Indiana State University
      The History Department's
             Annual Newsletter

From the Chair 

During the 1999-2000 academic year, our signal accomplishment was the Five Year Plan.  This is an attempt to respond to forces (e.g., comparative studies, internationalization of curriculum, women=s studies) that are reshaping higher education and to place ourselves in a position to meet the needs of students in the decades ahead.  With its emphasis upon teacher training (a growing demand area), the addition of several cross-cultural courses centered upon the Atlantic and especially the Mediterranean (where a small concentration will be developed), and the anticipated creation of a Friends of History community outreach, this document charts our future direction.

The History Department continued the process of renewing its ranks, hiring two excellent candidates in tenure-track appointments.  All my colleagues join me in welcoming Tim Hawkins and Nancy Hagedorn to our Afamily@ as well as Stephanie Oxendale, our new one-year appointee in British History and European Women=s History.  They join me, too, in thanking our search committees and their chairs, Becky Shoemaker, Bill Giffin, and Don Layton for conscientious work.  We wish also to thank Carolyn Greenwalt, our efficient departmental staff person, who handled all the paperwork and who often went beyond the call of duty.

This year, two of our faculty members received important recognition.  Gale Christianson was awarded the President=s Medal, given at the discretion of the University President for exemplary performance and achievement. Richard Schneirov received the Best Urban History in North America published in 1998 Award from the Urban History Society for his book, Labor and Urban Politics: Class Conflict and the Origins of Modern Liberalism in Chicago, 1864-1897. 

1999 was a good year for scholarship in our Department, with three new books, one edited book, two re-publications of books, one new translation (Chinese), twenty-one journal articles and book chapters, three articles in newspapers, encyclopedias and dictionaries, eight book reviews, and thirty-six presentations at conferences, workshops, and other venues.

It is also my pleasure to report success in the area of our travel and research allocations.  Nine research projects received funding, including five by senior faculty; and fourteen conference papers were funded, as against five last year.

Unfortunately, it is also my duty to report the retirement of two of our colleagues B John Williams and Richard Pierard.  You will be missed.

Looking ahead, the Department would like to welcome our new graduate students, Paul Cooper (an ISU graduate), Michelle (Micki) Morahn (who has been active in public history), Steven Scheffler (from Northern Illinois University), David Michael (coming from ISU=s Chemistry Department), and Jerry Brackney (retired from the U.S. Army).  They will join returning students Lisa Henson, Juan Montanez, Aaron Gangross, Van

Hutchison, Susan Davis, Joy Zreba, Tammy Loudermilk, Judy Meyers, Bill Treadway, Raphael Alcalde, Larry Lynch, Jonathan Coon, and Kevin Griffith.  Charles Clark successfully defended his master=s thesis in July.

In 2000-2001, the Department is fortunate to have returning adjunct instructors John Benton, Kathy Doering, Rhonda Packer, Ed Spann, and Joy Zreba.  We would also like to welcome new fall semester instructors, Walter Rinderle (Ph.D., Notre Dame) and David McCarter (Ph.D., Iowa).

As part of our continuing development, the History Department will have a new lounge located in Stalker Hall 107A.  The books that fill the shelves were generously donated by faculty members, past and present.  We look forward to having a pleasant place in which to relax and enjoy the company of others.

The Office has succeeded in moving the copy machine, which is now located in Stalker 107, for the greater convenience of everyone.

On behalf of all of us, I would like to thank Ed Spann (Professor Emeritus) and his wife, Joanne, for their generosity in creating a History scholarship (for undergraduates) in the name of their son, the Bryant Spann Memorial Scholarship.

In closing, I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their support during my first year as Chair.  The goodwill that you displayed toward me and Joan is greatly appreciated.  I am ever more committed to doing the best possible job as your Chairperson.   

Enrollments

In 1999-2000, the Department experienced record enrollments, while maintaining its commitment to a favorable professor-student classroom ratio.  In fall, 2025 students were enrolled (6029 SCH); in spring, the figure was 2036 (6097 SCH).  Social Studies majors numbered 156,  providing about 68 percent of our total majors.  Thirteen graduate students were enrolled during 1999-2000. 

Undergraduate/Graduate Awards

The Gemmecke Award for the outstanding senior was jointly awarded to Katherine Lloyd and Brent Stringer.  The Harr Award for the outstanding junior was presented to both Gregory Walters and Stacy Wright.  The DAR Award to an undergraduate with a good performance in US history went to Kathryn Coddington.  The Bryant Spann Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Allan Thompson.

The Roll Award, presented to the outstanding graduate student, went to Trevor Gordon.  And the Biel Award, presented to a graduate student who demonstrates exceptional knowledge of US and related history, was awarded to Kari Ellis. 

Alum News

Kevin Bolinger our first Ph.D. graduate in CIMT is currently employed at ISU as Assistant Professor of Education in elementary education, in charge of Social Studies Methods courses.

Jan P. Doolittle (1996, M.A. in Labor and Social Movements Specialization) received her Ph.D. from SUNY Binghamton in Spring 2000.  She will be a visiting professor this fall at Grinnell College (Iowa) where she will be teaching American Legal History and a senior seminar on the ERA. 

John Enyeart (1995), Debs Fellow and graduate in the labor and social movements specialization, is working on his Ph.D. (workers and politics in Colorado) at the University of Colorado.  He has given papers at the Organization of American Historians, and won research grants, including the Charles Redd Carter Center Grant on western history.

Major Anthony (Tony) Smiley (1999, M.S. in Social Studies Education), has recently earned a Master of Military Operational Art and Science degree at the US Air Force Command and Staff College.

Brandon Smith (1999, B.A. in History) has been accepted into the University of Florida=s Ph.D. program with a guarantee of five years of funding and a stipend/award of $11,600 per year.   

Speakers

This year, the Department hosted three speakers, Professor Jerry Bentley (University of Hawaii), Bill C. Malone (Tulane), and Cora A. Presley (Georgia State University). 

Parties and Receptions

The Fall Welcome Back Party for faculty and graduate students was held at the Layton residence on September 10.  The Department also sponsored a reception for History majors on October 27, 1999. 

Emeriti Faculty

Richard Clokey has been working on several ISU history projects, visiting family, and in general enjoying life.

Gary Daily continues to work on project interests in African American and Women=s history and invites faculty to visit him in his new office in the Women=s Studies Department (DH243, x7945).  In summer, 2000, he and Suzie will be visiting Florence, Italy.  The Department owes a debt of gratitude to Gary for donating a large number of books to our new faculty lounge.

Arvid and Aida Perez traveled to Puerto Rico, El Paso, and South Carolina (where they spent the winter).

Dick Pierard, on retirement leave, spent Summer 2000 conducting research in the United Kingdom, and has taken a temporary position in the History Department at Gordon College in Massachusetts.

Herbert Rissler is keeping busy taking care of his house and lawn, reading, and working on the Rissler family genealogy.  His daughter Leslie just finished her Ph.D. at the University of Virginia and will be doing her Post-doc at Berkeley this fall.

Ed Spann continues to teach courses (including our required Historiography) as an adjunct in our Department.  He has written book reviews for scholarly journals, including the American Historical Review, published one book chapter, and completed work on a new book on Civil War New York.

John Williams is the President of the Mount Pleasant, SC chapter of the AARP.  He continues to work on his book.  Martha and he have just returned from traveling to Greece and Turkey. 

Professional Activities

(Publications listed are those for the calendar year 1999.) 

Ann Chirhart (who joined our faculty in fall semester, 1999) published two articles, ACarrying the Torch: Culture, Professionalism, and African-American and White Women Teachers in the Georgia Upcountry, 1910-1940,@in Silences and Images: A Social History of the Classroom, ed. by Martin Lawn and Kate Rousmaniere, London: Peter Lang, 1999; and AGardens of Education: Beulah Rucker and African-American Culture in the Georgia Upcountry, 1910-1950,@ in The Georgia Historical Quarterly, Vol. 82, Winter 1999.

Ann was very active in several departmental and university committees, and was also involved in the Women=s Studies program.  In summer, 1999, she received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities to participate in a summer seminar on AMorality and Society.@

Gale E. Christianson=s book Greenhouse: The 200-Years Story of Global Warming was published this year.  Giving historical depth to the environmental crisis which many are only now acknowledging, the book attracted enormous national attention at the highest levels.  Gale was interviewed on NPR, received dozens of media requests, and saw his book appear in paperback only 12 months after its original publication.  In all, he made at least 41 radio and television appearances.  Gale also published two articles,AMastering the Universe,@ in Astronomy, Vol. 27, No. 2, February 1999; and ANaysayers Thriving in the Heat,@in The New York Times, July 8, 1999; and reviewed one book.   Gale made nine conference and workshop presentations and was the recipient of the 1999 President=s Medal. 

For spring, 1999, Gale served on numerous departmental committees and was Chair of the committee to hire a new History Chairperson. 

Robert G. Clouse co-authored a new book, The New Millennium Manual, A Once and Future Guide.  Surveying church history, theology, and contemporary culture, Bob and his fellow authors provide an informed and important perspective on millenialism.  In addition, his book Women in Ministry, Four Views (1989) was translated into Chinese.  He also  reviewed two books, of which one was published in The American Historical Review.

 Bob=s commitment to service earned him the Faculty Distinguished Service Award, presented at the Spring 2000 Commencement.   In 1999 he served in the following capacities: Vice-chair, Faculty Senate; Executive Committee, Faculty Senate; Chair, CAS Faculty Affairs Committee; Board of Directors, Friends of Cunningham Memorial Library; Health Benefits Review Committee; Faculty Economic Benefits Committee; President=s Planning and Resource Committee; President, Faculty Club; Director, Eugene V. Debs Foundation; Director, Central Renaissance Conference; Director, Conference on Faith and History; Member, Board of Organ Donor Awareness Council of West Central Indiana; and Member, Heartland District Fellowship of Brethren Ministers. 

Bob made six conference presentations, and continued to speak at the First Brethren Church, Clay City, Indiana.  

William W. Giffin served as a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Council and was on the Debs Fellowship Committee.  He also served as Treasurer of the Executive Council and was on the Membership Committee of the Indiana Association of Historians.  In addition, he sat on the Membership Committee of the Organization of American Historians.  Besides his busy committee work, Bill published AThe Irish in Indiana,@ in The Encyclopedia of the Irish in America, ed. by Michael Glazier, South Bend, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1999; and  AJoseph Maria Francesco Vigo,@ in American National Biography, ed. by John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes, New York: Oxford University Press, 1999, Vol. 22.  He also published one book review.   Bill presented a paper, ADestruction of Delaware and Miami Towns in the Aftermath of the Battle of Tippecanoe: Impact of Perspectives on History@ at the Thirty-first Algonquian Conference, West Lafayette, Indiana, October 28-31.

F. Robert Hunter had a paperback edition of his book, Egypt Under the Khedives, 1805-1879: From Household Government to Modern Bureaucracy, published by the American University in Cairo Press.  This book appears on Oxford University=s ABest Thirty@ list of Amust-read@ books in the field of Middle East history.  He also published a review article entitled AThe Transformation of Palestinians and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict,@ in The Historian, Vol. 61, No. 3, Spring 1999. 

On November 10, Bob gave a presentation entitled AThe Pleasures and Perils of Researching Middle East History@ to the ISU Department of History Seminar.  In hopes of organizing an association of Islamic and Middle Eastern scholars for the Midwest region, he contacted interested faculty members at colleges and universities inside and outside Indiana, and organized a charter meeting at Butler University.  Conferences will be held twice-yearly, and an outreach program developed for high school teachers.  With three trained Middle Eastern specialists, ISU will be an important site for the new regional association. 

Donald L. Layton saw the publication of a new edition of his 1995 book World War II:  A Global Perspective, Second Edition, Kendall-Hunt. A concise analysis, this book conveys a sense of this global conflict in human terms.  In 1999, Don continued to be active in the Vigo County Historical Society.  He also was faculty advisor to the Roller Hockey Club, Social Dance Club, and Sigma Nu Fraternity, and a member of the General Education Committee. 

Christopher Olsen (who joined our faculty in fall semester 1999) published one article,  ARespecting >the wise allotment of our sphere=: White Women and Politics in Mississippi, 1840-1860,@in Journal of Women=s History, Vol. 11, Autumn 1999.  He gave one conference paper, APolitical Culture in the Nineteenth Century: A Ritualistic Perspective on Voting and Election in the United States, Brazil, and Great Britain,@at the Organization of American Historians Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO, March 30-April 2; and made a presentation on the review of Paul Nagel=s book AJohn Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life@ at Westminster Canterbury in Virginia Beach, VA, March 10, 1999.  Chris received a Faculty Development Research Grant from Virginia Wesleyan College, and was faculty advisor of Phi Alpha Theat at ISU.

Richard Pierard co-authored a book, The New Millennium Manual, A Once and Future Guide, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House).  He also published eight journal articles, book chapters, and newspaper articles and one encyclopedia article.  Among these are ATruth Crusader 1953-1981" and AChristian Crusade 1948-1969,"in The Conservative Press in Twentieth-Century America, ed. by Ronald Lora and William Henry Longton, Wesport, CT: Greenwood Press; ABaptists: A Global Community of Faith,@ in We Baptists, ed. by James Leo Garrett, Jr., Franklin, TN: Providence House Publishers; AFor God and Country, Ambivalently: American Christians and the Military,@ in Books and Culture, Vol. 5, May-June; AMillennial Madness: An Ethical Crisis,@ in Christian Ethics Today, Vol. 5, June; AThe Confusion of Calendars: The Meaning of the Millennial Change to Other Peoples,@in  Baptist History and Heritage, Vol. 34, Spring; AThe Coming of the New Millennium: A Study in Evangelical Misunderstanding,@ in Evangelical Review of Theology, Vol. 23. No. 4, October; AThe Fall of the Wall,@ Terre Haute Tribune-Star, November 18; and The Foreword for God, Britain, and Hitler in World War II, by A.J. Hoover, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. 

Dick served as secretary-treasurer for the Conference on Faith and History.  He was Member, Board of Managers, American Baptist History Society; Vice-Chair, Heritage Commission, Baptist World Alliance; Member, Student Affairs Committee (all-university); Member, University Faculty Senate; Member, Administrative Affairs Committee (all-university); and faculty sponsor of the American Baptist Students. 

Dick also presented two conference papers and gave eight presentations at workshops and conferences: AThe Rescue Efforts of German Protestant Missions in India by American Lutheran Churches in World War I,@at American Society of Church History, Washington, DC, January 10, 1999; ASignificant Currents in German Protestant Missiology,@at Currents in World Christianity Project Lent Term Seminar, Westminster College, Cambridge University, England, February 11, 1999; AThe Confusion of Calendars@at Goshen College, November 12, 1999; AChristian Historical Writing for the Twenty-first Century at Offchurch, Warweickshire, England, July 18-20, 1999; AEvangelical Involvement in the Political Process: Historical Observations@ at Southern California Section of the Conference on Faith and History, March 26, 1999; AThe Sacral Presidency: The Travail of Civil Religion in America@ at University of London Research Seminar on Modern Religious History since 1750, Institute of Historical Research, Senate House, University of London, England, February 15, 1999; AChurch, State, and Religious Liberty in Christian History@at Moscow Theological Seminary of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, Russia, March 6-20, 1999.  He spoke to the Women=s Department Club, Terre Haute, September 28, 1999; and presented ASurvey of Major Events in English History@ to England Edlerhostel at St. Mary of the Woods College, November 9, 1999; and ASome Distinctive Contributions of the England@ to England Edlerhostel at St. Mary of the Woods College, November 9, 1999.

Richard S. Schneirov=s path-breaking book Labor and Urban Politics: Class Conflict and the Origins of Modern Liberalism in Chicago, 1864-97 is the definitive account of the rise to power of the Chicago labor movement.  It integrates the labor movement with Progressivism and American Liberalism, and provides a theory of the latter.  His book, The Pullman Strike and the Crisis of the 1890s: Essays on Labor and Politics, Urbana: University of Illinois Press, which he edited with Shelton Stromquist and Nick Salvatore, was also published.  In addition, Rich brought out three articles, ALabor History Panel,@ in Historically Speaking, Vol I, No. 1, October 1999; AThe Historical Society=s First Convention,@ Newsletter of the Society for Historians of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, Vol. IX, No. 2, Fall 1999; and A>To the Ragged Edge of Anarchy=: The 1894 Pullman Boycott,@ Magazine of History, Vol. 13, Spring 1999.  He also published one encyclopedia entry and one book review. 

In the area of service, Rich was Member of the Nominating Committee for the Society for Historians of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era; Member, Debs Fellowship Committee; Member, Faculty Economic Benefits Committee; President, ISU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors; Faculty Advisor to the History Club; and Advisor to the History Department=s graduate students.   

Rebecca S. Shoemaker continued to coordinate the Department of History=s Assessment of Student Outcomes Initiative.  She was Member of the Council of the Indiana Association of Historians(IAH), Member of the IAH Program Committee, and Faculty Representative for the James Madison Fellowship.  During spring, 1999, semester she served as Phi Alpha Theta sponsor.  She published  AJames Britt Donovan,@ in American National Biography Vol. 6, ed. by John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes, New York: Oxford University Press, 1999; and AEdith Spurlock Sampson,@ in  American National Biography Vol. 19, ed. by John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes, New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.  In Fall, 1999, she served as Chair of our successful Latin American Studies Search Committee, and was very active in other departmental work. 

Thomas E. Siefert continued to advise Social Science Education students while serving on many departmental committees.  In addition to work done on the Graduate Committee, Tom was asked to serve on the ad hoc committee that wrote the new Pay for Performance document B a long and arduous task, and was also consulted frequently on the Five Year Plan document.  Tom will also be teaching some Social Studies methods courses in 2001. 

Edward R. Slack joined the department as a tenure-track faculty member in fall 1999 after serving on the faculty as a one-year full-time temporary assistant professor.  Ed made a conference presentation, AGod, Gold, and Gory: Colonialism and the Dynamics of Violence against Ethnic Chinese and Hindus in the Philippines, East Indies, and Burma,@ at the World History Association Annual Conference, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C., Canada, June 24-27.  He received a grant from the Center for Teaching and Learning at Indiana State University to develop a film series titled AThe Portrayal of East Asians in Western Cinema, 1930s-90s.@