History – Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences

America faces its fourth existential crisis, and President-elect Biden will need to go big

Dallas Morning News Originally Posted: January 17, 2021 Jeffrey A. Engel is a history professor and founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University. He wrote this opinion column for The Dallas Morning News. What is an American? More accurately, who? The question fuels our current political woes, drives Donald Trump’s second impeachment, and has sparked the most profound Constitutional crisis since 1868. It is a question we, and President-elect Joe Biden, must answer to move forward. The answer shouldn’t be hard. Americans follow a particular creed based upon democratic rule, guided by our shared Constitution. Unlike other countries where bloodlines and birth determine one’s rights, anyone can be and become fully American as long as he or she abides by [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-01-19T08:07:00-08:00 January 19th, 2021|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

Presidential historian Jeffrey Engel joins host Krys Boyd

KERA Originally Posted: January 14, 2021 One week after pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol, members of the House of Representatives returned to that very spot to impeach the president for a second time. Presidential historian Jeffrey Engel joins host Krys Boyd to talk about this unprecedented chapter in American history – and about whether it will unify the country or tear it further apart. Engel is a co-author of “Impeachment: An American History.” LISTEN

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-01-15T07:52:42-08:00 January 15th, 2021|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

‘The Image Is What Matters’: SMU Presidential Historian Says Better For Nation If Trump Attends Biden Inauguration

CBS DFW Originally Posted: Jan. 8, 2021 Historians and political experts are reacting to an announcement by President Donald Trump that breaks a long-standing tradition. When Joe Biden takes the oath of office on Jan. 20, President Trump says he won’t be there. The president announced the news Friday, Jan 8 on Twitter. He said, “To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th.” To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2021 When Trump was inaugurated in 2017, then President Barack Obama was there out of respect for a tradition that only three presidents throughout history have scorned, [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-01-11T06:41:37-08:00 January 8th, 2021|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

2020 was a tough year. Here’s how we can make it mean something.

Washington Post Originally Posted: December 31, 2020 By Alexis McCrossen Alexis McCrossen is a professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Tex., and the author of a forthcoming book titled “Time’s Touchstone: The New Year in American Life.” Never have a people voiced so much disdain for a single year as they have for 2020. Headlines ask whether 2020 is the worst year in history. Social media sites echo endless dire testimonials. T-shirts and memes ask, “Is 2020 Over Yet?” Avenue Beat, a trio of sweet-voiced teenagers accompanied by a guitar, croon, “Can we just get to 2021?” During 2020, many people experienced devastating personal losses of loved ones, jobs, prospects and opportunities due to covid-19. The world slid deeper toward devastating climate change. A [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2021-01-04T06:48:16-08:00 January 4th, 2021|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

Have a safe and happy holiday!

December 21 – January 1: Holiday Break - University is closed.

By Katherine Nickles| 2020-12-14T08:00:40-08:00 December 20th, 2020|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

Watch the December Commencement Convocation Live

December 19, 1pm: December Commencement Convocation - The ceremony will be in Ford Stadium at 1 p.m. for students and their guests. We encourage all others to join us online for the live broadcast.

By Katherine Nickles| 2020-12-14T08:05:15-08:00 December 17th, 2020|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

Historical Society Chartered By SMU

Daily Campus Originally Posted: December 5, 2020 The Historical Society became an officially chartered SMU organization during the Fall 2020 semester. Wardah Alvi, who currently serves as its president, accentuated the group effort put forth by other members to create the organization as it now stands. “This isn’t a one-person thing,” said Alvi. “Everybody brings something to the table . . . and we worked really hard to implement those ideas.” Marketing Team member Emily Vye emphasized the role that social media played in expanding the Historical Society. The group actively posted online starting in April and now has themed posts weekly like “Movie Monday,” “Fun Fact Friday,” and “Saturday Spotlight.” Posts feature anything from a discussion on history in film to introducing faculty and students of the SMU History Department. [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2020-12-08T07:24:02-08:00 December 8th, 2020|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, History, Undergraduate News|Comments Off

Presidential Historian Reviews Presidents in Film & TV, from ‘Lincoln’ to ‘The Comey Rule’

Vanity Fair Originally Posted: October 23, 2020 Presidential historian Jeffrey Engel fact checks presidential scenes from movies and television including 'Frost/Nixon,' 'Lincoln,' 'Pearl Harbor,' 'Vice,' 'Saturday Night Live,' 'The Comey Rule,' 'W.,' 'The Special Relationship,' 'The Wind and the Lion,' 'Thirteen Days,' 'LBJ' and 'John Adams' and analyzes their believability and execution. WATCH

By Katherine Nickles| 2020-11-03T09:41:05-08:00 November 3rd, 2020|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

Meet the Editors: A Conversation with Andy Graybill and Ben Johnson on the David J. Weber Series in New Borderlands History

UNC Press Blog Originally Posted: October 15, 2020 We’re pleased to share a Q&A with Andrew R. Graybill and Benjamin H. Johnson, series editors of our David J. Weber Series in the New Borderlands History. This series explores contested boundaries and the intercultural dynamics surrounding them and includes projects in a wide range of time and space within North America and beyond, including Atlantic and Pacific worlds. Series editors welcome outstanding works that “speak back” to the rich literature that has developed over the last few decades, using the concept of borderlands to examine, analyze, and interpret both the North American borderlands and other areas connected to continental processes of making and crossing borders. We are also pleased to announce two new members of the [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2020-10-15T08:56:51-07:00 October 15th, 2020|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, History, SW Center|Comments Off

Prevent the flu at SMU

SMU health officials urge students, faculty and staff to take preventive measures to protect their health against the flu. Because flu can spread by contact with people who are ill, SMU health officials recommend getting a flu shot when they become available. FREE flu vaccinations are available for all students starting September 21. For your safety, we will be administering shots at flu shot stations outside the Health Center. NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED! Getting a flu shot this year will be far more important than ever this year due to COVID-19. READ MORE

By Katherine Nickles| 2020-10-05T06:45:42-07:00 October 5th, 2020|Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Earth Sciences, Economics, English, Events, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Statistical Science, World Languages and Literatures|Comments Off