History Commons^™

Methods Of Memorialization: Holocaust Commemoration In The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Kylee Bolinger

University Honors Theses

Memorials, both formal and informal, both private and public, have long participated in the pursuit to honor the victims of tragedy, disaster, or genocide. Memorial museums serve both to memorialize victims and to foster an environment conducive to reflection and education about these stories. Such memorial museums have especially made their mark after one of the most notable and devastating genocide events in history: the Holocaust in twentieth-century Europe. This thesis examines how memorialization methods utilized by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) make up the American interpretation of Vergangenheitsbewältigung, the concept typically applied to how Germans deal …

Partizan: Separating The Human From Propaganda With Film, Raymond Hill

University Honors Theses

The relative protection Americans have for freedom of expression can allow stories to be told that would not be able to be told elsewhere. However, telling a story that does not belong to the storyteller and represents people of a different culture or nation can problematize the retelling of events and its perspective. The long-standing rivalry between United States and Russia complicates the matter further, making it difficult to find American film relating to Russia without the inclusion of propaganda and uneducated assumptions in film. Despite these issues, authentic storytelling can provide an informative view of events that the average …

Letitia Carson In Court: African American Women, Property, And Wages In The Pacific Northwest, Stephanie Marie Vallance

Dissertations and Theses

Letitia Carson arrived in Oregon from Missouri in 1845, accompanied by David Carson and their newborn child, a daughter named Martha. The Carsons settled in the Soap Creek Valley and took advantage of Oregon's Provisional Government's donation land claim program, living on 640 acres in the newly formed Benton County with Martha and a second child, a son named Adam, born a few years after arriving in Oregon. Within ten years, however, David would be dead and Letitia would be dispossessed of all property and belongings. A former slave, Letitia had little social standing in the new territory and no …

[Book Review] Female Monarchs And Merchant Queens In Africa By Nwando Achebe, Bright Alozie

Black Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Book review excerpt:

Have you ever heard of small but mighty? Female Monarchs aptly fits that description. Traveling through time and across the African continent in a roughly chronological order, Nwando Achebe uses a slew of case studies to (re)frame and (re)tell the African-gendered narrative in solidly African-centered and gendered terms. Breaking from Western perspectives and relying on distinctly African-derived sources and methods, she weaves together the worlds and experiences of African females who occupied positions of power, authority, and influence. In Female Monarchs, the author not only restores voice and dignity to a people but also places elite …

Regionalist Romance: "America Eats" And The Culinary Myth-Making Of The Federal Writers' Project, Icarus J. Smith

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis expands upon food historian Camille Bégin's assertion that the "America Eats" manuscript of the New Deal's Federal Writers' Project was "in tune with the interwar revival of regionalism" in the United States. Using archival material associated with the project and regionalist literature of the period, this study explores the dichotomies inherent in the broader regionalist movement of the Depression Era -- particularly using the project's treatment of the American West. Using foodways as the topic and regionalism as the intellectual framework, the FWP employees sought to document what they believed was the authentic culinary character of the nation …

Serfs, Excluded Or Governed By The State? Serfdom In Russia, An Historiographical Analysis, Jason Ferguson

Dissertations and Theses

Serfdom in Russia has often been viewed in Anglo-U.S. historiography as an exceptional institution in that it emerged in the early-modern age, after serfdom in Western Europe had ended, and that it persisted for well over two centuries, spanning the Muscovite and the Imperial eras. Many historians have thus compared serfdom in Russia unfavorably to labor systems that developed in Western European nations at that time, considered to be "modern" and "free," in contrast to the "unfree" labor obtained through Russian serfdom. This thesis presents the scholars who take this view, and refers to them as "Consensus Historians," as their …

Finding A Community Niche: Rethinking Historic House Museums In Oregon, Liza Julene Schade

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis discusses current preservation and public history in the field of historic house museums in Oregon, looking at two case studies that are undergoing processes of reinterpretation. The first chapter provides a brief history of heritage preservation in the United States, describes the spectrum of historic homes, and presents a key framework of four factors that need to be addressed when evaluating sites today. Current methodology refers to reinterpretation of sites to be more diverse, working with collections, doing research and restaging, along with innovating new programs. Public access and engagement pertain to finding a unique niche in the …

Blind Spots And Bottlenecks For Philosophy Of History, Bennett B. Gilbert

University Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Realist history does not meet many human needs. History needs a great deal more philosophy, but of what kind?

In his essay on this blog, "Reflections on Theory of History Polyphonic," Ethan Kleinberg suggests that historians often use theory to block change in their work rather than to advance it. One way they do this, he points out, is to include a little theory in order to inoculate themselves against greater and more fundamental challenges. They give or take a blow, and then hoist up their shield, thereby avoiding philosophy and miniaturizing it into "historical theory."

I cannot …

Pdx Protests, Summer 2020: A Syllabus And Timeline, Francheska Cannone, Nate Belcik, Macy Franken, Kelly Green, Sarah Harris, Philippe Kerstens, Vicky White, Katrine Barber

PDXOpen: Open Educational Resources

This syllabus and timeline of the protests organized in Portland throughout the summer and early fall of 2020 was compiled and written by Portland State University students enrolled in Professor Katrine Barber’s HST 4/593, Introduction to Public History in Fall 2020. It was prepared in partnership with the Oregon State University Press and presented to them at the conclusion of the course. It combines local Portland journalism with a number of other scholarly resources to attempt to answer the question: “Why Portland?” The goals of the project at the outset were to correct inaccuracies or oversights in national coverage of …

Battle Rock: Anatomy Of A Massacre, Adam R. Fitzhugh

Dissertations and Theses

On June 9, 1851, nine men under the direction of a steamboat captain and land speculator named William Tichenor landed on the southern coast of the Oregon Territory at present-day Port Orford with the intention of establishing a permanent settlement. Tichenor's plan was to establish a commercial port that would supply gold mining endeavors in the interior. The landing party's instructions were to survey the townsite while Tichenor traveled to San Francisco to gather more men and supplies. Before departing, he promised the group he would return in exactly two weeks. He also assured them that the local Quatomah Indians, …

Judicial Review As An Instrument Of Natural Rights Theory: An Intellectual History, James M. Masnov

Dissertations and Theses

The unique and antidemocratic power of judicial review by the United States Supreme Court is not a bug, but a feature. Its role was critical in establishing and affirming a separation of powers horizontally among the federal branches as well as vertically between the federal government and the individual states. More than this, the Court's power of judicial review acts as an instrument of rights theory and is informed by a rich and rarely-discussed intellectual history. Though judicial review as a mode of constitutional law and the legal history surrounding it has been discussed by various legal scholars, political scientists, …

When I Was A Young Girl: Gender And Race In The Life Archives Of Criminal Transportation, Nick Townsend

University Honors Theses

In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, the carceral system in England shifted away from corporal punishment and moved towards containing and policing those deemed criminal in different ways. One notable way was transportation, the practice of moving convicts out of the imperial core into a colony. This practice became a way to remove "lesser" populations from England and regulate social behavior while also expanding the British Empire and allowed convicts a new purpose in expanding the carceral state. This developed alongside the broader trends of racialization and colonization in the British Empire, which drew a global color line separating "white" …

Vestiges Of Propaganda: Postage Stamps Issued By The Third Reich In Poland And The Netherlands During The Second World War, Olivia Phillips

University Honors Theses

This thesis hopes to bridge the gap between philately and history and examines how postage stamps issued by the Third Reich during the Second World War portrayed their colonial and racial policy in the Netherlands and Poland. Through my research where I examine Nazi primary source documents and rely on an expansive discourse community whose focus is communications theory, postal history, and colonial history, I focus on how these stamps were an extension of the Reich’s Ministry for Propaganda. Dutch stamps closely align with German-issued stamps from the same period, through the depiction of hypermasculine men in a rural setting …

Session 2: Panel 1: Presenter 1 (Paper) -- The Struggle Of The Soul Medieval Women Mystics And The Constraints Of The Orthodoxy, Kasaundra A. Bonanno

Young Historians Conference

First Corinthians 14:34 tells us, “let your women keep silence in the churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak.” But what happened when medieval women in the 12-15th centuries did speak, and what techniques did they apply to gain credibility? This paper explores the various methods (along with cultural aspects such as the appearance of piousness) women mystics utilized to gain power within the Church in a time when their voices were silenced, and the factors that allowed individuals such as Catherine of Siena to gain incredible influence where individuals like Joan of Arc were burned at …

Session 2: Panel 3: Presenter 1 (Paper) -- Friend Or Foe?: The American Response To The Armenian Genocide, 1890-1920, Mete Bakircioglu

Young Historians Conference

This paper analyzes how the American response to the Armenian Genocide was riddled with neglect, false promises, and selfish intentions. Beginning in the early 20th century, the American public was galvanized in support of Armenians under the oppressive rule of the Ottoman Empire, but Congress prioritized relations with the Empire and passed no foreign policy to ameliorate the plight of Armenians. The United States’ posturing as an international arbiter of justice, especially during the Wilson Administration, was a façade to expand global influence.

Session 2: Panel 3: Presenter 2 (Paper) -- The Anti-Chinese Movement And The Chinese Exclusion Act Of 1882, Melanie Du

Young Historians Conference

The paper goes into detail about the history of the Chinese in America beginning at their first large immigration to the U.S. during the Gold Rush period and ending in the early 1900s when anti-Chinese legislation was finally banned. The focus is on the influence of labor unions on anti-Chinese legislation and how their protests ultimately influenced the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, the first of its kind to restrict immigration of an entire race. The paper follows how labor unions were able to develop a regional issue into a national one in order to achieve their goal of …

Session 2: Panel 3: Presenter 4 (Paper) -- Internment: The Legal Challenges And Effects Of Displacement On Japanese Americans, Arianna S. Sinlapasai-Okamura

Young Historians Conference

Although the history of Executive Order 9066 and the subsequent Japanese-American internment is well known, the legal struggles against the internment process and the consequences of that displacement are often overlooked. In an attempt to end policies that were primarily motivated by racial prejudice, four first-generation Japanese Americans took it upon themselves to appeal four different cases to the Supreme Court. However, it was not until the decision of the last of the four Supreme Court cases, Ex Parte Endo, that Japanese Americans received even a sliver of justice for the discrimination they had faced. Having lost their work, homes, …

Session 2: Panel 2: Presenter 3 (Paper) -- Silver Mining And Commerce: Initiation Of The Global Economy, Celeste Johnson

Young Historians Conference

Silver was the metal that initiated interdependence throughout the world; establishing connections between all sectors of the globe. From as early as 3,000 BCE, to the present day, silver production has uniquely inspired the way our modern society has formed and how it functions. Silver’s influence can be tracked through three epochs of time: 3,000 BCE - 1500 CE, 1400-1800, and 1850-present. During the earliest period, introductory mining practices, cross-cultural trade, methods of processing technology, and the beginning of coins, are shown in relation to select societies to demonstrate impacts and influence—the Egyptians, the Greek Empire, the Roman Empire, and …

Session 2: Panel 1: Presenter 2 (Paper) -- Pope Leo X And The St. Peter’S Indulgence: The Accidental Path To Reformation And Church Fragmentation, Charlotte Levine

Young Historians Conference

Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, the concept of of Original Sin has defined prayer and ritual. As this idea evolved throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, its teachings proved to be profitable, as exemplified by the creation of indulgences. This paper examines the sale of indulgences for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica under the jurisdiction of Pope Leo X from 1515–1518, and its implications on the Catholic Church’s splintering authority in Western Europe. As a direct effect of the use of indulgences for financial gain, Martin Luther wrote and presented his Ninety Five Theses, an event widely …

Session 2: Panel 2: Presenter 1 (Paper) -- A Brief History Of Footwear, Tobias B. Boudreau

Young Historians Conference

The use of footwear as a unit of analysis will help historians re-evaluate the relationship between technological diffusion and culture. Shoes are a common item across the globe, regardless of geographical, cultural, and economic divisions, and have been for a long time. Footwear reflects the sociopolitical, economic, and cultural environment of its owner, as well as characteristics of the owner themself. Shoes have taken on significant symbolic roles in art, literature, and everyday life. Essay is divided into four sections; Prehistory, Ancient, Middle Ages, Modern. Various examples from each time period are explained, compared with one another, and connected together …

Session 2: Panel 1: Presenter 3 (Paper) -- Hunting Power Through Witch Hunts In Early Modern Scotland, Devika D. Narendra

Young Historians Conference

Witch hunts occurred throughout early modern Europe and few countries were unaffected by the rampant prosecution of “witches.” Although many places experienced such witch hunts, Scotland uniquely saw a rapid increase in witch trials during the reign of King James the VI. The King, who prior to ascending the throne had not expressed interest in the prosecution of witches, suddenly focused his leadership on witch hunts. This paper explores the reasons King James VI increased Scotland’s witch prosecutions. Specifically, this paper analyzes how the increasing witch trials were correlated to various attacks on King James’ power and how the prosecutions …

Session 2: Panel 2: Presenter 2 (Paper) -- The History Of Bathing: A Cross-Cultural Tradition, Ben Iboshi

Young Historians Conference

This essay discusses how bathing practices worldwide have evolved throughout history through cultural interaction. While there is much literature on how bathing practices in specific regions have changed over time, few take a global perspective and track where bathing rituals originate and how they spread. Using bathing as a unit of analysis can reveal interactions and influences between cultures. The essay is divided into three periods in which bathing practices are analyzed: ancient, medieval, and modern. In the ancient period, the spread of Hindu and Buddhist bathing practices is discussed, as well as how Greek bathing practices went on to …

Session 1: Panel 2: Presenter 3 (Paper) -- Nonbinary Significance: Roles And Perceptions Throughout History, Minami S. Powers

Young Historians Conference

Nonbinary people existed in many different cultures and often held special or important roles before their presence was decimated by colonization. Despite this, nonbinary people are still around today, whether with a cultural aspect to their identity or not. In this paper, three cultural examples are given. The hijra of India have been around for a long time, and are considered able to bless people. The British came and enacted laws that led them to be majorly stigmatized, and today they are still struggling to gain acceptance. Similarly, in Indonesia, the bissu have been priests for hundreds of years, and …

Session 1: Panel 2: Presenter 1 (Paper) -- The Gay Rights Movement: A Reaction To The Lavender Scare, Brianna Michelle Anderson

Young Historians Conference

In the 1950s, the federal government began to systematically root out gay individuals from the civil service in what is known as the “Lavender Scare.” This eradication paralleled McCarthyism and was apart of the larger homophobic culture. A closer look at the media reveals how this panic was spread throughout the nation. Despite persecution in and out of the workplace, the voices of those oppressed were not irreversibly silenced. In fact, the Lavender Scare gave rise to pioneers of the gay rights movement, nearly a decade before the Stonewall Riots.

Session 1: Panel 1: Presenter 3 (Paper) -- The Alaska Native Claim Settlement Act: The Impact On Alaskan Natives, Madeleine G. Stewart

Young Historians Conference

Alaska Natives have been living on the land that is now known as Alaska since time immemorial. Although that is the case, legally that does not give them immediate rights to the land in the colonial world. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANSCA) was put in place to resolve the aboriginal land claims that were ignored when Alaska became a state in 1959. This forced Alaskan Natives to come together and make an agreement with the United States government. In the end, ANCSA made it possible to exploit the land for natural resources, which greatly impacted and …

Session 1: Panel 1: Presenter 2 (Paper) -- The Rogue River War 1855-1856, Sara E. Shallenberger

Young Historians Conference

The Rogue River War of 1855 to 1856 was a series of armed conflicts fought between U.S. Army regulars, local militia, and a conglomerate of indigenous groups in the Rogue River watershed. The main cause of the conflict was the intrusion of white settlers and miners into the territory of the indigenous people of the Rogue River. These white immigrants misused resources upon which the local indigenous people relied and violently retaliated against local indigenous people for misdeeds they often did not commit. The Lupton Massacre, Battle of Hungry Hill, and the Battle of Big Bend serve as critical points …

Session 1: Panel 3: Presenter 1 (Paper) -- Fight For Star Wars: The Reagan Doctrine And The Ending Of The Cold War, Roselyn S. Dai

Young Historians Conference

The strenuous conflict between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, which persisted for over four decades, finally came to a close in the early 1990’s, shortly after the presidency of Ronald Reagan. A common assumption is that Reagan’s hardline foreign policies and weapons buildup finally forced the Soviet Union to back down. However, this assumption is only a small portion of the picture. The cause for the ending of the Cold War is a much more nuanced story centered not only around the arms race but also the collapsing Soviet economy and the domestic issues of …

Session 1: Panel 3: Presenter 3 (Paper) -- The Reforms Of Mikhail Gorbachev And Their Effect On The Ussr, Fevronia M. Van Sickle

Young Historians Conference

This paper explores the influence of Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies on Soviet governance in relation to the USSR’s foundational ideology of communism, and the factors that led to the Union’s demise.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, most commonly referred to as the USSR, came into being in the early 20th century and lasted only around seventy years. Built upon revolutionary Marxist ideology, the USSR governed according to the ideology of communism while simultaneously contradicting the very ideology that formed its foundations, such as clinging to the existence of a state. Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the …

Session 1: Panel 2: Presenter 2 (Paper) -- The Irish Language And Nationalism In The 20th Century, Charlotte Cody

Young Historians Conference

Under centuries of British colonial rule, mass emigration, and discriminatory laws, the Irish language took a secondary position to English. As Irish nationalist ideology gained momentum in the early 20th century, Irish became useful and popular as a powerful symbol of resilience and a discrete national identity. However, the significance of Irish to nationalism had a mixed impact on its perception across the island due to the violence and sectarianism that accompanied the struggle for independence. This paper explores the influence that this divisive history had and continues to exert on the perception of and legislation supporting the Irish language, …

Session 1: Panel 1: Presenter 1 (Paper) -- “To Hell Or Connaught:” How British Colonizers Both Caused And Benefitted From The Irish Potato Famine, Ruby Lewis

Young Historians Conference

The Irish potato famine is well-known for the suffering and death it inflicted upon the masses of Irish peasantry between 1845 and 1848. The famine is often remembered and mourned as the tragic but unavoidable result of natural circumstances, and the blight that swept through the potato crop year after year is attributed as the sole cause of starvation. This misrepresentation of the famine’s history ignores the role of the British colonizer state in establishing conditions in Ireland that led to famine and exacerbating the suffering of the Irish through neglect. This paper explores the role of the British colonial …