Rugby Chapel

Local and U of S history buffs will be interested in a recent article -- "Revived Rugby Chapel a campus treasure" -- written by Lucas Richert (Postdoctoral Fellow) for the Saskatoon Sun. Lucas traces the history of the U of S heritage site, Rugby Chapel, as the campus continues to expand.

Phantasma - A Masquerade Formal

Street Carnival, Bogota, with Personification of Disease and Medicine (Credit: Wellcome Library)

 

The HGSC is excited to invite you to put on your formal wear, don your favorite mask and attend "Phantasma - A Masquerade Formal." For a small entry fee of $10, you will be treated to an evening of music, dancing, food, fun and fabulous door prizes! 

Finger food and desserts will be served and alcohol will be for sale.

***Masks can be purchased from any local costume shop or the base and material to decorate one can be obtained at Michael's.***

Date: March 9th

Time: 6-10 p.m.

Place: Third Avenue United Church (304 3rd Ave. N.)

Cost: $10 (tickets available from HGSC executive or Nadine Penner Arts 721)

Dress: Formal

Panning for Gold in Canada's Past

Awarding-winning author and former journalist Charlotte Gray will be visiting Bill Waiser's new Writing History grad seminar in late February. She will also be giving a lecture, "Panning for Gold in Canada's Past," which anyone can attend!

Date: Monday, February 27
Time: 4:30
Place: Arts 241 (Neatby-Timlin Theatre).

Experiments in Alchemical Knowledge

Frank Klaassen, in his capacity as President of Societas Magica, organised the society's (and probably the department's) first-ever e-colloquium. Participants from Waterloo, Paris, Cambridge, and Saskatchewan all met by videoconference. Lauren Kassell (Cambridge) spoke on "Thomas Vaughan's Alchemy and the Reform of Ritual Magic in Seventeeth-Century England". It was a fascinating paper that considered Vaughan's reformation of ritual magic in the quest to develop a purer alchemy. This had ties to the wider Protestant reformation, as well as the emerging experimental method.

The e-colloquium was a great way to bring international scholars together inexpensively (and greenly). I declare the experiment a success! Frank promises that there will be more e-colloquiums to come.

15th Annual Swan Colloquium a Great Success!

By Angela Kalinowski, History Undergraduate Committee Chair

January 20, 2011 marked the 15^th Annual Michael Swan Colloquium showcasing the work of History and Classical Medieval and Renaissance Studies Honours students. Seventeen students presented short papers from their senior seminars. With topics ranging from medieval manuscript studies, to LSD in Saskatchewan, to trench newspapers in WWI, the audience was treated to the wide range of fascinating student work in History and CMRS.

The colloquium was well attended: between twenty and thirty people were in the audience of each of the six sessions! Thanks to the undergraduate and graduate students, post doctoral fellows, faculty members and emeriti, including Michael Swan, and family members, who came out to support the student presenters. 

A certain particularly interested audience member!

Events like these require a lot of planning, so many thanks are due to those who worked behind the scenes to make it a success, particularly Ingrid McGregor and Linda Dietz of the History Department, and Terresa Ann Demong and Leland of the Diefenbaker Center.

Finally, warm congratulations to all students who participated in the Swan Colloquium: Jonathan Bramall, Damian Braun, Ryan Buhay, Bronwyn Craig, Regan Flaherty, Matthew Kerr, Randall Knight, Christopher McGarity, Dallas Posavad, Logan Richards, Amanda Shea, David Seibel, Kevin Sexsmith, Tyler Reimer, Clare Thomson, Gina Trapp, and Sarah Vela.

The Swans of 2012

Everyone in the audience commented on the uniformly high quality of your papers and your professional comportment. You have completed another step in your degree, and more importantly, did a great job! You should be proud of yourselves.

Good News

It's been one of the worst-kept secrets around the department, but I'm finally at liberty to reveal some good news now that OCN has issued the official notice.  Congratulations to Frank Klaassen on his success in the Canadian Foundation for Innovation grant competition! Frank is a co-investigator with Peter Robinson (English) and Brent Nelson (English) on the Textual Communities project.

This grant will in turn support the development of an international website and transcription project on Recipes and Secrets.  More on that later this spring!

Missed Opportunities!

Our recent alumna Dr. Merle Massie was interviewed Thursday afternoon on CBC Radio's Afternoon Edition to discuss her work on Saskatchewan Ghost Towns. Sounds like it would have been fun!

Alas, I didn't find out in time to give you all a heads-up about this interesting radio interview... and worse yet, there doesn't appear to be a podcast available.  But congratulations to Merle -- I hope it went well.

HUSA Movie Night!

The Annual Michael Swan Honours Colloquium

The Department's annual colloquium will be held on Friday, January 20th at the newly renovated Diefenbaker Centre (Prairie Room). Our honours students will be presenting their work over the course of the day -- and what a great line up it is!  Please feel free to join us: all are welcome to attend

 

Welcome (9:00-9:05 a.m.)

Session One (9:05—9:40 a.m.)

First Nations’ History

(Ryan Buhay, Chair)

Claire Thomson. “The Cowboy Way: Lakota Ranching and Rodeo Participation at Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan.”

Regan Flaherty. “The Role of Alcohol in Native-Newcomer Relations in 18^th century Illinois Country.”

Session Two (9:45—10:40 a.m.)

Sex, Drugs and Eugenics

(Logan Richards, Chair)

Gina Trapp. “Art in the Time of Aids: Gay Art and Gay Rights in New York.”

Ryan Buhay. “A Tale of Two Campuses: LSD and the University of Saskatchewan in the 1960s.”

Amanda Shea. “When the Conversation Shifts: An Examination of Changing Discourse in the British Eugenics Review 1909-1968.”

Break (10:40 a.m.—11:00 a.m.)

Session Three (11:05 a.m. —12:00 Noon)

Conflict and Diplomacy

(Claire Thomson, Chair)

Tyler Reimer. “To Fight a King: Legitimate Violence in the Magna Carta and deditio.”

Kevin Sexsmith. “The Long and Winding Road to a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.” 

Damian Braun. “The Trent Affair: A Popular Crisis in 19^th century Anglo-American Relations.”

Lunch in the Foyer (12:00 Noon—1:00 p.m.)

Session Four (1:05—2:00 p.m.)

History of Ideas and Historiography

(Sarah Vela, Chair)

Johnathan Brammall. “Comparative Epistemology: Ockham and Augustine on Knowledge.”

Dallas Posavad. “The Venerable Bede: The Intellectual World of a Doctor of the Church.”

Chris McGarrity. “The Persistence of Tradition: Why the Tide of the Enlightenment has not Submerged   Tradition.”

Session Five (2:05—3:00 p.m.)

The World Wars

(Damian Braun, Chair)

Matthew Kerr. “Turning Points: Intelligence and the Battle of Britain.”

David Siebel. “Trench Newspapers and Canadian Soldiers’ culture in WWI.”

Randy Knight. “The American Victory at Midway: Five Factors.”

Break (3:00—3:15 p.m.)

Session Six (3:15—4:10 p.m.)

Society and Culture in Renaissance and Early Modern Europe

(Matthew Kerr, Chair )

Bronwyn Craig. “‘Rosemunda Avenges her father’: Paul the Deacon’s Account of King Alboin in The History of the Lombards.”

Sarah Vela. “The Ripley Scroll and Early Modern Alchemical Manuscripts.”

Logan James Richards. “Boccaccio’s Decameron: A Bawdy Picture of Daily Life in Early Renaissance Italy.”

Closing Remarks (4:10-4:20 p.m.)

Fifth Annual After-Colloquium Beverage Gathering (at Louis’)

Conference Workshop

Interested in learning how to apply to give papers at conferences? Write a conference paper? Or what might come afterwards?  The History Department is hosting a workshop aimed at senior undergraduate and graduate students.  Speakers include Merle Massie, Liz Scott, Keith Carlson, Jim Miller, and Simonne Horwitz.

Date: January 13
Time: 1:30-3:30
Place: Grad Commons

As an added incentive: refreshments are provided!

Whiling Away Time

Before term gets too busy, you might be interested in checking out some top-notch history blogs to while away your time.  At the American Historical Association meeting, the winners of the Cliopatria Awards for best history blogging have been announced.  There is some great stuff out there!

And if you check out the award-winning group blog Wonders and Marvels, you just might spot a member of our own department.

Richard Gwyn: The Great Canadian Tragedy

An exciting start to the new year -- Richard Gwyn, author and political columnist, will be speaking on "The Great Canadian Tragedy: John A. vs. Louis Riel" on January 16.  For a very lucky few, he will also be visiting Bill Waiser's new graduate class on Writing!

Gwyn is an officer of the order of Canada and author of the award-winning two volume biography of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister.

Date: January 16
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Place: Convocation Hall

A book sale and signing will follow.

Money money money!

Congratulations are in order for two groups!  This month I received the happy news that the Canadian Journal of History (housed in the department) and Geoff Cunfer were successful in their recent research grant applications.

The CJH has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.  Geoff has received a Research Acceleration Program grant from the university to support his international Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research Group.

This just in!

Simonne Horwitz was heard just this morning speaking about Canadian and South African racial policy on CBC Radio:

http://www.cbc.ca/morningedition/2011/11/23/comparing-apartheid-to-canadas-treatment-of-first-nations/.

It's a great teaser for her lecture on November 29th!

HUSA Movie Night

The History Undergraduate Students' Association is hosting its first movie night of the year.  Come join HUSA for a screening of 300.

Date: Tuesday, November 22nd

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Place: Timlin Theatre (Arts 241).  

Professor Angela Kalinowski will be providing a special introduction.

If you can't come, "There will be no glory in your sacrifice"! Or something.

HGSC Christmas Party!

The History Graduate Student Committee is excited to invite you to the HGSC Christmas Party and fundraiser.

When: December 2

Time: 5 p.m.

Where: Grad Commons

Cost: $10 (students) or $15 (faculty and guests)

Banana (Musa coccinea Andr.), c.1885. Credit: Wellcome Library

A Christmas dinner with turkey, ham, a full compliment of sides and desserts as well as vegetarian options will be provided by the HGSC. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for faculty and guests, with faculty tickets including one free drink.

Tickets can be purchased from any member of the HGSC executive (http://www.usask.ca/groups/hgsc/) or from Nadine in Arts 721.

This years' theme is a tropical Christmas, so wear your best (worst) Hawaiian shirt and resort attire. Along with the dinner, activities will include an ornament exchange, photobooth, raffle and signature drinks. If you wish to participate in the ornament exchange, please bring an ornament with you to the party.

For more information see http://www.facebook.com/events/184304951656978/ or contact our social directors, Stephanie Bellissimo and Christian Elcock.

It will be a family friendly event and everyone is welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!

New Solutions for a New Saskatchewan

Earlier this month, Bill Waiser wrote a commentary on the recent Saskatchewan election.  You can check it out at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/new-solutions-for-a-new-saskatchewan/article2229813/. 

His main question: is there really a Saskatchewan Advantage?

4th Annual Dave De Brou Memorial Lecture

The History Department and the History Graduate Students Committee are proud to host the fourth annual Dave De Brou Memorial Lecture.

This annual lecture is a tribute to the late Professor Dave De Brou, who was the head of the History Department.


Our speaker this year will be award winning professor Simonne Horwitz. Dr. Horwitz will be giving the lecture: "Apartheid in a Parka?: A Historical Analysis of the links between Canadian and South African Racial Policy."

Where: Library Theatre, Frances Morrison Library (311 23rd - Street East)
When: Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Time: Doors 6:30 p.m., Lecture 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free

This event is open to anyone who would like to attend. Beverages and refreshments to follow the lecture.     

HUSA and HGSA Halloween Party

All History grad and undergrad students, postdocs, staff and faculty are welcome to attend!


Date: Friday, October 28
Time: 5 p.m.
Place: Grad Commons

Distinguished Chair Celebration

Bill Waiser, Distinguished Chair

Earlier this month, the Faculty of Arts and Science held a celebration for Bill Waiser and Ron Steer (Chemistry) who had recently been named Distinguished Chairs.  As part of the celebration, Bill was expected to explain History to chemists and Ron was to explain Chemistry to historians.

Although the natural division of the room into disciplinary sides, as like gravitated toward like, did not seem to bode well, both speakers eloquently explained the importance of their work and did, in fact, find common ground.

The 'History' Side, amused during Bill's talk

Bill spoke to the need for history in the modern world, particularly in terms of encouraging an engaged citizenry.  He discussed the thirst of the general public to know more about their past and the way in which historians constantly revise our understanding of the past as new questions arise.  Ron told us that he discovered his subject because he wanted to know what would happen when he shone light on molecules -- and stressed the necessity of continued funding for curiosity-driven research, which is what his own work had always been.

In a week when a local journalist had attacked curiosity-driven humanities research, the emphasis of both speakers on the role of new questions in driving innovation was a particularly welcome message for the audience.

Congratulations to Bill and Ron for being named Distinguished Chairs -- and for their masterful explanations of their work!

Bietenholz Rare Book Collection

Back in 2009, Peter Bietenholz, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Saskatchewan, and his wife Doris donated their rare books to the Murray Library.  

Under the supervision of Special Collections Librarian David Bindle, a McGill MLIS student, Nina Thurlow (B.A. Hons. in CMRS) catalogued the collection as her summer practicum project.  

You can check out the collection by visiting the website (http://library2.usask.ca/bietenholz) and, if you want to take a look at any of the books, you can visit the Special Collections Library.  The Bietenholz Rare Book Collection is a significant addition to the U of S Special Collections and will prove a valuable resource for students, faculty and visiting researchers alike.

Dr. Chad Gaffield Lecture

Dr. Chad Gaffield

The department is delighted to welcome Dr. Chad Gaffield (President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada), who will be giving a guest lecture on "Learning, the Research T, and Engaged Scholarship : How the social sciences and humanities are helping re-imagine universities in the Digital Age".  He describes his presentation:

Universities are among the few institutions that can trace their history to the middle ages. One key reason is their ability to adapt their form and content to changing internal and external forces.  This ability is currently being tested by new insights into pedagogy, new approaches to advancing knowledge and understanding about the past and present, and new relationships with the larger society.  Each of these developments is being enabled, accelerated and influenced by digital technologies, digital content and digital literacies. If judged by public discussion in societies around the world, the current result is both promising and worrisome, both inspiring and threatening. This lecture will briefly describe the profound changes now underway on campuses across Canada and will suggest how innovative approaches in the social sciences and humanities hold significant promise for the successful re-imagining of universities in the Digital Age.

All are welcome to attend!

Date: November 1

Time: 4 p.m.

Place: Convocation Hall