History Commons^™

Carlos Ortega, Carlos Ortega

Coming to the Plains Oral Histories/ Llenando las Llanuras Historias Orales

Carlos Ortega was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. His family moved to the United States in 2001. Ortega initially struggled in school because of his difficulties with English. With the support of a dedicated teacher and through immersion, Ortega eventually became fluent in English. Both in school and in the community, Ortega has faced much racial discrimination, including physical assaults. Ortega wishes to become a teacher to teach tolerance to young students and to help both adult and young Hispanic immigrants learn English.

Carlos Ortega nació en Chihuahua, México. En 2001 su familia se mudó a los Estados Unidos. Ortega inicialmente …

Looking Ahead To The 2018 Pohanka Internship Program, Ryan Bilger

The Gettysburg Compiler: On the Front Lines of History

This summer, 21 Gettysburg College students will head to the front lines of public history through the Brian C. Pohanka Internship Program. From Andersonville National Historic Site to Minute Man National Historical Park, these interns will carry forward the legacy of the late Brian C. Pohanka, while also developing their own skills in the field of public history. Brian Pohanka was an avid student of the Civil War who shared his love of the past through presenting and reenacting, as some of the interns who bear his name will do this summer. They will work at some of the sites …

Kim Davis Denied His Marriage License. Will Voters Let Him Try To Oust Her?, Will Wright

Media Collection

No abstract provided.

Miller, George W., B. 1843? (Sc 3220), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and typescript (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3220. Letter, 19 January 1863, of George W. Miller to his sister. In camp at Bowling Green, Kentucky, the unhappy soldier writes of the threat of death from battle and disease, of “tyrannical” officers, and of a debt owed to him at home. He is angered to learn that an uncle in Fostoria, Ohio is a secessionist. He also mentions his brother Jacob’s engagement in a “big fight” lasting five days.

Webster, Mrs. William - Letter To (Sc 3221), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and typescript (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3221. Letter, October 1864, written by “Ann” to her sister, Mrs. William Webster in Lorain County, Ohio, apparently after leaving home to join her husband Ed, stationed at a garrison in Columbus, Kentucky. Ann writes of her recent illness and the frequency of sickness in women coming from the North; of Ed’s military duties; of a “boy” back home; and of her lack of fear when alarms are raised at the garrison. In an apparent reference to Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, she doubts that he will …

From Proletariat To Past Glory: Nationalism's Evolution In Modern China, Lance Ekelund

Master's Projects and Capstones

Despite the rapid success of its growth over the past four decades, the People’s Republic of China is facing new political, economic and societal problems. In these turbulent times of change and upheaval, nationalism has re-emerged as a significant force within China, spearheaded by the new regime under President Xi Jinping. This paper examines how a more offensive-oriented nationalism and several subcategories of nationalism are slowly seeping into the aforementioned aspects of modern China. It argue that unlike the defensive nationalism that China adopted over a century ago, this new wave of offensive nationalism is tied directly to the desire …

Complexities Of Chinese Contemporary Art, Hongjia Chen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Throughout the history of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), art has always been state-dominated and driven by governmental and political agendas. In comparison to fellow artists in the Western world, historically, Chinese artists have lacked the freedom to express their passion and creativity through artistic forms. The contemporary art movement in China, however, maneuvers around this challenge and provides a more positive direction—one in which artists have a stronger voice and economic benefits are combined with governmental support and encouragement of art activities that enhance social capital and one’s habitus. To some extent, this is changing, with the first …

起死回生(Resuscitation): Japan's Search For Machines And Their Meanings, Justin P. Mcdonnell

Master's Projects and Capstones

Japan’s lost decade(s) ushered in a new era of economic and societal malaise, marked by a shrinking population, an increased proportion of elderly people, inequality, neo-nationalism(s), uncertainty, and isolation. This project seeks to understand how Japan is trying to address these issues and reconstruct itself from the lost decade(s) with the use of artificial intelligence (jinkou chihou) and robotics along with the societal implications of this technology. This interdisciplinary research utilizes innovative, historical narratives (Morris-Suzuki,1988, Hornyak 2006), and the socio-cultural milieu of Japan and its traditions (Allison 2013; Katsuno 2010) to further appreciate and acknowledge Japanese perspectives and …

Clarence Irving And The Rediscovery Of Black America, Robert D. Parmet

Publications and Research

Clarence L. Irving, Sr., a retired machinist, founded an archive of African American music at York College, CUNY. He also managed and coached a New York City sandlot baseball team, the Bisons, and conceived the idea of placing the images of African American women on United States postage stamps.

The Combat In France Of The U.S. 360th Infantry Regiment And The Death Of First Lieutenant George P. Cole On November 2, 1918, In The Battle Of Meuse-Argonne, Ralston P. Cole

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an investigation that combines historical research into military records and genealogy in the examination of the brief military career and death in courageous circumstances of George P. Cole. It also considers the policies of the U.S. military as regards battlefield treatment of deaths, immediate burial and subsequent repatriation of the remains. The author draws upon family records, official government reports and the recollections of the friends and superiors of the deceased.

The Home Front: The Experience Of Soldiers And Civilians In The Louisiana Maneuvers Of 1940 And 1941, John G. D'Antoni

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In the years before and during World War II, the United States Army conducted a series of military maneuvers in north-central Louisiana. The two biggest maneuvers occurred in May 1940 and September 1941. The Louisiana Maneuvers are credited with helping to prepare the U.S. armed forces for World War II. Previous studies of the 1940 and 1941 maneuvers have focused on the day-to-day activities during the maneuvers or the generals behind the maneuvers. This study will focus on the impacts of the maneuvers on the soldiers themselves and on the citizens of north-central Louisiana who lived in the maneuver area. …

'Geaux Guard' And The Shift To The All-Volunteer Force: The Economics Of The Louisiana Army National Guard, 1973-1991, Titus L. Firmin

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

After the Vietnam War, increased defense funds assigned to the Army National Guard stimulated and supported small communities in Louisiana. Recruits from economically depressed regions lined up to join the Guard because of the competitive pay and the generous education benefits it offered. In the mid-1980s, when a state budgetary shortfall threatened to limit the stream of federal funds and close local armories, communities in Louisiana rallied to keep the doors of their armories open. This paper examines how the readiness efforts of the Louisiana Army National Guard affected the economies of small communities as defense dollars increased following the …

Using Digital Mapping Techniques To Rapidly Document Vulnerable Historical Landscapes In Coastal Louisiana: Holt Cemetery Case Study, Alahna Moore

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis outlines a technique for rapid documentation of historic sites in volatile cultural landscapes. Using Holt Cemetery as an exemplary case study, a workflow was developed incorporating RTK terrain survey, UAS aerial imagery, photogrammetry, GIS, and smartphone data collection in order to create a multifaceted database of the material and spatial conditions, as well as the patterns of use, that exist at the cemetery.

The purpose of this research is to create a framework for improving the speed of data creation and increasing the accessibility of information regarding threatened cultural resources. It is intended that these processes can be …

“The Lolelaplap (Marshall Islands) In Us: Sailing West To East (Ralik→Ratak) To These Our Atolls (Aelon Kein Ad) Ad Jolet Jen Anij (Our Blessed Inheritance From God)”, Desmond N. Doulatram

Master's Projects and Capstones

This paper discusses the expansion of Oceania through a Marshallese indigenous lens as a focal point. It explains that decolonizing methodologies allows reclaiming of space for mental liberation and reassurement of constitutional rights. It highlights similar occurrences of decolonization practices meeting resistance in the 21st century all while strengthening the human right argument that no human deserves any less than their fellow human brothers and sisters. It argues that an indigenous imagery can only be viewed through an indigenous lens where the researches’ level of purity is retained and unfiltered. It nevertheless argues that Marshallese ethnolinguistics reveal the same cultural …

Both Sides Of The Barbed Wire: Lives Of German Prisoners Of War And African Americans In Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, 1944-1946, Claire Delucca

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Located outside of Alexandria, Louisiana, Camp Claiborne was temporarily home to more than 500,000 U.S. servicemen and women during its short existence. Thousands of German prisoners of war also were held for more than two years in a section of the camp. Racial problems stemming from the policies of Jim Crow South and the blatant inequality eventually led to an African American mutiny within the camp. The events from 1944 to 1946 at Camp Claiborne provide insight into the mindsets of white Southerners and the generation of African Americans who would influence the major civil rights victories in the following …

The Significance Of Mongolia's Foreign Policy And Security Apparatus On A Global And Regional Scale, Bolor Lkhaajav

Master's Projects and Capstones

Mongolia, land-locked between two politically, economically, and militarily powerful nations — Russia and China — often must balance its foreign and security policies with its two neighbors and countries beyond. When discussing Mongolia’s foreign policy and security apparatus, historians and scholars look at the international relations of East Asia as a whole. This is the case not because Mongolia’s foreign policy is insignificant but because greater powers impose greater influence on smaller states. Mongolia’s partial involvement in World War II (WWII), and the Cold War introduced new challenges as well as opportunities for Mongolia to modernize its foreign policy principles …

Betraying Revolution: The Foundations Of The Japanese Communist Party, Matthew J. Crooke

Master's Projects and Capstones

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and China’s restoration of capitalism, it is easy to dismiss the relevancy of socialism today. Yet, the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) has enjoyed success at the polls and recognition as a serious opponent of the government of Abe Shinzō. The JCP however is not making a push for power. Instead, it supports liberal opposition parties, most recently throwing its weight behind the new Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) in the October 2017 general election. A future CDP government in Japan could include the JCP as a coalition partner. Does …

From Davao City To Daly City: Examining Translanguaging And Transnationalism In The 1.5-Generation Filipin(A/O) Americans Of Daly City, Rita Ewing

Master's Theses

In the field of migration studies, research on transnationalism has been well

established. Applying an intersectional framework of post-colonial narrative and

linguistic anthropology to transnational migration, this research allows us to better

understand how the transnational immigrant deploys language. Through a nostalgia

studies approach, this study is able to analyze how transnational immigrants place value

on their heritage and second languages, and reflexively deploy their language sets to

reflect their unique positionality. This paper is a case study examination of five adult

members of the 1.5-generation of Filipin(a/o) American immigrants, who immigrated to

the US before the age of eighteen …

To Be Everything: Sylvia Plath And The Problem That Has No Name, Alanna P. Mcauliffe

Student Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores, in depth, how the poetry of Sylvia Plath operates as an expression of female discontent in the decade directly preceding the sexual revolution. This analysis incorporates both sociohistorical context and theory introduced in Betty Friedan’s 1963 work The Feminine Mystique. In particular, Plath’s work is put in conversation with Friedan’s notion of the “problem that has no name,” an all-consuming sense of malaise and dissatisfaction that plagued American women in the postwar era. This notion is furthered by close-readings of poems written throughout various stages of Plath’s career (namely “Spinster,” “Two Sisters of Persephone,” “Elm,” “Ariel,” “Daddy,” …

Great Lakes Or Middle West: The 1936-37 Great Lakes Exposition And Regional Identity, Kenneth J. Bindas

Studies in Midwestern History

During the 1930s regional identities were especially pronounced as the ravages of the economic collapse encouraged the reevaluation of national, regional, and local identities, often linked with FDR’s appeal for unity and as a way to better understand and distribute the largesse of federal aid money that began filtering down to the people. There was considerable discussion about remaking the country along regional lines, creating what Edward Barrows called the “United Regions of America.” Given the complexity of modern society, “the reorganization” of the country was “inevitable” as a result of “natural, orderly social growth.” (See Edward M. Barrows, “United …

Trump And The Midwest: The 2016 Presidential Election And The Avenues Of Midwestern Historiography, Jon K. Lauck

Studies in Midwestern History

Perhaps the biggest story of the surprising 2016 presidential election was Donald Trump’s victories in the Midwest. Trump won Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Ohio, all of which Barack Obama had won in both 2008 and 2012. Wisconsin had not voted for the Republican candidate for president since the Reagan 49-state landslide of 1984 and Michigan had not since 1988. Iowa had supported Michael Dukakis, Bill Clinton twice, and narrowly supported Al Gore in 2000 and George Bush in 2004 before voting for Obama twice. Ohio served as a classic bellwether and had voted to support the winner of the presidential …

The Origins And Progress Of The Midwestern History Association, 2013-2016, Jon K. Lauck

Studies in Midwestern History

In the modern electronic din of emails and texts and tweets and instant messages it can be difficult to keep track of the long-term trajectory of day-to-day work and ongoing projects. With this difficulty in mind, and for the sake of giving some permanence to the memories of the past few years, I submit this chronicle about recent efforts to revive the field of Midwestern history via the creation of the Midwestern History Association. I hope this review and the commentary and recommendations included therein prove useful to the leaders in the field and the emerging scholars who are seeking …

'Just Call Me Bill': William Taft Brings Spectacle Politics To The Midwest, Jeffrey Bourdon

Studies in Midwestern History

Historians long rated William Howard Taft’s campaigning ability during the 1908 presidential contest as below average and in need of Theodore Roosevelt’s resuscitation. Recently, they have given Taft more credit for his electioneering appearances. Taft’s ability to teach out to voters was vital to his candidacy because he ran at a time in American political history when the ability to deliver charismatic speeches and shake hands was put at a premium by larger-than-life candidates such as Roosevelt, William Jennings Bryan, and Eugene Debs.

Taft toured several regions during the campaign, including the Midwest, the South, the Mid-Atlantic, and New England. …

A History Of The Missouri Conference On History, 1959-2016, James N. Giglio

Studies in Midwestern History

The Missouri Conference on History (MCOH) emerged in 1959 and has continued without missing a year, despite undergoing organizational changes over time. Many individuals have contributed to make it one of the most successful state conferences ever. This is a story worth telling, especially at time when many people are reconsidering the history of the Midwest and how to support the infrastructure necessary to promote the study of that history.

Escaping Cupcake Land, Mark Vinz

Studies in Midwestern History

Even though America is made up of many distinct regions, the homogenization of our culture is causing us to lose any meaningful sense of place, which includes history and literature (which have been inseparably linked in the past). A case in point is the part of Kansas City known as “The Plaza” and the surrounding suburbs on the Kansas side of the state line, as chronicled by Richard Rhodes in his book Inland Ground: An Evocation of the American Middle West (revised edition, 1991). Rhodes and others remind us that Wallace Stegner’s dictum “I may not know who I am …

From Sandhurst To Rural Iowa: The Education Of A Prairie Historian, Mark Friedberger

Studies in Midwestern History

This essay describes how someone from the UK, and with a poor academic background, became interested in the history of the Middle West. In the 1980s when the federal government was flush for funds, it was possible to do historical research on soft money. The author survived for fifteen years writing and researching rural topics with grants from agencies like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Institutes of Health. Eventually after publishing the results of these explorations, he secured an academic teaching job.

The Funeral Of Beloved Hoosier Poet, James Whitcomb Riley, John E. Miller

Studies in Midwestern History

The funeral of popular Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley in July 1916 was more than a statewide event (before him, only Abraham Lincoln and a general who had fought in the Spanish-American War had been accorded the honor of having their body lie in state in the rotunda of the state capitol). It was a national commemoration, generating thousands of newspaper articles, editorials, and expressions of grief and appreciation. Eulogized as a secular saint for his cheerfulness, high-mindedness, insight, and generosity, he was beloved for the poems that he had written extolling the simple virtues and the hardy characters of …

Materially Strengthened: The Minnesota Historical Society And Providing Field Services, David M. Grabiske, David J. Nichols Iii

Studies in Midwestern History

The State Historical Society of Wisconsin created a uniquely Midwestern public history profession in 1896. Minnesota Historical Society, much as other Midwestern state historical s ocieties would, has used Field Services since 1916 to better serve the public by distributing the capacity to save and share history. Flowing from the Northwest Ordinance, creating local repositories for history and publishing local history furthered education and identity for Midwesterners in general, and Minnesotans specifically. Minnesota tenaciously pursued a county historical society for every county, first on project funding and later had the first full time funding for the work. Since 1981 all …

"If The Situation Seemed Insurmountable, I Always Wanted To Be There": Virginia Coffey, A Midwest Human Relations Pioneer, Phillip J. Obermiller, Thomas E. Wagner

Studies in Midwestern History

The devastating 1943 rioting in Detroit led to the formation of municipal human relations committees across the country, and among the oldest of these was the Cincinnati Mayor’s Friendly Relations Committee. Five years after its founding, executive director Marshall Bragdon ensured that the MFRC would continue to be a force for racial equality by hiring Virginia Coffey to be assistant director.

Virginia Coffey would go on to make important contributions to human relations internationally through her consulting work in England and nationally as a board member of the National Association of Intergroup Relations Officials. Coffey was appointed the executive director …

Writing With A Chip On Your Shoulder: Some Notes On Regionalism, Mark Vinz

Studies in Midwestern History

Unfortunately, many Midwestern writers are used to being labeled “regional” in a pejorative sense. In the past, many have indeed left the Midwest because the region offered far fewer possibilities than the coasts (e.g., Hemingway, Cather, Lewis, and Fitzgerald). Thanks to such things as the development of literary small presses and MFA and history programs, this has begun to change—witness such important writers as Ted Kooser and Louise Erdrich who have stayed in the Midwest and written about the richness of material they find right here at “home.” More than ever, we—writers and readers alike—need to realize the positive (and …