Digital Commons Network^™

The Harvey Pittel Saxophone Quartet: Its History And Legacy In American Saxophone Quartet Performance, James M. Lawhn

Glenn Korff School of Music: Dissertations, Theses, Student Creative Work, and Performances

The saxophone quartet has emerged as a legitimate chamber ensemble in the United States through the sustained efforts of a small number of pioneering professional groups. Despite the central role these ensembles have played in shaping repertoire, performance standards, and public perception, their histories have often gone undocumented. Among the most influential of these groups is the Harvey Pittel Saxophone Quartet, an ensemble that maintained an unusually active national and international touring career for nearly four decades and helped establish the saxophone quartet as a viable professional model.

This document addresses a significant gap in the scholarly literature by presenting …

A Qualitative Study Of Journalism Course Syllabi In Relation To The First Amendment, Elizabeth L. Bunnell

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

The goal of this research is to gain more insight into collegiate journalism course syllabi and the First Amendment. The First Amendment is a foundational aspect for a career in journalism, and one way to learn how college journalism students are interacting with the First Amendment is to conduct a qualitative analysis of the syllabi. A syllabus is the contract between professor and student for the course; therefore, it should contain the most important information relating to the course. 47 syllabi were collected from the School of Journalism and Strategic Media from the Spring 2025 semester. After reading through each …

Full Issue

The Bridge

No abstract provided.

Home: Transforming A Public Arts Grant Into A Community Project, Scarlett G. Baily

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

Home is a 2,535 ft² site-specific mural in San Diego’s Liberty Station that reconnects the site’s military history with Kumeyaay Indigenous heritage and maritime culture. Through depictions of native flora and fauna, the work foregrounds overlooked origin stories and ecological knowledge of Point Loma. Developed through deep community collaboration, including Kumeyaay advisors and over 100 local participants, the mural fosters shared authorship and cultural continuity. It invites viewers to engage with alternative histories while supporting language revitalization and environmental awareness.

Golden Age Or Gilded Cage? The Rise And Dissolution Of The Olympic Art Competitions, 1912–1948, Stella E. Gatziolis

Young Historians Conference

In 1912, Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s modern day Olympics celebrated not only its five year anniversary, but the first inclusion of the Olympic Art Competitions. Resembling a neo-Renaissance, Coubertin envisioned a “balance of the muscle and the mind” through the unity of the physical and intellectual. But by 1948, the art competitions had collapsed, leaving the social experiment to be forgotten by future generations. Drawing upon personal testimony from Coubertin and his loyal successors, and records from the International Olympic Committee, this paper explores how Coubertin’s extreme dedication to a pure and sanctified Neoclassical ideal led to the art competition’s …

From Mogadishu To Minneapolis: Transnational Political And Social Ties In The Somali Diaspora, Kate E. Mcfarland

Young Historians Conference

Beginning in the 1980s, Somalis have fled Somalia in order to escape persecution and political violence, find new economic opportunities, and achieve a better life. One major destination of these migrants is Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is now home to over 80,000 Somalis, making up 18% of Minneapolis’ population. Due to this sizable Somali enclave, Minneapolis and Somalia have created and maintained a transnational relationship. This paper examines that relationship, focusing on the causes of the Somali diaspora, evidence of transnational connections (such as remittances, cultural exchange, and political effects), and the challenges that threaten this tie. Understanding this relationship is …

The Prominent Voice Of Cold War Era Radio: The 1968 Soviet Union Invasion Of Czechoslovakia, Zuzana E. Langer

Young Historians Conference

This paper explores the influence of radio and free press during the Prague Spring and subsequent Soviet Union invasion of Czechoslovakia during the Cold War. After the Prague Spring, a brief period of growing freedom stemming from Alexander Dubček’s transition out of strict socialist censorship, the Soviet Union orchestrated a military invasion of the socialist satellite state. During this invasion, radio transmitters in Prague informed listeners that the invasion was against the Czechoslovak’s government’s will and instructed Czech and Slovak citizens to remain calm and protest nonviolently. By analyzing the emergence of the free press from the Prague Spring and …

Rhetoric, Shakespeare, And Tony Soprano: The Influence Of Suetonius's The Life Of Julius Caesar In Personalizing The Leader, Eben N. Cole

Young Historians Conference

History has presented a group of leaders who have been frequently studied and written about; Julius Caesar is among these leaders. The common historical narrative which examines his life has brought particular attention to not only Julius Caesar's leadership, but also Caesar as an individual. During the 2nd century CE, in Ancient Rome, the writer Suetonius published his 12 Caesars, a collection of biographies that included Suetonius's biography of Julius Caesar. Throughout the 12 Caesars, Suetonius would depict his subjects in a manner that was less factual than other biographies which preceded his, yet the 12 Caesars became more influential …

Subversive Shooting: How Annie Oakley Rose To Nationwide Notoriety, Sycan I. Jones

Young Historians Conference

Annie Oakley was a famous female sharpshooter in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show for over 16 years. Despite being a woman in a largely male-dominated profession, she became a nationwide sensation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, outpacing other female shooters who followed her example. This paper seeks to analyze how specific attributes of Oakley’s feminine persona supported her unprecedented success amidst changing cultural values. Photos and videos of Oakley and secondary scholarship focused on Oakley’s role in western expansion reveal how Oakley leveraged her femininity to create a name for herself and took advantage of burgeoning new …

The Kraken Wakes: Myth, Science, And The Rise Of A Maritime Sensation, From 1750-1900, Leif G. Crockett

Young Historians Conference

Since the 1800s, the legend of the Kraken has pervaded literature, but this creature is much older, figuring in Norwegian myths as early as the 13th century. The modern understanding of the Kraken can be traced back to the 1750s writing of Bishop Erik Pontoppidan, who described the monster with fantastical and analytical detail. An interrogation of Pontoppidan’s text, as well as novels, poetry, and other media sources from the 19th century—many of which reference the Bishop by name—uncovers Pontoppidan’s influence on later stories of the Kraken. Coupled with an analysis of secondary scholarship on the changing dynamics of science …

Integration As Resistance: How Palestinian Chileans Have Acted As Transnational Activists From 1870-2008, Eloise H. Brentano

Young Historians Conference

Spurred by violence and persecution, countless groups across the Middle East have engaged in transnational migration across history. One such group, Palestinians, have embraced transnationalism as a cornerstone of their identity as a stateless nation. Beginning in the wake of the Crimean War, and later following the establishment of the state of Israel, many Palestinians immigrated to Chile’s capital, Santiago de Chile. There, they have engaged in cross-cultural interactions with Chileans in order to harness their economic, political, athletic, and artistic customs as unique forms of activism in the absence of proper diplomacy with any Palestinian state. While some Palestinian …

36th Annual Young Historians Conference Program, Portland State University History Department, Portland State University Challenge Program

Young Historians Conference

This is the 2026 Young Historians Conference schedule and abstracts.

Causes And Drivers Of Constitutional Change In The Roman Republic, Tarin Gatchell

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Using a narrative of the fall of the Roman Republic, the present work explains how constitutions change. First, a definition of "constitution" is developed as the amalgamation of traditions, customs, social mores and culture as they relate to the act of governing. Second, theories of so-called personal and stately glory, Heroic “Great Men,” and legendary stories both from a society’s past and stories that are being played out and participated in by the people of an era, are introduced and discussed to explain the forces of constitutional change in the Roman Republican context. A historical narrative example from the career …

Redefining Certainty: Non-Euclidean Geometry And Theology Transformation Throughout The Intellectual Unrest Of The Early 1800s, Luke Bensinger

Honors Theses

To bridge the gap between mathematics and theology, it is necessary to explore their intersection and challenge the notion that these fields are incompatible. This study focuses on the 19th century, a period when non-Euclidean geometries emerged and disrupted mathematical certainty, while Protestant theologians such as Barton W. Stone and Alexander Campbell grappled with Calvinism and shifting theological perspectives. By analyzing mathematicians studying geometry, such as Gauss, Lobachevsky, and Riemann, this research examines how both disciplines balance change with enduring truths.

Catur Piwulang: The Concept Of Great Leaders In Javanese Paradigm, Nuri Puji Hastuti

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Leaders can be a key factor in determining whether a nation experiences a flourishing or declining period. However, numerous phenomena indicate that Indonesia is losing its great leaders. Based on this problem, this research aims to explain and describe the forms, meanings, and functions of catur piwulang as the concept of great leaders in the Javanese paradigm. A descriptive qualitative method has been used. The syntax consists of data collection, reduction, display data, and conclusion. Data validity was checked through the triangulation of theories, resources, and techniques. The forms of catur piwulang are 1) wewehono teken, teken wong kalunyon, …

Repatriasi Lukisan Pita Maha Dan Penguatan Historiografi Seni Rupa Modern Bali, Citra Smara Dewi, Sabila Duhita Drijono

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This article examines the repatriation of Pita Maha paintings from the 1930s to 1940s, which were returned by the Government of the Netherlands to Indonesia in 2024. Pita Maha, an artistic movement established in Ubud, Bali in 1936, holds an important position in art historiography as a key contributor to the development of modern Balinese painting. The repatriation of these works provides an opportunity to reconsider and expand existing historical narratives. Accordingly, this study aims to contribute to the enrichment of the historiography of modern Balinese painting. The research employs a historical method —encompassing heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography— …

Féminicide: Institutional Silence On The Screams Of Murdered Women In France, M. Afif Alfadin Syarif, Airin Miranda

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Rising awareness of women's homicide in France has challenged the government to provide an adequate legal response, as feminist groups began advocating and expressing the discourse on women's homicide since 2014 through the term féminicide. The nature of this crime remains contentious in legal discourse, particularly given the significant rise in féminicide cases in 2019. This study, therefore, aims to examine the phenomenon of féminicide in France, exploring both the discourse surrounding it and the legal responses from the government. Drawing on 46 cases recorded in 2023 by the feminist collective #NousToutes, and with particular attention to relevant legal …

Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin Ii (Smb Ii): Kajian Sejarah Dan Arkeologi Islam Kesultanan Palembang Darussalam, Wahyu Rizky Andhifani, Nor Huda Ali Nha

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

The intellectual, architectural, and artifactual heritage of the Palembang Darussalam Sultanate during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II (1767–1852) is examined in this study using a historical archaeological approach and textual analysis of manuscripts, buildings, and royal tombstones. This study assumes that Palembang functions as a political force and a centre of Islamic-Malay knowledge. The results show that the Palembang palace functioned as an epistemic space that combined religious understanding (tafaqquh fi al-dīn) and Islamic nobility, as evidenced by religious works such as the Syair Burung Nuri and legal documents (piyagêm) written in the Palembang script. The architecture of …

Timbangan Buku: Mendekolonisasi Komunikasi Politik Di Afrika - Menyusun Ulang Ontologi, Murliana Murliana

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

No abstract provided.

Makna ‘Indah’ Lukisan ‘Kebakaran Hutan’ Raden Saleh Sebagai Perlawanan Konsep Pemikiran ‘Mooie Indiëm', Dionisius Krisnambudi, Sri Kusumo Habsari, Eva Farhah

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

The concept of "beautiful Indies" (mooie Indië) is understood as a project of visual discourse transformation in the Dutch East Indies. This study highlights Raden Saleh's painting "Forest Fire", which represents a romantic manifestation while simultaneously challenging colonial narratives about nature and society in the Indies. The aim of the research is to reveal the trans-cultural visual strategies employed by Raden Saleh in constructing a counter-discourse to colonial representation. The study adopts a qualitative-interpretative approach using heuristic methods, source criticism, and montage analysis, contextualized within Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical framework. Montage analysis is applied by juxtaposing and reassembling visual, …

The Dwellings Of Ybor City Project: Using Archival Recovery And Mapping To Examine Historical Erasure, Stephanie M. Mackin

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

This article examines how digital archives and spatial humanities can address historical erasure. It focuses on reconstructing the lost residential landscapes of Ybor City, a culturally significant Tampa, Florida, neighborhood. The area was transformed by mid-twentieth-century slum clearance and urban renewal. The Dwellings of Ybor City project uses archival theory, participatory ethics, and GIS-based storytelling to geolocate and reinterpret a Depression-era album called "Photographs Showing Dwellings in the Ybor Slum Area." By pairing digitized historical photographs with contemporary rephotography and mapping them to their original sites, the project restores visibility to homes and neighborhoods largely erased from both the physical …

(Review Of) Monica Ciobanu And Mihaela Șerban, Eds. Between The Memory And Post-Memory Of Communism In Romania: Fluid Memories, Stefan Cristian Ionescu

History Faculty Articles and Research

A review of Monica Ciobanu and Mihaela Șerban's Between the Memory and Post-Memory of Communism in Romania: Fluid Memories.

Americanism In The Soviet Union: How Albert Kahn Industrialized The Soviet Union, Daniel Leclair

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The aim of this dissertation is to examine Albert Kahn’s influence on the Soviet Union during Joseph Stalin’s first five-year plan, how the Soviet Union influenced Albert Kahn and obstacles that Albert Kahn, Inc. faced from American news reporting. This research focuses on the significance of American news reporting on Albert Kahn’s first contract with the Soviet Union until after Albert Kahn’s death and Germany’s attack on Stalingrad in 1942. The opposition that Albert Kahn faced early on with his dealings with the Soviet Union, because of the red scare that the US faced between 1917 and 1920 and then …

Wrestling With The Cold War, Robert M. Barnum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines how professional wrestling functioned as a cultural arena through which Americans interpreted, dramatized, and emotionally processed the Cold War from the 1950s to the early 1990s. By analyzing wrestling storylines, character archetypes, promotional narratives, and fan responses, the study demonstrates that wrestling not only reflected prevailing geopolitical tensions but also actively shaped public perceptions of the ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. Throughout the Cold War, promotions deployed foreign “heel” characters—initially German and Japanese, later Soviet and Iranian—to embody national anxieties and reinforce patriotic sentiment. Soviet characters, including Nikolai Volkoff, Ivan Koloff, and …

Structural Corruption And Political Development In Arizona: Growth, Governance, And Accountability, 1912-1980, Kaitlin D'Amico

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation argues that corruption in twentieth-century Arizona flourished because the regulatory structures created during the Progressive era contained foundational vulnerabilities that were exposed and exploited by Sunbelt-era economic growth. While scholars have tended to treat Arizona’s corruption scandals as episodic, this study demonstrates that they were the predictable outcome of institutional weaknesses embedded at statehood. Covering Arizona’s political structures and identity from statehood in 1912 through the post-Bolles reform era ending in 1980, the dissertation focuses on institutional development while using Don Bolles’s investigations and 1976 assassination as a focal point. This study draws primarily on contemporary newspaper reporting, …

No Place To Stand: Gender, Discipline, And The Contradictions Of Military Womanhood, 1945–1975, Angela Bouma

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

From 1945 to 1975, American servicewomen stood inside an institution that depended on their labor while restricting their place within it. The post World War II military relied on women to sustain administrative, technical, and medical operations across a widening Cold War landscape, yet guarded the authority and recognition attached to combat and command. Women kept global communications running, delivered medical care in field hospitals, and carried out intelligence work that shaped military decisions. However, legal and cultural boundaries limited the reach of such contributions.

The 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act formalized this tension. Regular status came with ceilings …

Sean Combs (Diddy) And The Mann Act: A Historical Perspective On Race And Gender In Contemporary Issues, Leslie Duran Hinojosa

Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series II

No abstract provided.

Manufactured Urgency: A History Of Humanitarian Photography And The Politics Of Seeing, Dylan Ryu

Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series II

No abstract provided.

A Centurion’S Cause: The Origins Of Innocence Advocacy, Ben Chu

Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series II

No abstract provided.

Stigma, Community, And Blue Tickets: The Forgotten Stories Of Gay People Discharged From The Military In World War Ii, Kaila Castanon

Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series II

No abstract provided.