The recent Artemis II launch reminds us that moon missions are grounded not only in technologies, but in the social and political realities of their time.
Reflecting on Apollo in the Age of Artemis
History of Spaceflight Syllabus
From ancient visions to Artemis II, this course addresses global perspectives on the history of spaceflight.
Film Response for Wall-E
In this assignment for the course "The 2000s," students write a response to the 2008 film Wall-E. The assignment asks them to consider the film's messages about key early 21st-century issues, including technology and the environment.
The 2000s—Syllabus
This course is a survey of US History from 2000 to 2015. It examines the US through political, social, cultural, economic, and diplomatic lenses. Students will learn about major historical developments, including the War on Terror, culture-war battlegrounds, neoliberalism, and the expansion of the Internet.
Almost Forgotten: Upton Sinclair, Historical Homes, and Memory
Despite a renowned career as a writer and activist, Upton Sinclair lacks a museum in his honor. His home in California would make an ideal house museum. His biographer reflects on Sinclair's legacy, the importance of public history sites, and the role of historic homes in shaping public memory.
The 1976 Soweto Uprising, the Black Consciousness Movement and the Politics of Student Protest in South Africa
Fifty years after the 1976 Soweto Uprising, many of the questions raised by student resistance remain unresolved. Recent movements like #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall draw from broader historical struggles for liberation in South Africa.
Rewriting the Past in Public: Historical Commissions and Public History
Historical commissions function as state-sponsored public history initiatives that negotiate contested national pasts.
Making Our Dreams Come True?: A Retrospective on Laverne & Shirley and the “Single-Girl” Sitcom
Fifty years ago, Laverne & Shirley debuted as the first blue-collar "single-girl" sitcom. The series’ anniversary provides an opportunity to discuss its contribution to the genre and how it reflected a particular moment in American history.
Using Digital Archives to Engage Students, Part II: Accessing and Using Sensitive Material Online
Ethical access to digital archives includes issues of privacy, sensitive content, and ethical representation of marginalized communities. This piece examines nine digital archives and their attempts to navigate ethical issues.
A Surprising History of “Jail, No Bail”
Today’s activists know what those in the Black freedom movement knew: Jail, No Bail was a critique of not just bail, but of an entire system of unjust laws and courts. Then and now, activists understand that power concedes nothing–not desegregation, not pre-trial freedom—without a fight.
Clio and the Contemporary 