talk of the town
talk of the town
A History of Hamilton: An Interview with Professor Maurice Isserman
Professor Maurice Isserman, a Former Fulbright grant-winner and James L. Ferguson Professor of History, recently published his latest book, On the Hill: A Bicentennial History of Hamilton College. Isserman has also written prize-winning books such The Other American: The Life of Michael Harrington, and his co-authored book Fallen Giants: A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes. He has also contributed editorials and book reviews to The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Newsday, The Los Angeles Times, The Nation, and The American Alpine Review. Anyone who has experienced the unique
the College in a larger context – regional Hamilton alumni and students during the Civil War. OO: How do you think the college has changed since the 1995 removal of Greek houses? Have you seen any major changes at Hamilton in terms of social structures since then?
change comes it does so in a hurry. That can be disconcerting to people who knew and loved the characterized by both
PI: One result of the Residential Life Decision
women students in majority female student body at the end of although Residential Life was an important
“...Hamilton is characterized by both continuity and change, and both are necessary to sustain a vibrant learning community.”
fascinating, and Professor Isserman has a wealth of knowledge on the subject.
to be seen as one of a multitude of decisions in recent decades that have moved the College into the front rank of liberal arts institutions in the
Oulsade Oyalowo: Which Side Were You On? was
national college. I think a lot of credit for that
to begin writing histories?
some years back that it had to recruit aggressively on a national and international level. In the 20-
Which Side Were You On? on the dissertation I wrote in graduate school to earn my Ph.D. It was a history of the American Communist Party during the Second World War.
and more committed to their studies. OO: How long did it take you to write On The Hill? PI: I began writing the book in the summer of 2010. It then took 18 months to design and
and 1960s. In recent years I’ve shifted the focus of my research to the history of mountaineering and
OO: What was the most interesting thing you learned during the process of writing On The Hill?
and both are necessary to sustain a vibrant learning community. On the Hill is dedicated to
president and trustee unfortunately passed away before the Bicentennial. In a Class & Charter Day address he jokingly suggested that the College set up a “standing committee
If you are interested in learning more about Hamilton’s history, you can purchase On the Hill today at the College bookstore or on the store’s website. The book can also be reserved at the Burke Library at http://www. hamilton.edu/200/bicentennial-history-book.
professional designers.
Fallen Giants. I am currently
OO: What was the research process like and what people did you contact while you were writing? PI: On the Hill is not only a book about Hamilton;
OO: Based on the title, it’s pretty obvious what On the Hill is about, but could you share a little of the book’s content?
have written it without the cooperation of the are listed in the acknowledgments. To give just two
PI: On the Hill of Hamilton College. It tells the story of Samuel his decision to form the Hamilton-Oneida down to the present. It also places the history of 18
the continental | autumn 2011
Photos Courtesy of Nancy Ford and Laura Laurey
history of the Oriskany Valley which appears in chapter one without the help of Emeritus Professor of Geology Don Potter; nor could I have written the section on the painful experience of gay men at Hamilton in the 1960s without the memories shared by a member of the Class of 1964. the continental | autumn 2011
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