Summer 2018 Edition
A Word from the Chair In May 2018, Sean Quinlan, chair of the History Department, moved downstairs into the position of dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. I will be trying to fill his shoes until he returns. The position of interim chair of the Department of History brings with it great challenges, but also great joys. This short note, introducing this year’s edition of “The Primary Source,” is certainly among the latter. The Primary Source allows me to share some of the great things happening in the department. For instance, a number of faculty in the Department of History have received Fulbright Grants, one of the most prestigious awards given by the U.S. government. You can read more about the Fulbright, and specifically Dale Graden’s experience with the program, in Noah Elia’s article on the next page. While research grants help a particular person, endowments fund the future of both faculty and students for generations. The Coppage Family recently created an endowment that will be used to underwrite not only a special scholarship but also expand our programs. A deep thank you to the Coppages for their support of the Department of History and the University of Idaho. The Primary Source also provides us with the opportunity to introduce people whose experiences epitomize our mission of creating an enriched student experience. In this issue, you will read about undergraduate students, graduate students, alumni and friends who all have added to this experience over the past year. I hope you enjoy this issue. Please send any news or information that we can pass on to our readers, students and alumni in future editions to history@uidaho.edu. As Professor Quinlan invariably comments – we look forward to hearing from you. Ellen Kittell Professor and Interim Chair Department of History
UIhistory
Inside This Issue PG. 2
The Fulbright Impact – A look at how the Fulbright Award has shaped Professor Dale Graden’s academic career
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The Coppage Endowment - An estate gift from Richard P. Coppage has lasting impact on the department
Renowned Author Visits Department – Matthew Clavin from the University of Houston visits U of I history students
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“Darkest Hour” – Undergraduate Ty Unruh reviews the 2017 war drama featuring Winston Churchill
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2018 Hackmann Award – Senior Chloe O’Neill is recognized with annual award
Graduate Student Spotlight– Ph.D. student Nathan Allison studies public space in port cities of the Atlantic
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Undergraduate Spotlight – Meet four of the History department’s undergraduate students
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Alumni Update – Catch up with Robert McQuade ’08 and read how he continues to use his history degree in his legal career Support History Students – Make a taxdeductible philanthropic gift supporting the Department of History and its students
uidaho.edu/class/history
The Fulbright Impact
Opportunities Provided by Award Shape Career and Research By Noah Elia ’18 Dale Graden. Photo by Joe Pallen, U of I Photo Services. With the support of the United States government and governments from around the world, the Fulbright Scholarship Program recognizes some of the most talented and influential scholars in the world. Named after Senator J. William Fulbright, the award honors the senator’s long tenure as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and encourages mutual understanding and scholarship between the United States and other countries. Every year, the Fulbright Program provides 8,000 grants to fund graduate studies, university lectures and classroom teaching.
At the University of Idaho, four of the nine History Department faculty members have received the prestigious award, including Professors Sean Quinlan, Dale Graden, Ellen Kittell and Pingchao Zhu. Graden has received three in total - one in 1985 to research 19th century abolition history in Brazil; a second as a Senior Fulbright Scholar, returning to Brazil in 2000 to further his study on abolition and race relations; and his third in 2008, traveling to Venezuela to teach at Central University of Venezuela. Among the awards Graden has earned throughout his career, his Fulbright Awards stand out as some of his most memorable. “The Fulbright grants made my career possible,” he said. “I could never have had the wonderful career and opportunities that I have had without those Fulbright awards.” In fact, his time in Brazil in 2000 and in Venezuela in 2008 gave him the ability to research and write his two books – “From Slavery to Freedom in Brazil: Bahia, 1835-1900” (University of New Mexico Press, 2006) and “Disease, Resistance and Lies: The Demise of the Transatlantic Slave Trade to Brazil and Cuba” (LSU Press, 2014). Graden also credits his time as a Fulbright recipient with receiving other grants, including a research grant from the University of Idaho’s College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences in 2017 that allowed him to travel to Brazil and the National Archives of England in London to further his academic research on the transatlantic slave trade. One of his most memorable moments during Graden’s Fulbright experiences came in Venezuela when he witnessed filmmaker Oliver Stone arrive for the first showing of his documentary, “South of the Border”, which, according to Dr. Graden, was extraordinarily educational. More information on the Fulbright Scholar Program can be found online at www.cies.org.
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The Coppage Endowment: A Lasting Legacy in the Liberal Arts by Ty Unruh ’17
Erma M. Scholtz Coppage earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Idaho in 1928. She was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and was involved in Spurs and Episcopal Club.
Erma Scholtz, Gem of the Mountains, 1927
In 2017, a generous gift from the estate of Erma’s son, Richard P. Coppage, established the Erma M. Scholtz Coppage and Richard P. Coppage Estate Endowment to honor Erma’s affinity towards the University of Idaho and the liberal arts.
The Coppage Endowment supports students in the Departments of History, Theatre Arts and English. Earnings from the endowment provide a yearly scholarship of approximately $3,000 to a student from each area of study. In addition to defraying the cost of tuition for students, the Coppage Endowment also supports research and creative activity in the three units. In history, the endowment supports bringing distinguished historians to campus to interact with University of Idaho students and the community. “The Department of History is deeply grateful to the Coppage family for this endowment,” said Ellen Kittell, professor and interim chair of the History department. “Erma Coppage’s legacy will be enshrined in a meaningful and lasting way in the experience of the future students that her endowment enables us to support.”
Make a Legacy Gift to the University of Idaho You can demonstrate your commitment to education, learning and the future of our state with a gift in your will, trust or in some other way for the University of Idaho. The impact you have will go on year after year, inspiring generations of future U of I students. Complimentary planning resources are available online at:
myuidaholegacy.org
Renowned Author Visits Department by The Primary Source student editorial staff
In October 2017, funds from the Coppage Endowment enabled the History department to host Matthew Clavin, a professor of history from the University of Houston. Clavin studies American and Atlantic history with an emphasis on the history of race, slavery and abolition. He has authored of two books, as well as several articles and chapters on race, slavery and memory in Civil War. During his visit, Clavin delivered a public lecture on his new book, “Aiming for Pensacola: Fugitive Slaves on the Atlantic and Southern Frontiers” (Harvard University Press, 2015), which documents the journeys of slaves who, unable to flee northward along conventional routes, escaped to the Gulf Coast. Students in Dale Graden’s senior seminar, as well as those in Sean Quinlan’s course, “The Historian’s Craft,” had the opportunity to speak individually with Clavin and have an open discussion regarding his research.
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“Darkest Hour” A Review of the 2017 War Drama By Ty Unruh ’17 While it can be difficult for films to convey the complexity of historical events, and at the same time, maintain the viewers’ attention, “Darkest Hour” managed to do it successfully. The movie didn’t shy away from controversy, challenging misconceptions that American audiences might have regarding Winston Churchill. “Darkest Hour” takes place in 1940, during the German invasion of France and the subsequent encirclement of the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk. Throughout the film, Churchill grapples with the difficult decisions wartime leaders must face, including using the severely outnumbered and outgunned Calais garrison to draw the German army away from Dunkirk. Although much of the film takes place in a bunker, the film expertly creates an atmosphere of dread and panic as reports trickle in of the Germans’ advance into France. There are brief moments of humor breaking the tension, but these instances are quite believable given Churchill’s known eccentricities, including his alcoholism and the ever-present cigar between his fingers. It is in these moments that the audience can see Churchill’s vulnerability with clarity. He did not want to be known as the prime minister who allowed the Nazi’s to over-run Britain; the film implies this is the reason Viscount Edward Halifax did not take up the premiership after the resignation of Neville Chamberlain. To “Darkest Hour’s” credit, it bases many of the political woes Churchill faced on well-document historical events, including the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign. These allusions crack the façade of invincibility and unshakeable determination surrounding Churchill, while preserving those qualities that made him an endearing figure. The characterization of Churchill also reminds the audience that the man was, at his core, an ambitious politician. In the film, Churchill admitted as much, confiding in his wife Clementine that he had wanted premiership “since the cradle.” Although outsiders looking at British politics would hail Churchill as an indelible war hero, they mustn’t forget Churchill was voted out of office less than two months after Nazi Germany surrendered. The film’s writers were
not kind to Halifax and Chamberlain, both of whom use the crisis to undermine Churchill’s leadership. One of the primary conflicts in “Darkest Hour” occurs between members of Churchill’s war cabinet, with both Halifax and Chamberlain seeking to document Churchill’s refusal to negotiate with the Axis so they can discredit him. Herein lies the bulk of the film’s historical inaccuracies. The film portrays Churchill as being unsure whether or not to sue for peace. In a somewhat far-fetched escapade, Churchill finds himself in a London subway gauging the resolve of ordinary Londoners before deciding to fight. However, in his book “Never Surrender”, historian John Kelley asserts Churchill vehemently opposed to peace talks and is unlikely he gave the thought serious consideration. Despite the liberties the storyline of the movie took, it remains a compelling historical drama – not only for its stellar acting and excellent writing, but because it challenges viewers’ perceptions of a crucial moment in history. As one history professor at the University of Idaho put it, “If your research doesn’t make at least some people angry, you’re doing it wrong.” Likewise, historical films should seek not only to entertain their audiences but to enrich and deepen their understanding of the past. Winston Churchill, for all his imperfections and past failures, profoundly altered the course of world history. He risked his reputation and his life, as well as the future of his country, to stand against one of the greatest forces of evil the world has ever seen. For this, he commands respect across the free world.
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2018 Hackmann Award: Chloe O’Neill by The Primary Source student editorial staff
Each May, the W.K. Hackmann Outstanding Senior Award is given to the senior, who through high academic achievement, leadership and community service, best exemplifies the spirit of the historical discipline. The 2018 Hackmann Award went to Chloe O'Neill. “I have had Chloe in at least four courses. She excelled in them all,” said Ellen Kittell, professor and interim chair of the History department. “She would go from annotating early music manuscripts to interning with Professor Sydney Freeman studying the African-American experience here at the university. She has grasped the essential skills and pleasures of history.” Originally from Kirkland, Washington, O’Neill originally began her University of Idaho tenure as a history major with a minor in interior design. She later dropped her minor, choosing instead to focus whole-heartedly on the many courses and classes that go into making the most of the major.
Chloe O’Neill
“I had always had an affinity for history, research and writing, but was not until my college courses that revealed to me how truly significant the understanding and teaching of history is,” O’Neill said. In particular, Chloe enjoys studying the 1950's and how the history of the mid-20th century is pertinent to discussions about contemporary society. O’Neill spent the summer after graduation at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. She is currently planning to return to school to pursue a master's degree. “I owe a great amount of thanks and inspiration to the History Department who exposed me to my personal passion and the application of this information to all fields of work,” O’Neill said.
Graduate Student Spotlight: Nathan Allison by The Primary Source student editorial staff
Nathan Allison, a Ph.D. candidate in historical archaeology, is focused on the use of public space. His dissertation is about the use of public space in Colonial America, specifically taverns and marketplaces in Charles-Town (now Charleston), South Carolina. Allison’s exploration of 18th century Charles-Town aims to shed light on the dynamics of public space throughout the port cities of the Atlantic while highlighting the special place that Charles-Town occupied in the broader Atlantic world. Before coming to the University of Idaho, Allison worked in a number of public spaces rich with history, including a Civil War battlefield in Franklin, Tennessee, a cave that once served as a Prohibition-era speakeasy and a 19th century family cemetery. He completed undergraduate degrees in history and archaeology at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and earned a master’s degree in European and Atlantic world history from Easter Illinois University. Allison currently also serves as an adjunct faculty member at U of I, teaching courses in U.S. history and is a member of the Society of Historical Archaeology.
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Undergraduate Student Spotlight Meet Four Undergraduates in the Department of History by The Primary Source student editorial staff
Bailey Guyette
Megan Murray
A sophomore from Astoria, Oregon, Bailey Guyette chose to attend the University of Idaho because she fell in love the campus and the town.
Hailing from Sandpoint, Megan Murray found the threehour drive to the University of Idaho the perfect distance from home.
“I knew that it snowed in Moscow, something I had never experienced until moving here,” she said.
“It felt far enough away that I had a sense of independence, but close enough that if I needed to go home, I easily could,” she said.
Guyette is currently double-majoring in history and Spanish. “I’m really interested in linguistic history, namely the evolution of language, the origins of names and who created the names and their meanings,” she said. “I especially like finding those tiny explanations as to why we do something a certain way or why we say things in certain ways.” After studying abroad in Spain during spring 2019, Guyette plans to return to Moscow for a final semester and graduate in December. In addition to her love of history, Guyette is interested in her cat named Roots, science fiction movies and books, painting her nails and collecting rocks.
Benjamin Cain Benjamin Cain, a junior from Moscow, Idaho, is passionate about the history of Germany prior to World War II. Because of this, he is also pursuing a minor in German. “I enjoy studying history because of the relevance it has to current events, such as the current tensions between the west and Russia, the contemporary politics of the Middle East, and dissatisfaction and discontent between the members of the European Union,” Cain said. With a father in the U.S. Air Force, Cain moved around a lot as a child. He plans to travel independently during the fall 2019 semester, finishing his double major in history and international studies by studying abroad in Germany.
Originally an art major, Murray soon realized her interests would be better served by earning a history degree. “I always enjoyed my history classes and had an amazing AP U.S. history teacher in high school,” she said. “I am interested in the political and social aspects of history, especially the politics surrounding colonization and imperialism.” Murray is an active member of the U of I community. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, holds a leadership position in the house, serves on the university’s Homecoming Committee and is a CLASS Ambassador. After graduating in 2020, Murray plans to take a gap year to travel before going to graduate school.
Naomi Trueman Naomi Trueman, a sophomore from Boise, is currently pursuing majors in history and international studies with a minor in art. She is planning on studying abroad in Costa Rica through the USAC program next year, staying with a local family while abroad. “I am excited to go to Costa Rica, but I am daunted by the preponderance of local spiders,” she said. Trueman has a passion for Latin American culture and would ultimately like to join the Peace Corps, serving in Central or South America.
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Alumni Update: Robert McQuade ’08 by The Primary Source student editorial staff
History alumnus Robert McQuade has made a career by finding the historical significance of things around him. As a lawyer, McQuade uses his degree in history as a background to how people and trends can reshape events decades later. “There’s a good chance that something you’re studying in history has a tie-in to today’s current events, and I encourage students to look for those ties,” McQuade said. After earning his Bachelor of Arts in history, McQuade moved to Washington, D.C. to intern for former Senator Larry Craig and attend law school. Five year later, he and his wife moved to Boise, Idaho, where they still reside today. After working for five years in the Boise City Attorney’s Office, McQuade recently became the legal counsel for the State of Idaho in December 2018. Of course, history is still close to his heart, staying involved in the Boise community events. He’s volunteered as judge during Idaho History Day and is an active member of Idaho Legal History Society. He is also involved in the Ada County Lincoln Day Association, which is a non-profit that celebrates the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. “Today there is a lot of focus on STEM roles and how they shape the future, but I think the liberal arts should be highlighted as well,” McQuade said.
Support history students like Bruce Berry by making a taxdeductible gift to the Department of History. 3 EASY WAYS TO GIVE: Online: As a single dad, Bruce Berry ’18 began college after overcoming drug addiction, dropping out of junior high and homelessness. He is constantly busy dedicating his time to his two passions - history and his 7-year-old son Brayden. “My son and I rely on scholarships to pay for daycare, books, rent, insurance and so much more,” says Berry. “Your support is so inspiring and helps both my son and me succeed.” Preparing for law school in his future is an expensive and timeconsuming task. Donations make Berry’s goals, which he thought to be unrealistic, achievable.
uidaho.edu/give
By Mail:
University of Idaho Foundation 875 Perimeter Dr MS 3143 Moscow, ID 83844-3143
By Phone:
208-885-4000
“If you could walk in my shoes,” Berry explains, “you would understand the incredible difference that you have made in my life.”
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