Katsulos’ paper, “Unto One Man’s Hand: The Power of Portraiture of the Favorites of James I” was nominated by Dr. Kathleen Wellman, professor of HISTORY 4300: Junior Seminar in Research and Writing.
Dr. Wellman says of Katsulos’ research:
“Maria chose an ambitious and complex topic to explore. She asked what the portraits of the male royal favorites of James I tell us about them–their sexuality and their political and personal relationship with the king and about royal portraiture. But Maria also wanted to know what these portraits tell us about how seventeenth-century Englishmen understood or perceived homosexuality. Ultimately, Maria intended her study to contribute to the new field of queer studies. To address all of these topics and fields Maria had to find a broad array of kinds of materials to address these topics–from identifying art works in museums, etc., to political and cultural histories of the early seventeenth century, to studies of homosexuality and works in the new field of Queer Studies. All of her sources are directly relevant to the areas of her topics. Her final product demonstrates an ability to not simply understand the sources she deploys but also to interpret them effectively. Maria produced a persuasive argument, written in a most engaging style.”
The Larrie and Bobbi Weil Undergraduate Research Award for excellence in library research is awarded annually to recognize student research that demonstrates depth and breadth in the use of library research materials and clear evidence of thoughtful command of these resources.
Winning students receive a $500 cash prize, an opportunity to be published in the SMU Journal of Undergraduate Research, the winning paper will be placed in the SMU Archives in DeGolyer Special Collections Library and online in SMU Scholar.
Maria Katsulos will be presented with the award at the Honors Convocation on April 12, 2021.
Learn more about the award and see previous recipients, here.