Timelines History Newsletter Spring 2016

The College at Brockport, SUNY NUMBER 28 Spring 2016

Inside this issue: Student Activities

2

Alumni News

8

Faculty Work

12

Department Events

13

Student Awards 14

History’s New Home: The Liberal Arts Building Since Fall 2014 we have

side of the tracks. While

matter to academics! But

have two of the classiest

been settling into our

brick is still the campus mo-

there are compensations,

seminar rooms on campus.

commodious new ac-

tif, the curving roof, the

including a kitchen and sev-

commodations on the

plentiful plantings, and a gur-

eral lounge areas for stu-

third floor of the new

gling pond are an aesthetic

dents.

Liberal Arts Building.

improvement!

A technologically up-to-date

After 40 years in the

Some adjustments had to be

seminar room provides in-

Albert Brown Building

made, especially as faculty

structional alternatives and,

(formerly FOB), we

adjusted to fewer linear feet

with the Milne Room in

crossed to the other

of bookshelves – a serious

Drake Library, means we

Downstairs the McCue Auditorium provides a convenient location for our lecture series.

Page 2

Timelines

Student Activities The History Forum Secures the Coveted Crystal Beaver!

Town Historian, we were

the commitment of

invited to join the group for young historians to carry on the work of a day of lectures, a luncheon, and a re-enactment.

the largely senior citi-

The keynote address was

zen audience.

given by Carol Kammen of

This was particularly

Cornell University, one of

well received because

the country’s leading local

most participants had

historians.

wrongly assumed that

At lunch we were very pop- history was being neglected by the younger ular because we raised The History Forum contingent with Ms. Coburn and a visitor

Monroe County contin-

from the 18th century.

gent’s size enough to secure

generation.

the crystal beaver, a cherOn Saturday, September 26, six members of the History

ished prize in the GAHWNY, for our county!

But the biggest surprise

Forum and Prof. Bruce

occurred after lunch when

Leslie took an early morning

But the biggest surprise oc-

trip to the Southern Tier to

curred after lunch when the

attend the Fall Meeting of

scheduled speaker was side-

the Government Appointed

lined by a medical emergen-

Historians of Western New

cy. The organizers ap-

York at Houghton College.

proached us to step in. Rob

the scheduled speaker was sidelined by a medical emergency...and History Forum Vice-President Rob Bretz spoke in his place.

Bretz, then serving as HistoThrough the good offices of Carol Coburn, Ogden

ry Forum vice president, spoke passionately about

Join the History Forum on Facebook!

The History Forum runs a very lively and informative, and often humorous, Facebook page. It is open not only to students and faculty, but also to alumni. If you are interested, email the address below requesting to be added as a Friend: BportHistoryForum@groups.facebook.com

Page 3

N u m b er 2 8 , S p r in g 2 0 1 6

History Forum Collaborates with Clio of GCC to Represent the Next Generation of Historians Saturday, October 17, was

communities of Orleans

the Western Monroe

quite the day of collabora-

County exploded with pros-

County Historical Society.

tion for two student groups,

perity as eased shipping

Formed 50 years ago, the

the History Forum at The

meant local farmers could

Western Monroe Histori-

College at Brockport and

fetch much better prices

cal Society preserves the

Clio at SUNY Genesee

from their crops at market.

Morgan-Manning House in

Community College, who

The construction of the

Brockport. Volunteers

were represented at the

Cobblestone District #2

who restored this historic

dedication of District #2

Schoolhouse and its coun-

home have since turned it

Schoolhouse in Gaines, NY,

terpart District #5 School-

into a museum. This local

and the Western Monroe

house were signs of this

gem has a rich history,

County Historical Society

newfound prosperity. Nev-

and the Western Monroe

50th Anniversary Dinner.

ertheless, by the mid-1900s,

Historical Society seeks to

most of these buildings had

keep its history alive as well

been abandoned with the

as create a bright future for

centralization of the nearby

the Morgan-Manning House.

With a letter from Governor Andrew Cuomo, the restoration efforts of the Orleans County Historical Association at the 1832 cobblestone schoolhouse were recognized with the dedication of a historic marker. Invited to this dedication was Conner Wolfe, Brockport History Forum President and Interim Director of the Cobblestone Museum in Childs, NY, who

Albion Central School District. It is only efforts like those undertaken by the Orleans County Historical Association—led in this endeavor by Historian of the Town of Gaines Al Capurso—that preserve these buildings of such historic pride of the historic community of Orleans County.

The collective youths in attendance at this celebratory dinner from both clubs

History Forum and Clio

the up and coming histori-

hope will be a long and

ans in our communities to the many delegates of his-

prosperous relationship

torical organizations of

between our two

Monroe and Orleans Counties encountered at the two events. This day was the

Later that evening, History

first step in what we at the

tion to the President of Clio

Forum President Conner

History Forum and Clio

at Genesee Community

Wolfe, Clio Vice President

hope will be a long and

College, Tiffi Westcott.

Gina Buda, and History Fo-

prosperous relationship be-

rum member Sabastian

tween our two organiza-

Piedmont, along with sever-

tions and the historical

al Brockport Department of

community beyond the col-

History alumni, attended

lege classroom.

brought by the construction of the Erie Canal in the 1820s, the small agricultural

the anniversary dinner of

step in what we at the

were proud to represent

in turn extended an invita-

With the prosperity

This day was the first

organizations….

Page 4

Timelines Giant Risk: History Forum Edition! twelve people before. My goal was to alter the classic game that everyone loves and make a version that hasn’t been seen before. My alterations make the game more exciting, include more people, and make for a great historical experience.”

In a recent and shocking History Forum plays Giant Risk for their second meeting of the spring 2016

move, the History Forum

semester. (Photo by Robert Bretz)

has declared war on the

Ever wonder what it’s like

to push and pull armies

Department of History fac-

to be a commanding general

around the board.

ulty, challenging them to a

standing in your headquarters, watching your armies shuffled around your command table like chess pieces? Well, Robert Bretz ’17, the current History Forum

History Forum

President, has. It was this very thought that inspired

President Robert Bretz

him to take the classic

has altered the

board game Risk and add some supersized changes of

traditional game of

his own.

“Apart from the physical alterations of the game board, I have also added several distinct gameplay features that you won’t find

game of Giant Risk! Pizza, wings, and soft drinks are being provided by the History Forum, but it will be a battle to the death.

in any Risk rulebook. History Forum Risk sports a gameplay deck which must be drawn from by each player at the beginning of their turn. The deck is a mixture of challenge cards,

Risk to make a new,

“The board itself is close to

rewards, and punishments.

more exciting—and

six times bigger than a tradi-

The size of the board also

tional Risk board and uses

invites teams to coordinate

full-sized plastic army men

on the moves of their ar-

instead of tiny plastic pieces

mies, as opposed to the

to represent players’ ar-

traditional game, which only

mies,” says Bretz. “Due to

allows from two to six play-

the board’s size, painted

ers. Our Giant Risk games

History Forum plays Giant Risk

wooden dowels can be used

have involved as many as

for the first time, September 10,

historical—game.

2015. (Photo by Robert Bretz)

Page 5

N u m b er 2 8 , S p r in g 2 0 1 6

Brockport at EuroSim

By Catherine Taylor ’16 and Belle O’Toole ’18 Over winter break, Brockport’s EuroSim club travelled to Antwerp, Vienna, and Prague. As a club we participate in an international conference simulating the European Union every year.

We spend an entire semester researching and preparing for the conference. The topic for the proposal this year was immigration policy, which turned out to be very

Brockport students at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Belle O’Toole

controversial as the confer-

and Catherine Taylor are second from the right, in the first and second rows

ence got closer.

respectively. In the back row are three more history students: James Snider, second

After arriving in Belgium, we spent four days debat-

from right; David Ehmann, third from right; and Steven Bennett, History MA, on the far left. Steven served as the graduate co-instructor for the course.

ing, compromising, and reforming the proposal that

After the conference, we

while we were in Europe.

we hoped to pass. About

had the opportunity to stay

Like Prague, Vienna is full of

ten European schools and

in the heart of Prague

rich history, and we had a

ten US schools attended the

where Eastern European

chance to tour a few muse-

conference. At the end of

history is still very much

ums there. We learned a

four days, we

the four days, we success-

alive. We ate Czech food,

great deal about the Euro-

successfully passed

fully passed what we believe

drank Czech beer, and im-

pean Union on this trip but

to be a successful directive

mersed ourselves in the

also got a deeper look into

for immigration reform.

culture. Our tour guides in

Europe’s history through

Strangely enough, debating

Prague discussed the fall of

our travels after the confer-

brings students very close

communism with us and

ence. Everyone in EuroSim

together. Brockport stu-

gave a great political history

came away with a deeper

dents now have connections

of their country. Prague is a

understanding and apprecia-

with students from all over

lively city; a truly beautiful

tion for Europe and its his-

Europe.

Eastern European treasure.

tory.

The cultural aspect of the

We also took a cultural ex-

trip was just as enriching.

cursion to Vienna, Austria,

“At the end of the

what we believe to be a successful directive for immigration reform.”

Page 6

Timelines

The Chance of a Lifetime: Four months. Eight classes. Nine countries.

Countless memories.

By Catherine O’Connor ’15

“I will never regret the

For the spring semester of

tory. That experience was

experience. I was able to

my junior year, I was

really fantastic and served

meet so many new people

blessed with the oppor-

to whet my appetite for

who I hope to remain in

tunity to travel to

more exposure to Ireland.

contact with for years to

Maynooth, Ireland.

Another reason is that the

come. I lived on campus,

Maynooth is a small town

history department offers

which was a completely

outside of Dublin, with the

an incredible scholarship

different experience from

National University of Ire-

that made my study

living on campus at Brock-

land Maynooth nestled be-

abroad a possibility. Finally,

port. I learned the bus

side the ruins of a castle

I was supported by friends

schedules, train schedules,

decision to leave my

and a shopping mall. One

and family to move away

and everything in-between.

position as a Resident

of the first things a visitor

from what I was used to at

I made the blunder of

to Ireland would realize is

Brockport and experience

boarding a train for Gal-

the odd joining of old and

something new. I will nev-

way instead of Waterford,

new among the green

er regret the decision to

which turned a simple

countryside.

leave my position as a Res-

weekend trip into a much

ident Assistant, leave my

longer endeavor. Either a

friends and residents, leave

summer program or se-

my family and support

mester program is worth

base, or leave my country.

the money, without a

Study abroad will forever

doubt, but I would always

be one of the most incred-

recommend the longer

ible experiences of my life.

program.

know what that means).

As mentioned, I traveled

While at Maynooth, I took

Second, I had traveled to

to Ireland through a sum-

eight classes, completing

Ireland during the summer

mer study abroad pro-

two certificates: Irish Cul-

of 2013 with a study

gram. My summer abroad

tural Studies and Peace &

abroad program put forth

was great, but a semester

Conflict Studies. At Brock-

by the Department of His-

abroad really gives the full

port, this would translate

Assistant, leave my friends and residents, leave my family and support base, or leave my country.”

I chose Maynooth for several reasons. First, my ancestors came from Ireland.

As many people told me in Ireland, I not only have a very ‘Irish’ name, but also look Irish (I still don’t

Page 7

N u m b er 2 8 , S p r in g 2 0 1 6

as 24 credits. I’m a bit of

view of history, women,

the ruins of Pompeii and

an overachiever, preferring

and Ireland.

found history lurking in

to push myself rather than

Classes were just one facet

every corner of London.

take the path of least re-

of my experience abroad.

The glamour of Paris was

sistance.

On campus, I made a great

invigorating, while each

Taking classes outside of

group of friends who came

new view in Ireland took

The College at Brockport

from anywhere from Colo-

my breath away. I was able

was different, especially

rado to Germany. Every

to see some of the places

when coupled with the

weekend we had some

I’d dreamed of, and re-

Irish education system.

new adventure planned,

turned to some areas I had

We didn’t have daily read-

from hiking in Wicklow to

already been. I met up with

ings, or homework assign-

traveling across the coun-

my cousin and her fiancée,

ments each week. Instead,

try to Galway. There were

who live in Germany, and

our grades were based on

potluck dinners, where

traveled with them for a

two essays or tests per

customary German, Indian,

few days. I ended my study

class. That’s it. My favorite

Chinese, and American

abroad with my parents

class was my Irish language

dishes were compiled.

and sister, who flew over

course, where I learned

Days at the park were

to surprise me. Together,

the ins and outs of Irish. It

planned, along with outings

we completed a circuit of

Mass in Rome, led by

was challenging, and that’s

to the local pubs for good

the country, getting lost on

Pope Francis. I toured

exactly why I enjoyed it so

traditional music and a pint

small back roads and veer-

much. I also took history

of Guinness. We watched

ing away from our planned

courses, many of which

television and movies to-

itinerary.

and found history

revolved around women in

gether, while also ventur-

I met new people, encoun-

lurking in every corner

the Celtic period. I chose

ing out and exploring Dub-

tered different world

of London.”

these classes to augment

lin.

views, and challenged my

my history major and my

In all, I traveled to nine

own beliefs and decisions.

women and gender studies

different countries during

Study abroad is a great

minor. Being able to take

my semester abroad: Ire-

way to learn about differ-

classes for my major and

land, Northern Ireland,

ent cultures, realize how

minor at a different institu-

Scotland, Wales, England,

small you are in the big

tion was very interesting.

France, Spain, Germany,

scheme of things while also

The professors were all

and Italy. I couldn’t have

realizing how much the

very different from previ-

had a more incredible se-

world has to offer you, and

ous professors I’ve had,

mester abroad. I went to

engage in new experiences

and all had different inputs.

Easter Mass in Rome, led

and travels.

They helped broaden my

by Pope Francis. I toured

“I went to Easter

the ruins of Pompeii

Page 8

Timelines

Alumni Activity Judith M Littlejohn ’10/’13 is Elba Town Historian and oversees the Historical Society of Elba Museum. Fittingly, her MA thesis focused on the development of Rural Free Delivery, in which Elba played a special role.

The United States Postal Service’s 1896 adoption of Rural Free Delivery modernized rural America: it promised efficiency in communication, undermined traditional practices, and diminished rural isolation by providing farm families with reliable access to daily newspapers, political newsletters, The Kutolowskis’ sleigh

commercial catalogs, and homogeneous consumer goods. Beyond the farm, the establishment of offi-

cial RFD routes affected village shopkeepers, spurred the Good Roads Movement, initiated changes in daily life and social patterns, changed the structure of Post Office employment, influenced shifts in the parcel delivery industry, and created increased distribution of mass media through the post.

Judith Littlejohn’s MA

Littlejohn’s thesis examined the significance of RFD through the sleigh used to deliver mail

thesis examined the

on the first RFD route in New York State, in Elba. Drawing on material culture, contempo-

USPS’s 1896 Rural Free Delivery program, which used

rary newspaper articles, advertisements, government records, and written accounts of postal delivery in the US, she traced the resistance to and advocacy for the implementation of Rural Free Delivery. She analyzed the political, socioeconomic, and cultural impact of the shift from farmers traveling into town to retrieve their mail, to a US postal worker delivering the mail regularly to the farms. The sleigh represents a conscious effort to provide rural

sleighs to deliver mail

Americans with equal access to information, even in our northern winters, via the postal

in rural New York.

service, initiating a broader transformation of rural culture through consistent, timely access to mass media regardless of geographic location, class, race, or gender.

There is a further Brockport history department connection here. Professor Emerita Kathy Kutolowski grew up in Elba and donated the sleigh, possibly the one used for RFD, to the museum.

Page 9

N u m b er 2 8 , S p r in g 2 0 1 6

Eunice Chesnut MA ’76 One of Brockport’s first

In her three and a MAs and a Brockport insti- half decades in that tution has retired. Eunice position, she became to Brockport in 1950 came the expert on with her husband John, a Brockport history, very popular English pro-

writing a number of

fessor. After completing

books including the

the history MA, she began

Brockport Encyclopeworking with the Western dia, and helping othMonroe Historical Society ers in their reat the Morgan-Manning

search. In her re-

House, becoming the his-

tirement she moved

torian in 1980.

to Long Island to be

Eunice Chesnut at work in the Morgan-Manning House

with her children.

Paul Constantine MA ’12 “My career with North American Breweries began as an intern while I was working on my MA in History at The College at Brockport. I heard about this opportunity from Dr. Morag Martin and, as an avid homebrewer at the time, it sounded like too much fun to pass up.

“The plan was to start up a facility that would provide fans of the brewery something that would immerse them not only in the rich history of the Genesee brewery, but in Rochester’s brewing history as well. My role was to do the research and acquire artifacts that helped tell those stories. In that capacity, I touched on such topics as 19th-century European immigration to the city and region and how the Industrial Revolution affected brewing, as it did most industries. We worked with Eric Mower and Associates, an exhibit design firm. They took what I was able to find and really brought the story to life. Once we opened, I stayed on as the Genesee Brew House’s retail manager, and I still oversee our museum section as well.

“I am very proud of the Brew House and feel I found a home here. I couldn’t be happier that I seized upon this opportunity that I found as a student at Brockport.”

Page 10

Timelines Alumni News Rev. Gregory VanDussen ’69 has retired from full-time ministering but keeps his finger in the profession as an adjunct professor at Northeastern Seminary of Roberts Wesleyan College.

Christa Koschel Lutz ’70 has retired from Royalton Hartland Central School after 32 years.

She reports that her history degree “has come full circle in my retirement as I am now the Village Historian for the Village of Middleport. I found my studies at Brockport never left me, even on vacation while climbing the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, I could hear Dr. Francis Manno’s voice as he taught us the wonders of Mexico. I will always be most grateful for the wonderful lessons I learned at Brockport.”

Jeannette Ford ’73 teaches Chinese History at BethuneCookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Thus she has been able to visit her mentor Prof. John Killigrew when he winters in Florida.

Christopher Michael Green ’95 owns the Chiropractic Care and Rehab Center in Estero, Florida. He is married to Michelle Giroux Green and they have two boys, Townson Michael, age 6, and Ryder Davis, age 4. He sends special greetings to his mentor, Prof. O. Steve Ireland.

John Ragan ’74 reports that after graduating from Brockport,

he did graduate work in history before beginning a career as assessor for the City and County of Denver, Colorado. He then began online college teaching, eventually becoming the chair of cultural sciences for Colorado Community Colleges Online, a position he enjoys tremendously.

Steve Bragg ’92/’01 continues to work for New York State in his 15th year as a veterans representative. He returned to England to see family last year and visited both the RAF and Duxford museums, following up on his MA thesis on the relationship of American airmen and East Anglians in WWII. Major Daniel Fletcher ’97 is currently posted to duty in Afghanistan. His emails keep his friends apprized of the challenges and successes of working there.

Jane Oakes MA ’03 owns and runs Jane's Pantry at 84 Main St. in Mount Morris. She has been part of the remarkable revival of the village. She did her MA thesis on Western New York opera houses and has continued to work to save the remaining ones, including the Bittersweet building in Brockport. She has won awards for her preservation work in Avon.

Chris Schultheis ’04 has recently accepted a position as Western New York brand manager for Ithaca Beer Co., focusing on the Buffalo-Rochester-

Syracuse corridor with some time also spent in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier.

Daniel D. Cody ’07/’10 and Eric Wheeler MA ’07 appeared together for a panel discussion on “The Aftermath of WWII” at Rochester Institute of Technology. Dan also organized an exhibit of posters and photographs titled “Mobilizing America: Fighting World War I on the Homefront and Battlefront.”

Eric Wheeler MA ’07 is the coordinator of the Academy for Veterans Success at Monroe Community College and received the Golden Apple Award for his tireless efforts on behalf of veterans. He also volunteers for Honor Flight, a program that takes WWII veterans to Washington to see the WWII memorial.

Jill Neidlinger Keys ’09/’14 is teaching in the Windham School in Lockport.

Josh Keaton ’11 is a sales representative for Bosch Security Systems in Fairport.

Patrick Stenshorn MA ’11 has been interviewed on WXXI about the Women's Rights Movement in Seneca Falls, where he works for the National Historic Park as a ranger.

Page 11

N u m b er 2 8 , S p r in g 2 0 1 6

Paige Doerner ’12/’13 is a marketing assistant at the Adirondack Museum on beautiful Blue Mountain Lake. She encourages visitors to stop in and see her.

Garrett Roe ’13 continues to serve The College at Brockport, traveling around New York State working as an admissions assistant while completing his MA in History.

Aislinn Ladd ’12 finished her MA in Medieval History from Birkbeck College, University of London, and continues to live and work in London.

Kevin Urbaitis ’13 has received his Paralegal Certificate from Finger Lakes Community College. He works as a paralegal for the Seneca County Attorney's Office and lives in Geneva, NY.

Ben Young ’12/’13 is studying Asian history in the PhD program at The George Washington University, with special funding from Modern Languages to continue studying Korean.

His research was cited and he was quoted in an article on North Korea in the British newspaper The Guardian. In Seoul, he prepared Korean students for American colleges.

Amy Pepe ’13 has been appointed historical researcher in the Office of the City Historian/ Rochester Public Library. There she is working as part of the team of City Historian Christine Ridarsky MA ’03. One of her main responsibilities is overseeing the publication of Rochester History.

David Pomplas MA ’13 is working for Woods, Oviatt & Gilman while studying for a second master’s in public administration at Empire State College.

Gabrielle Brannigan ’14 received a scholarship to enter the MA program in social studies and special education at the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester and is working as a teacher’s aide in the Webster School District.

Andrew Capuano ’14 went to China on a prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship sponsored by the US Department of State.

Richard Deverell MA ’14 works at the Genesee Country Museum and Village where he dresses in period costume and interprets the history of the buildings and region to visitors.

He says, “I’ve drawn from background knowledge I developed at Brockport as well as research while working at the museum.

For example, I’ve learned about 19th-century foodways from working in the LivingstonBackus house, where I work in the front and a cook prepares food in the kitchen. I’ve also

learned about 19th-century education from two of the other buildings I work in, the seminary and our 19th-century schoolhouse. I'm able to use the information of each to explain the differences to visitors. All in all, it offers opportunities for me to study in a more traditional way, but also to experience the topics.”

Rob Bermudes MA ’15 is the new editor of Historical New Hampshire, the journal of the New Hampshire Historical Society.

Alex Gunther ’15 is attending the adolescent education program for social studies at St. Bonaventure University.

Emily Henrich ’15 interned in the Village of Depew’s Historian’s Office, assisting in producing a history of the Village which has been published by Arcadia Press.

Shane Swann ’15 is working for Gorkana in Brooklyn. He has found that the skills he acquired studying history and minoring in museum studies and public history prepared him well for his research-based job.

Page 12

Timelines

Faculty Activities Engineering War and Peace in Modern Japan, 1868-1964 (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology)

By Takashi Nishiyama

men to be engineers. How

Prof. Nishiyama aims to

did Japan develop curricula

counterbalance prevalent

adequate to the task (and

Eurocentric/Americentric

from whom did the country

views in the history of tech-

borrow)? Under what condi-

nology. Engineering War and

tions? What did the engi-

Peace in Modern Japan, 1868

neers think of the planes

–1964 sets the historical

Dr. Nishiyama’s book,

they built to support Kami-

experience of one country’s

published 2015

kaze suicide missions?

technological transformation

Naval, aeronautic, and me-

But his study ultimately con-

chanical engineers played a

cerns the remarkable transi-

powerful part in the military

tion these trained engineers

first to study the

buildup of Japan in the early

made after total defeat in

paradoxical and

and mid-twentieth century.

1945. How could the engi-

They belonged to a militaris-

neers of war machines so

tic regime and embraced the

quickly turn to peaceful con-

importance of their role in

struction projects such as

it. Prof. Nishiyama examines

designing the equipment

the impact of war and peace

necessary to manufacture

Dr. Nishiyama is the

transformative power of Japan’s defeat in World War II through

the lens of engineering. on technological transfor-

consumer products? Most

mation during the twentieth

important, they developed

century. He is the first to

new high-speed rail services,

study the paradoxical and

including the Shinkansen

transformative power of

Bullet Train. What does this

Japan’s defeat in World War

change tell us not only about

II through the lens of engi-

Japan at war and then in

neering.

peacetime but also about

He asks how the authorities selected and prepared young

the malleability of engineering cultures?

in a larger international framework by studying sources in six different languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. The result is a fascinating read for those interested in technology, East Asia, and international studies that offers lessons to policymakers interested in how a country can recover successfully after defeat.

Page 13

N u m b er 2 8 , S p r in g 2 0 1 6

Department Events 2015-2016 Maynooth Lecture

Making Sense of Hitler’s New Order: European Neutrals, 1940-1944 The history department’s 2015-2016 Maynooth Lecture was presented on October 28 in the new McCue Auditorium of the Liberal Arts Building by Dr. Filipe Ribeiro de Meneses. A graduate of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, Professor de Meneses has taught at Maynooth since 1997 and has published widely in contemporary Portuguese and Spanish history. He is working on research projects designed to mark the centenary of the First World War, but on this evening he turned to WWII. He also proved to be an adroit pool player at the post-lecture reception at Prof. Leslie’s house.

Professor Filipe Ribeiro de Meneses

What would Hitler’s

Professor de Meneses’ Lecture

New World Order From the fall of France until

Their attempts were made

and highly revealing about

the Battle of Stalingrad, and

more difficult by the lack of

the nature of political, eco-

mean for neutral

perhaps for some time after

clear direction emanating

nomic and social power, as

powers like Ireland

that, it seemed to most Eu-

from Berlin. Militarily weak,

well as human nature.

ropeans that Germany was

geographically scattered, and

bound to win World War II,

politically divided, Europe’s

or at least not be defeated.

neutrals were not in a posi-

During this time, as the horror of Nazi rule and occupa-

and Portugal?

tion to mount a principled defense of their rights.

tion played itself out, the

Looking more closely at the

leaders and people of Eu-

cases of Ireland and Portu-

rope’s few remaining neu-

gal, this paper makes a case

trals tried to understand

for a comparative investiga-

what the “New Order” had

tion of the period, about

in store for them, and how

which little was said in the

they might ensure their sur-

years that followed, but

vival in the future.

which was both fascinating Professor de Meneses meets with history students

Page 14

Timelines

2015 Synnestvedt Lecture

Bad Little Black Girls: African American Women, Mass Incarceration, & the Remaking of White Supremacy On October 8, 2015, the history department welcomed back Dr. Leigh-Anne Francis MA ’03, now an assistant professor at the College of New Jersey, as our 2015 Synnestvedt Lecturer.

Dr. Francis presented material from her current research project on the historical intersection of race, crime, gender, and punishment in New York State.

Dr. Leigh-Anne Francis MA ’03

Department Awards Department of History Student Awards for 2015 Undergraduate Awards Jack Crandall Award: William Jenny Kempes Schnell Award: Michael Schojan Kleehammer Departmental Scholar Prize: Michael Zagari Students talk with Dr. Francis after the lecture

Robert Griswold History Award: Matthew Rockefeller Arthur Lee History Award: Matty Kuhar

The #BlackLivesMatter movement has raised awareness about the role race and gender play in crime and punishment, and Dr. Francis’s very timely talk drew a large and appreciative crowd.

Melinda Kleehamer Senior Seminar Prize: 1st Place – Martin Norment 2nd Place – Caleb Follmer Terry Gore Prize: Steven Marchese George S. Queen Award: Undergraduate – Julia Bibko

Graduate – Andrew Russo

Master of Arts Awards W. Wayne Dedman Graduate Award in History: Shellie Clark Flieger Family Graduate Fellowship: Erin Shea (FA 14) and Taylor Daughton (SP 15) Graduate Assistantships: Andrew Russo (AY 14-15) Shellie Clark (FA 14) It was standing room only in the McCue Auditorium for Dr. Francis’s talk.

Erin Shea (SP 15)

Page 15

N u m b er 2 8 , S p r in g 2 0 1 6

The New Masters of History Professor Morag Martin, Director of the Master of Arts in History program, announces the graduation of 14 MAs in History in 2015.

Julia Acosta

Shellie Clark

Andrew Russo

Dean Barney

Nathaniel Faulkner

Erin Shea

Robert Bermudes

Alexander Kulp

Natalie Walton

Katherine Christopher

Stephen O’Riley

Matthew Wood

Michael Chuchla

Karin Peña

PHI ALPHA THETA The College at Brockport’s Alpha Gamma Lambda chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society, inducted 10 new members at our annual honors and awards ceremony at the Morgan-Manning House on April 17, 2015.

Taylor Daughton

Andrew Russo

Benjamin Falter

Tara Sandle

Nicholas Greene

Michael Schojan

Justin Olney

Shannon Shields

Kevin Payne

Conner Wolfe

350 New Campus Drive Brockport, NY 14420-2956 Department of History

Attention, history alumni! We want to hear from you!

Email your news to Teri Rombaut at trombaut@brockport.edu. Or you can clip and mail this form to the address on the back. Check us out on the Web on Facebook and at www.brockport.edu/history. Many thanks!

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________ Date of Graduation: ___________ Degree: ____________ Current Position: __________________________________________________________________________ News that you’d like to share (career, hobbies, thoughts on history, travel, family, etc.) _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________