Professor Paul Dunscomb's book, A Great Disobedience Against the People, Japan's Siberian Intervention, 1918-1922, has been accepted for publication by Lexington Books for their New Studies in Modern Japan Series. It is the first complete narrative on the topic in either English or Japanese. The book will appear in the second half of 2010.
Professor Elizabeth James’ article “Towards Alaska Native Political Unity: The Origins of the Tundra Times” will be published by the Western Historical Quarterly. The WHQ is the premier journal in the history of the U.S. west. Professor James is currently working on a book length study of the Tundra Times and its impact on the state of Alaska and has travelled to Fairbanks and Barrow to conduct research. The article will appear in the Autumn 2010 issue of the WHQ. asbakbs
Professor Songho Ha’s book The Rise and Fall of the American System: Nationalism and the Development of the American Economy, 1790-1837 has been published by Pickering and Chatto of London as part of their Financial History Series. The book analyzes the American System, which was a political, economic, and cultural policy package proposed by the Whig Party in the early 19th century that emphasized the role of the federal government in promoting economic and cultural unity.
History Department Chair Elizabeth Dennison and Administrative Assistant
Kathy Woodhead are happy about the start of a new academic year.
Professor Elizabeth Dennison participated in “America Engages Russia, Circa 1880-ca. 1930:Studies in Cultural Interaction,” a Summer Institute funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, held at the New York Public Library, Humanities and Social Sciences Library, from June 13 to July 3, 2009. She was one of 25 participants chosen from a large, nationwide applicant pool.
Playbill, ca. 1896
Professor Paul Dunscomb presented the paper “Tales of the Floating ‘Hood and Monstrous Cute: Creating a Usable Pop Culture Past in Japan” at the Asian Studies Development Program 15th National Conference in Philadelphia, PA, March 6, 2009. He presented “Whatever Happened to Japan: The Economic Superpower That Never Was” for the Alaska World Affairs Council on May 15, 2009. This September he will serve for a week as a "Scholar in Residence" at Johnson County Community College, Kansas City, Kansas and at the University of Kansas. He will present “Images of what never was to suggest what might be; Japanese popular culture and Japaneseness” for “Images as Tools: A Seminar on Teaching About Japan,” sponsored by the University of Washington and the Association of Asian Studies Northeast Asia Council, October 31, 2009. His article “Anime and Manga 101; a Primer for the Confused and the Curious,” appeared in the Asian Educational Media Service News and Reviews, Winter 2009. His review of the DVD The Roots of Japanese Anime; Until the end of WWII will appear in forthcoming journal Education About Asia this winter."
Professor Jeanne Eder presented her character of Sacagawea for the Colorado Humanities Council in Greely, Colorado this last year and at both the Wendler Middle School and Chugach Elementary School in Anchorage during November’s Alaska Native Heritage month. She is on the Speaker’s Bureau for the committee that sponsors programs in Anchorage Schools every year.
Professor Songho Ha completed his book, The Rise and Fall of the American System: Nationalism and the Development of the American Economy, 1790–1837. The book will be published in fall 2009 by Pickering & Chatto of London as part of its Financial History Series. He received a grant from the UAA Complex Systems Group to fund Orion Allen, a History Major senior, to serve as a student assistant for the project.
Distinguished Professor Stephen Haycox was interviewed by numerous newspapers, TV and cable networks, and radio stations in the United States and other countries, including New York Times, Fox News, and Good Morning America during and after the Presidential Election of 2008, and gave informed opinions on the election and how it could affect Alaska. He has been also working on a book tentatively titled Federal Preparations for New Conservation Units in Alaska prior to Statehood. He continued to direct and teach in the Forty-Ninth State Fellowship Program in the UAA Honors College.
Professor Elizabeth James spent the past summer doing research and professional development activities. In June, she traveled to Barrow for ten days, where she investigated the Tundra Times archives at the Tuzzy Consortium Library. The collection is unprocessed, so it was quite a challenge to organize nearly 200 boxes of documents. The research will contribute to her book on the newspaper’s role in Alaska Native political history. In July, Professor James participated in the 2009 International Canadian Studies Institute in Alberta. ICSI brings college and university professors from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to Canada for two weeks of travel and study. Presentations and speakers on Canada topics included politics, history, language and cultures, health care, economic development, agricultural research, the oil industry, First Nations, U.S. relations, arts, and more. Look for Canadian content in Professor James’ courses! James also serves as the Chair of the Elizabeth Tower Endowment for Canadian Studies. In addition to her travels, James also contributed content articles to LitSite Alaska, is serving on the Joan Paterson Kerr Award Committee for the Western History Association, and is working with the Anchorage School District’s Teaching with Primary Sources course. She recently completed an article manuscript about the origins of the Tundra Times.
Listening to Blackfoot elder Frank Weaselhead, Alberta, Canada
Professor William Myers received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. He specializes in Italian Fascism and teaches a number of courses in European history as well as capstone courses. Congratulations to Professor Myers! Professor Myers also received the Teaching Excellence Award from the Dean of UAA College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at the CAS Convocation on August 21, 2009, for his excellence in teaching and commitment to student success and advising. Our wholehearted congratulations to Professor Myers.
The History Department welcomes a new Term Instructor, Scott Gavorsky, a recent Ph.D. from Emory University. A specialist in French History, Professor Gavorsky will teach Western Civilization I and II courses for the UAA History Department.
Ms. Annaliese Jacobs Bateman, a 2002 UAA History graduate and currently a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, taught a section of the Western Civilization at UAA in summer 2009. She studies British, Russian, and Comparative Imperial history in her graduate program. She has won the prestigious Internal Dissertation Research Fellowships from the SSRC (Social Science Research Council) for her research project “Mastering the Ice to Rule the Waves: British Imperial Mythologies and the Search for the Northwest Passage, 1817-1854.”
Dr.Dieter Wuerth Retires
Dr. Wuerth has retired. We thank him for his service to UAA and to History Department.
Elizabeth Dennison, Chair of History Department
Dr. Elizabeth Dennison has become the Chair of the History Department. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and has been teaching for many years at UAA. She specializes in Russian History. Her History colleagues extend her their hearty congratulations for the appointment and look forward to productive years under her leadership. After many years' service.
Professor Caedmon Liburd Retires
Professor Caedmon Liburd, who was Chair of the History Department, retired as of June 30th of 2008 after years of service to University of Alaska Anchorage. He specialized in World History and was Chair of Undergraduate Academic Board for several years as well. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues and students.
Distinguished Professor Dr. Stephen Haycox
The History Department now has its own “Distinguished Professor,” Professor Stephen Haycox. A Distinguished Professorship is the most prestigious faculty appointment at the University of Alaska system. Such a designation is reserved for individuals who are widely recognized for their scholarship, university service and community contributions. His final selection is approved by the Board of Regents, the Chancellor of UAA and President of UA as well as endorsed by faculty and colleagues. He is an expert on Alaska History and has received accolades from UAA Deans, faculty, students and members of Anchorage community.
Professor Haycox has been on the faculty at the University of Alaska Anchorage for 38 years and has made and continues to make outstanding contributions to university activities and programs and teaching and scholarship. He also writes a column for the Anchorage Daily News and his column has become the site to read if one were to reflect on the history of Alaska and its impact on today’s issues.
Professors Stephen Haycox Awarded a NEH Grant
Professors Stephen Haycox, Department of History, and James Mueller, Department of Political Science received a National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant for $500,000 to inspire private sector contributions and provide endowed funding for the 49th State Fellows Program. The 49th State Fellows Program is a program that Professors Haycox and Mueller created with collaboration with the University Honors College.
The 49th State Fellows may select any major, but must be accepted into the University Honors College. They have many opportunities to develop their leadership skills. They will have a summer internship in Washington, D.C.; the opportunity to study abroad; membership in civic organizations; and weekly tutorials. Freshman students who are interested in leadership should apply.
Professor Paul Dunscomb, the first Director of the Confucius Institute
Professor Paul Dunscomb, who teaches Asian history in the History Department, was appointed the first Director of the Confucius Institute. The Confucius Institute supports the teaching of the Chinese language and culture as well as an exchange program for students and faculty. There are roughly over 250 such institutes in 75 countries around the world. UAA will join the ranks of other Universities such as Arizona State University, Michigan State University, New Mexico State University, Rutgers University and University of California in offering this institute.
