Connect and Learn!

History faculty and students visit the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg.

Join the dedicated History faculty and students of Penn State Altoona in the effort to make the past fun, accessible, and relevant.  To learn more information about our program, upcoming events, and our faculty, be sure to visit our revised History Department website.  Also check out our program's Facebook page for additional insights, event photos, and noteworthy articles.  Enjoy and learn!

Commencement!

May 4, 2013 witnessed another beautiful Penn State Altoona commencement ceremony.  Laughs and tears were shared among students, faculty, and parents.  This year, we are sending off a number of great History students into the professional and academic worlds.  They faculty and students shown include (Back row, left to right): Dr. Julia Hudson-Richards, Andrew Culp, Jeremy Haring, Phillip Pellegrini, Philip Nicholas, Dr. Doug Page, Dr. Marc Harris, Dr. Mark McNicholas. Front row, left to right: Kimberly Snively, Felicia Robinson, and Cathleen Fisher.  We wish the best of luck to all of them and look forward to educating all the incoming students and History majors.  Have a great summer!

Upcoming History Events!

Dr. Steven Andrews and Mr. Joe Petrulionis have a Yank/Reb stare down contest at our previous History Encampment.

As always, Spring is a busy time for us History folk at the campus.  The dedicated students and faculty have a wide variety of special events planned--many of which are free and open to the general public.  We invite you to share this listing and attend our programs!


Thursday February 28th: Gun Control Debate with Political Science Club 150 Hawthorn common hour with pizza.  The Political Science club is sponsoring a open panel debate on gun control with five specialist in various topics. The History Society has a representative for historical topics concerning gun control specifically the 2nd Amendment and the Constitution. Pizza will be available during the event and notecards will be passed around to get questions from the audience. The debate will be in 150 Hawthorn at noon.

Sunday March 3rd - Bully (2011) 98 minutes. Rated PG-13 for language and bully violence.  Documentary description: A documentary on peer-to-peer bullying in schools across the nation. Average American school kids cannot defend themselves against ridicule. What is the solution?  Takes place at Penn State Altoona's Devorris Downtown Center at 6 p.m.  Free admission, soda, and popcorn.

 

Monday March 11th - Pizza, an episode of HBO's John Adams , Philadelphia Field Trip info session 6:30pm 150 Hawthorn.  History Society, LAS, SAF, and Political Science Club are sponsoring an all-day trip to Philadelphia. On Monday March 11 in 150 Hawthorn History Society will be discussing attractions near our drop-off point (Independence Hall) and giving specific details about the trip to Philadelphia. This event is open to everyone not just those who have already purchased spots already. Once we discuss the trip we will have pizza and show an episode of HBO's John Adams that details the created of the Declaration of Independence.

Thursday March 14th - Field Trip to Philadelphia bus leaves at 6am from Hawthorn Lot $10 to w116 Smith.  The field trip to Philadelphia is scheduled for Thursday March 14th. The bus will leave a little after 6am and we will be dropped off at Independence Hall which is located near tons of attractions in Philadelphia. Those going on the trip have the option to go to the African American Museum for free (student tickets are normally $8). Students and faculty can sign up for the trip by taking $10 to Carol Bookhammer in w116 Smith Building. More details about the trip will be sent out closer to the 14th.

Monday March 18th - Women's History Heroes (similar to a read-in) Misciagna 101-103. All Day.  Stop by and hear other students tell their stories about personal heroes of women’s history. Feel free to stop by and tell your own stories. We will also take posters to hang up during the event.Specific Presentations include Felicia Robinson: The History of Female Ninjas and Kimie Snively:  The Power of 1920s Film Stars  and more. The event will take place from 10am - 4pm in Misciagna 101-103. Snacks, coffee, and tea will be served throughout the whole events. We will also display posters about figures of Women's History. 

Tuesday March 19th - History Film Night (for St. Patrick's Day) Bloody Sunday, pizza, 6:30 pm 135 hawthorn.  For History Society's first film night of the month we will be showing Bloody Sunday: A dramatization of the Irish civil rights protest march and subsequent massacre by British troops on January 30, 1972. Pizza and drinks will be available as well. We will show the film Tuesday March 19th at 6:30 pm in 135 Hawthorn.

Wednesday March 20th- Open Panel Discussion with specialists on War, Women, and Rape Culture, pizza, documentary, 6:30 pm 256 hawthorn.  Students with different research backgrounds will discuss and answer questions on the evolution of warfare and its effect on women. History Society representatives are there specifically to discuss the history of the various regions we will be discussing and the history of warfare. So far we have volunteers to discuss the Middle East and India. We are still looking for other volunteers and we are open to any number of topics. The discussion will occur Wednesday March 20th in 256 Hawthorn at 6:30 pm. Pizza and drink will be served with the showing of the an episode of PBS's documentary  Women, War, and Peace.

Thursday March 28th - History Film Night (Women's History Month) Mona Lisa's Smile, time and room TBA.  History Society's second film of the month will be Mona Lisa's Smile :A free-thinking art professor teaches conservative 1950's Wellesley girls to question their traditional societal roles. Pizza and drinks will be available other details with be available soon.

Friday April 5th - Field trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  All day.  History students and faculty will be receiving behind the scenes tours at unique historic sites such as the Eisenhower National Historic Site, the Rupp House History Center, and the Shriver House Museum.  Visits to these sites will be followed by a brief battlefield tour and free time in the historic downtown for dinning, shopping, and sightseeing.  Limited space remains.

Thursday April 9th - Special Guest Speaker: Jake Boritt.  Join us for a special discussion by documentarian Jake Borritt.  Raised on a Civil War farm in Gettysburg, his films include 'Adams County USA' (2002), 'Budapest to Gettysburg' (2007) and '759: Boys Scouts of Harlem'(2010).  He wrote and produced 'The Gettysburg Story: Battlefield Auto Tour," a bestseller.  This night, he will be discussing the awards and challenges of bringing history to film.  Location and time TBA.

Friday April 12th - Campus History Encampment.  All day.  The Penn State Altoona History Department and History Society will be hosting its fourth history encampment on campus throughout the day on Friday April 12, 2013.  A Living History timeline will display reenactors, equipment, and artifacts from numerous time periods including the American Civil War and World War II.  Reenactors will be conducting informal programs for students.  This event is free, open to the general public, and will be taking place on the lawns outside the Hawthorn classroom building.

Sunday April 14th - Film: Argo.  6pm at Penn State Altoona's Devorris Downtown Center.  120 minutes. Rated R for language and some violence. Genre: Thriller.  Ben Affleck stars and directs a suspenseful dramatization of the 1980 secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran. Academy Award Best Picture Winner for 2012!

Saturday April 27th to Sunday April 28th - WWII History Weekend.  The Blair County Historical Society based in Altoona, Pennsylvania will be hosting its second annual WWII Living History Weekend the last weekend in April 2013.  It will be taking place in a community park-like setting, offering space for Allied and Axis Living History camps in addition to a few displays/activity tents.  Baker Mansion is an 1849 Greek Revival mansion and will stand in for a French chateau for the skirmish scenario reenactments on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.  In addition to Living History demonstrations, local veterans will be on hand to share their stories.  Programs for children and families will be held.  Authors/Presenters will be present throughout the weekend.

Sunday April 28th - Film: Saving Private Ryan.  6pm at Penn State Altoona's Devorris Downtown Center.  169 minutes. Rated R for intense violence and language. Genre: History.  Following D-Day in WWII, a squad of U.S. soldiers goes behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action. Being shown in conjunction with the WWII History Weekend at Baker Mansion in Altoona April 26-28.