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History



History

The Department of History exemplifies Dickinson in the way it covers the world beyond our shores; students may study the regional histories of Africa, East Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, or they may explore the diversity of American history.  Further, our courses explore a wide variety of approaches that include the history of gender, empires, the environment, medicine, migration, religion, and diplomacy and war in national, comparative, and global contexts.

History majors work closely with the faculty to develop research skills, regularly making use of the rich resources of Dickinsons Archives & Special Collections, the nearby U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center and the Cumberland County Historical Society.  Our newest course to make extensive use of such resources is History 205, Public History, which teaches students about the ways history can be put to work in the world and made relevant and useful in the public sphere.

Contact Info

Chair

Emily PawleyAssociate Professor of History

Department Coordinator

Madeline BrownAcademic Department Coordinator

Phone

717-245-1521

Fax

717-245-1479

Location

219B, Denny Hall Mailing Address

Department Features



Student Outcomes

Where Our Students Go From Here

Jobs:

  • United Way of the Midlands
  • JET Program
  • Cushman & Wakefield
  • Temple University
  • Archaeological Testing and Consulting
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • Peace Corps
  • The Fulbright Program
  • USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
  • Hudson Legal Group
  • SITE Program Lombardia
  • Microsoft Corporation
  • The Democracy Collaborative
  • National Consumer Law Center

Graduate Schools:

  • Yale Law
  • New York University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Connecticut
  • Columbia University
  • University of Massachusetts
  • George Washington University
  • George Mason University
  • University of Virginia
  • Harvard University
  • Fordham University
  • Georgetown University Law
  • Tufts University
  • USC
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • City University London
Where Students Have Interned
  • Breakthrough Collaborative
  • Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Organization
  • National Museum of American History
  • National Museum of the American Indian
  • National Postal Museum
  • Port Jefferson Historical Society
  • U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center
  • U.S. Army War College - Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute
  • Dickinson College House Divided project
  • Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections
  • U.S Army Heritage & Education Center
  • Art Institute of Chicago

Student Perspective

"The opportunity to mingle with professors and students within the department no matter what concentration or focus you are interested in. The history department really fosters an amazing community of colleagues and students who are there to support one another and bond over our shared love for history."

— Kaileigh McNellis '23


History News

Focused on Creating Change

Focused on Creating Change

Ethan Barnes ’26’s Dickinson experience has included helping to pass statewide probation reform and becoming the youngest civil-service commissioner in Carlisle’s history.

Dickinson Alumnus Shares Research on Race and Policing in New York City

Dickinson Alumnus Shares Research on Race and Policing in New York City

Matthew Guariglia '12, senior policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, will discuss his new book, “Police and the Empire City: Race and the Origins of Modern Policing in New York.”

Dickinson to Host Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, One of Time

Dickinson to Host Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, One of Time's 100 Most Influential People

Nyirumbe will deliver lecture addressing the effects of gender-based violence and how to find hope.

Power of Perseverance

Power of Perseverance

When injuries shortened his collegiate football career, Henry Booth ’25 found a different way to contribute to the team. His story also includes a powerfully meaningful internship.

Beyond the Marquee: Dickinson Students Uncover ‘Gem of Carlisle’

Beyond the Marquee: Dickinson Students Uncover ‘Gem of Carlisle’

Students deciphered scores of handwritten documents to uncover the rich history of a beloved Carlisle landmark. Then they shared their findings with the local community.

Chris

Chris '05 and Emily '06 Cocores Return to Campus for Internship Celebration

Student gather to thank alumni couple for their generosity in funding internship opportunities.



Global Migrations book cover

Newest Faculty Book Publication

Congratulations to Marcelo Borges (Professor of History, Boyd Lee Spahr Chair in the History of the Americas) on the recent publication of The Cambridge History of Global Migrations, Vol. 2, 1800-Present, which he co-edited. He worked on this project for the past six years, describing it as “a very rewarding collaboration with scholars from around the world, made a bit more challenging than any such project normally would be because of the Covid pandemic. I am very happy to see this in print!


 

Alumni Spotlight

September 2023:

Congratulations to Dickinson history alum Cooper Wingert ’20, whose article, “Fugitive Slave Renditions and the Proslavery Crisis of Confidence in Federalism, 1850-1860,” was published in the June 2023 issue of the prestigiousJournal of American History.  Kudos, Cooper!