E-Newsletter - Spring 2022 | Department of History

Dear History Community,

We are pleased to be wrapping up another tremendously successful academic year in the Department of History. 2021-22 has brought us back together in Smith Hall after many months of Covid turmoil. And while we continue to weather pandemic ups and downs, the year has given us many opportunities to celebrate not only our collective resilience through adversity, but also the joys of learning and teaching together, the insights and character of our amazing students, and the outstanding historical research produced by our award-winning faculty.

In the pages of this newsletter, we invite you to join us in looking back over a few of the highlights from winter and spring quarters.

A Year of Excellence

Spring cherry blossoms in front of Smith Hall

What an exciting year it has been for the faculty and students within the Department of History. From prestigious awards to book launches to even a film, our faculty and students continue to shine and be recognized for their brilliance. Here are some of the highlights. Melinda Whalen, a graduating senior and dual major in history and Russian language, literature, and culture, has been named a 2022… Read more

History Honors and a Focus on Local History

The 2022 History Honors Colloquium was held in person for the first time since before the start of the pandemic. Hosted in Smith Hall’s Freedman Remak Room, the colloquium is the culmination of a two-quarter senior research seminar taught by Professors Ileana Rodrgiuez-Silva and Stephanie Smallwood. Thirteen graduating seniors presented their theses, which covered a broad geographical and temporal scope - from early modern England, to 1960s Brazil and Indonesia, to Seattle in the 1990s. … Read more

Undergraduate Profile: Estey Chen

We recently caught up with graduating senior Estey Chen to talk about her future plans and about the role that history has played in her academic journey. Chen, a native of Mercer Island, Washington, is a history and political science major who has compiled a standout record within the department. Over the years, she has received a number of grants and awards, including the Maurice D. and Lois M. Schwartz Scholarship, the Larry Lee Sleizer Endowed Scholarship, and most notably the Thomas M.… Read more

History Hosts Reception in Honor of Recent Retirees

Large, in-person celebrations have been few and far between in the Department of History since the onset of Covid. It was with tremendous pleasure, therefore, that professors, staff, students, and friends of the department gathered on Monday, May 16, to honor the six faculty members who have retired during the pandemic: George Behlmer, Pat Ebrey, John Findlay, Mary O’Neil, Bob Stacey, and Robin Chapman Stacey. The occasion provided an evening of good food, genial company, and fond… Read more

History Salutes the 2022 Department Award Winners

At this year's History Awards Ceremony on May 12, we were pleased to offer more than $200,000 in departmental scholarships and prizes in recognition of the academic and service excellence of our students. In total, 52 undergraduate prizes to were awarded to 38 students, 5 different prizes were given to 5 graduate students, 1 award given to a special member of our staff, and 1 Washington history teacher was honored. All these awards are made possible through generous contributions… Read more

Explore Your World - Check out these Autumn 2022 courses

Image from the exhibit "Vessels of Genealogies” by Firelei Baez

"Those who don't know history are doomed to..." Blah, blah, blah, right? We all know the saying. But the thing is, it's true! If you don't know your history, you can't make sense of the world we live in today. And even worse, if you don't know your history, someone else will define it for you to serve their own ends. Here at UW History, it's our mission to explore the past with passion, honesty, and fearlessness. And whether you are 18 or 80, we want you along for the ride. There are… Read more

Your gifts make a difference.

The Department of History at the University of Washington is known for providing high-quality teaching, scholarship, and community engagement.

None of that would be possible were it not for the generous support of our alumni and friends.

We are tremendously grateful for these gifts. They allow us to address critical needs in the Department such as developing new courses, funding student and faculty research, hosting extraordinary scholars, and creating opportunities for outreach and collaboration within our community. Over the course of these last two years, as so many of our students faced financial hardship brought on by the pandemic, these funds made it possible for us to provide emergency support to help them continue their studies.

We wouldn’t be half as strong as we are, nor be able to provide as much as we do, were it not for such a generous and supportive community of alumni and friends. Thank you!

Please consider donating to the Friends of History fund today and help us continue to uphold our tradition of excellence. Your gifts do make a difference.

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