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BURSON FUNDS HISTORY PROJECT
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hanks to a gift from alumnus Harold Burson, the Center has launched a pioneering study of the history ofJewish life at the Universiry of Mississippi and will also be able to offer; in the Fall 1999 semester, a new course on ethnicity and Southern culture. The study is being directed by Leah Hagedorn,
who will also teach the new course. Hagedorn says research on Jewish life at the University of Mississippi is historically and culturally important. "It also tells us a lot about Ole Miss. David Sansing, the university historian, recently told a group
nity to add ethnicity and immigration to the ways we already examine identity and religion makes sense." Hagedorn is studying Jewish students and faculty at the professional schools as well as the undergraduate population. She is using university records, student publications, and oral history, among other tools, to explore the role of religion and identiry in student life at university. Center director Charles Reagan Wilson, a cultural historian whose specialty is religion in the South, is pleased about the project. This is an area that needs to be studied, he says, noting that both the funder and
that of all the universities in the country, the only one that might have alumni more dedicated than this one is Yale." And, smiles Hagedorn, the only university in the country where
the director are ideal for the undertaking. Burson, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, and a graduate of the University of Mississippi, also holds an honorary doctorate from
there has been a scholarly study of the role ofJewish students and faculty is Yale. The history of higher education has neglected ethnicity and religion general-
Boston University, awarded for his pioneering work in the study of perception and the business of public relations. Inducted into the University of Mississippi Hall of Fame in 1980, he has won numerous profes-
ly, says Hagedorn. From left: Harold Burson, Leah Hagedorn, and Charles Reagan WJson The study of ethnicity is sional awards. He has twice been named Public Relations essentially modem, stresses Hagedorn. "The term came into usage in Professional of the Year and has received Gold Anvil, Horatio Alger, the 1950s. It takes confidence, both as a nation and a university, to Arthur Page, and Life Achievement awards. He is the founder and undertake the study of what some perceive as difference." She adds chair of Burson-Marsteller, a global public relations firm. that while the study of ethnicity has produced and inspired some of Hagedorn, who grew up in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, holds a the best work in American history, scholars have paid comparatively B.A. from Goucher College, M.A. from the University of little attention to ethnicity in the American South. Hagedorn says North Carolina at Chapel the project offers an excellent . Hill, and, in 1999, will be example of how new research on awarded a doctorate in histocampus leads to new courses that If you, or someone you know, might be interested in offering ry for a dissertation dealing enhance university curricula. advice or being interviewed for a history of Jews at the with Jews and the American "This is an important opportuniUniversity of Mississippi, please contact Leah Hagedorn by teleSouth from 1858 to 1905. ty to expand and update the curphone, at 601-232-5993, bye-mail, leah@olemiss.edu, or by She is the recipient of numerriculum at the university. We mail, Center for the Study of Southern Culture, Barnard ous scholarships and fellowhave the best Southern Studies Observatory, University, MS 38677. ships for her work in history Program in the world at the uniand public service. versity, and having the opportu-