News and Events

History Department Chair Jennifer Keene Wins Essay Competition

Dr. Jennifer Keene's essay, "Fighting the Great War," has been selected as the best essay for the 2011 Jack Miller Center-Historically Speaking Prize Essay Competition.

The committee said that, "Keene presents a clear challenge to the dominant narrative of a unified, enthusiastic America eagerly marching off to war 'over there.' Unwillingness to volunteer, interest in deferments, and resistance to the draft were all present in abundance.  Keene skillfully shows that such enthusiasm as there was did not so much arise spontaneously, but was rather manufactured by the government over time."

The prize comes with an honorarium and an invite to the Miller Center at the American Historical Association meeting in Chicago.

Voces Novae Wins Best E-Journal Second Year in a Row

Voces Novae, Chapman University’s on-line history journal, has won the prestigious 2011 Nash History Journal Prize for Best E-Journal from Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honors Society. This is the second time that the student-edited Voces Novae has won this national award. The winning issues contained edited versions of a massive oral history project undertaken by Alpha Mu Gamma, Chapman’s PAT chapter, to document the university’s rise to prominence over the past twenty years. The students interviewed key administrators, professors, and alumni. View the award-winning issue here.  Congratulations to all the students and Dr. Lee Estes, the faculty advisor!

Dr. Robert Slayton Writes Piece for the New York Times

Dr Robert Slayton graced the editorial pages of the Week in Review section of the New York Times on December 11, 2011. His article “When a Catholic Terrified the Heartland,” focused on the lessons we can draw from Al Smith’s run for president in 1928 and concerns raised about Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith.  The Sunday Review Section of the New York Times reaches a readership of 1.34 million paying readers. Read the on-line version of his article which appeared in the  online blog, Campaign Stops.

History Students Present at Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research

Chapman University senior history majors Megan Cardinal, James Chrislip and Molly Iker presented their original historical research at the 2011 Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research on Saturday November 19 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California.  James’ oral presentation “Inferno: The Evolution of the 153e Regiment d’Infanterie at Verdun” included foundational work for his senior history thesis to be complete in Spring 2012.  Megan and Molly contributed to the afternoon poster presentations, drawing on their senior thesis research in progress for graphic demonstrations of “Educational Internment: Mendez et.al. versus Westminster et.al. and the Japanese-Mexican Relationship in California’s Fight for School Desegregation” by Ms. Cardinal and ”Social and Political Effects of the Yellow Fever Epidemic in New Orleans 1853” by Ms. Iker.

Dr. Robert Slayton Publishes Article in Commentary

Dr. Robert Slayton of the History Department has had his article, "Reenacting Evil: A Genuine Problem with Simulated War" published in Commentary Magazine.  To read the article, please click here.

History Does It Again!

The History Department is pleased to announce that Alpha Mu Gamma, Chapman University's chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honors Society, has won the best chapter award in Division 2 (programs without graduate students) for the fourth year in a row.  This honor recognizes the outstanding achievements of the student-led organization including an oral history project of Chapman University's rise to prominence (now available online) which included a student-made video describing the project.  The chapter also hosted the southern regional PAT conference where keynote speaker Kevin Starr, the renowned historian of California, received an honorary degree and Chapman students Kirsten Moore ('11) and Chelsea Judy (11") won first and third price, respectfully, in the undergraduate research paper competition.

Read about it in Happenings.

Jeff Koerber joins the History Department as a Visiting Fellow

Jeff Koerber joins the History Department as a Visiting Fellow as a result of a partnership between Chapman University's Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education and the Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, which offers the country's only Ph.D. in Holocaust history.

Before embarking on his Ph.D. studies at Clark, Jeff had a successful career as a historical preservation architect.  He has a bachelor's and master's degree in architecture from the University of Illinois, Urbana.  Jeff has had numerous fellowships including a Fullbright to Belarus and Poland.  Jeff's dissertation, "Born in the Borderlands: Jewish Youth and Their Response to Oppression and Genocide, 1933-1948," analyzes how young Jews in the cities of Vibebsk and Grodno, cities situated on opposite sides of the Polish-Soviet border before 1939, understood events at home and across Europe during the 1930s and how their understanding influenced their responses to the Holocaust. 

This fall Jeff will teach History 295 "Historians and the Holocaust."

Recent Graduate Chelsea Judy Receives Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship for 2012-13

Chelsea Judy received the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to support full-time study abroad for an academic year.  The Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship is the Rotary Foundation's oldest and best known program designed to further international relationships among people from different countries and cultures.  As part of the program, recipients serve as goodwill ambassadors to their host country and give presentations to Rotary clubs.

Judy intends on using her scholarship to pursue a master's degree in oceanic/environmental public policy.  Although Judy does not yet have an official host country, her first choice is the University of Melbourne in Australia.  Historically, recipients of the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship have received their first choice.  As a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, Judy will spend time volunteering with local community projects in her host country. 

Congratulations Chelsea!

Preserving our Stories: The 150th Anniversary Oral History Issue of Voces Novae: Chapman University Historical Review is Now Online

This year marks the 150th Anniversary of Chapman University, and the students of the Alpha Mu Gamma (Chapman’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, The National History Honor Society) decided to commemorate this milestone in a special issue of Voces Novae: Chapman University Historical Review with a compilation of oral histories. Students videotaped interviews with some of the notable people from Chapman's past and present, tracing the University's rise from a small religious college in northern California to a nationally recognized institution of higher learning located in Orange, California.  This special issue of the on-line journal is available at http://journals.chapman.edu/ojs/index.php/VocesNovae/issue/view/15.

 "A Rise to Prominence," a video put together by the students and the people at Panther Studios, shows the process that students used to construct this project. It not only highlights their experiences with new technology and historical methods, but also demonstrates the benefits of using technology for historical research. The Alpha Mu Gamma chapter previewed it at the 2011 Phi Alpha Theta Southern California Regional Conference, introducing this project to both the Chapman University community and the larger Phi Alpha Theta community. The issue also includes an interactive web-based timeline of Chapman history.

 The student historians sought to preserve the memories of those who made the Chapman community what it is today. While these people may come and go from our lives, they live on through the people who continue to benefit from their hard work. Hopefully, in capturing their stories on video, their faces and voices with stay with us and with future generations.

Students receive highest honors at the 2011 Campus Leadership Awards

Mark Johnston ('11) and Liz Ficken ('11) were awarded with two of the university's most prestigious student leadership awards.

Johnston won the Cheverton Award, the highest honor for a student. In addition to academic accomplishments, awardees must demonstrate a “high moral character” and “represent the spirit of Chapman University.”

Ficken won the Gloria and Julian Peterson Award, awarded to one graduating senior for his or her outstanding and distinguished leadership.

Learn more about the Campus Leadership awards here.

Student receives teaching scholarship

Congratulations to Gary Girod ('11) who received the Teaching Scholarship from the French Embassy for the Teaching Assistant Program in France. Gary Girod (history and French double major graduating this may) has won the prestigious french government

 teaching scholarship. This is a fantastic honor which affords native English speaking American college students to spend a year in France, teaching English in a French school. It is a much sought after and highly competitive award.

Student wins 1st place at the Leatherby Libraries inaugural John and Margaret Class Student Book Collection Contest

Kirsten Moore ('11) won first place for her collection, "Combining Science and Humanities," a collection focused on titles that explain the humanities through science. The collection ranges from The Great Influenza by John M. Barry to Colonizing the Body by David Arnold. Moore said she was surprised by the win, "Although I know medical history is kind of a special niche."

Chapman Wins Big at the Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference

Congratulations to Chapman University history majors Kirsten Moore ('11) and Chelsea Judy ('11), who took home the first and third place undergraduate paper awards, respectively, at the 2011 Phi Alpha Theta National History Honors Society Southern California Regional Conference.  The Chapman University-hosted conference on April 9th drew over 100 students and faculty from throughout southern California who delivered papers and attended sessions throughout the day.  Conference participants as well as prominent members of the Chapman community attended the concluding banquet where President James Doti honored renowned California historian Kevin Starr with an honorary degree.  Starr then delivered a keynote speech on the meaning of Chapman University's 150th anniversary for higher education in California and Orange County. 

Graydon "Jack" Tunstall, the Executive Director of Phi Alpha Theta, presented the three undergraduate research paper student awards.  Kirsten Moore received her first place prize for her paper, "Medical Manipulations: Public Health as a Political Tool in the 1918-1919 Influenza Epidemic in San Francisco."  She will begin a PhD program in the history of medicine at Johns Hopkins University in the fall.  Chelsea Judy received the third place prize for her paper, "Unbroken Towards the Sea: The National Trust and the Rise of Coastal Preservation in Late 19th- and 20th- Century Britain."  This is the fifth consecutive year that Chapman University students have won the majority of prizes at the regional Phi Alpha Theta conference.  Both papers will be published in the spring issue of Voces Novae, the online Chapman University History Review.

Alpha-Mu-Gamma Conference Was A Rousing Success

The Third Annual Alpha Mu Gamma Conference, which was held on Saturday, March 19th, was a rousing success.  Chapman's history majors have been working tirelessly in anticipation of presenting their papers at our annual conference.  This conference was originally founded to better prepare seniors for participation in the Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference, which will be held here at Chapman on April 9th.  There were 19 Senior Seminar participants this time around.  In addition to our seniors, there were also eight papers given by other History majors and one discussion section on the Vietnam War led by Kirsten Moore, the president of our Alpha Mu Gamma chapter.  Thirty-two paper commentators came from the History Department's two Historian's Craft classes.  There were over 70 people in attendance, including parents, relatives and friends of the participants.  Special thanks to the officers of our Alpha Mu Gamma PAT Chapter, especially Erika Carrol, Kirsten Moore, Chelsea Judy and Priya Shah, for all of their hard work in making the conference possible.  We would also like to thank the panel chairs - Brenda Farrington, Randolph Boyd, Alexander Bay, Robert Slayton, Carolyn Vieira-Martinez and William Cumiford.  The seniors would also like to send a special thank you to Drs. Slayton and Estes for their role in supporting and preparing the students throughout their senior seminar courses. 

Now, on to the Regional!

From left: Brooke Nelson, Alex Dinges, Professor William Cumiford and Erika Carrol

2010-2011 

The History Department is now on Facebook! Find us (AND LIKE US) at History Department - Chapman University!

Elie Wiesel, Knowledge and Ethics, Mar. 29 - Get your (FREE) tickets starting Mar. 7

 12th Annual Holocaust Art & Writing Contest Awards Ceremony & Reception, Mar. 4

Marilyn Harran in the Chronicle for Higher Education

Marilyn Harran is the first to say that a mid-sized Orange County university affiliated with the Disciples of Christ is an unlikely home for a Holocaust library, just as a religious-studies professor whose field is the 16th century and who isn’t Jewish is an unlikely Holocaust-library director. But that makes the library and museum that Ms. Harran has created on the fourth floor of the Chapman University’s Leatherby Libraries building all the more striking, and gives the programs she has championed that much the more impact.
Read more!

Chapman History Alum Accepts the Raymond J. Cunningham Prze at the AHA National Conference

Chapman history graduate ('09), Hailey Giczy received the Raymond J. Cunningham Prize for her research paper, "The Bum Blockade: Los Angeles and the Great Depression." Giczy and Lee Estes, associate history professor, traveled to Boston, Mass. to attend the Annual American Historical Association Conference where the retiring president of AHA, Barbara Metcalf, presented Giczy with the prize, including a $200 check for Voces Novae, the journal in which Giczy's paper was published.

Watch Hailey receive her award (at the 9:50 mark).

PAT President Wins Award

Phi Alpha Theta president, Kirsten Moore has received the Tenaya Hills Outstanding Senior Thesis Project Award.

Each year one outstanding member of PAT receives the Tenaya Hills award for their research efforts. 

Congrats Kirsten!

Chapman Partners with Clark University on Holocaust Fellowship

In a unique initiative, Chapman University will partner with Clark University in Worcester, Mass. to create a new graduate fellowship in Holocaust history, the two universities announced today.

The fellowship will be offered as an "innovative academic collaboration" between the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education at Chapman University and the Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University, according to the two faculty members who teamed to create the program: Marilyn Harran, Ph.D., Stern Chair in Holocaust Studies and director o the Rodgers Center at Chapman, and Deborah Dwork, Ph.D., Rose Professor of Holocaust History and director of the Strassler Center at Clark.   

Daniele Struppa, Ph.D., chancellor of Chapman University, said, "This initiative demonstrates what is possible when faculty and administrators at two universities, located on opposite coasts, think in new was about what will benefit students at their institutions, and then invest the energy and creativity to move from vision to reality."

The fellowship will send one graduate student from Clark University's Strassler Center - which offers the nation's sole doctorate in Holocaust studies - to study and teach at Chapman University's Rodgers Center, which focuses on teaching undergraduates.  The initial fellowship will begin in fall semester 2011 and run through spring semester 2013.  The selected fellow will serve in-residence at Chapman's Rodgers Center, one of only a very few Holocaust education centers in the United States located in and supported by a private university. 

"This announcement brings to fruition what began as the shared dream of my colleague Deborah Dwork at Clark University and me," said Dr. Harran of the Rodgers Center.  "We envisioned a fellowship program that would benefit each of our institutions, introducing new perspectives and research to our Chapman undergraduate history program while offering an outstanding junior scholar from Clark the opportunity to gain teaching experience.  I am proud that Chapman University and Clark University have forged this innovative and creative partnership."

Dr. Dwork of Clark's Strassler Center agreed: "The Chapman University Fellowship in Holocaust History is a cutting-edge academic initiative.  I am as delighted as I am proud to join my colleague, Professor Marilyn Harran, and the whole Chapman community in this endeavor."

The selected fellow's responsibilities will include teaching one course in the area of Holocaust studies each semester, presenting one public lecture annually, mentoring and sharing their research with students minoring in Holocaust history and majoring in European history, as well as continuing research and potentially serving as a representative of the Rodgers Center at academic conferences and symposia.

Students Read Papers for Panel of Nixon Scholars

Three of Chapman's history majors, Mark Johnston, Matthew McCluggage and Kirsten Moore, were chosen to read their papers that responded to the question: "How would Nixon interpret what is happening today?"

Johnston's paper, "The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty: A Case Study on the Politics of Nuclear Non-Proliferation," compared Nixon's struggle with disarming Russia to the current issue that President Obama is facing with disarming Iran.  Of participating in the reading, Johnston said, "The panel provided a phenomenal experience in connecting the past with critical current events.  It demonstrated the importance of analyzing history and applying it to modern political issues."

In her paper, "China, Economics, and North Korea: Pragmatism in Asia," Moore discussed U.S. relations with China during Nixon's presidency and the dynamic relationship between the U.S., North Korea and China today.

During the final reading, McCluggage read "The Implementation of Nixon's 'Vietnamization' in Afghanistan," which compared Nixon's inheritance of the Vietnam War with Obama taking office while the U.S. is at war in Afghanistan.

After each paper a panel of scholars responded with their input regarding the students' research.  The panel of four included our very own Dr. James Coyle as the moderator and three Nixon scholars: Geoffrey Kemp, Director of Regional Strategic Programs at The Nixon Center; Paul Saunders, Executive Director of The Nixon Center; Drew Thompson, Director of China Studies and Starr Senior Fellow at The Nixon Center.

History Major Wins American Historical Association National Essay Competition

Hailey Giczy has won the Raymond J. Cunningham Prize for the Best Article by an Undergraduate for her published senior thesis "The Bum Blockade: Los Angeles and the Great Depression."  The American Historical Association, the largest and most important organization of professional historians, offers the Raymond J. Cunningham Prize for the best article written by an undergraduate student and published in a history department journal.  This prize is a major national award from the nation's premier historical organization, evidence that the History program is a vital part of Chapman University's rise to national prominence. 

Hailey and her senior thesis mentor, Professor Leland Estes, will attend the American Historical Association's annual awards banquet in Boston this coming January to receive the award.  The winning author and the winning journal each receive a $200 prize.

Hailey's article was published in the first issue of the History Department's award-winning on-line historical journal Voces Novae.  You can read the article in Voces Novae.

Hailey's article had also previously won the Phi Alpha Theta Nels Andrew Cleven Prize, another prestigious national undergraduate award.

Her paper explores a little known aspect of Los Angeles History in the depths of the Depression.  In 1936 the Chief of Police decided to erect a "bum blockade" both at home and on California's borders to rid the city of dust bowl migrants and others thought to be undesirable, and to keep these sorts of people from coming in the first place.  However, though it only lasted a month and drew the fire of many on the left, it nonetheless seems to have had a considerable popular backing.  Hailey, in fact, argues that the blockade was indicative of a spirit in this state at the time to go to considerable and perhaps even unconstitutional lengths to preserve its "imagined" view of itself as a sort of middle class utopia against what was widely seen as a tide of unwashed Okkies flooding in from the east.

Hailey did a considerable amount of primary research, and she was aided in this research by a special grant from the Chancellor's Office. She used memoirs, newspapers, magazines, and also spent a considerable amount of time in the archives of the Los Angeles Police Department.

History Department Majors and Minors Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Chapman University with a Special Issue of their Award Winning Voces Novae.

Voces Novae, Chapman University's award winning student historical journal, will publish a special issue in the spring of 2011 devoted to the history of the university, especially its meteoric rise to national prominence in the last 30 years.  This special issue will take full advantage of its Open Journal Systems software, with its extensive audio and video capabilities, to present creatively this history as a series of interviews with those people who were centrally involved in this rise--key professors, administrators, staff members and trustees.  While this vast project will be overseen by the members of the Department of History, including journal advisor Lee Estes, the actual task of preparing for and doing interviews, as well as editing and putting these interviews online, will be in the hands of History majors and minors formally trained in the required skills by Jana Remy, Associate Director of Instructional Technology.  This special issue of Voces Novae will be debuted at the Southern California Regional Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society Conference, to be held here at Chapman on April 9th, and again at the 150th Birthday Party and Campus Open House on May 7th. 

Three-peat: Chapman's Alpha Mu-Gamma Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta wins Best Chapter Award for third straight year!

Isn't it wonderful when history repeats itself? Our Alpha Mu Gamma Chapter has done it again – winning the 2009 -2010 Best Chapter Award from the Phi Alpha Theta National Honors Society. This prestigious award was given to our PAT chapter for the whole range of its many activities including hosting the second annual Alpha Mu Gamma Student History Conference in March and publishing the prize-winning Voces Novae: Chapman University Historical Review. In addition, PAT members won four of the five undergraduate paper prizes at the Southern California Regional PAT Conference in California State University-Bakersfield, several faculty sponsored Student Research Grants from the Office of the Chancellor and the Faculty Research and Development Council, and four of the five Leatherby Libraries Undergraduate Research Prizes. Twelve members also presented research papers at the PAT biannual convention in San Diego. The Chapter also won for its many contributions to the University and the wider community including volunteering as a group cleaning up Seal Beach, helping out at the Thanksgiving Food Bank Drive, and providing much of the labor that helps make the many Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education events so successful. The Department of History would like to particularly thank William Cumiford and Brenda Farrington, Faculty Advisors for PAT this past year, Dr. Lee Estes and Robert Slayton who mentored the students as they completed their research papers, as well as the chapter officers.

History Students Garner More Accolades

---

 History Majors Visit with Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz

George P. Shultz, former U.S. Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan, was honored at Chapman University on Wednesday, April 14. During a special panel discussion two Chapman history majors, Mark Johnston and Karen Nielsen, presented their papers about his career. Mr. Schultz responded by offering his own "behind the scenes" insights about his diplomatic career. The event ended with the dedication of a new bronze bust depicting Mr. Shultz, on the promenade near the Argyros Global Citizens Plaza.

Capoeira Workshop and Martial Arts Lecture

 Sponsored by the History Department, Sociology Department and VIVE HAITI!

On April 29, 2010 T.J. Desch-Obi, Associate Professor at Baruch College in African and African Diaspora visited Chapman University to give a two part series on African martial arts.  Professor Desch-Obi lectured on the history of African martial arts traditions in the Atlantic world and gave a capoeira workshop to students. Students circled around Professor Desch-Obi and his capoeira partner as they gave instructions on the art of capoeira and described its meaning.

The event was fun and educational, and was well attended. Several hundred dollars for VIVE HAITI! All proceeds will be donated to Partners in Health, a non-profit organization that has been providing health care to rural Haiti for over 40 years. Thank you to all who attended.

 Southern California Phi Alpha Theta History Conference

History did it again. For the fourth year in a row, Chapman University history majors won the majority of undergraduate research paper awards at the Southern California Regional Phi Alpha Theta History Conference. This year the history honors society conference was held at California State University, Bakersfield on April 10, 2010. Chapman History majors won four of the five unranked awards for undergraduate research papers. View a list of the winners and photos!

---

 American History of the Anonymous Takes Stage

Assistant Professors of History, Carolyn Vieira-Martinez who specializes in the study of African languages in Central African History and the Atlantic Diaspora, was asked by Oscar winning actor Tim Robbins to contribute her scholarship to the development of "Break the Whip," a colonial American history set in 17th century Virginia. The work was inspired by historians such as Howard Zinn, Tim Hashaw and Benjamin Wooley. Read more!

Read the Los Angeles Times review.

Students Present Papers at the 2010 Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention in San Diego

Twelve Chapman students presented papers at the National Biennial Convention of Phi Alpha Theta in San Diego on January 7-9, 2010. Professors Estes, Cumiford, Farrington and Keene were there cheering them on. Chapman had the largest contingent of student presenters at the conference! View a list of the papers and photos of some of the presenters!

---

 Voces Novae: Chapman University Historical Review Wins First Prize

Voces Novae: Chapman University Historical Review won first prize for the best student history electronic journal in the nation from Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society. Principle credit goes to the three Senior Editors, Hailey Giczy, John Cowles and Sarah Ganderup as well as to Mary Litch, Director of the Office of Academic Technology and Digital Media. Professor Lee Estes was the faculty advisor. The first issue was published last June. All nine articles were written by students from the Department of History's two Senior Seminar courses. In addition, there are two separate interviews with Dr. Sergei Khrushchev, which were carried out by Kyle Kordon as part of his Senior Seminar research. In total, articles in this issue have won seven research paper prizes including four from the Leatherby Libraries, two at the Southern California Regional Phi Alpha Theta History Conference at UCLA, and the Nels Andrew Clevens Prize from the national office of Phi Alpha Theta. Access Voces Novae Online

Chapman's Alpha Mu-Gamma Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta has won its second in a row Best Chapter Award!

Our Alpha Mu Gamma Chapter has won the 2008-2009 Best Chapter Award from the Phi Alpha Theta, National Honors Society. This prestigious award was given to our PAT chapter for the whole range of its many activities including the founding of its own Alpha Mu Gamma History Conference in March, and the publication of the first issue of Voces Novae: Chapman University Historical Review. In addition, PAT members won two of the three paper prizes at the Southern California Regional PAT Conference at UCLA, two faculty sponsored Student Research Grants from the Office of the Chancellor and the Faculty Research and Development Council, and all four Leatherby Libraries Undergraduate Research Prizes. The Chapter also won for its many contributions to the University and the wider community including thousands of hours volunteering as a group cleaning up Seal Beach, helping out at the Thanksgiving Food Bank Drive, and providing much of the labor that help make the many Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education events so successful. The Department of History would like particularly to thank Brenda Farrington, the Faculty Advisor for PAT this past year, and the officers of the chapter -President Hailey Giczy, Vice President Ashley Duree, Secretary John Cowles, Treasurer Brittany Columbus, Historians Karli McEnti and Andrew Paul, As House Rep Sarah Ganderup and Alumni Liaison Elizabeth Mack - for their many hours of dedicated services that made this award possible.