United States History Commons^™

This Land Is Our Land: Tree Planting And Environmental Construction On The Nebraska Prairie, Megan Sue Launchbaugh

History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

In 1895 the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill officially adopting the nickname the “Tree Planter’s State” on account of the founding of Arbor Day, the Timber Culture Act of 1873, and the “millions of trees planted by early settlers as windbreaks, woodlots, and orchards.” Since that time, Arbor Day and the Timber Culture Act have been the subject of countless historical studies, while the subject of settler tree planting remains largely unexplored. This thesis seeks to begin establishing a place for the stories, experiences, and legacy of settler tree planting within the regional narrative by examining the cultural, physical, and …

“Storm Of Insanity”: The Chaotic Nature Of Relief Work And Financial Compensation Following The Johnstown Flood Of 1889, Carly N. Marze

History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

On May 31, 1889, the South Fork dam ruptured, and the resulting wall of water pummeled through the small town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, killing over 2,000 people. The cause was negligence by the dam’s proprietors at the South Fork Fishing & Hunting Club. As bodies lay scattered throughout the Conemaugh Valley and Johnstown sat nearly twenty-feet deep in mud and debris, two questions arose: What relief work should be done to restore Johnstown? And how should this relief be financed? Lack of resources and the urgency of the work created a chaotic atmosphere in which constantly shifting procedures and disputes …

"I Know The Dream Mine Is True": Mormons, Mining, And The Making Of "Bad Religion" In Early Twentieth-Century Utah, Christine V. Shell

American Studies ETDs

In 1894, folksy Mormon farmer-turned-prophet John H. Koyle, Jr, dreamed that an angel from the Book of Mormon showed him where and how to mine for golden ore and Book of Mormon treasures. Shortly afterwards, Koyle and a handful of friends established the “Dream Mine” at the revealed location, and as word spread additional workers joined the cause—for this was a mine destined to save the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members from financial and spiritual ruin during the long-foretold apocalyptic “Last Days.”

Koyle’s followers took delight and solace from their participation in the Dream Mine’s …

The Fall Of Public Opinion: The Tet Offensive, The Anti-War Movement, And The Media, 1963-1975, Taylor Ann Cusick

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

From 1963 to 1975, public opinion regarding the Vietnam War changed drastically. In the beginning, the public was largely on board with Americans going overseas to fight against the North Vietnamese military. Citizens felt the American military was doing what was necessary to secure democracy in a region where communism was spreading, and the public was not easily swayed by those who opposed the war. The media mirrored public opinion during the first years of the war. By 1968, support for the war declined dramatically, and the media’s portrayal of the conflict reversed. Newscasters began to argue that the risk …

Horse Cave Heritage Festival, 2022 (Fa 1410), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1410. Audio, photographs, and video documenting the Horse Cave Heritage Festival, an annual September event in Horse Cave, Kentucky celebrating local heritage with craft artisans, antique vehicles, children’s activities, food, music, and other attractions. Includes interviews and a narrative stage hosted by the Kentucky Folklife Program.

Hudson, Hannah Leigh, B. 2000 (Sc 3704), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3704. “Historical Overview of Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee,” a paper by WKU student Hannah Hudson.

Baird, Nancy Disher, B. 1935 (Sc 3705), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3705. “Enid Yandell: Kentucky Sculptor,” a speech delivered at the Filson Historical Society, December 1983, by Nancy Baird [also the author of an article subsequently published as “Enid Yandell: Kentucky Sculptor,” Filson History Quarterly v. 62 (1988)].

Horse Cave Heritage Festival, 2021 (Fa 1409), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1409. Audio, photographs, and video documenting the Horse Cave Heritage Festival, an annual September event in Horse Cave, Kentucky celebrating local heritage with craft artisans, antique vehicles, children’s activities, food, music, and other attractions. Includes interviews and a narrative stage hosted by the Kentucky Folklife Program.

"Suited To The Wants Of The Country": Historical Ceramics From The Fort Vancouver Sutler's Store, Vancouver, Washington, Kaitlyn Nicole Hosken

Dissertations and Theses

For much of the early 19th century, the British Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) dominated commercial activity throughout the Pacific Northwest. Following development of the Oregon Trail in the 1840s and 1850s, however, the HBC saw increasing social and economic competition from American settlers. This research examines nationalist attitudes evident during the transition to the American colonial era and effects on the consumption of commercial goods. Analyses compare archaeological ceramics from two retail sites located in what is now Vancouver, Washington: an 1850s American sutler's store and the HBC Sale Shop. Additional comparison is made with a contemporaneous U.S. Army Officers' …

"To Serve, Educate, Unify, And Organize": The Black Panthers' Free Breakfast Program And Cointelpro In The United States, 1968-1971, Joshua Sinclair

The Exposition

The creation of the Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast for Schoolchildren marked a shift away from the community defense origins of the Party, focusing more on community outreach and unification. The social and political implications of the Program – expanded interest by black and white moderates, and growing popularity of the party in general – made the breakfasts and the Party targets for the FBI’s Counter-Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO.) With the end goal of neutralizing the Panthers in mind, the FBI had a prime target to focus this work in the Breakfast Program.

Horse Cave Heritage Festival, 2018 (Fa 1407), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1407. Audio, photographs, and video documenting the Horse Cave Heritage Festival, an annual September event in Horse Cave, Kentucky celebrating local heritage with craft artisans, antique vehicles, children’s activities, food, music, and other attractions. Includes interviews and a narrative stage hosted by the Kentucky Folklife Program.

Horse Cave Heritage Festival, 2019 (Fa 1408), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1408. Audio, photographs, and video documenting the Horse Cave Heritage Festival, an annual September event in Horse Cave, Kentucky celebrating local heritage with craft artisans, antique vehicles, children’s activities, food, music, and other attractions. Includes interviews and a narrative stage hosted by the Kentucky Folklife Program.

Horse Cave Heritage Festival, 2017 (Fa 1406), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1406. Audio, photographs, and video documenting the Horse Cave Heritage Festival, an annual September event in Horse Cave, Kentucky celebrating local heritage with craft artisans, antique vehicles, children’s activities, food, music, and other attractions. Includes interviews and a narrative stage hosted by the Kentucky Folklife Program.

Horse Cave Heritage Festival, 2016 (Fa 1405), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1405. Audio, photographs, and video documenting the Horse Cave Heritage Festival, an annual September event in Horse Cave, Kentucky celebrating local heritage with craft artisans, antique vehicles, children’s activities, food, music, and other attractions. Includes interviews and a narrative stage hosted by the Kentucky Folklife Program.

Review Of "The Right To Bear Arms: A Constitutional Right Of The People Or A Privilege Of The Ruling Class", Jaclyn Lee Parrott

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Washington Skiers In The 1936 Winter Olympic Games, John W. Lundin

Works by Local Authors

The 1936 Winter Olympics featured Alpine skiing for the first time, with downhill and slalom racing and a combined event (downhill and slalom), along with Nordic events (cross-country, Nordic combined, and jumping).  Men and women competed in the Alpine events, although only men were allowed in the Nordic events.

Afrofantastic Presents: The Many Deaths Of Oscar Mack, Julian Chambliss

Third Stone

Oscar Mack's story deserves the dedication that has culminated in the creation of this defining documentary. Mack's struggle to survive is ripe for the Afrofuturist re‐telling, not because it is fantastic but because the comic story has the potential to capture the transformative thinking black people must employ to survive.

The Grizzly, December 7, 2023, Marie Sykes, Erin Corcoran, Georgia Gardner, Hannah Conley, Kate Horan, Sean Mcginley, Amelia Kunko, Dominic Minicozzi

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Spring 2023 Recap • Fall 2023 Recap • Farewell From the News Editor • Farewell From the Web Editor • Students Surprise With Spotify Wrapped Lists • 2023 Crossword • Reflections From Ursinus' December Graduates • Ursinus Athletics Fall 2023 Recap: Men's • Ursinus Athletics Fall 2023 Recap: Women's

The Art And Mystery Of Pragmatic History, David Hardin

History Theses

This thesis considers how we make meaning in our individual lives and in practice as historians. From an initializing question —Why do people believe things that have either been proven false or shown improbable?— born out of historical discourse in the liminal space between mythology and history, this thesis embarks on a inquiry into meaning that is both deeply philosophical and practical. The work develops a historical method that falls within the tradition of Pragmatism, and then turns this method toward two case studies (Pedro Huízar and Señora Candelaria) from San Antonio, Texas. The aim is to explore two myths …

Amateur Status Was A Dominant Issue In The Early Days Of Spo, John W. Lundin

Works by Local Authors

In the late 1800s, professional sports attracted high-stakes gambling. The potential for bribery and extortion led to a general sense that paid athletes were corruptible and competitions untrustworthy. While betting on amateur events was common, a deep divide emerged between "pure" amateurs, who were said to compete for the love of the sport, and professionals, who competed for money in the form of cash prizes or other remuneration. This prejudice even extended to coaches who had been professionals, who were believed to be too tainted to coach amateurs. The distinction often boiled down to so-called gentleman-athletes, who had private fortunes, …

The United States And The Need For An Improved Global Citizenship In The Twenty-First Century: How History Shaped Our Identity As A Nation, Karin Mika

Cleveland State Law Review

This Article describes how accidents of geography and history enabled the United States to become the global power that it has become. It examines how the extended warring in Europe during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth century allowed the United States to develop as a country without the repeated necessity of continually rebuilding, as was happening in Europe. The Article explores how the isolation of the United States enabled it to develop continuity in its initially experimental political system—a continuity that was never available to Europe. These factors enabled the United States to be in the position of being able to …

Beyond Words: An Exploration Of Research And Writing For Indigenous Land Acknowledgements, Oksana Flores

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

This capstone delves into the practical application and importance of land acknowledgments within the frameworks of Critical Indigenous Theory and Narrative Theory. Through the utilization of archival research methods, the project not only offers recommendations for crafting an effective land acknowledgment but also provides the necessary historical foundation for the implementation of such a statement at Kennesaw State University. This effort serves to strengthen the university's commitment to diversity and equity on campus.

"Innumerable Small Crafts": Maritime Work In The Estuarian Gulf, 1865-1900, Kevin Grubbs

Dissertations

Maritime historians have argued for a highpoint in maritime activity during the antebellum years. This peak was fed by Americans travelling on tall wooden sailing ships in international trade, in the whaling industries, and as members of the US Navy. The prowess of the American Merchant Marine faded quickly in the middle of the nineteenth century due to military losses during the American Civil War and due to the rise of steamships and steel hulls. This peak was followed by another lesser peak in the Twentieth Century as American ships caught up with technological changes. World War One provided a …

State Charter School Law Scores As A Predictor Of Illegal Activity Within The Chartering Sector, David Stashevsky

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

State charter school policy is influenced through a collaboration between advocacy groups and state legislators. Charter school advocacy groups have an inherent bias toward deregulation and autonomy. Two advocacy groups, the Center for Education Reform (CER) and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS), each conduct annual analyses on state charter school laws using their own model charter law as the comparator. Each group has developed a rubric of indicators with sub-scores which combine to form an overall state score. Higher scores indicate a closer adherence to the advocacy group’s model charter law. The charter school sector in the …

Peeling Back The Wallpaper, Abby Cornelius

English

No abstract provided.

Gin, Jesus, & Jim Crow: Prohibition And The Transformation Of Racial And Religious Politics In The South, John Compton

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

A review of Brendan J J Payne's Gin, Jesus, and Jim Crow: Prohibition and the Transformation of Racial and Religious Politics in the South.

The Octofoil, October/November/December 2023, Ninth Infantry Division Association

The Octofoil

The Octofoil is the offical publication of the Ninth Infantry Division Association, Inc., an organization formed by the officers and men of the 9th Infantry Division in order to perpetuate the memory of fallen comrades, preserve the esprit de corps of the Division, promote peace and serve as an information bureau about the 9th Infantry Division. The Association is made up of 9th Infantry veterans from WWII and Vietnam, spouses, widows and lineal descendants.

This Is A Man’S World: The Lived Gendered Experiences Of Blues People., Anthony Christopher Brown

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

American Blues is known for playing a role in the foundation of the country’s music. The ingredient of the musical tradition has roots going back to West Africa and was brought to the United States through the of transatlantic slave trade. During the period of slavery, it formally developed with plantation work songs which later continued after emancipation with sharecropping until the early to mid-twentieth century. During the early twentieth century, W.C. Handy in Tutwiler, Mississippi, and musicians formally popularized Blues music were being recorded. The first Blues superstars were women such as Ida Cox, Bessie Smith, and Ma Rainey …

On The Causation Of The Mexican-American War, Emery Benson

Honors Theses

In 1844, Whig, former President, and then-Representative John Quincy Adams reflected on President John Tyler’s bill to annex Texas, writing about his anxiety over “the degeneracy of my country… under the transcendent power of slavery and the slave-representation.” Adams celebrated the treaty’s failure later that year, praising the nation’s escape from “slave-tainted monarchy, and of extinguished freedom.” In 1847, in the midst of the Mexican-American War, Reverend John Dudley of Vermont gave a fiery sermon in which he excoriated “the two leading sins of this nation, SLAVERY AND WAR.” Reverend Dudley continued, claiming “that the present war has its origin …

Termites, Bully Boys, And The Architect Of Search & Destroy: An Assessment Of General William E. Depuy As Macv J-3 And Commander Of The 1st Infantry Division, Republic Of Vietnam, 1964-67, Adam D. Coste

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

As Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (J-3) at MACV from 1964-1966, General William DePuy served as the main architect of the campaign strategy implemented by General William Westmoreland in fighting both VC and NVA units during the earliest and most critical years of the Vietnam War. Following his role at MACV, DePuy assumed command of the 1^st Infantry Division in March 1966 where he exhibited a distinct command philosophy and transformed the organizational culture of the “Big Red One” through a series of directives and tactical innovations. Most historians are critical of Westmoreland’s chosen strategy as well as …