Dr. Christine Sears Films Teaching Segment for National History Education Clearinghouse

In April 2010, Dr. Christine Sears filmed a “Best Practices: Examples of Historical Thinking” segment for the National History Education Clearinghouse. The NHEC is collaboration between George Mason University’s Center for History and New Media and Stanford University’s School of Education, and funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This is a centralized, interactive website where K-12 American history teachers can find resources, research, advice, and support to enhance their teaching, including history content, lesson plans, and video of classroom teaching in action. The organizers asked Christine to participate because of her experience teaching junior high and high school.

Christine's twenty-minute presentation, “The Barbary Pirates: Letters to Tripoli,” analyzes two letters between Consul James Cathcart in Tripoli and the Secretary of State, written in 1800, not long before the outbreak of the US's war with Tripoli (1801-1805). She was asked to model analyzing primary sources, historical thinking and information relevant to K-12 teachers. Christine says that the NHEC employees were experts at making her feel comfortable despite the glaring lights and running camera, and they did excellent editing work.

Please check out Christine's presentation and the other helpful resources on this exciting website!

Pictured here is Christine with at the grave of William Bainbridge, who was captain of the USS Philadelphia, which he lost to the Tripolitans during the Tripolitan War 1801-1805. According to Christine, he did very well, however, in the War of 1812 as the Captain of the USS Constitution and scored a thrilling victory over the HMS Java.

UAHuntsville Students and Alum Sign Book Contract

UAHuntsville public history students Charity Ethridge and Michele Hopkins and UAHuntsville history alum Susanna Leberman have recently signed a book contract with Arcadia Publishing to produce a pictorial history of Huntsville, Alabama. The book will highlight the city’s rich history and allow the authors to use their public history experience in a meaningful manner. Arcadia Publishing, a major producer of local history books throughout the nation, will market the book to the general public and add it to a national database dedicated to promoting the use of local history. Dr. John Kvach will oversee the project as part of an ongoing effort to build the public history program at UAHuntsville, and proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards the public history program. This project also highlights the growing partnership between the University and the Huntsville/Madison County Public Library.

Pictured here is Huntsville's Courthouse Square in 1864.

Graduate Student Alyson Buck Working at the Weeden House

Alyson Buck, a history graduate student at UAHuntsville, has been busy working at the Weeden House, a house museum in the center of Huntsville’s historic downtown district. According to the museum's director and board of directors, Buck’s enthusiasm, dedication, and willingness to jump in and take on new responsibilities have had an important impact on how the museum and its staff interpret the past. Buck hopes to build upon this experience after graduation and find a job in the public history sector. Good luck Alyson!

Congratulations to our Fall 2010 Graduates!

In December, eight students graduated from UAH with BA degrees in history, Kyla Brickhouse, Thomas Coke, Melanie Eckstein, Katie Graham, Michael Henriksen, Joseph "Eddie" Kimbrough, Jonathan Neely, and Amber Willis.

Congratulations to all! Please keep the history department updated on your doings and remember to check out our blog from time to time!



Pictured here are Katie Graham celebrating her degree, Kyla Brickhouse doing the same, and Kyla and Jonathan Neely at the commencement ceremony.

Profile of Graduate Research Assistant Matthew Menarchek

The history department's Graduate Research Assistant for 2010-2011 is Matthew Menarchek. He received his BA in history from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2010, and he is currently enrolled in the MA program.

Matthew's primary graduate assistant work is research for a local attorney preparing a federal judicial case involving taxation and public education in Alabama. He is also collaborating with the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau to highlight local Civil War tourist attractions.

We are happy to have Matthew in our MA program and as our research assistant!