Indiana State University History Department

06/05/2026

Prof. James Gustafson recently returned from Uzbekistan, where he conducted research for a book project examining the history of water use in Central Asia, one of the world's most ecologically vulnerable regions. During his trip he interviewed farmers, orchardists, feed mill owners, and seasonal workers to better understand how drought and climate change are affecting communities across the region. The research was made possible through the Steve Zink History Faculty Development Fund, established through the generosity of Indiana State alumnus Steve Zink (Class of 1974) and his wife, Lois. Opportunities like these allow faculty to remain active scholars in their fields while bringing current research, global perspectives, and real-world experience back to the classroom. Dr. Gustafson's work reflects the important role faculty research plays in advancing knowledge and enriching student learning at Indiana State. Way to go, James, and thank you again, Steve and Lois!

04/30/2026

We had a great senior send-off dinner at the Terminal Pub last night. A very nice opportunity for students and faculty to reflect upon the past few years, and to enjoy some fun and fellowship at the end of a busy semester. Congratulations, History and Social Studies Education graduates of 2026, and best wishes for the future!

04/29/2026

It's awards season, and the History Department has a lot to celebrate! Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are able to award over $16,000 in merit-based academic scholarships to History, AFRI, and Social Science Education students. In addition, Debs Graduate Fellowships provide up to $20,000, and the Senior-Dauer Fund supports study-abroad experiences totaling up to $25,000 each year, thereby conveying over $60,000 in annual aid to students. Several of our graduating seniors, both majors and minors, also earned Latin honors and university medallions. Congratulations!

04/27/2026

Two of our students, Jacob Harmon and Corbyn Irwin (both double-majoring in History and Political Science) had the opportunity to take part in a Sustainable Cities research project supervised by Prof. Nathan Myers of the Indiana State University - Political Science Department this semester. They presented their findings at a public forum last week at the Vigo County Public Library, and also had the chance to share their insights on local media. Thank you, Dr. Myers, and congratulations to Corbyn and Jacob!

ISU students' community research project presentation

04/26/2026

Special thanks to Tommy Kleckner of Indiana Landmarks, who kindly led our History Club on a great walking tour of downtown Terre Haute last Thursday. We learned a ton about the architectural and commercial history of Wabash and Ohio Avenues and, of course, about the vital importance of historic preservation, rehabilitation, and repurposing of the magnificent buildings that remain. Especially thrilling was the opportunity to tour the First National Bank building on Wabash. Wow. Thank you, Tommy!

04/25/2026

Hats off to our graduating HIST 400 Capstone students, Courtney Buman, Deylan Fox-Boone, James Leriger, Jacob Burke, Jacob Kyle, Jill Schmidt, and Jacob Harmon, who did a great job presenting their research findings on the history of Terre Haute's Jewish community at the Vigo County History Center this evening. Special thanks to their guide, Prof. Anne Foster, and to Curator Suzy Dunning and Executive Director Marla Flowers for their steadfast partnership. Drawing upon a wide range of sources, the students created a new section of the "Origins" exhibit, so next time you're at the History Center, be sure to check it out!

04/21/2026

Our graduating seniors will present their capstone project on the history of Terre Haute's Jewish community this Friday, April 24 at 5:30pm at the Vigo County History Center. All are welcome! Special thanks to the dedicated staff and volunteers at the History Center for making this such a great professionalizing experience for our students, and to Prof. Anne Foster for her expert stewardship of the HIST 400 capstone course.

04/20/2026

We had a fantastic visit with Sandy Senior-Dauer (B.S. Social Studies, 1968; M.S. History, 1969) and Keith Dauer last week! How joyful it was for students to get to know them better, and for our faculty to catch up with these dear friends of the History Department. It’s a great time to reflect upon the transformational impact their study-abroad fund has had and will continue to have, not only through the award specifically sponsoring students from the History, African and African American Studies, and Social Studies Education (SSE) programs, but now also the additional scholarship benefiting students from across the College of Arts and Sciences. Just think of it: in the past five years, no less than 53 students from History, AFRI, and SSE have had life-changing travel experiences in Ghana, Greece, South Africa, Paraguay, South Korea, Italy, England, Vietnam, Ireland, Costa Rica, Scotland, and Botswana thanks to Sandy and Keith’s generosity. Amazing. Thank you, Sandy and Keith!

04/18/2026

We need historians not just to understand the past, but to shape what comes next.

Historical thinking helps us ask better questions, evaluate evidence, and make informed decisions about the future.

As we look ahead, the work of historians remains essential to public life, education, and a thriving democracy.

What should we better understand about the past as we think about the future?

12/17/2025

The AFRI Program and the Department of History extend our heartfelt condolences to the Brown Family. Charlie was a stalwart supporter of our programs over the course of his long and distinguished career, and made a huge difference in the lives of countless students. He will be missed.