History Tutorial
theme: Student Life at Wesleyan
email wesunity@wesleyan.edu for more information


Students Fall '99
Adam Hurter
Roger Smith
Scott Mayerowitz

Philip Gentry

Benjamin Wyatt-Greene
Khamenec Pantin

Course
Requirements
Research paper - 15+ page
Summary essay
bi-weekly class
publish on web

 

Tutorial focus:
Is there an aspect of student life at Wesleyan that you find particularly interesting and want to understand it in a historical context?  Are you involved in campus organizations which were created to fill some social or political need?  This tutorial is your opportunity to do independent archival research on any aspect of Wesleyan or Middletown of interest to you and other Wesleyan Students.

Why this tutorial was created:
Student leaders at Wesleyan are hampered by their ignorance of Wesleyan's history. Student groups rarely document information about their activities, successes, failures, and allies, leaving future group members to rediscover the information they need to organize a successful campaign. As many activist groups deal with complex, long-term issues, they would benefit both from an understanding of the origin and context of the problem, and what has been done in the past to remedy it.

Working with Professors Johnston and Vann of the History department,and the University Archivists, Roger Smith has organized a history tutorial on the history of student life at Wesleyan for the fall of 1999.  It will be offered again this spring with new student and professors.

Each student will make extensive use of primary sources including archival materials, oral interviews, WSA records, and news stories in the writing of a 12 page minimum research paper.  Additionally, every member of the tutorial will make a presentation based on their findings to a relevant student group.

The latest issue of the alumni magazine had several paragraphs about this course, as one of the goals of the tutorial is to return documents and photographs about student groups from alumni to the university archives. Another goal is to give a meaningful context to the holdings of the archives.

The research coming out of this course will be stored in the archives, made available on the web, and some article-length excerpts will be printed in the Hermes.  It's time to improve Wesleyan's memory.

How to join the course for Spring '00:
Email wesunity@wesleyan.edu with the following information: name/wesid/class year/proposed research area. You DO NOT JOIN this course during online registration.  Not sure if your topic is feasible?  Don't wait 'till spring!  Drop by Special Collections and Archives on the first floor of Olin (past security desk, to right, near stairways) from 1:30-5 M-F.   The University Archivists will gladly guide you to available materials. 

Feel free to contact us!


back to WESUNITY

Faculty advisers Fall '99
Prof. Johnston
Prof. Vann

University Archivists
Jeffrey Makala
Suzy Taraba

Interested
faculty/administrators
Dean Hill
Prof. Comstock

Current Topics Fall 1999
E3
Long Lane
UJAMAA/X House
Apartheid movement
Queer Communities at Wesleyan
Mystical 7
Students for a Free Tibet

A Few Shipping Tips:

  • Photos, papers, and other flat materials: place them between two sheets of sturdy cardboard

  • Buttons, T-shirts, and other small items: use a bubble pack envelope

  • Large items, fragile items, or if you have questions: contact SC&A (below)

  • Send items via regular  mail or UPS to:
    Special Collections & Archives, Attn: Suzy Taraba, Olin Memorial Library, Wesleyan University, 252 Church Street, Middletown CT 06459-0108.

SC&A contact:
Suzy Taraba, University Archivist and Head of Special Collections
(860) 685-3375; staraba@wesleyan.edu