Annual Newsletter 2007_Full.pdf - Department of History, UC Berkeley

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with funds from our friends. The history major still is (we hope always will be) distinguished by the lauded (and sometimesterrifying) requirement of a senior thesis (History 101), which must be based on research in primary sources. Dozens of ourmajors travel every year to research sites to expand the sources and the experiences vital to original work. Here we offer ataste of what they do. This section will expand considerably in future newsletters.Permit me to insert a word about daily life on the ground. I am delighted to mention that our departmental library (stockedwith titles relevant to the oral qualifying examinations) is now open all day everyday to graduate students (via key-card). Thisdevelopment falls in my own mind under "superior housekeeping," a group of initiatives spear-headed by our terrificManager, Linda Finch Hicks, and my extraordinary predecessor as chair, Professor David Hollinger. Through (again) acombination of generous gifts and thoughtful stewardship, they have worked toward real environmental improvement--notjust library improvement but painting, carpeting, redesign, and excellent signage throughout our public spaces. We replacecomputers. We serve good food and reasonable drink at significant gatherings. We buy flowers. Nothing cushy. But many ofus do feel a lift of spirit in spaces now better fitted to the dignified mission of the university. One person with a fastidious eyedaily on our physical arrangements is Deborah Kerlegon, Assistant to the Chair, who is profiled in this newsletter by theredoubtable Victor Rotenberg. I couldn't do my job without her.On the subject of physical space, I must shout with joy about the C.V. Starr East Asian Library, which was dedicated onOctober 12 and will be opened to the public this coming March. (Click "News and Events" on the departmental home pageto find an article about the library by Professor David Johnson.) Many members of our department have worked for manyyears to make this dream real. The first purpose-built, free-standing building in the United States dedicated to an East Asiancollection, it is also a transforming space (especially inside) that just ennobles anyone who enters. The architects (ToddWilliams and Billie Tsien), the driving force (former Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien), the planners, the prescient donors--all havedone something magnificent.You will find a list of the many generous donors to the department this year later in this newsletter. To provide an occasion tothank and exchange further news with them, as well as all our friends and alumni, we have scheduled a cocktail reception atthe Women's Faculty Club between 5:30 and 7:30 on February 22. Tom Laqueur will give a talk (focusing on undergraduateeducation) and we expect to introduce some of our colleagues currently leading campus units. There are, as usual, quite a lotof them. Jon Gjerde is dean of the Division of Social Sciences, Carla Hesse is chair of the Budget Committee, CathrynCarson is Director of the Office for the History of Science and Technology, John Efron is director of the Institute forEuropean Studies, Yuri Slezkine is Chair of the Center for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies, Wen-hsin Yeh isDirector of the Institute for East Asian Studies, and Peter Zinoman is chair of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies.Another reception will take place on Cal Day (April 12), following the now traditionalpanel of history faculty talking about "History in the Movies." We shall mail you noticeof both events well in advance.I close with thanks to the people who have helped produce this newsletter--AndrewKeating above all (our Webmaster and a graduate student in British History),Stephanie Krol, Linda Finch Hicks, and Deborah Kerlegon.All warm regards,Beth Berry, Chair
Friends of Cal History Annual Newsletter 2007Homework by Our New FacultyWe are delighted to welcome three new colleagues to the faculty. Mark Peterson (formerly on the faculty of the University ofIowa) joined us this fall, Ethan Shagan (formerly on the faculty at Northwestern) and Jonathan Sheehan (formerly on thefaculty of the University of Michigan) join us in the spring semester. We set them the beloved essay topic "What I Did duringMy Summer Vacation" as a framework for introducing themselves. Ethan bailed out and chose his own topic. We may dockhis grade."What I Did During My Summer Vacation,"by Mark Peterson, Associate Professor, Colonial American History"Relating to Britain,"by Ethan Shagan, Associate Professor, Early Modern European History"What I Did During My Summer Vacation,"by Jonathan Sheehan, Associate Professor, Early Modern European History
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Page 7 and 8: That fall, when we returned to Iowa
Page 18 and 19: I have been on leave this year, fin
Page 20 and 21: République!David HollingerIn June
Page 22 and 23: 2. a chapter: "Democratic Theory an
Page 26 and 27: several of the interviews I had pla
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Page 34 and 35: Miroslava JakovljevichDavid Kettner
Page 36 and 37: Yuri SlezkineJonathan D. SpenceAnna
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