History Commons^™

The Wunsch's Of Morris: Empowerment In Time, Landon Shaw

Summer Research Showcase

When diving into history it is easy to find yourself lost in the text. This summer I got to actively sift through history bringing it to life searching to find the real depths that were waiting to be rediscovered. By working with Emily Bruce on studying the Wunsch family that lived in Morris I got to find out about the daughters of the family. In this study I find their lives and bring them into context as we look back at the difficulty of landholding as a woman and how these Wunsch sisters challenged and concurred with the demands of …

D2.05 Sesión De Ponencias 3: Archivo, Persistencia Y Metodología De La Praxis Rolera, Marcos O. Cabobianco, Carolina Ugarte, Lautaro Álamos, Flavio Damián Barale, Juan Bautista Solmonese, Julian Marcone, Cristo Leon, Felipe García Soriano, Daniel González Cohen

10mo Coloquio Internacional de Estudios sobre Juegos de Rol

Español
Tercera sesión de ponencias del 10mo Coloquio Internacional de Estudios sobre Juegos de Rol, dedicada a presentaciones académicas organizadas en un bloque temático del programa.

Información de ponencias

Ponente 3.1. Marcos O. Cabobianco.

Título: “Canon, grabaciones, notas y recuerdos: 35 años de praxis lúdica”

Ponente 3.2. Carolina Ugarte, Lautaro Álamos, Flavio Damián Barale y Juan Bautista Solmonese.

Título: “Más allá de la mesa: persistencia narrativa y meta-colaboración en el rol expandido”

Ponente 3.3.  Julian Marcone y Cristo Leon.

Título: “Archival Reactivation: Inverting Post-Depositional Drift in Long-Duration Ludic Praxis”

Ponente 3.4.  Felipe García Soriano y Daniel González Cohen …

Bridging Solidarity: Mapping Pittsburgh’S Strikes In A Digital And Inclusive Context, Glenna Van Dyke

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Bridging Solidarity is a digital map that fosters exploration of Pittsburgh’s long labor history. This project introduces audiences to fourteen strikes or strike-related conflicts across Allegheny County from the early nineteenth century to today, by combining secondary literature, newspapers, digital and physical archival material, visual media, and historic maps. Hosted in the platform HistoryPin, Bridging Solidarity promotes engagement with strikes across time and space, inspires an appreciation for local places, and highlights many diverging experiences within Pittsburgh’s labor movement. This essay contextualizes my work within three historic subfields: digital humanities, place-based public labor history, and diverse local labor history. First, …

The Great Camas, Campbell Martin-Wager

2026 Symposium

While often overlooked, the Pacific Northwest hosts several important Indigenous plants that would have been heavily relied on in many Coastal Salish diets hundreds of years ago. This presentation focuses on the historical importance of the Great Camas (also known as Camassia leichtlinii). This is a flower with a bulb that would be cooked and eaten by many Coastal Salish.  Alongside the flower, I will be going over my research trip to the San Juan Islands, and how I researched and made my project for an interpretive sign to be posted on the San Juan Islands. By bringing awareness …

When Healing Becomes Horror: Medical Malpractice And Institutional Fear, Taryn Prater

COD Library Student Research and Award Symposium

I studied medical malpractice through the lens of Monster Theory, examining how systemic failures, institutional silence, and cultural ideals shape harm in healthcare. I learned that malpractice is not only a legal issue, but a structural and ethical one, where fear and lack of transparency erode trust and impact both patients and providers.

Monstrous Medicine website

Faculty Sponsor: Professor Aleisha Balestri

Ramen: A History Of The Globally Loved Delicacy, Abigail Hendricksen

COD Library Student Research and Award Symposium

This project examines the history of ramen, tracing its development from Chinese noodle traditions to its adaptation in Japan and its global spread through industrialization and postwar change. It highlights how migration, war, and globalization shaped ramen into a widely consumed food and a symbol of cultural exchange and adaptation.

Faculty Sponsor:  Professor Maria Ritzema

Blueprints Of City Planning: How Function And Symbolism Have Shaped Our Cities, Elinor J. Stoll

Young Historians Conference

Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities. While that wasn’t always the case, cities have existed for millennia, and humans have been planning them for just as long. This paper examines the history of urban planning, from the Indus Valley civilization to Washington DC and New Orleans, into the future of planned cities like the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia. It examines the commonalities between cities across time and establishes a timeline of the emergence of different patterns in city planning history. Among the examples discussed are the Indus Valley civilization, the Ancient Greek city of …

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 …

Nation-Building On Pillars Of Fascism: How Italian Fascist Ideals Have Remained Alive In Eritrean Identity Through The Asmaran Urban Landscape, Caspian Green

Young Historians Conference

Roughly a third of Eritrea’s time as an Italian colony was spent under fascist rule, during which the Italian colonists dramatically changed the Asmaran urban environment, as well as its relationship with the rest of the Eritrean colony, to reflect fascist principles. After the fall of the Italian colonial empire, Eritrean political leaders sought to use the physical landscape to justify their claims to sovereignty, reapplying those pre-existing fascist principles to Eritrean nationalism. By examining Italian-Asmaran buildings, roads, and legal structures in their contexts, common threads between past fascist beliefs and the modern Eritrean military state emerge, offering a better …

Little Africa In Global China: Transnational Nigerians In Guangzhou And The Making Of Xiaobei, Tess L. Nestel

Young Historians Conference

This paper will examine the history and development of transnationalism fostered by Nigerians in Guangzhou, China, after the late 1990s. Spurred in part by the Asian Financial Crisis, Nigerian men flocked to Guangzhou’s thriving import-export economy. They established the ethnic enclave of Xiaobei, where many lived and engaged in the informal wholesale economy. Nigerians existed between the cultural boundaries of Xiaobei and Lagos, where they constantly returned. Both the export economy in Guangzhou and the resale economy in Lagos’ street markets were deeply influenced by one another through entrepreneurial migrants. This paper will provide a general overview of the many …

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 …

The Great Plague Of Marseille, Lucy Herzig

Young Historians Conference

This paper examines the causes and consequences of the Great Plague of Marseille (1720-1722), which was one of Western Europe's last major outbreaks of the bubonic plague. Although European port cities had developed quarantine systems to prevent epidemics, Marseille’s outbreak revealed how these protections failed in practice. This paper argues that the plague became so devastating not because of a lack of institutional systems, but due to fragmented local authority, delayed government intervention, and the prioritization of economic interests over public health. Focusing on the arrival of the merchant ship Grand-Saint-Antoine, this paper analyzes how merchant elites influenced quarantine decisions, …

Artificial Light: A Conduit Of Human Productivity Through The Ages, Elias M. Henkle

Young Historians Conference

This paper takes a sharp look at three innovations in artificial light, examining their impact on human productivity through history, and on our global society today. It posits that light technology has played a pivotal role in human productivity. From conversation around campfires, to handheld lighting technologies (such as candles, oil lamps, and other such crude— yet compact— lighting devices), to fiber-optic cables that carry information across oceans through the power of light— humanity’s productivity has been massively impacted by innovations in light technology.

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 …

Revolutionary Resistance In Denmark: The Impact Of Grundtvigism On The Danish Resistance To Nazi Occupation, Holland Burd

Young Historians Conference

This paper examines the impact of nineteenth century philosopher and theologian Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig on the Danish resistance during World War II. Born in 1783, Grundtvig established a framework that paved the way for Danish national pride, setting the stage for a united resistance effort against Nazi occupation in October of 1943. His beliefs inspired movement towards the common good and allowed the Danes to reconnect with their cultural identity. Nazi Germany invaded Denmark in 1940, initially preserving an image of peace through a model protectorate. However, the image of peace was destroyed in 1943 after Nazi Germany ordered …

Catholic Syncretism: A Framework For Understanding Post-Colonial Religious Identity, James A. Hennessey-O'Connor

Young Historians Conference

Syncretic Catholicism, the blending of Catholic Christianity with Indigenous, African, and other pre-existing belief systems, represents a recurring and globally consistent pattern of religious adaptation arising from colonial encounters. This essay examines syncretic Catholic traditions across three regions: Latin America, Asia, and North America. In Latin America, where Spanish and Portuguese colonization imposed Christianity through force, syncretism functioned as a strategy of cultural survival. In Asia, where early Catholic missions relied more on persuasion than conquest, syncretism relied on voluntary negotiation and creative religious blending, producing hybrid traditions. In North America, African-derived traditions demonstrate that syncretic adaptation operated as a …

A Battle Of Will And Wisdom: Polar Opposites In The Polar Extremes Of The Viking World, Lily C. Manne

Young Historians Conference

This paper explores the connection between the polar climate of Viking-age Scandinavia and the success of the Vikings through examining the dual nature of their culture brought about by their environment. The Scandinavian peninsula is known for its harsh, variable climate full of cold winters and unpredictable harvests that turned into long summers and melting fjords. Outside of shaping survival strategies and material culture, this polar environment seeped into the fundamental cultural values the Vikings exhibited, creating the foundation for a society that understood the value of destruction and violence as well as creation and craftsmanship. Using Norse mythology as …

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 …

Demonizing Sexuality: Dangerous Women In Folklore, Lily E. Nelson

Young Historians Conference

Cross-culturally, women in folklore have been portrayed as dangerous due to their sexuality and influence over men. Clear patterns throughout history emerge through analysis of the following occurrences, which show a link between how sexualized a female figure is and the threat she is considered to pose. The she-demon Lilith in Jewish and Mesopotamian mythology as well as folklore relating to the Scriptures, mermaids in Europe, and fox spirits in East Asia all demonstrate this phenomenon, since they are all overly sexualized and represent broader social norms towards women. These beings all exhibit similarities in being able to exert control …

Heavenly Righteousness: How Religion Facilitated The Rise Of The Order Of The Knights Templar, Morgan M. Henderson

Young Historians Conference

The Order of the Knights of the Temple of Solomon, commonly known as the Knights Templar, was a critical organization in the Christian occupation of the Holy Land during the 11th to 14th centuries. This paper explores how the Templars’ relationship with the papacy and the Catholic Church enabled the order to amass its power. Through its doctrine, papal grants, and founding council, the Templars structured their order to be a military force used to attack the Muslim infidel. Religion was the unique element that enabled the Knights Templar to become the most significant military order of their time, greatly …

The Revolutionaries Of Mt. Tabor: Religion, Radicalism, And Propaganda Of The Taborites In Hussite Bohemia, India L. Black-Mitchell

Young Historians Conference

This paper explores the formation of the radical Hussite group, the Taborites, in fifteenth century Bohemia, and their eventual decline and absorption into other religious groups. Tabor was founded in the rural countryside of Bohemia, populated by an impoverished working class, Under the leadership of Jan Zizka, and the influence of Jan Hus and Bishop Nicholas Biskupec of Pelhrimov, Tabor was able to establish itself as a highly successful military and religious force despite the opposition of the powerful Catholic Church. Tabor promoted literacy in the Bible to its working class members, including women, which set them apart from their …

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.

History Showcase 2026: A Celebration Of Undergraduate Research, Winona State University-History & Legal Studies Department

Research & Creative Achievement Day

History Showcase 2026

WSU Research and Creative Achievement Day

Department of History & Legal Studies

A celebration of undergraduate research

2:00pm Welcome Professor Erik Heinrichs

2:05pm Senior Thesis Presentations, Panel I

• Travis Franzen, “On the Development of Early Modern Plague Theology in the Church of England”
• Riley Nelson, Title TBD
• Sophia Riedel, “This Land Is Your Land Until It's Not: The Arkansas Government and Japanese Americans in Internment Camps, 1940s”

2:45pm Senior Thesis Presentations, Panel II

• Brennen Hodnefield, “The Emergence of Gay Activism Amidst Government Suppression”
• Madyson Fischer, “Listening to Voices: Indigenous Roles in the Environmental Justice Movements of the …

Forgotten Heroes: The Legacy Of World War Ii Nurses, Emma M. Boots, Anna M. Kunau, Rachel B. Smith, Ella G. Stewart

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Our research project honors Gudrun Stenoien. Stenoien was a nurse in the 26th General Hospital Unit of the United States during World War II. During the war, Stenoien, affectionately known as "Goodie," documented her experiences through photographs and letters home. From North Africa to Italy, Goodie served as a Second Lieutenant nurse for the Army from 1942 to 1944. By reading her letters and analyzing documents, we have learned about the legacy Gudrun Stenoien left in her nursing career. Goodie's detailed collection of photographs and letters was generously donated to Winona State University, inspiring research into her journey. Her story …

The Living History Project: Documenting Winona State's Legacy, Holly A. Foss, Kenneth Goroztieta, Aubree G. Hansen

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This table will showcase the work of the Living History Project at Winona State University which preserves the history of WSU by documenting the careers of people who have impacted the university for the better.  The table will display three short documentary films produced by students during the Fall 2025 semester, running on a monitor with headphones on a continuous loop. The films feature Tom Sawyer (former football coach), Jo Stejskal (former Dean of Nursing), and Jim Bromeland (former Professor of Political Science).  Alongside the films, the table will include a display of photography from premieres over the past 20 …

Sanitizing Escape Lines: Memory Transmission Among Wwii Airmen, Darrah S. Thompson

Create@State

Through declassified archival documents, family archives, and oral histories of WWII airmen, this poster examines how memory was impacted by wartime and post-war secrecy. Using the American Air Crew of the B-17 Flying Fortress, “Baby Dumpling,” as my case study,  I explore how the containment of sensitive information through intelligence protocols during and after WWII led to different understandings of the same catalyzing experience among the ten man crew. Following their crash—resulting in death, POW capture, or evasion—I trace how Francis B. Cater and Jack R. Zeman shared different accounts of the same event based not only on their experiences, …

Keynote Address: The Dangers Of Institutional Silence In The War On Words, Hadley Drodge

Public History Symposium

No abstract provided.