Touching History
Hugh Downs '19
An avid history aficionado, Hugh Downs ’19 discovered his love for the classics while taking a class on Ovid at Dickinson. Enhanced by an incredible study abroad experience that included Bath, England, Carthage and Rome, he found ancient history brought to life. And thanks to a Dana Research Assistantship, he had the opportunity to do student-faculty research with Christopher Francese, the Asbury J. Clarke Professor of Classical Studies, working to create a modern digital edition of a 16th-century Portuguese text, an experience he hopes will promote him toward his goal of becoming a research librarian.
Hometown:
Narberth, Pennsylvania.
Majors:
Classical studies and history.
Clubs and organizations:
Junkyard Turkeys Ultimate Frisbee, Men’s Club Volleyball and Latin Club.
Honors/scholarships/awards:
John Dickinson Scholarship, Alpha Lambda Delta, Eta Sigma Phi, Phi Alpha Theta and Dean’s List.
Favorite book:
The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Favorite movie:
In Bruges.
On choosing Dickinson:
I was deciding between Dickinson and Franklin & Marshall, but after visiting both, I liked Dickinson’s campus a lot more, and thought that I would fit in better here. Being awarded the John Dickinson Scholarship also helped!
Favorite class/learning experience:
The Latin class I took on Ovid with Professor Christopher Francese in the spring of my first year. It was fun to read all the myths, and it’s why I’m a classical studies major today.
Favorite place on campus:
East College.
Favorite Dining Hall food:
Caprese chicken.
On choosing a major:
I’ve wanted to study history since sixth grade, so I knew going into college that that was what I wanted to major in, but I didn’t originally plan on doubling up with classics. I had taken Latin throughout middle and high school but never really considered it as something I would want to pursue further after graduating. However, after taking a class on Ovid with Professor Francese to fulfill the language requirement, I realized that I really enjoyed reading Latin, and I didn’t want to stop, so I declared it as a double major the following fall.
If I could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, it would be …
… Peter the Great.
As I kid, I wanted to be …
… a knight.
Favorite professor:
[Assistant Professor of Classical Studies] Scott Farrington. He is super helpful, provides great feedback and has a great sense of humor, so his classes are always entertaining!
On studying abroad:
I studied abroad last fall in Bath, England, on a partner program. This was the first time I’d been out of the country, so the highlight of my experience was getting to travel. As a classics major and Roman-history nut, my favorite trip was to Carthage (in Tunisia) and Rome, because I’d read so much about these places but had never gotten to see them in person.
Post-Dickinson plans:
I’d like to get a master’s in library science and become a research librarian, but I want to take a year or two off first to work.
In a perfect world …
The cafeteria would always have two lines open so there would never be a long wait to get food.
My little-known hobby/talent:
I can fit an entire cupcake in my mouth.
Describe Dickinson in one sentence:
Dickinson is what you make of it.
About research projects:
This past summer, I received a Dana Research Assistantship to help Professor Francese create a modern digital edition of the 16th-century Portuguese text, Historicum Indiarum, written by a Jesuit missionary named Maffeius. The work was written in Latin and provides a history of the Portuguese colonial empire from about 1400 to around the mid-1500s. My job was basically to use the original Latin text and create an index of all the peoples and places that are mentioned in the text with any information I could find that would help ID them for a modern audience. At times, this process was frustrating, and I hit a lot of dead ends, but I learned that research could also be incredibly rewarding and satisfying as well, especially when you finally find what you were looking for.
Most important thing I’ve learned so far:
It’s OK to admit when you aren’t doing well and to ask for help.
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Published May 1, 2019