Student Awards,
2026
Brigham Young University
Student Awards
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing
Awards for Outstanding Papers Written in 2025
Dam Negotiations: Water, Diné Sovereignty, And The Navajo Dam,
2026
Brigham Young University - Provo
Dam Negotiations: Water, Diné Sovereignty, And The Navajo Dam, George Smith
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing
On July 30, 1958, contractors working for the Bureau of Reclamation broke ground on the Navajo Dam, located about 35 miles east of Farmington, New Mexico. Diné Tribal chairman Paul Jones had called the dam a “new hope for [his] people,” anticipating increased agricultural and industrial capacity from irrigation and flow management. Though officially approved in 1962, the contingent Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIIP) that was to provide those many of those benefits remained to be completed in 2024. By contrast, the San Juan Chama Project (SJCP), the other project contingent upon the dam, diverted water from the San Juan …
Marcion And The Crisis Of Second-Century Christianity,
2026
Brigham Young University - Provo
Marcion And The Crisis Of Second-Century Christianity, Samuel Petersen
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing
Almost a century after the death of Christ and his original apostles, the 2nd-century Judeo-Christian church found itself in a vicious struggle for survival catalyzed by an ongoing negotiation between the church’s traditional Jewish roots and establishing its own identity. The loose confederation of Jesus-believers fought to gather themselves into a functional body as they wrestled with questions surrounding the very nature of the Christian faith.
“No Hen Should Herald The Dawn Lest Misfortune Follow”: Gender, History, And Power Sima Guang’S Comprehensive Mirror,
2026
Brigham Young University - Provo
“No Hen Should Herald The Dawn Lest Misfortune Follow”: Gender, History, And Power Sima Guang’S Comprehensive Mirror, Zoe Ngan
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing
It was not a particularly notable occasion when Emperor Gaozong 高宗 of the Tang dynasty (AD 618–907) established Wu Zetian 武則天 as a mid-ranked concubine in 654. Emperors, throughout Chinese history, were polygamous rulers who acquired no shortage of concubines per the Rites of Zhou 周禮, an ancient ritual text which proposed that rulers obtain 121 wives and consorts. Wu’s nomination signified the unpredictability of imperial favour and almost certainly did not turn heads when her appointment occurred.
“I, Too, Want To Be Free”: Women And The Birth Control Movement In Utah, 1914–1940,
2026
Brigham Young University - Provo
“I, Too, Want To Be Free”: Women And The Birth Control Movement In Utah, 1914–1940, Evelyn Wilcox
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing
Like many other women, I too, want to be free,” explained a 33-year- old Utah woman in a 1925 letter to Margaret Sanger, a prominent leader in the birth control movement. This woman, whose name is unknown, was married to a 78-year- old man with whom, she thought, “in her ignorance,” that she would never have any children—she was proven wrong. With six children under the age of eight at the time and wanting to prevent having more, this woman’s predicament reflects Sanger’s mission to inform everyday women of birth control so they could make their own reproductive choices. After …
Christianity Behind The Iron Curtain: How Creative Arts Gave A Voice To The Voiceless,
2026
Brigham Young University - Provo
Christianity Behind The Iron Curtain: How Creative Arts Gave A Voice To The Voiceless, Riana Johnson Wills
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing
In 1988, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) held celebrations across the Soviet Union to mark the Millennium of Christianity in Russia, commemorating a thousand years since the baptism of Rus in 988. While this was a monumental day for Christians, many believers across the Soviet Union felt a sense of dissonance. For decades, religious freedom and worship had not been privileges they enjoyed. Thousands of Christians suffered for their belief. The communist regime began in 1922 with Vladimir Lenin. The USSR built upon Marxist ideology where atheism is a fundamental and they expected nationwide compliance to these ideologies. …
Rationed Victory: A Study Of American Civilian Rationing In World War Ii,
2026
Brigham Young University - Provo
Rationed Victory: A Study Of American Civilian Rationing In World War Ii, Alex Moulder
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing
In any conflict or competition it is often said that the winner is “fueled to victory.” This could come as a result of training, diet, stamina, support from others, or sheer willpower. Even small variations in any of these elements can have significant consequences and affect outcomes. The same can be said about civilians during wartime, especially during the largest conflict of the twentieth century, World War II. The war cemented the United States as a global power, thanks in part to its massive economy, technologies, and industries, which helped to overcome the war of attrition against the Axis powers. …
“It Was The Women Who Kept It On”: The 1984–85 National Union Of Mineworkers Strike In Wales,
2026
Brigham Young University - Provo
“It Was The Women Who Kept It On”: The 1984–85 National Union Of Mineworkers Strike In Wales, Brett Bodily
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing
On March 3rd, 1984, more than 140,000 miners, all members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) walked out on strike in protest of proposed colliery, or “pit” closures. Years of disputes culminated in a major showdown between the largest labor union in the United Kingdom and a resurgent national conservatism led by Margaret Thatcher— leader of the Tory party. The communities built around coal mining recognized the Tory pit closure plan for what it was—an existential threat to their way of life. Women within these communities rose to the occasion and took on leadership and organizational responsibilities, many for …
Leasing Land, Losing Sovereignty: Us Military Land Leasing In Okinawa, Japan,
2026
Brigham Young University - Provo
Leasing Land, Losing Sovereignty: Us Military Land Leasing In Okinawa, Japan, Kathryn Blau
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing
Military land leasing in Okinawa has played a central role in limiting Okinawan political sovereignty since the end of World War II by fostering economic dependence on US military bases and enabling policies that override local opposition. Tracing the evolution of the leasing system under both American occupation and Japanese administration reveals how land expropriation, compensation policies, and increasingly generous financial incentives encouraged reliance on base-related income while discouraging advocacy for land reversion and base reduction. The analysis further demonstrates how the Japanese government's legal enforcement of mandatory lease renewals, particularly during the 1996 Okinawa land dispute, curtailed the rights …
Editor's Preface,
2026
Brigham Young University - Provo
Editor's Preface, Gabe Smock
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing
This editor's preface explores the origins and enduring mission of The Thetean, BYU's undergraduate history journal. Through archival research in the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, the journal's founding history is traced to its inaugural 1967 edition, revealing the origin, pronunciation, and meaning of its distinctive name as a reference to Phi Alpha Theta, the history honor society. The preface highlights the journal's longstanding commitment to encouraging scholarly research, providing publication opportunities, and introducing students to the work of historians. By recovering the journal's own history, it underscores the broader value of historical inquiry: understanding the past to better …
Front Matter,
2026
Brigham Young University
Front Matter
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing
No abstract provided.
Review Of "He Did Not Conquer: Benjamin Franklin’S Failure To Annex Canada" By Madelaine Drohan,
2026
Wilfrid Laurier University
Review Of "He Did Not Conquer: Benjamin Franklin’S Failure To Annex Canada" By Madelaine Drohan, Steven Bright
Canadian Military History
Review of He Did Not Conquer: Benjamin Franklin’s Failure to Annex Canada by Madelaine Drohan
Review Of "The Mud And The Mirth: Marine Cartoonists In World War I" By Cord Scott, "They Were Chosin: U.S. Marine Cartoonists In The Korean War" By Cord Scott And "The First Black Marines: An Oral History, A Graphic History" By Trevor R. Getz, Robert Willis, Joseph H. Geeter Iii And Liz Clarke,
2026
Wilfrid Laurier University
Review Of "The Mud And The Mirth: Marine Cartoonists In World War I" By Cord Scott, "They Were Chosin: U.S. Marine Cartoonists In The Korean War" By Cord Scott And "The First Black Marines: An Oral History, A Graphic History" By Trevor R. Getz, Robert Willis, Joseph H. Geeter Iii And Liz Clarke, Matthew Barrett
Canadian Military History
Review of The Mud and the Mirth: Marine Cartoonists in World War I by Cord Scott, They Were Chosin: U.S. Marine Cartoonists in the Korean War by Cord Scott and The First Black Marines: An Oral History, A Graphic History by Trevor R. Getz, Robert Willis, Joseph H. Geeter III and Liz Clarke
Back Matter,
2026
University of Texas at Arlington
Full Issue,
2026
University of Texas at Arlington
Museum Of The American Gi, College Station, Texas,
2026
Texas A&M University
Museum Of The American Gi, College Station, Texas, Gregory A. Daddis
Journal of Texas History
No abstract provided.
George I. Sánchez: “I Am The Man You Think I Am.” Exhibit. Monica Muñoz Martinez And Annette Rodríguez, Curators. May 4–December 21, 2025, University Of Texas At Austin, College Of Education, George I. Sánchez Building,
2026
Texas A&M University-San Antonio
George I. Sánchez: “I Am The Man You Think I Am.” Exhibit. Monica Muñoz Martinez And Annette Rodríguez, Curators. May 4–December 21, 2025, University Of Texas At Austin, College Of Education, George I. Sánchez Building, Philis Barragán Goetz
Journal of Texas History
No abstract provided.
San Antonio Missions World Heritage Center, San Antonio, Tx,
2026
Texas A&M University Libraries
San Antonio Missions World Heritage Center, San Antonio, Tx, Joel Daniel Kitchens
Journal of Texas History
No abstract provided.
Roots Unveiled: Chinese American History 1783-1945. Exhibition. Austin Public Library, Central Library, May 18–August 31, 2025. Presented By The Asian American Art & Culture Initiative. Curated By Xuhua (Sylvia) Zhan.,
2026
University of Melbourne
Roots Unveiled: Chinese American History 1783-1945. Exhibition. Austin Public Library, Central Library, May 18–August 31, 2025. Presented By The Asian American Art & Culture Initiative. Curated By Xuhua (Sylvia) Zhan., Shouyue Zhang
Journal of Texas History
No abstract provided.
Public History Editor’S Note,
2026
Alliance for Texas History
Public History Editor’S Note, Justin Randolph
Journal of Texas History
No abstract provided.
