Matthew Dennis, Department of History
357 Grayson Hall; mjdennis@darkwing.uoregon.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, 11:00-12:20

Introduction Not all history is academic. This research seminar will focus on “the history that people carry around in their heads” (to quote the Progressive historian Carl Becker)—the history that common people observe during holidays, or when they visit historical monuments, sites, even theme parks. We will study history and popular memory through an examination of commemorative practices in America, both the observation of annual or less frequent commemorative occasions (like centennials) and the construction and maintenance of monuments, memorials, and historic sites. Such a focus can yield insights about the complex nature of American nationalism, patriotism, and identity.

Common readings and weekly discussions will probe these themes, while individually students will define their own research projects, conduct research in primary sources, write an original historical essay, participate in critique sessions, and revise and rewrite their work.

Student will have the freedom to examine a wide range of topics, which can center on any period or place in American history, as long as they relate to key sites or moments of commemoration—places or occasions when Americans remember, celebrate, or redefine their past and construct a sense of who they are as Americans.

Assigned Readings:

John R. Gillis, ed., Commemorations: The Politics of National Identity (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994). Mike Wallace, Mickey Mouse History and Other Essay on American Memory (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1996). Cecelia Elizabeth O’Leary, To Die For: The Paradox of American Patriotism (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999).   Norman Rockwell's "Freedom from Want," from his "Four Freedoms" series (1943).

These books are available at Mother Kali’s Books, 720 East 13th Avenue (343-4864), two blocks from campus. Additional short readings may be assigned and made available via links from this site.

Format and Requirements

This is a seminar and, as such, it requires full attendance and participation by all its members. Students will be evaluated based both on the quality of their weekly participation (approx. 25%) and their final essay (approx. 75%). There are no examinations.

Weekly Schedule of Reading and Written Assignments

[assignments due on day they appear on the schedule below.]

Week 1 (April 3): Introduction
Begin identification of research topics; begin reading Gillis, ed., Commemorations, parts 1 and 2 (pp. 3-123).

Week 2 (April 10): Commemoration, Nationalism, Tradition
Discussion of Gillis, ed., Commemorations, 1-123. Discussion of research topics.

Week 3 (April 17): Commemoration, Nationalism, Identity
Read Gillis, ed., Commemorations, 127-280. Present preliminary paper prospectus, with brief bibliography.

Week 4 (April 24): American Memory
Read Wallace, Mickey Mouse History, vii-xiv, 3-174.
Preliminary paper prospectus due.

Week 5 (May Day): American Memory and the Politics of History
Read Wallace, Mickey Mouse History, 177-309.
Present working outlines.

Week 6 (May 8): Memory, Nationalism, Patriotism
Read O’Leary, To Die For, 3-128.

Week 7 (May 15): Memory, Patriotism, Race
Read O'Leary, To Die For, 110-245
Rough drafts of papers due Friday, May 18.

Week 8 (May 22): Writing History
Paper critiques: students will read and critique each other's drafts--student will prepare written critiques and present them during our critique sessions.

Week 9 (May 29): Revising [no class]

Week 10 (June 5): Concluding Discussion of Memory and History

Final Papers Due Friday, June 8, 2001.