History News

History post-doc Cathryn Spence has been studying the Scottish burgh records (essentially town records) from 1560 to the mid-1600s with a focus on court cases involving debt and credit. She found that about one-third of the cases involved married women, sometimes with their husbands, but sometimes on their own. “I think that shows us that at any time in history, people’s lives are not as cut and dried as the laws might suggest,” says Spence. “Life is a bit more complicated.”
read the rest of the story @guelph

History professor Stuart McCook, the associate dean of research and graduate studies in the College of Arts, will be on CTV’s popular morning news show Canada AM Friday at 8:05 a.m. discussing coffee rust, which has caused more than $1 billion in damage across Latin America. McCook is conducting a 150-year history of coffee and its relationship with coffee rust, work that has taken him to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and Venezuela. He also writes a blog about coffee and its history. (from @Guelph)

This past Thursday night our own Dr. Jacqueline Murray was named a Woman of Distinction. She received the education and training award. As a history professor and director of the first-year seminar program on campus, the award recognizes her creativity and innovation in teaching, and for being a mentor and role model for students.

Congratulations from all of us!

Read more @guelph

The Nazis are remembered for their brutality and cruelty, so it is surprising to many that when the party was in power it also passed laws to protect animals. Matthew Piper, who recently graduated from U of G with a Master’s Degree in history, became intrigued by these apparent contradictions and made them the focus of his thesis. He successfully defended in January.

read the rest of the story @Guelph

Adjunct Professor, Dr. Susan Armstrong-Reid has completed new book on the life and work of Canada’s foremost international nurse, Lyle Creelman: The Frontiers of Global Nursing. Creelman parlayed her experience as a community health nurse in British Columbia into significant international appointments, including Chief Nursing Officer of the World Health Organization (WHO). The book is published by University of Toronto Press. Congratulations from all of us!

Professor Emeritus, Dr. Richard Reid has completed new book on the African Canadians who volunteered to fight during the American Civil War: African Canadians in Union Blue: Volunteering for the Cause in America's Civil War. The book is published by University of British Columbia Press this May. Congratulations from all of us!

Our own Dr. Ian Mosby tells us he has officially achieved the dubious distinction of having one of his family recipes featured on the well-known Caker Cooking Blog. The dish in question: the "glistening, jiggling and milky-green caker classic,” Lime Cheese Salad (see photo!). The blog celebrates Canadian cuisine constructed of convenience foods and homey ingredients. Bon Appétit!

This year's College Royal will be featuring 7 display cases dedicated to showing 90 years of the history of College Royal, put together by some of our agricultural history students. The launch and display will be on Monday, March 10th, at 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. in McLaughlin Library, Academic Town Square (by William's coffee). See you there! Get the flyer .pdf

A University of Guelph history professor and director of Guelph’s first-year seminars program has been awarded a 2014 3M National Teaching Fellowship, considered Canada’s top teaching honour. Jacqueline Murray is U of G’s 15th 3M Fellow. Sponsored by 3M Canada and the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE), the awards recognize exceptional contributions to teaching and learning.  ...
Read the rest of the story @Guelph

Thanks again to editor Dr. Femi Kolapo (and everyone who contributed to our very productive Fall semester) the January 2014 edition of the Newsletter of the Department is now available!