunteering, activism, and political work. in April of 2021! While completing his MA thesis last The direct descendent of immigrants on every side, year during the first lockdown, James was awarded Joy focused her master’s research on understanding a Clarendon Fund Scholarship and is currently a public attitudes to immigration in Halifax in the lead DPhil student with Trinity College at the University of up to Confederation (1862-65). Ever mobile herself, Joy Oxford, where he is continuing his research into the recently moved with her partner, Carter, to Gatineau, development of early modern state forestry practices QC, where she hopes to pursue a career in immigration and environmental history. and settlement law, but dreams of returning to the Maritimes soon. CAROLINE MICHAUD Caroline spent the PHD GRADUATES 2020/2021: first half of the past plague year DR. KATHERINE CROOKS writing an MA Katherine Crooks’ doctoral research used the thesis about plague connected life histories of white and Inuit women to years past. She is better understand their respective roles in American- looking forward sponsored exploratory expeditions in the Eastern to presenting a Canadian Arctic in the early twentieth century. She paper on early successfully defended her PhD on 9 October 2020, and modern public her dissertation is entitled “Cold Comforts: Making Inuit health at the 2021 and Qallunaat Homes in the Eastern Arctic and North Canadian Historical American Cultures of Exploration, 1890-1940.” Association conference in June. She currently lives in DR. MARY OWUSU Montréal. Mary Owusu’s work on modern African history RAYMOND highlights events and personalities that have been MOYLAN marginalised in orthodox narratives to reveal the full Before enrolling richness and complexity of Africa’s past and present. at Dalhousie, She is passionate about writing critical transnational Raymond was a histories that project the subject matter through a teacher for fifteen gendered prism. Dr. Owusu defended her PhD thesis years in the United on 22 July 2020. States and Europe. His research at Dal focused on early public education in the antebellum era. This past spring,
9 DEPARTMENTAL STUDENT AWARDS, 2020/2021:
The History Department would like to offer its gratitude to the alumni and donors who, through their generous contributions, have made the below prizes and scholarships possible. Their support enables the continued celebration and encouragement of academic excellence within the student body of the department.
THE UNIVERSITY MEDAL IN HISTORY, awarded on the basis of the best undergraduate record among graduating Honours students in History: Catherine Charlton
THE EDITH AND ROSE GOODMAN PRIZES for Canadian History: Claire McCarroll and Daniel Englehutt
THE GEORGE E. WILSON PRIZES: Scholarships: Kortney Adams, Megan Osler, Aleksei Sychterz First Year Essay Prize: Violet MacEwen
THE TOM AND ADA JENNEX UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP in History for a student finishing third year who demonstrates academic excellence in the study of the Atlantic World: Samuel Gruchy
THE COMMONWEALTH HISTORY PRIZE, for the best undergraduate essay on a topic relating to the history of Britain and/or the Commonwealth countries, funded by a gift from Dr. David Jessop and Dr. Karen Ostergaard: Lucy Boyd, “‘The Old Faith’: Insular Catholicism and the Protestant Reformation.’ THE LVK SCHOLARSHIP, for second year students who excel specifically in History:Ella Cathcart Congratulations as well to MA student Kristen Becker, who won the FASS MUSHKAT ESSAY PRIZE ($4000), THE SUSAN BUGGEY ATLANTIC WORLD HISTORY meant to “foster academic excellence and scholarly SCHOLARSHIP, created by Dalhousie History graduate research into the meaning and principles that define Susan Buggey to encourage excellent senior students ‘tolerance’” for her essay “Freedom of religion or an focusing on the history of the Atlantic World: attempt to create a united godly state?: Religious Jonathan Vroom toleration in Cromwellian Scotland.”
10 | HISTORY NEWS FACULTY SPOTLIGHT AJAY PARASRAM
speaking about anti-Asian racism, deliver a Youth Policy Advocacy COVID-racism, and anti-Black and workshop this winter semester anti-Indigenous white supremacy aimed at helping activists add in news and media outlets across to their “policy toolbox.” Amidst Canada and the United States in navigating lockdowns with a toddler, the last academic year, including he’s managed to finish his first book twice as a featured guest on the (now under review with Manchester Psychiatry show “Dr. Radio” on University Press) entitled Imperial SiriusXM. With colleagues in FASS, Encounters in Sri Lanka: Pluriversal Ajay participated in a public panel Sovereignty and the State. He is hard discussion on the US Election just at work on his second book (under ahead of the vote. contract with Fernwood Publishing) entitled How to Talk to Your Racist Ajay has also partnered with Dr. Alex Uncle: A Manual for Racial Resilience Khasnabish (MSVU) and Fernwood that he hopes to finish with the help Publishing (earlier supported by of the Burgess Research Award in History grad student Liam Caswell early 2022. He is also keen to start AJAY TAUGHT HIS FAVOURITE and IDS grad student Courtney interviews for his SSHRC Insight- seminar this fall, HIST 4355: Law) to host a series of monthly, Grant funded project that he is CI Becoming The State, and is really free, online drop-in sessions called on entitled Racialization of Asian pleased to have been able to “Safe Space for White Questions,” International Students in Canadian interview his friend and mentor, Dr. where anyone (but especially white Universities, and a new project Lynn Gehl, in the classroom. The people) can drop in for honest he has been working on with the interview consisted of a recorded and frank answers to questions assistance of Raymond Moylan conversation about her book The they may have about racial justice on Racial Pedagogy in colonial Truth That Wampum Tells, which but feel apprehensive to ask in plantations in 19th century Trinidad. the students studied in class. Ajay other venues. Related to these two Now that he’ll be tenured as of also (virtually) joined colleagues at projects, Ajay has given lectures in July 1, Ajay is looking forward to Aligarh Muslim University this fall to Equity/Diversity/Inclusion speaker spending a little more time in his give a lecture entitled, “M.K. Gandhi series on various aspects of Race hammock. vs. The Mahatma: Postcolonial and Canadian History, Structural Nationalism, Eurocentric White Supremacy, and Pathological Historiography, and the Problem of White Fragility across the country National Heros.” Working with Dr. and notably for the Department of Gaynor Watson-Creed (Dal Med, Defence Research and Development former NS Deputy Chief Medical Canada, the University of Ottawa, Officer), the unlikely science/ and the Rabbinical Association. As a humanities, double-diaspora duo Founding Fellow at the MacEachen have developed a popular “White Institute for Public Policy and Fragility Clinic” in the Faculty of Governance, Ajay organized and Medicine aimed at providing a moderated a roundtable discussion practice space for faculty members on the subject of Racial Politics in to learn about systemic racism Nova Scotia aimed at establishing and the centrality of naming and a minimum criteria for any political working through “whiteness” as an party interested in showing that anchor point to understanding our they are taking race seriously present political situation. White to demonstrate. Relatedly, he Fragility Clinic meets every two partnered with MacEachen, ACIC, weeks, online, via the Faculty of CCPA and his IDS-colleagues John Medicine. Relatedly, Ajay has been Cameron and Fatima Beydoun to
11 FACULTY UPDATES
AFUA COOPER IN RECOGNITION OF HER POETRY and artistic production, Afua Cooper was awarded the Portia White Prize on 14 November 2020. The Portia White Prize recognizes the cultural and artistic excellence of a Nova Scotian artist who has attained professional status, mastery and recognition in their discipline over a sustained career. Honoured to receive the prize, Dr. Cooper is excited to be able to give some of the prize money to the Writer’s Federation towards a poetry prize in the honour of Nova Scotian poet Maxine Tynes.
In April of 2021, Dr. Cooper was awarded a one million dollar grant to lead a three-year project entitled A Black People’s History of Canada. The project is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and is aimed at creating educational tools and learning materials to improve African Canadian history education. Cooper, along with a team of historians, researchers and writers, will be working on filling this gap in Canadian history through developing tools for educators which will be made available online in English and French.
In May 2021, Dr. Cooper’s latest book of poetry Black Matters was awarded the J.M. Abraham Poetry Prize, administered by the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia.
KRISTA KESSELRING
KRISTA KESSELRING reports and thanks them all for the the history of judicial whipping that the highlights of this strange intellectual leavening of a year will appear shortly in the Journal year came from working with MA of on-line teaching. The unusual of British Studies and a book students and her three Honours conditions have slowed her own she’s co-authoring with Prof. Tim students. Melissa Glass, James research work, but she has a Stretton on the history of divorce Lees, and Caroline Michaud finished collection of essays due out this and separation will be completed outstanding MA theses last summer summer, Star Chamber Matters: An this June. She has particularly on manor courts, silviculture, and Early Modern Court and its Records, welcomed the opportunities for plague, respectively; two new MAs co-edited with Dr. Natalie Mears collaborative ventures this year, and are now working away on their own and arising from a conference in that vein continues to blog with projects. She congratulates Isabel held at Durham University in 2019. Dr. Cassie Watson and Prof. Sara Brechin, Adam MacLaren, and (She was also named an Honorary Butler (a Dal alumna) at Hannah Wygiera on successfully Research Professor at Durham’s www.legalhistorymiscellany.com. completing their Honours theses in Institute of Medieval and Early less-than-ideal working conditions Modern Studies.) An article on
12 | HISTORY NEWS GREGORY HANLON AFTER TWO DECADES OF building up a collection of local studies, with the assistance of Dalhousie Honours and Masters students, Gregory Hanlon is actively preparing a book provisionally entitled Death Control in the West: 1550-1750. It explores the underground phenomenon of neonatal infanticide from the evidence contained in parish registers, both Catholic and Protestant. Drawn from a score of rural and urban communities in Tuscany and Lombardy in Italy, Aquitaine in France, and Dorset and Yorkshire in England, the database at present surpasses 300,000 baptisms and a couple of dozen church censuses. This groundbreaking and controversial study challenges many basic assumptions about European reproductive behaviour before the demographic transition of the late nineteenth century, revealing at the same time the complexity of a practice that cannot be reduced to ‘missing girls’.
COLIN MITCHELL DESPITE THE HECTIC YEAR Safavid Iran”, The Safavid World, of online teaching through the ed. Rudi Matthee, The Routledge pandemic, Colin Mitchell is happy Worlds Series, London: Routledge, to announce the publication of 2021, pp. 77-110. several papers: “A Medieval Nexus: Locating Ensha “Man of the Pen, Pillar of the State: and Its Ontology in the Persianate Hatem Beg Urdubadi and the Intellectual Tradition, 1000-1500,” Safavid Empire”, Safavid Persia in the The History of Persian Literature, Age of Empires, ed. Charles Melville, Vol. 5: Persian Prose, ed. Bo Utas, Vol. X of The Idea of Iran Series, London: I.B. Tauris, 2021, pp. 1-96. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021, pp. 47-79. “Die Safawiden,” Islam I: Entstehung, Konfession, Dynastien, ed. Georges “Custodial Politics and Princely Tamer, Stuttgart, 2021. Governance in Sixteenth-Century
13 ALUMNI FEATURE
INTERVIEW WITH ALEXANDRA FENTON Alexandra Fenton graduated in 2012 from Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College with a Combined Honours degree in English and History. Alexandra went on to complete her Master of Arts in History in 2014, studying Cuban history under the guidance of Dr. John Kirk. Alexandra worked for several years in the Halifax Public Libraries system before moving to her current role as Executive Director of SuperNOVA at Dalhousie University. SuperNOVA is a not-for-profit organization that provides science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for youth across Atlantic Canada. In 2019 she was selected to travel in the US State Department International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) to speak across the country about STEM Education for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations. During this three week tour she travelled to Milwaukee, WI, Anchorage, AK, Albuquerque, NM, and Washington D.C., where she met with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Alexandra is 31 years old and lives in Halifax.
As a student, did you expect Do you ever miss working How has your background in Q to get a job like the one you Q directly in the field of Q history research helped you have today? history? in the work you do now? Not at all! When I was Yes, I do miss studying Writing, writing, writing. A studying I had thought that A history sometimes. I miss the A I don’t remember the I would end up teaching in some excitement of the atmosphere of specific dates of the Boer War, capacity - in fact when I was being surrounded by other people but I certainly had the process of awarded this job I declined my who are interested in the same research and writing drilled into acceptance to a B.Ed program things. It is nice, however, that my brain over the course of my 6 for a year to see if I would like it. I can pursue history on my own years of studying history. I write Working in science and engineering terms now. I read histories or watch grant proposals, project outlines, was very far from my expectations. documentaries about anything that and daily communications for my After nearly 10 years working in the interests me, and continue to learn organization, and the experience industry now, I can see that when in that way. I have also learned an in writing that my arts degrees I graduated I was just not aware incredible amount about the field gave me has been invaluable. of many of the opportunities that that I am working in. Never in my Many people working in my field were available to someone with an life did I think that I would know so don’t have that kind of writing arts degree. At the time, it seemed much about coding and robotics, or experience, so organizations like the main routes were either underwater ecosystems, or about are always looking for good teaching or taking another degree how satellites are built. I think that communicators - people who can such as law, neither of which if you’re open and enquiring, you translate technical knowledge into seemed like the right path for me. will find exciting things to learn layman’s terms, or who can write about in pretty much any field. successful funding proposals.
14 | HISTORY NEWS ALUMNI FEATURE: ALEXANDRA FENTON
What is your fondest I know that sounds like pretty basic local space technology company, Q memory of studying history advice, but it really is key. Apply SuperNOVA is designing a program at Dalhousie/King’s? for jobs that scare you, or that you in which high school students from aren’t sure you are quite qualified all over Atlantic Canada will come Every September I have a for. You can learn an incredible together at Dalhousie to design A strange feeling of excitement amount on the job, and you will find and build a small satellite called a - even now, nearly 8 years after my a way to make your degree work CubeSat. It has been so exciting last year - about the start of new for you. After all, an arts education and interesting to be working with courses. I loved that feeling, before is really about honing the skills the local Canadian space industry. I the tests and papers set in, of pure to work hard, complete multiple have learned so much in my role at learning and the excitement of projects simultaneously, manage SuperNOVA, and can’t wait to see digging into new course material. I your time, and communicate - what the next few years will bring. still remember the feeling of sitting which is what many jobs really need in the lecture hall on my first day you to be able to do. of the Foundation Year Program at King’s, and how nervous and excited I was about this new stage Can you tell us about in my education where I could Q the plans you have for truly make all of the decisions SuperNOVA going forward? about what I learned. I made great SuperNOVA’s newest major friends, and had some incredible project is one that is very experiences. A near to my heart. I have spent the last 12 months developing an Do you have any advice for exciting new program that will be Q future history graduates? launched this coming summer, called ATLAS (ATLantic Academy Have an open mind about of Space). Working in partnership A where your career takes you. with GALAXIA Mission Systems, a
15 ALUMNI FEATURE
INTERVIEW WITH DR. BONNY IBHAWOH Dr. Bonny Ibhawoh is Professor and Senator William McMaster Chair in Global Human Rights at McMaster University, Canada. He received his PhD in History from Dalhousie University in 2003. He is the Director of the McMaster Centre for Human Rights and Restorative Justice and he chairs the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development. He is a legal and human rights historian who has taught in universities in Africa, Europe and North America. Previously, he was a Human Rights Fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs, New York, and Research Fellow at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Copenhagen. His research expertise includes global human rights history, peace/conflict studies and transitional/ restorative justice studies. Dr. Ibhawoh has held several university academic and administrative positions including: Director of the Centre for Peace Studies, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, and Acting Associate Vice-President (Research) at McMaster University. He has authored several books on human rights, including Imperial Justice (Oxford University Press) and Human Rights in Africa (Cambridge University Press). Dr. Ibhawoh is a member of the College of Scholars of the Royal Society of Canada and serves on the Board of a number of Canadian charities and international Human Rights Non-Governmental Organizations. He is currently the Project Director of two major research projects – The Confronting Atrocity Project and Participedia.
Can you tell us a little skated. Having lived most of my Your career and publications Q bit about your PhD and life in Africa, I had never skated Q seem to combine the study your experiences at Dalhousie before. Although my curling mostly of history and human rights. Can University? consisted of slipping and falling you say something about the on the ice, these were memorable relationship between the two? I came to Dalhousie for a experiences for me. While working A PhD on a Killam scholarship on my PhD at Dal, I got a job as a There is a direct connection in 1998. I was part of a cohort “Residence Don” at the University A between history and human of PhD students which included of King’s College. I was the rights. For so long, the field of several international students. Residence Don of Cochran Bay at human rights was dominated by My dissertation explored the King’s. The position did not come social scientists and legal scholars. tensions in imperial and anti- with a salary, but it came with a Few historians engaged in the colonial discourses of human nice furnished apartment in the debates about the theory and rights in Africa. I have very fond residence and free meals. At King’s practice of human rights. However, memories of my time at Dalhousie. we had weekly formal meals where there was always recognition I remember the annual curling everyone wore academic robes to among human rights scholars of outings organised by Dr. Phillip dinner and the University President the deep historical roots of human Zachernuk. It was at one of these said grace in Latin. It was like a rights ideas. Attending to these curling outings that I first laced scene out of a Harry Potter movie; it often-ignored historical dimensions up a pair of skating boots and ice was a memorable experience. of human rights ideas and struggles
16 | HISTORY NEWS ALUMNI FEATURE: DR. BONNY IBHAWOH
is what I try to do in my research. the evolution of rights ideas. The to work with the curators to Also, human rights scholarship historian’s emphasis on primary translate human rights research tends to be underscored by a archival sources also allows us to into exhibitions that educate the certain presentism. There is a speak authoritatively about the public about the history of human preoccupation with present-day transformative human rights ideas rights. As a United Nations human human rights violations. This is and struggles. Knowledge of oral rights expert, I have drawn on partly because of the widely held historical methodology is relevant my history training to research assumption that the notion of to understanding and documenting and write reports that contribute universal human rights is a uniquely notions of human rights and to international human rights twentieth century phenomenon. human dignity among indigenous policymaking. Indeed, the adoption of the people. This has enabled better Universal Declaration of Human appreciation of the normative In your experience, do you Rights by the United Nations in contributions of indigenous feel that people are willing to 1948 marked a defining moment in knowledge and philosophies to the Q engage with the historical context the development of international development of modern human when it comes to studying human human rights. But even if we rights principles. rights? agree that universal human rights have a uniquely twentieth century A historical approach to human I think historical scholarship dimension, we also need to rights also allows us to tell global A on human rights is gaining understand how these twentieth and inclusive human rights stories. more attention both with academic century breakthroughs were shaped Contemporary human rights are and public audiences. Scholars, by the ideas, events and struggles premised on the notion of globality policy makers and activists that came before. A historical and universality. Yet, until recently, increasingly see the value of approach allows us to go beyond much of the scholarship on human bringing historical perspectives present-day abuses to understand rights was focused on Western to human rights questions. The the antecedental conditions that history, from the Magna Carta historian brings complexity shape abuse. This understanding of and Enlightenment liberalism to and nuance to human rights historical antecedents is important the French Revolution. Recent issues that tend to be presented to remedying rights violations. histories have drawn attention to from the opposing perspectives For example, in the context of the contributions of indigenous of victims and violators. The Africa, we cannot fully understand communities and the Global South growing relevance of history contemporary legal constitutional to the development of human in human rights is reflected in human rights regimes without rights. For example, in my books, I the work of national truth and an understanding of how they have engaged the debate over the reconciliation commissions that were influenced by the histories universalism and cultural relativism have been established around of colonialism and anti-colonial of human rights. I have been the world. Many of these truths struggles. interested in exploring how social and reconciliation commissions and cultural traditions shape local are mandated to investigate the understandings of human rights. How does your career in historical truth about human rights historical research help you violations with the goal of bringing Q Apart from my academic interest in to interpret current human rights justice to victims and fostering human rights, I am also interested affairs? national reconciliation. The work in the practice of human rights. My of historians is central to these My training as a historian consultancy work with international truth-seeking processes. Another A positions me to bring a human rights NGOs has given me example is the emergence of unique lens to human rights an opportunity to collaborate with human rights memorialization and scholarship. As a historian, I have practitioners and engage human commemoration practices around the training and skills to interpret rights policymaking. My work with the world with the establishment archival sources in ways that help the Canadian Museum of Human of human right museums and us understand the complexities of Rights provided an opportunity monuments.
Continued on next page
17 ALUMNI FEATURE: DR. BONNY IBHAWOH
Do you have any current or Do you have any advice for videos, and blogs. I encourage my Q upcoming research which Q future history graduates or students to blog about the topic you would like to tell us about? prospective students? that they find interesting and write public commentaries based I am currently working on My advice to future history on their research essays. Take A two major projects. The A graduates or prospective elective courses in other disciplines first project is the “Confronting students is to broaden their and collaborate with peers in Atrocity Project,” which is a global horizons as they go about their other disciplines on research study of truth and reconciliation studies and explore career options. projects. Human rights studies is commissions in 12 countries around I urge students to embrace an interdisciplinary field and, for the world. The project investigates interdisciplinarity and seek me, it has been essential to take how truth commissions go about experiential learning opportunities cross-disciplinary approaches in my their task of investigating human that allow them to apply their research, teaching, and practice. rights abuses and fostering training and skills as historians national reconciliation. The second in practical ways. Public history project called Participedia is a provides one such opportunity crowdsourcing platform and global of bringing history to a wider network of scholars, researchers audience. With easy accessibility and practitioners policy makers to digital technology, it is now interested in public participation possible to share knowledge and democratic innovations. through various platforms such as social media, podcasts, YouTube
18 | HISTORY NEWS NEW COURSES 2020/2021 INTRODUCTION TO HERITAGE STUDIES, HIST 2950
THIS PAST TERM THE HISTORY 21); exhibits & public history (Dr. public parks and national historic Department launched a new Roger Marsters, Provincial Curator sites – but also employed an array course, HIST 2950, “Introduction of Marine History); archaeology & of interpretive tools. Projects to Heritage Studies,” as part of our public research (Dr. Katie Cottreau- included a mindfulness exercise, Certificate in Heritage Studies. Robins, Provincial Curator of original artwork, podcasts, It attracted a wonderful group of Archaeology). This was followed recorded interviews, surveys, and excellent students from a variety by two weeks that featured our architectural designs, showcasing of backgrounds and majors. We own Dr. Afua Cooper and Dr. Lisa the creative potential of public adopted an interdisciplinary Binkley, who shared their wealth of history. We’re very thankful to Emily approach that included a mix knowledge and expertise in heritage Fenton, for providing technical of presentations, social media, studies and commemoration. We assistance, and to Krista Kesselring, written essays, online research, and were extremely fortunate to have for her strong support throughout meetings with guest speakers. Our support as well from other curators, the term. With our certificate class started with a unit on patterns particularly Amber Laurie (Marine program now officially launched, in international tourism. Using the History Collections Assistant the capstone seminar, HIST 4710, “tourist gaze” framework, each Curator and Registrar), Vanessa will be offered this summer, and we student picked a tourist campaign Smith (Archaeology Assistant hope that our first group of heritage and analyzed its depictions of studies students will graduate next environments, identities, history, year. In the meantime, you can and other issues. The presentations follow us on twitter and papers traversed a range of @JerryBannister3. historic sites in different countries, from China to the United Kingdom. Jerry Bannister For their next project, students chose a monument or other type of commemoration and investigated the public debates surrounding it. Their case studies ranged from famous statues and international disputes to forgotten sites and hidden history. Curator), and Roger Lewis (Mi’kmaq Cultural Heritage Curator), who In addition, each week we explored assisted with sessions and student a different topic and hosted a research in different ways. As an professional working in the heritage exercise in team-teaching, inter- sector. Our weekly sessions covered institutional partnerships, and a variety of themes and disciplines: experiential learning, we are so artifacts & physical geography thankful to everyone for lending (Dr. Tim Fedak, Provincial Curator their time and expertise! of Geology); storytelling & oral research (Dr. Emily Burton, Oral Our class culminated with our Historian, Canadian Museum of inaugural public history fair. Immigration at Pier 21); archives, Organized over two days, and preservation & public policy open to the public online, our fair (Mr. John MacLeod, Manager, featured student presentations that Nova Scotia Archives); statues, pursued different themes discussed commemoration & collective during the term. Students not memory (Dr. Monica MacDonald, only covered a range of topics – Manager of Research, Canadian from the renaming of schools and Museum of Immigration at Pier sports teams to the redesign of Continued on next page
19 NEW COURSES 2020/2021 (cont.) SLAVERY AND SLAVING IN GLOBAL HISTORY, HIST 2714
SOME DECADES AGO, and Global contexts. Understanding in this initial version offered helpful as a new faculty member, I the social and economic logic insights into what worked and introduced a first year Global of slavery came next – we used what could be improved. I hope to History class into the Department’s pre-Columbian North America make more use next time of the offerings. The Department has and early Africa as focal points. interactive resources now available continued to develop global courses Close attention to the especially online from various museums and since, as colleagues have adopted rich material on Mediterranean other sites. Not least among these and adapted these classes while and Atlantic systems allowed is the Slave Voyages Database, the creating more. Recent additions the students to then explore two most complete collection on the include the Global History of themes woven through the class – Atlantic slave trade. Mounting this Incarceration, the Global History of how the enslaved in diverse settings course opened my eyes as well, Capitalism, and The History of the resisted and how they struggled adding many dimensions to what Future. Slavery has become another to form communities. Knowing I had learned about slavery mostly prominent subject in our offerings the ubiquity of slavery in human in connection with Africa’s history. which students of Professors history situated students to better I look forward to learning more Cooper and Roberts can now appreciate abolition after the 18th as I undertake revisions towards explore in our Canadian, American century as both an unprecedented establishing this a regular offering and Atlantic classes. I have long triumph for antislavery forces, and for our students interested in global offered a popular class on slavery as a period in which proslavery history and slavery. within Africa. I developed my new forces persisted and created class, Slavery and Slaving in Global new ways to enslave. The last Philip Zachernuk History, to serve both streams of part of the course examined how student interest. The recent growth contemporary anti-slavery activists of this field, not least the recently turn to the global history of slavery completed Cambridge World History to more effectively identify and of Slavery, helped convince me this fight against ongoing forms of class could succeed. Several North enslavement around the world. American universities offer classes which compare slave systems in Students, enrolled from a variety ancient Greece and Rome and the of programs, revealed that much Atlantic world, but classes with a of this material was new to them. global scope remain rare. Many became intrigued as they re- evaluated things they had assumed, To connect these more familiar and understood more clearly sites to slavery outside the Western how Atlantic and contemporary world, students first considered slavery both share in and diverge why slavery is so common in from global patterns. I started human history, and what is special preparing this class long before the about slavery compared to other pandemic reshaped teaching plans, systems of subordinating people but in the end I don’t think being and appropriating their labour. reformulated for delivery online They wrestled with the power and harmed it. I will offer the course limitations of definitions of slavery again in Fall 2021, re-made again for developed in studies of Western face-to-face teaching. The students
20 | HISTORY NEWS STOKES SEMINARS 2020/2021 October 2, 2020 — “The Whip and the Hoe: Violence, November 27, 2020 — “The Passions of Solidarity: Work and Productivity on Anglo-American Plantations” American Jews and the 1948 War” Justin Roberts, Dalhousie University Derek Penslar, Harvard University October 9, 2020 — “Thomas Jefferson’s Thermometers January 29, 2021 — “Women Waiting: Gender, Labor, (and Hygrometers) and His Climate Optimism” and Public Space in the 1914 Waitresses’ Strike” Jack Crowley, Dalhousie University. Alana Toulin, Dalhousie University October 16, 2020 — “Anatomy of a Massacre: Cato February 12, 2021 — “Between the Garrison and the Manor, South Africa, 1960” Plantation: Medicine on the Move, 1763-1815” Gary Kynoch, Dalhousie University Claire Gherini, Fordham University October 23, 2020 — “Bridging Religion and Black March 5, 2021 — “Visualizing Working-Class Belfast: Nationalism: The Founding of St Philips African Industrial Heritage and Urban Regeneration in Northern Orthodox Church and the Universal Negro Improvement Ireland” Association Hall in Whitney Pier, 1900-1930” Lachlan MacKinnon, Cape Breton University Claudine Bonner, Acadia University. March 12, 2021 — “Plebeian and Other Bodies: Disease, October 30, 2020 — “Maritime and Territorial Class and the History of Human Variety” Landscapes of New France” Kevin Siena, Trent University Helen Dewar, Université de Montréal March 19, 2021 — “Mary Bibb Cary: Nineteenth- November 7, 2020 — “Statute Labour and Upper Century Transnational Teacher, Abolitionist, Publisher, Canada’s Missing Tax Revolution” Artist” Jeff McNairn, Queen’s University Afua Cooper, Dalhousie University November 20, 2020 — “Popes and Particles: Anti- March 26, 2021 — “Sustaining Slavery: Food Popery and Natural Philosophy in the Royal Society, Provisioning, Power, and Protest in the British 1660-1700” Caribbean, c. 1791-1802” Adam Richter, University of Toronto Nick Crawford, Postdoc, Washington University
IN MEMORIAM THIS YEAR WE LOST THREE FORMER MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT: PETER WAITE, MICHAEL EARLE, AND PETER BURROUGHS.
PETER BUSBY WAITE: After service into the Order of Canada in 1993. in the Royal Canadian Navy during The obituary produced by his family World War Two, Peter Busby can be read here; an appreciation Waite taught at Dalhousie for 35 of his work as a scholar and teacher years and continued to publish written by two former students for decades after. His many books can be read here. Professor Waite on Canadian history included two passed away on 24 August 2020. volumes on the history of Dalhousie itself that figured prominently in our recent bicentenary celebrations. His biographies of Canadian prime ministers and studies of Confederation earned him a national reputation and induction Continued on next page
21 IN MEMORIAM (cont.)
MICHAEL EARLE: After years on Nova Scotian labour history pursuing other ventures as a and teaching at Dal, St. Mary’s, mechanic, carpenter, bookkeeper and Mount Saint Vincent University and more, Michael Earle returned by turns. The obituary written by his to studies to complete his PhD at family can be read here; a reflection Dalhousie in 1986 with a study of on Michael’s legacy as a scholar, the Amalgamated Mine Workers teacher, and union organizer from of Nova Scotia. Thereafter he a former colleague can be read continued to work as a labour here. Dr. Earle passed away on 9 activist while doing further research November 2020.
Documents and Publications of Peter had very high standards for the Times (1969); British Attitudes himself and others, almost counter- Towards Canada, 1822-1849 (1971); productively so. More than once I and The Canadian Crisis and British would express admiration for a new, Colonial Policy, 1828-1841 (1972). big book, only to have Peter dismiss As no obituary is yet available, it as dilettante or like a first draft. He we asked Jack Crowley, a former marked students’ papers as though colleague in the department, to he were copy-editing a journal article. offer a few reflections on his time On just those counts, he provided with Professor Burroughs: excellent advice on manuscripts.
I first met Peter at the Museum, the Peter loved jazz. I remember how pub across from the British Museum, thrilled he was to hear the Modern where he interviewed me for a job at Jazz Quartet at the Cohn, to which Dalhousie. Peter could be ascerbic, he generously took me. The last time PETER BURROUGHS: Peter so I cringe a bit in thinking about I saw Peter was by sheer coincidence Burroughs passed away at his what he might have reported. Peter on a bus to the National Theatre, with home in England on 11 April 2021. was part of a flock of people who my granddaughter Amelia, towards An expert in nineteenth-century migrated to Dalhousie from the whom he showed his celebrated British imperialism and defence, University of London’s Imperial fondness for children. Professor Burroughs wrote such History seminar, led by Gerald works as Britain and Australia, 1831- S. Graham, a Canadian. From Jack Crowley 1855: A Study in Imperial Relations Dalhousie John Flint and Peter and Crown Lands Administration launched the Journal of Imperial and (1967); The Colonial Reformers and Commonwealth History, which Peter Canada, 1830-1849: Selections from would help edit again in retirement.
We are grateful for their varied contributions and legacies, even as we offer our condolences to their families.
22 | HISTORY NEWS MISCELLANEOUS MACKAY HISTORY LECTURE: DR. DEREK PENSLAR, HARVARD UNIVERSITY
of Oxford. Penslar’s books include speak to each other, and how these Shylock’s Children: Economics and histories can be placed in a broader Modern Identity in Modern Europe comparative context. The lecture (2001), Israel in History: The Jewish made a strong case for rigorous State in Comparative Perspective research and conceptual open- (2006), Jews and the Military: A mindedness which, in combination History (2013) and, most recently, with collegiality and civility, have Theodor Herzl: The Charismatic the capacity to break down political Leader (2020), which won the 2020 fences and enable a productive Canadian Jewish Literary Award academic conversation. for History. He is currently writing a book titled Zionism: An Emotional Dr. Penslar’s lecture was very well State and is beginning work on a received by the FASS community. global history of the 1948 Palestine As the moderator of this event, War. Derek Penslar is a Fellow of the I was impressed by the high level of Royal Society of Canada and the the audience’s engagement and by President of the American Academy the great number of sophisticated ON 26 NOVEMBER 2020, for Jewish Research. questions that were asked following the History Department hosted the main lecture period. the annual MacKay History Lecture. Titled “Towards a Unified Field The MacKay Lecture Series is of Israel/Palestine Studies,” Dr. This year marked the first time an important feature of every Penslar’s lecture broadly examined in the history of the MacKay academic year and is funded by the historical trajectories and Lecture Series when – for the the generous endowment of Mrs. contexts – political as well as obvious reason of the global health Gladys MacKay in appreciation academic – of the two strategically emergency – the event had to of the education her husband, prominent research fields. The take place online. Despite the Reverend Malcolm Ross MacKay lecture showed how Israel Studies novelty of this experience and the (B.A., 1927), received in the liberal and Palestine Studies, which technical challenges it presented, arts at Dalhousie University. explore the same geographical the lecture was a great success. Let region and often the same me take this opportunity to thank Our speaker this year was Dr. phenomena from different vantage Dr. Krista Kesselring at the History Derek Penslar, the William Lee points, have been in dialogue with Department and Dr. Jennifer Bain Frost Professor of Jewish History each other for decades, at times at FASS for their valuable support. at Harvard University. In his unwittingly and despite many I am also happy to acknowledge research, he takes a comparative challenges as well as differences of the crucial technical help provided and transnational approach to political opinions. This productive by James Wilson at Academic the study of Jewish history, which dialogue, Dr. Penslar argues, has Technology Services, Killam Library, he studies within the contexts of been growing in self-awareness, and by our M.A. student, Emily modern capitalism, nationalism, scope, and sophistication over the Fenton. Without their generous and colonialism. Dr. Penslar has past few decades. In particular, assistance the lecture would not spent the bulk of his career as the this has been the case with the have happened. Cordial thanks to Samuel Zacks Professor of Jewish arrival of a generation of younger everyone who helped make this History at the University of Toronto. scholars fluent in Arabic and in event possible. He also served as the inaugural Hebrew, who are increasingly holder of the Stanley Lewis Chair interested in exploring how the Denis Kozlov in Israel Studies at the University histories of Israel and of Palestine
23 MISCELLANEOUS (cont.) KILLAM POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP: JAMIE JELINSKI
Belfast (2020). He is the recipient of the Killam Postdoctoral Fellowship at Dalhousie University. His research contributions include peer- reviewed articles in Urban History Review, Journal of Canadian Studies, Visual Anthropology, and Études/ Inuit/Studies. Jelinski’s first book, provisionally titled Needle Work: A History of Commercial Tattooing in Canada and Beyond, is under contract with McGill- Queen’s University Press. His second book, tentatively titled Unseen Images, is under contract with Wilfrid Laurier University Press and a preliminary version of a chapter, which he was recently profiled in the Globe and Mail for, is forthcoming in a Routledge edited JAMIE JELINSKI STUDIES THE of Canada. Jelinski has been a volume entitled Museums and the history of Canadian visual culture Visiting Scholar in the Art History Working Class. At Dalhousie, Jelinski from the nineteenth century to the and Contemporary Culture Division will study the history of Canadian contemporary period. He received at NSCAD University (2017) and, law enforcement’s use of images his PhD in Cultural Studies from aided by the Ireland Canada for criminal identification beginning Queen’s University (2019) with University Foundation, in the School with the passing of the Identification support from the Social Sciences of History, Anthropology, Philosophy of Criminals Act of 1898. and Humanities Research Council and Politics at Queen’s University
HISTORIANS IN THE MEDIA
WHO KNOWS WHEN OR WHERE one’s research In 2020, video journalist Trina Roache interviewed will strike a chord? Lisa L. Patterson did an MA Patterson and drew upon her work for a two-part thesis in the early 1980s on ‘Indian Affairs and documentary on the Aboriginal Peoples Television the Nova Scotia Centralization Policy’, examining Network. To view the documentary or read about the 1942 plan to relocate over 2000 Mi’kmaq the history, see the APTN site. people from 45 settlements to just two reserves.
24 | HISTORY NEWS PANDEMIC YEAR: ONLINE LEARNING
that other people might be going through hard times. As expected, there were bumps in the road, but some were pleasantly surprised by certain aspects of online learning. Students liked being able to watch pre-recorded lectures at their own pace, and use them as study tools. Many students and faculty think that there might be future opportunities for online learning, although everyone looks forward to a return to face-to-face contact.
As historians, these are the The online classroom of Atlantic Worlds, 1650-1850, HIST 4250. From upper left to bottom kinds of events which are often right: Dr. Jerry Bannister, Bethany Henderson, Isabel Teramura, Tyler Messick, Catherine focused on; the hard times, where Hutt, Alexandria Jackman, Amber Laurie, Francis Samson, Emily Fenton normal people’s everyday life was interrupted or turned on its head. IT SEEMS LIKE THE MOST Assured that next year is likely to Although the department looks frequently used term in the years go back to normal, it is easier to forward to a return to normalcy, 2020 and 2021 is “unprecedented,” look back over the past year and perhaps our experiences this year to the point that it almost sounds see the positives, and to learn offer a new perspective when cliché to say it. However, for the from the experiences. Through studying those unprecedented students, staff, and faculty at a combination of pre-recorded times in the past. Dalhousie University, it is the most lectures, reading assignments, appropriate word to describe a discussion boards, live Q&As and Emily Fenton situation where online learning seminars conducted in Teams, was suddenly the only option. To Zoom or Collaborate, students and go from emailing and Brightspace faculty worked to teach, learn, and to every aspect of teaching and make contact with one another. learning taking place online was, All of the usual courses offered in to say the least, an adjustment. History were moved to the online platform, and experienced even The transition to online asked a higher enrollment than usual years. lot from faculty and students. The virtual Dalhousie classrooms Many faculty members barely used were available to students across their mobile phones before this Canada and the world, connecting point, let alone conducted whole students with each other and their courses online. Students were professors. suddenly forced to be even more self-disciplined, stuck in their small Online learning allowed people to student room during lectures, join from across the world, and it where distractions abound. forced faculty and students alike That being said, the History to think creatively. It taught us to department rose to the challenge be patient with each other, and (with only minimal grumbling). to understand more than ever
25 FAREWELL
RUTH’S RETIREMENT WHILE WE COULDN’T HAVE a proper farewell celebration for Ruth Bleasdale’s retirement at the end of the 2019/20 school year, we did come up with a pretty cool gift. At the suggestion of Dr. Lisa Binkley (and with an awful lot of her patient assistance), Ruth’s colleagues made her this decidedly unique quilt.
26 | HISTORY NEWS VAL’S RETIREMENT
WE WERE SORRY TO BID A fond farewell to our long time graduate program administrator, Valerie Peck. Val took her well- deserved retirement early in the autumn of 2020. All best wishes for lots of rest, relaxation and travel, Val, and thanks for everything over the past years!
¡HASTA LA VISTA!
OUR COLLEAGUE AND long-time comrade from Spanish and Latin American Studies, Prof. John Kirk, moves into full retirement. Our thanks, congratulations, and best wishes!
Photo by Danny Abriel
27 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Do you have an interesting story to share? Know of a former classmate who is doing something exciting and newsworthy?
Email us at: [email protected]
HISTORY NEWS is published periodically by the Department of History in cooperation with FASS Alumni Relations, Dalhousie University. Editor in Chief Emily Fenton Designer Erin Lee FASS Alumni and Donor Relations Officer Janet Dyson 902.494.6951 | [email protected] FASS Manager of Recruitment, Communications and Marketing Genevieve MacIntyre 902.494.6288 | genevieve. [email protected] Office of Advancement, Development Officer Tara Graham 902.943-5854 | [email protected]