Student Research

History students are actively engaged in the learning enterprise in a variety of ways. The methods of exploration and discovery, such as honors research and internships, have proven to be personally enriching and practically helpful. Those currently or recently pursuing these forms of study are listed below along with brief descriptions of their projects.

Honors Research

The Project:
Organized Chaos:  The Developmental Response of Palestinian Nationalism to Immediate and External Factors (1948-1987) by Justin Conklin

In the fall of 2010, Justin Conklin conducted independent honors research for the History Department under the supervision of Dr. Roy Campbell. His research centered on an investigation of the Palestinian situation since the war of 1948 and aimed to assess the causal mechanisms involved in the development of extreme nationalism among this marginalized group of people.

Justin’s Reflections:
‘As I begin my first year of graduate studies at George Washington University, I look back upon this research project as the highlight of my undergraduate work.  The amount of dedication and work that went into it was only surmounted by my undying interest in the subject on which I was writing.  As a double major in history and political science, the topic of the Palestinian question was often a part of class discussion, and it quickly became my obsession.  Upon completing my capstone in history on the topic of the British mandate in Palestine, I wanted to move further into the subject and to understand the complexities behind such extreme political behavior.  This project allowed me to do so, and I learned vastly from it.  Aside from this, the experience has also equipped me with the tools for success as I proceed to attain my M.A. in international affairs.  This is an opportunity of which more students should take advantage.  The rewards are quite amazing.’

 

The Project:
Resegregation: A Case Study of the Founding of Marlboro Academy by Edwin Breeden

In the fall of 2009, Edwin Breeden conducted independent honors research for the History Department under the supervision of Dr. Anita Gustafson. His research covered the 1969 founding of a small private school in Marlboro County, South Carolina as a response to racial integration of the local public school system.

Edwin presented his research findings at the 2010 Big South Undergraduate Research Symposium, held in April 2010 at Radford University, Virginia.

Edwin’s Reflections:
‘This honors project was quite possibly the most challenging yet most fulfilling part of my undergraduate education. My research provided me with the opportunity to delve into a neglected part of my home county’s local history, and it also gave me valuable exposure to the research process. I spent hours poring through rolls of newspaper microfilm and was able to travel around the state to conduct personal interviews with individuals familiar with the integration process in Marlboro County, the early years of Marlboro Academy, and the South Carolina private school movement in general. Not only did I learn an incredible amount from these encounters, but I loved simply having the chance to sit down with a wide range of people and have very candid yet enlightening conversations on the often volatile issues of race and education.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson I took away from the project was that good history must be a very ‘human’ history. Considering the nature of my project’s topic, it would have been very easy to dichotomize the individuals involved as either “good” or “bad” and offer very basic explanations for why, for instance, people wished to “avoid integration.” However, this project made me appreciate even more that such an approach obscures more than it reveals, and that history is rarely if ever quite so simple.’

Summer Fellows

The Project:
Memory Wars: Confederate Remembrance in Laurens, South Carolina by Tyler Todd

In the summer of 2011, Tyler conducted summer research under the supervision of Dr. Alan Shackelford.  As such she was a participant in PC’s Summer Fellows Program which links faculty and student together for a summer of intense research.

Tyler’s Reflections:

‘Participating in PC Summer Fellows has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my undergraduate career. It allowed me to investigate the lingering impact that the Civil War and the public’s memory of it has had on my hometown, Laurens, South Carolina.  Through my research I saw the living and personal nature of history. This was an oral history project that brought me into contact with everyday residents who are also civil rights activists, members of the Ku Klux Klan, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy.  This experience allowed me to access the legacies left by the Civil War and to develop a deeper historical understanding of the place I call home. I am honored and humbled that so many people in the community granted me access to their ideas and beliefs while we discussed such sensitive and emotional subjects as racism, slavery, and states’ rights. In conducting this project I was able to highlight the personal nature of history by focusing on the individual narratives I was so graciously allowed to collect. In conducting this project my desire to learn and research has been strengthened. I hope to continue this project through Honors Research, and eventually to attend graduate school for Southern studies. Summer Fellows is an opportunity that allows the students at PC to excel, and I know the History Department will continue to encourage successful candidates to engage this program.’

The Project:
A Dream of Comfort: Working-Class Women and the Corset by Anna Lee Walden

In the summer of 2010, Anna Lee conducted summer research under the supervision of Dr. Brett Bebber.  As such she was a participant in PC’s Summer Fellows Program which links faculty and student together for a summer of intense research.

Anna Lee’s Reflections:
‘PC Summer Fellows was a great opportunity to research an individual topic that I was deeply interested in. I was able to integrate my differing interests of fashion, women’s studies, and 20th century history into one project. Summer Fellows also allowed me to further my knowledge of the research process, and especially my ability to analyze and integrate primary sources into my research. However, most importantly it allowed me to attempt to give a voice to a marginalized and often silent group in historiography: the working class women. Through this research program it was also made clear to me that I want to continue my historical studies at the graduate school level. Overall, my time spent researching was a great experience that I would strongly encourage any History student to participate in!’

Internships

The Project:
Smithsonian National Museum of American History by Laura May

In the summer of 2010 Laura interned at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, working under a curator in the Home and Community Life division. Her main project revolved around planning an exhibit that is scheduled to open in spring 2012. She also helped with a collections move and assisted curators in moving the lighting collection to a new storage spot, which gave her experience in object handling.

Laura’s Reflections:
‘My summer at National Museum of American History was an incredibly enriching experience. I had no idea what to expect on my first day or what sort of things I would be doing. I could have never imagined I would become as involved as I did. I was on an exhibit planning team and my opinions where actually asked for and appreciated. My main job was to find and organize potential objects for the exhibit, which gave me the opportunity to see some incredible objects that the museum houses. I was able to see objects related to significant moments in American history that I have studied about in my PC history courses. For example, taking Dr. Gustafson’s “Women in America” class last spring enabled me to have a greater appreciation for objects such as the table that Elizabeth Cady Stanton used while drafting the Declaration of Sentiments or Susan B. Anthony’s shawl. Though I am not sure that I will pursue a career in museums, my time at NMAH solidified my interest and respect for history and all that it can offer.’