Haunted History
Professor of History Mikki Brock’s Spring Term course explores our fascination with the supernatural.
History
A Pair of W&L Professors Awarded Grants by the National Endowment for the Humanities
Melissa Kerin and Barton Myers will each receive $6,000 to support their research projects.
W&L Education Studies Professor and Student Co-Author Journal Article
Professor Eric Moffa and Jake Winston ’24 penned the article which appeared in The Social Studies Journal.
Meet a Colleague: Zach Nix
Zach Nix is the technology integration coordinator within ITS.
Meet a Colleague: Jillian Murphy
Jillian Murphy is the study abroad coordinator.
In Case You Missed It
Meet a Colleague: Mikki Brock
Mikki Brock is an associate professor of history.
Meet a Colleague: Alvin Wheeler
Alvin Wheeler is the assistant director of dining operations.
Martin Farr of Newcastle University to Deliver Lecture on King Charles and the Future of the British Monarchy
Professor Farr is a widely published authority on Great Britain and British foreign relations.
W&L Celebrates Women’s History Month
The campus community will recognize women’s achievements with various events throughout the month of March.
In Memoriam: David Peterson, Professor of History Emeritus
Peterson taught at W&L for more than 20 years.
W&L Presents “Blacks and Jews in America: An Invitation to Dialogue”
Terrence Johnson, professor of African American religious studies at Harvard University, will discuss his latest book on March 1.
W&L’s Bidlack Presents Nobel Prize Symposium Talk
Professor Richard Bidlack will discuss the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
W&L Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy
A variety of events and lectures are planned for this year’s observance of MLK day.
W&L History Professor Sarah Horowitz Publishes Book
“The Red Widow” hit bookshelves on Sept. 6 and has received positive reviews.
W&L’s Myers Performs Research as a Gilder Lehrman Scholarly Fellow
Professor Barton Myers was selected as one of 10 Gilder Lehrman Scholarly Fellows in 2021.
W&L’s Horowitz Publishes New Book about Marguerite Steinheil
"The Red Widow: The Scandal That Shook Paris and the Woman Behind It All," is available for preorder now.
W&L’s Myers Talks Abraham Lincoln on the History Channel
The three-night miniseries airs on the History Channel beginning Feb. 20 at 8 p.m.
W&L Professors Brock and Pickett Awarded Harte Center Faculty Teaching Scholar Grant
Michelle Brock and Holly Pickett are the Harte Center Faculty Teaching Scholar Grant recipients.
W&L’s Michelle Brock Talks Witch Hunting on Feb. 7
Professor Michelle Brock will give a talk on witch hunting in modern culture.
Africana Studies Launches New Series at W&L
Building on discussions from last year’s series, Africana Studies presents “The Aftermath of Black Protest."
W&L’s Brock Presents National Humanities Center Lecture on Oct. 26
Brock's talk is titled "Speak of the Devil: Teaching Histories of the Supernatural."
W&L’s Museums Host Third Gallery Talk of Fall Term
The discussion on Oct. 20, "A Wilde Teapot: Exploring Race, Gender and Sexuality,” is free and open to the public.
W&L Presents Public Lecture with Historian Karen L. Cox
Cox is an award-winning historian and a distinguished lecturer for the Organization of American Historians.
W&L’s Campus Kitchen Launches New Program
This fall, the Campus Kitchen is introducing a new multi-year event series titled "Just Food: Land Access, Redlining, and Food Sovereignty."
W&L’s Myers Contributes to Civil War Handbook
Professor Barton Myers recently contributed to “The Oxford Handbook of the American Civil War.”
W&L’s Myers Quoted in America Magazine
Professor Barton Myers was recently quoted in an article titled “Private and religious groups are starting to pay reparations for slavery – but it’s nowhere near enough.”
W&L’s Michelmore Publishes Book Review
Professor Molly Michelmore published a book review for Mike Konczal’s “Freedom From the Market: America's Fight to Liberate Itself From the Grip of the Invisible Hand.”
Ted Talks
A series of hour-long interviews with the late Ted DeLaney ’85, professor history of emeritus, is now available online.
Immerse Yourself in Spring Term!
It's the most wonderful term of the year, so keep an eye on @wlunews social media and this post for a daily dose of W&L's deeply engaging four-week term.
W&L’s Dennie Highlighted in the New York Times
Professor Nneka Dennie discusses Women’s History Month in a recent New York Times article.
Love at First Sight
Lucas Flood '21 fell for W&L when he saw it for the first time on a family road trip, and he's found it an ideal place to study history and German.
W&L’s Dennie Featured in Chapter of New Anthology
Professor Nneka Dennie contributed to a chapter in a new anthology titled "The Routledge Companion to Black Women's Cultural Histories."
Meet the Professor: Nneka Dennie
Nneka Dennie, a new member of the History Department faculty, has already participated in a number of thought-provoking panel discussions at W&L.
W&L’s Museums Talk Female Abolitionists
The public discussion, which explored female abolitionists’ roles in history, featured Lena Hill, dean of the college; Ron Fuchs, senior curator of ceramics; and Nneka Dennie, assistant professor of history.
‘Abundantly Thankful’ in Austria
Despite COVID-19, Jared Nickodem '20 was able to make it to Austria, where he is teaching English to students as part of the U.S. Teaching Assistant Program.
W&L Hosts Public Interview with Ty Seidule ’84
Seidule will discuss his new book, "Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause.”
W&L’s Lynn Rainville Pens Article in Zócalo Public Square
In the article, Rainville discusses how Sweet Briar College remembers the enslaved people and free laborers who built – and are buried beneath – its campus.
In Memoriam: Theodore Carter DeLaney Jr. ’85, professor of history emeritus
During his career at W&L, DeLaney brought his passion for justice and inclusion to the classroom and to his scholarship.
W&L’s Myers Proposes Jackson Statue Location in Richmond Times-Dispatch
Barton Myers’ op-ed is titled “Why the Stonewall Jackson statue belongs at Chancellorsville.”
Washington and Lee To Hold Post-Election Panel
W&L will present “What Happened Last Night?” virtually on Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.
W&L Celebrates Indigenous People’s Day with Public Lecture
As part of the yearlong celebration of Native American Heritage, W&L will host a free virtual lecture with Katrina Phillips, an assistant professor of American Indian history at Macalester College and an enrolled member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe.
No Limits
At W&L, Mary North Jones has been able to pursue interests in both European history and medicine as she builds a foundation for her career.
W&L’s Michelmore Participates in Center for Public Integrity Forum and Podcast
Professor Molly Michelmore took part in a forum and podcast examining the “winners and losers of the Republicans’ 2017 redistribution of wealth.”
W&L Announces Yearlong Native American Heritage Celebration
Washington and Lee University’s Native American Cohort invites the community to celebrate Native American Heritage with special events throughout the academic year.
W&L Hosts Public Panel as Part of Yearlong ‘Activism and Black Life’ Series
The panel discussion, titled "Antiracism, White Activists, and Black Freedom," is free and open to the public to watch virtually.
Parsing a Pandemic
Fifteen W&L faculty members and two alumnae have signed on to help teach a Fall Term course that will cover multiple aspects of the COVID-19 crisis.
Jared Nickodem ’20 Awarded U.S. Teaching Assistantship in Austria
Nickodem’s USTA position with Fulbright Austria starts in September 2020.
Spring Term Goes Virtual
Spring Term courses aim to provide innovative, one-of-a-kind educational experiences to W&L students. Online instruction during COVID-19 led to many new opportunities.
W&L’s Myers Featured on History Channel Miniseries “Grant”
The three-night miniseries airs on the History channel beginning Monday, May 25 at 9 p.m.
The Creative Type
Working in Italy, starring in theater productions and being involved in Generals' Unity are just a few of the experiences that have made W&L a great fit for Win Gustin '20.
Canceled – Lee Chapel at W&L Presents Spring Lecture
Author and historian Ryan Cole will give a public lecture at W&L on March 23.
The Ted DeLaney ’85 Scholarship Endowment
Friends of Professor DeLaney established the scholarship to honor his commitment to teaching and mentoring students.
‘No Small Task’
Luke Basham '20 parlays a passion for politics into the challenging role of Democratic Party analyst for Mock Con 2020.
Writing for Tweens
Suzanne LaFleur ’05 keeps it real for her young readers.
Eric Chaisson to Give Public Lecture at Washington and Lee
Chaisson’s lecture, which is free and open to the public, is titled “Cosmic Evolution.”
W&L’s Michelmore Talks Taxes in Recent Huffington Post Article
In the piece, Michelmore is quoted from her 2012 book, “Tax and Spend: The Welfare State, Tax Politics, and the Limits of American Liberalism.”
W&L Commemorates Constitution Day with Panel Discussion
The focus will be the "1619 Project" and the U.S. Constitution.
Barton Myers to Give Inaugural Lecture
Myer's talk, which is free and open to the public, is titled “A Civil War Murder(?) Mystery: The Death and Burial of Lt. John Rodgers Meigs.”
W&L’s Sarah Horowitz Discusses 19th-Century France in New Article
Horowitz’s article is titled “Sherlock Holmes Comes to Paris: True Crime and Private Detection in the Belle Époque.”
W&L’s Molly Michelmore Talks Taxes
The article discusses taxation and Democratic aspirations.
Barton Myers Named Class of 1960 Professor of Ethics and History
Myers will hold the position for a three-year period.
All the World’s Her Stage
With the support of faculty and fellow students, Charlotte Cook '19 acted in seven theater productions at W&L while juggling a major, two minors and other extracurricular activities.
W&L to Award Honorary Degree at 2019 Commencement
W&L will recognize the outstanding contributions of professor and alumnus Ted DeLaney ’85.
W&L’s Reid Gaede Awarded Fulbright
Reid Gaede ’19 has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Germany.
W&L’s Brock Awarded National Endowment for the Humanities Grant
NEH grant awards support cultural infrastructure projects, advanced scholarly research, humanities exhibitions and documentaries and the preservation of historical collections.
‘You Won’t Want to Leave’
At W&L, a combination of incredible courses, extracurricular opportunities and a warm community made for an experience Will Shannon '19 calls "uniquely mine."
W&L to Screen Finch Documentary ‘Triton: America’s Deep Secret’
Washington and Lee will host a public screening of “Triton: America’s Deep Secret” on Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. in Stackhouse Theater on the W&L campus.
Office Hours with David Bello
The Elizabeth Lewis Otey Professor of East Asian Studies takes a bug-eyed view of history.
Helping the Homebound
R. Alan Winstead ’85 is a driving force for the Meals on Wheels program in his community.
A Book Fit for Royals
Washington and Lee's Special Collections is an educational resource fit for a queen, but this 543-year-old book really has royal connections.
Rediscovery and Restoration of a 279-Year-Old Treasure
The Benjamin Borden Grant, the original grant for the land on which W&L now sits, turns 279 this month. It has been conserved and is stored in W&L's Special Collections.
WGSS to Hold Panel to Discuss Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing
The panel, which is free and open to the public, is titled “Kavanaugh, SCOTUS Confirmation Hearings, and #whyididntreport.”
Culture and Communication in Costa Rica
Language and culture courses at W&L prepared Marissa Miller '21 for a fun, educational trip to Nicoya, where she met the vice president of Costa Rica (left, center).
Horowitz Op-Ed Addresses Bad Behavior at Elite Institutions
W&L History Professor Sarah Horowitz addresses "the upper-class claim to a right to rule — and misrule" in the Washington Post.
W&L’s History Department to Hold Public Panel in Response to Constitution Day Lecture
The panel discussion, which is free and open to the public, is titled “Who Is America?! A Response to Michael Anton’s Constitution Day Lecture.”
W&L History Professors Talk Monuments in Washington Post
Professors Michelle Brock, Sarah Horowitz and Molly Michelmore discuss the message and weight behind Confederate monuments on college campuses
A Literal Treasure Chest
Charles Philip Blackledge ’38 gifted an important and fascinating collection of Roman coins to Washington and Lee Special Collections.
W&L Professor Ted DeLaney to Address Opening Convocation
DeLaney’s talk is titled “W&L History: Traditions, Transformations and the Consequences of Change."
Horowitz Addresses Conspiracies, Scandals in Washington Post Piece
Horowitz is an associate professor of history at Washington and Lee.
The Path to Publication
Matthew Rickert '18 completed the daunting task of updating the "Outing Club Guidebook."
W&L’s Myers Selected for History Seminar on “The Civil War and American Memory”
Myers, associate professor of history, is one of a select group of faculty members nationwide chosen by the CIC and Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
Show Me What Democracy Looks Like
Professor Bill Patch publishes book on the Labor Movement’s political influence on German democracy.
W&L Hosts Book Talk with Temple University Professor Bryant Simon
The title of his talk is “The Hamlet Fire and the Deadly Costs of Cheap.”
W&L Presents a Conversation on Race and Hope by Authors of “We Are Charleston”
The three authors of “We Are Charleston” will talk on Feb. 15 at 6:00 p.m. in Stackhouse Theatre, Elrod Commons. It is free and open to the public.
UNC History Professor, Fitz Brundage, Continues W&L Education and History Series
Brundage’s talk is titled “A Vexing and Awkward Dilemma: The Legacy of a Confederate Landscape.”
John Maass ’87: Enthralled with History
The historian, author and museum professional swears by the value of tramping the terrain where history happened.
W&L Professors to Read from New Works of Poetry
Wheeler will read from her poetry chapbook, “Propagation,” while Senechal De La Roche will read from her poetry collection “Blind Flowers.”
Finding Her Niche
Kelly Douma ’16 is on track to complete her doctorate in early modern German history and women’s studies by 2021.
W&L Continues Questioning Intimacy Series with Award-Winning Journalist
Charles Montgomery, urban design consultant and award-winning journalist, is the fourth speaker in the Questioning Intimacy Series.
W&L’s Michelmore Discusses the Evolution of Tax Policy on PRI’s The Takeaway
History professor Molly Michelmore discusses the evolution of tax policy in America, and how Republicans became the party of tax cuts.
Funding Hope in Memphis
Vicky Kazmierczak '18 spent the summer in Memphis, learning the ins and outs of non-profit work — and how to hope.
Antique Plate Linked to Special Date
On the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, we take a closer look at a special item in the Reeves Collection — a plate that bears the image of Martin Luther.
‘Dream Team’ Recreates 15th-Century Florence
Professor George Bent and his team of students are working on a digital recreation of Florence that Bent describes as the “project of his career.”
First-Year Seminars: From Poverty to the Past
Professors share the inspiration for their first-year seminars, and what they hope students will take away.
Geological Scientist Piotr Krzywiec to Lecture at W&L on Geology in Central Europe
Piotr Krzywiec will give a lecture on “Geology in Central Europe – How It All Started: The Early (XVI – XVII Cent.) Development of Earth Sciences in Central Europe."
Prelude to Reformation
Four Martin Luther tracts housed in W&L's Special Collections were fully restored in time for the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation.
W&L Hosts Author Blaine Brownell As Part of Yearlong Education and History Initiative
Brownell, author of “Washington and Lee University, 1930-2000: Tradition and Transformation” will lecture on the history of W&L.
W&L’s Brock Analyzes Use of the Term “Witch Hunt” in Washington Post Opinion Piece
Brock's piece, “No, there is no witch hunt against powerful men,” was published in The Washington Post on October 18, 2017.
W&L Professor Molly Michelmore Pens Op-ed for Washington Post
Michelmore's piece, "Republicans have none of the ingredients necessary for tax reform," was published in The Washington Post on October 2, 2017.
Author and Journalist John Farrell To Speak at W&L Oct. 2
Farrell will speak on “Richard Nixon and Donald Trump: Two American Presidents and the Politics of Grievance.”
Historian and Author Kenneth Noe to Deliver “Remembering Robert E. Lee” Address
The title of Noe's talk is “A Storm to Destroy My Hopes: Weather and Robert E. Lee’s Cheat Mountain Campaign.”
Jefferson Davis Futch III, Professor of History Emeritus, Dies at 85
Futch taught at Washington and Lee University for 46 years, until his retirement in 2008.
Colonel Ty Seidule To Give Constitution Day Lecture September 17
Col. Ty Seidule '84, professor and head of the history department at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, will deliver W&L's Constitution Day lecture.
Barton Myers Talks About George Washington and Robert E. Lee With L.A. Times
W&L's Myers discusses what ties together George Washington and Robert E. Lee.
Leyburn Library’s Author Talk Series Kicks Off Sept. 21
Leyburn Library's Author Talk Series will begin this academic year with a talk by W&L Associate Professor of History Barton Myers and Brian McKnight, a history professor at U.Va.-Wise.
By Royal Decree
A Bible in the Special Collections vault turned out to be the 1642 New Testament that belonged to France’s King Louis XIII.
A Special Summer in Special Collections
Chandler Wickers '18 has spent her summer as a researcher in Special Collections, where she has been exposed to fascinating materials and learned how professors and students can take greater advantage of the collection.
Alumni College Livestream: The Presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy
This lecture is part of the Alumni College's summer program, "Camelot Reconsidered: The Presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy."
Alumni College Livestream: From Breughel to Steen: The Painting of Everyday Life
This lecture is part of the Alumni College's summer program, "Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age."
‘These Spaces They Imagined’
Joelle Simeu '20 is working this summer on "The Politics and Poetics of Space in the Works of Martin Luther King Jr. and Leopold Senghor," a project with Professor Mohamed Kamara.
W&L’s Tallie Weighs in on Race, Food and Cultural Appropriation
T.J. Tallie, assistant professor of African history, talked to Forbes about the cultural appropriation of recipes.
Relationships Are the Best Prize
Participating in Mock Trial required loads of time for Avery Field '17, but he wouldn't trade the experience and relationships for a whole case of trophies.
W&L’s Brock Weighs in on ‘Witch Hunts’
Michelle Brock, assistant professor of history, talked to Motto about use of the phrase "witch hunt."
A Painting with a Storied Past
"The Battle of Minden" will be on display at W&L through the end of Fall Term 2017, when it will return on loan to Mount Vernon.
“Our Aim Was Man”: Civil War Sharpshooters
An inheritance of Civil War letters led to Professor Roberta Senechal's book about Civil War sharpshooters.
Poet Stephen Cushman To Speak on the Journals of Lewis and Clark
Professor, poet and author Stephen Cushman will speak on the journals of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
Historian and Author Jon Kukla to Lecture at W&L
Kukla will speak on “Patrick Henry: Champion of Liberty.”
On the Origin of One of W&L’s Most Valuable Books
Washington and Lee University owns a first edition of one of the most important — and controversial — books ever written.
Scholarly Panel to Celebrate Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration at W&L
Five W&L faculty members are featured in a new book from Cambridge Press about the NSA surveillance scandal that grew out of Edward Snowden’s now infamous disclosures.
Science, Society and the Arts Presents: Matthew Rickert ‘18
Matthew Rickert ‘18: avid outdoorsman by day, corporate fraud analyst by night
SABU Looks Back at Eventful Black History Month
In February and early March, performances, panel discussions, film screenings and lectures put the focus on black history and the black experience at Washington and Lee.
Quirky Ceramics Tell Fascinating Tales
A new exhibit, “Mementos of the Great War: Toby Jugs Commemorating Allied Leaders of World War I,” is open to the public in the Watson Pavilion at Washington and Lee University through December 2017.
Roy Matthews ’54 Used His IRA to Help History Professors at W&L
Roy Matthews's shaky start at W&L did not hint at his future career as a successful university professor. During a recent telephone conversation from his home in Washington, D.C. he described his journey from struggling during his first term at W&L to being a history scholar and author. He also talked about his decision to support the W&L History Department, where his journey began, through his IRA.
W&L Institute for Honor Looks at Lawyers and Infamous Clients
The two-day event will feature a film screening of "Bridge of Spies" and a panel discussion with lawyers who have represented notorious clients.
Discovery Takes Historic Document from Ordinary to Extraordinary
This seemingly ordinary subscription list from 1776, which has long been a part of W&L Special Collections, has a fascinating connection with American independence.
Remembering Artist Alvin Hollingsworth
Alvin Carl Hollingsworth was a leading African-American artist whose works can be seen in W&L's Leyburn Library.
Ancient Tablet is ‘Exquisite in its Simplicity’
In the first installment of this new series, Tom Camden offers the story of a Sumerian clay tablet that is the oldest recorded document in W&L's Special Collections.
Michelle Brock to Discuss Her Book About the Devil in Post-Reformation Scotland
Michelle D. Brock, assistant professor of history, will discuss her first book, “Satan and the Scots: The Devil in Post-Reformation Scotland, c. 1560-1700.”
Anna Piperato, tour guide for Rick Steves’ Europe, to speak on 14th-Century Mystic Catherine of Siena
Anna Piperato, tour guide for Rick Steves’ Europe and a freelance translator, will speak on “The Many Faces of Catherine of Siena: 14th-Century Mystic, Political Activist...Trouble.”
Jonathan Holloway, Historian and Dean of Yale College, to Speak at W&L Founders Day/ODK Convocation
Jonathan Holloway, historian of post-emancipation American history and black intellectualism and dean of Yale College, will be the featured speaker at Washington and Lee University’s Founders Day/Omicron Delta Kappa Convocation.
W&L’s Myers to Give Keynote at 154th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg
The title of Myers talk is “A Nation Remembers: Fredericksburg.” It will recall the events of December 1862 and their enduring legacy.
Reading Music
John Donaldson ’92, who returns to campus next week as executive-in-residence at the Williams School, is helping to map the future of the music industry at Pandora Internet Radio.
Temple Professor Emerita to Speak on Albion Tourgée
Carolyn Karcher to lecture on “Fighting Racism: Albion Tourgée and His African American Alliance During the 1890s.”
Historian to Speak on the Ways in Which Travel Has Caused Cultures to Clash
University College London historian to give talk titled, “The Eye of the Other: Travel Writing and Travel Polemics in Eastern Europe from the 18th Century to the Present.”
W&L Emeritus Professor Holt Merchant to Focus on R.E. Lee and the Reconstruction
Lee Chapel and Museum presents “Remembering Robert E. Lee” with a speech by J. Holt Merchant ’61, professor of history emeritus, at Washington and Lee University on Oct. 10 at 12:15 p.m. in Lee Chapel Auditorium.
Over There: Kiffin Rockwell, W&L’s French Fighter Pilot
One hundred years ago this month, Sept. 23, 1916, a young man named Kiffin Rockwell became the first alumnus of Washington and Lee University to give his life during World War I — not as an American doughboy, as you might expect, but as a founding member of the French air squadron known as the Escadrille Americaine, or the Lafayette Escadrille.
Jack Warren of the Society of the Cincinnati to Deliver 2016 Hendricks Law and History Lecture
Warren, who also serves as the director of the Society's American Revolution Institute, will lecture on "The American Revolution and National Identity.”
Edward Ayers, University of Richmond Professor and President Emeritus, to Lecture on Civil War History and Digital Humanities
Dr. Edward L. Ayers, the Tucker-Boatwright Professor of the Humanities and president emeritus at the University of Richmond, will give a lecture at Washington and Lee University on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in Lee Chapel.
In Depth: International Immersion
Recipients of W&L's Certificate of International Immersion reflect on their experiences abroad.
Faculty Focus: Ted DeLaney
Associate Professor of History.
My W&L: Cory Church ’15
"W&L has given me the resources and experiences that I need to continue my intellectual, professional, and emotional growth outside of Lexington."
Interns at Work: Will Bartlett ’15
Mass communication and American history major Will Bartlett '15 interns for CBS News.
In Depth: Science, Society and the Arts
Michael Bronstein '15 and T.J. Fisher '15 study the evolution of the depiction of chaos in art and neuroscience.
My W&L: Alex Retzloff ’15
"W&L professors have a knack for making their students realize their true potential."
My W&L: Drew Carlos ’15
"W&L is more than just a school, and the professors are more than just educators."
My W&L: Kelly Douma ’16
"Friend groups are everywhere, traditions are most places, but the caring professors and impassioned students I have found in the German and History departments are one of a kind."
My W&L: Jinae Kennedy ’16
"One word can sum up my feelings about the last three years: Grateful."
Looking for older stories? See the complete History archive.
