Senior Seminar Topics

and

Muskie Fellows

As a capstone project, the history senior seminar requires students to thoroughly research prospective sources (both primary and secondary sources, and occasionally sources in a foreign language), assess the value and validity of said sources, develop a methodology to explore their chosen topic, and then write and re-write a polished final project. Some recent seminar topics have been:

Kari Baker (2003): "A Deadly Exchange: Disease and Conquest in the New World." In a combined senior seminar with Biology, Kari studied the diseases brought to the New World by the Spanish conquerors of the 16th century. Her work examined how pathogens such as influenza, smallpox, and measles spread through the native population, and the role that diseased played in the conquest.

Veronica Balogh (2004): "The Rise of the German National Socialist Party, 1919-1933." This paper, a historiographical exploration of how and why Hitler came to power, concludes that multiple factors came into play including: middle class discontent with modernity and the instability of the Weimar Republic; the NSDAP's effort to foster a broad base of support rooted in changes to economic and social policies, stable and effective government and a rejection of the Treaty of Versailles; and a harnessing of the new tools of mass media including radio broadcasts. This discussion is firmly rooted in a solid understanding of the national and international events of the 1920s and early 1930s, in particular the shifts in voting patterns.

Nachiket Chanchani (2004): "The Politics and Poetics of Mapping South Asia at a Major Art Museum in Washington, DC." While interning at the Smithsonian's Freer and Sackler Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, Nachiket observed what he perceived to be a misrepresentation of Kashmir in the Gallery's interpretive maps. His paper explored ways in which the museum might redesign its maps to present a more balanced view of the Kashmir region. Building on the work of historians, critical theorists, and cultural studies scholars, Nachiket examined issues of national identity and nationalism, as well as the theory of mapping, using Kashmir as a case study.

Anthony Lorenz (2004): "A Voice Crying Out in the Wilderness: The Confessing Christians in Germany, 1933-1945." Tony explored the path of the Confessing Church in Germany including the emergence of the Pastor's Emergency League, the Barmen Declaration, and the roles played by key individuals such as Karl Barth, Martin Niemöller, and Dietrich Bonhoffer. He links the churches' dissatisfaction with the "modern" world of the 1920s and their loss of church members to a wider discussion of why Hitler, his ideology and his politics initially appealed to many German Protestants. Combining his theological and historical training, Tony analyzed sermons and letters of key reformers, and traced the development of a new strain of Christianity that developed in postwar Germany.

Josh Lipps (2004): "From Bouts of Honor to Honor Cultures: A Relational Look at Dueling and Honor with Focus on America's Southern Culture." Josh Lipps's seminar explored the origins and development of dueling in the American South in the decades before the Civil War. He recounts a number of infamous dueling episodes in early 19th century America and then turns to an examination of honor cultures in general and the honor culture of the American South in particular. In the process, he draws on a wide range of sources, from traditional historical narratives, to the most significant recent historical works on antebellum Southern culture, and finally to the insights of anthropologists and social psychologists who explore the nature of honor cultures.

Kristin Losey (2004): "Gender Bending: Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz and Doña Marina a look at women's roles in colonial Mexico, 1519-1810." Kristin studied the position of women in Mexican colonial society through an examination of two atypical women: Cortes's native translator, advisor and mistress Malintzin, and the Baroque poet and nun, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. The struggles and achievements of these women illustrate the spaces open to women in colonial Mexico.

Melissa Lunn (2004): "The Bloodiest Day: Antietam and the Maryland Campaign of 1862." This paper thoroughly discussed the context, circumstances, events and consequences of the battle of Antietam - still the bloodiest single day in American history. Melissa skillfully wove together discussions of military, diplomatic and political context and impact of the battle for the outcome of the Civil War. She notes the profound impact the recording of the battle by photographers had upon contemporary and later understandings of the true horror of war.

Josh Smith (2003): "History of Surface Coal Mining in Southeastern Ohio." Josh Smith, a biology and history major completed a biology seminar on the environmental impact of surface mining in the region. For his history seminar, he took a historical apporach to the topic, and examined surface mining's impact on human communities in the region over the past half century.


Muskie Fellows

In addition to independent research, students also have the opportunity to engage in research with a faculty member through a campus internship program called Muskie Summer Fellows. Some recent Muskie Summer Fellows were:

Erin Stevic -- Conducting Research at Ohio Historical Society for Dr. Kerrigan's book on Johnny Appleseed; developing GIS maps for this book, organizing notes and creating a database.

Ben Shueler -- Conducting Oral Histories with farmers displaced by strip mines and strip mine workers; census and archival research on 13 townships affected by surface mining in the second half of the 20th century.

Melissa Nash -- Researching and writing biographies of notable Muskingum Alumni for use by the Development Office.

Allison Avolio - Researching the black market and Displaced Persons in postwar Germany; conducting research for a bibliography on Displaced Persons for publication on the USHMM website.