History – Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences

Boulevard with Dedman College for SMU Homecoming

Join Dedman College on the Boulevard! Saturday, October 2, 2021 Connect with Dedman College alumni, students, faculty, family and friends for tailgating on the Boulevard for Homecoming Weekend. Tent opens two hours before kickoff (time to be announced) The Dedman College tent location is behind the Dedman College sign on the main quad. We are looking forward to seeing you at the Dedman College tent! Food and drinks provided but you must register before Wednesday, September 29. Register

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-09-20T11:33:45-07:00 September 20th, 2021|Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Diversity and Inclusion, Earth Sciences, Economics, English, Events, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Statistical Science, World Languages and Literatures|Comments Off

Dedman College D&I Newsletter, Fall 2021

Read the latest Dedman College D&I Newsletter

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-08-24T13:48:21-07:00 August 24th, 2021|Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, DCII, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Diversity and Inclusion, Earth Sciences, Economics, English, Events, History, Institute for the Study of Earth and Man, Jewish Studies Program, Jewish Studies Program, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Statistical Science, SW Center, Tower Center, UHP, World Languages and Literatures|Comments Off

Welcome Back!

Originally Posted: Aug 23, 2021 Welcome back, Mustangs! Can't wait to see you in class!

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-08-24T13:50:22-07:00 August 23rd, 2021|Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, DCII, Dedman College Research, Earth Sciences, Economics, English, Events, Faculty News, Graduate News, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Undergraduate News, World Languages and Literatures|Comments Off

Historian Ed Countryman lends expertise to The Guardian

The Guardian Originally Posted: August 13, 2021 One history textbook exclusively refers to immigrants as “aliens”. Another blames the Black Lives Matter movement for strife between communities and police officers. A third discusses the prevalence of “black supremacist” organizations during the civil rights movement, calling Malcolm X the most prominent “black supremacist” of the era. Legislatures and boards of education around the US are currently engaging in acrimonious battles about how issues of race and equity are taught in public K-12 classrooms – the latest culture war in a decades-long fight around whose stories and contributions get highlighted in school. But largely left out of this conversation has been the education provided in private schools, thousands of which have quietly been excluding diverse voices and [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-08-25T14:21:12-07:00 August 19th, 2021|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

Rick Halperin reflected on the 80th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of Russia

History New Network Originally Posted: July 11, 2021 Eighty years ago last month Adolf Hitler unleashed almost 3 million soldiers along a 1,500-mile front, with the intent to utterly and militarily destroy the Soviet Union. It was the largest assembled army the world had ever seen. The havoc, destruction, and wholesale slaughter of human beings that ensued in the months and years to come would change the paradigm of World War II and alter world history. Among the death tolls were 2 million Jews and millions of Russian civilians who were murdered. Thousands of towns and villages were destroyed and wiped off the map, art and livestock were plundered and the human psyche scarred forever. The Wehrmacht and Soviet forces both invaded and crushed Poland [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-08-17T08:57:22-07:00 August 14th, 2021|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Embrey Human Rights Events, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

Temporary mask requirement effective Aug 12

SMU News Effective August 12, SMU is temporarily requiring masks (two or more layers covering the nose and mouth) in indoor spaces on campus, including classrooms, event and meeting spaces, and common areas in all buildings and residential halls regardless of vaccination status. Masks are not required in private spaces such as residence hall rooms for students with roommates. All events, such as Convocation and orientation, should continue as planned with masks being used indoors. This requirement is a temporary precaution during the Delta variant surge to supplement our other pandemic protocols. We will continue to monitor and review industry-specific guidance and recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state public health authorities in order to make the best decisions for [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-08-12T07:44:24-07:00 August 12th, 2021|Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Diversity and Inclusion, Earth Sciences, Economics, English, History, Institute for the Study of Earth and Man, Jewish Studies Program, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Statistical Science, SW Center, Tower Center, World Languages and Literatures|Comments Off

COVID-19 reminders for July term

SMU NEWS As SMU moves into Summer Session II (July term), it’s important to maintain a healthy campus by diligently following SMU’s current COVID-19 protocols. Here are some reminders. The Mustang Strong Dashboard recording COVID-19 cases at SMU is now updated weekly on Thursdays. SMU strongly encourages everyone to receive the COVID-19 vaccination to prevent the spread and lessen the severity of the virus, if contracted. COVID-19 vaccinations are available at the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center for current and incoming students, SMU employees and their eligible spouse/dependents. Book an appointment through the health portal or by calling 214-768-2141 (option 1). After receiving the vaccine, please record your status in the voluntary vaccination reporting tool. The Health Center also provides COVID-19 testing for students and employees, but appointments are required, so call first at 214-768-2141 [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-07-07T08:28:44-07:00 July 7th, 2021|Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Earth Sciences, Economics, English, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Statistical Science, World Languages and Literatures|Comments Off

Meet the three college students working to preserve McKinney history

Star Local Media Originally Posted: July 2, 2021 For Jordyn Harrell, researching McKinney’s history is like working on a big jigsaw puzzle. The Southern Methodist University student likes to usually have the whole story, details and all, before her, she said, but this summer, she and two others are searching for the pieces themselves. Three students are working this summer to research and find the stories of who made McKinney’s history, particularly focusing on the city’s Black and Hispanic communities. Their work is part of an internship program with Legacy Keepers of Old East McKinney, a consortium focused on preserving and promoting the history of McKinney’s Black and Hispanic communities. For Luisa Piña, an Austin College student, the internship provides an almost full-circle experience: she [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-07-06T06:54:03-07:00 July 6th, 2021|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Diversity and Inclusion, Embrey Human Rights Events, History, Undergraduate News|Comments Off

AHA Member Spotlight: JOHN R. CHÁVEZ

Perspectives on History Originally Posted: May 25, 2021 John R. Chávez is a professor of history at Southern Methodist University. He lives in Garland, Texas, and has been a member since 2001. Website: smu.edu/Dedman/Academics/Departments/History/People/FacultyStaff/JohnRC Alma maters: BA (English), California State University, Los Angeles, 1971; BA (Spanish), California State University, Los Angeles, 1975; MA (English), California State University, Los Angeles, 1972; MA (American culture), University of Michigan, 1978; PhD (American culture), University of Michigan, 1980 Fields of Interest: ethnic Mexico, Southwestern borderlands, colonialism, United States, North Atlantic Describe your career path. What led you to where you are today? Chicano and Black student activism during the 1960s and 1970s opened up opportunities for the study of minority communities that had not existed before. The Black Action Movement at [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-05-26T06:32:33-07:00 May 26th, 2021|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

Texas’s Best Young Accordionists Carry on a Conjunto Legacy

Texas Monthly Originally Posted: May 2021 Had this been a non-pandemic year, Christopher Ramirez and Ashly Nicole Molina would have been in Austin on a recent Saturday afternoon. As two of the four finalists for the sixteen-and-under conjunto category in the Big Squeeze—the annual competition of Texas’s best young accordion players—they would’ve played live at the Lone Star Plaza in front of the Bullock Texas State History Museum. They would’ve felt the butterflies in their stomachs that come from standing onstage in front of a crowd, playing in front of judges, family, and other competitors. And as they did, extending and compressing the accordions’ bellows that breathe life into the instruments, moving their bodies to the rhythms and sounds, they would’ve felt that anxiety melt [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-05-24T18:14:34-07:00 May 24th, 2021|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Graduate News, History, SW Center|Comments Off