History Department at Virginia Tech

08/25/2026

This summer, history major Grace Kostrzebski interned at Green Spring Gardens in Fairfax, Virginia, where she developed exhibit proposals, conducted historical research, and gained firsthand experience interpreting history for public audiences.

Among her projects was an exhibit proposal that used primary sources to help reconstruct the lives of 14 enslaved people named in a deed of manumission created by the patriarch of the home's original family. "It was really rewarding to work on this project and learn something new nearly every day."

Stay tuned as we share more about Grace's experience and highlight other students who spent the summer gaining hands-on experience through internships! ✨

08/21/2026

Kick off the new semester with us next week! 🎉 Join us in Major Williams room 407 for treats from local favorites throughout the week. All History Department students, faculty, and staff are welcome. 🧡

Schedule:
🥐 Monday, 8/24: Next Door Bake Shop (9:30 a.m.)
🍕 Tuesday, 8/25: Mellow Mushroom pizza (12 p.m.)
🧁 Wednesday, 8/26: Coconuts cupcakes (11 a.m.)
🥪 Thursday, 8/27: Panera sandwiches (12:15 p.m.)
🍪 Friday, 8/28: Insomnia Cookies (12:30 p.m.)

08/20/2026

Join us next Wednesday, August 26 at 7 p.m. at The Lyric Theater in Blacksburg for a free screening and discussion of Matewan, a film written and directed by John Sayles.

Matewan is a 1987 American historical drama that dramatizes the violent 1920 Battle of Matewan, a pivotal coal miners’ strike in West Virginia. The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2023.

Dr. John Hennen, a retired labor historian, will speak before the screening about the events depicted in the film, its historical accuracy, and its legacy.

Following the screening, Dr. Marian Mollin will moderate a Q&A panel featuring local labor historians and activists.

We hope to see you there!

08/19/2026

Meet Dominique Polanco, the final faculty member we're welcoming to the Department of History this semester!

Polanco's research explores Indigenous books and painted manuscripts from colonial Mexico, with a particular focus on documents created by Nahua artist-scribes in the 16th century.

Drawing on art history, Indigenous studies, Latin American studies, and book history, her work examines how these materials have been created, collected, copied, and interpreted across centuries. She is also co-editor of The Routledge Companion to Race in Early Modern Artistic, Material, and Visual Production.

Her scholarship and teaching make her a wonderful addition to our department!

Click here to learn more about Dr. Polanco: https://liberalarts.vt.edu/departments-and-schools/department-of-history/faculty/dominique-polanco.html

08/17/2026

Welcome to the Department of History, Matthew Gabriele! 😊

A professor of medieval history and an elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Gabriele explores the intersections of religion, violence, nostalgia, and apocalypse in both the European Middle Ages and the modern world.

His scholarship has reached audiences worldwide through books, media appearances, and public writing featured in outlets including The Washington Post, TIME, CNN, and Smithsonian Magazine. He has even appeared as an expert on the History Channel and NPR. Gabriele is the author of several books, including the forthcoming Violence: A Christian History.

We're thrilled to welcome him to our department this semester!

Click here to learn more about Dr. Gabriele: https://liberalarts.vt.edu/departments-and-schools/department-of-history/faculty/matthew-gabriele.html

08/13/2026

We're pleased to introduce Paula Seniors, one of our newest faculty members in the Department of History!

A professor of Africana Studies, Seniors' teaching and research explores ethnic and African American studies, African American and multi-racial radical movements, gender studies, and African American and multi-racial theater, film, and dance. Through her scholarship, she examines the histories, cultures, and movements that have shaped communities and social change.

We're excited to have her join us and contribute to the vibrant work happening across the department!

Click here to learn more about Dr. Seniors: https://liberalarts.vt.edu/departments-and-schools/department-of-history/faculty/paula-seniors.html

08/11/2026

Please join us in welcoming Shaily Patel, the first of four new faculty members joining the Department of History this semester! 🎉

An associate professor of early Christianity, Patel explores the complex ways in which ideas of magic shaped early Christian communities, beliefs, and texts. Her research challenges common assumptions about the ancient world and informs a wide range of courses on early Christianity, including the New Testament, Christian apocryphal texts, orthodoxy and heresy, and demonology and exorcism.

We're delighted to welcome her to our community of historians and students!

Click here to learn more about Dr. Patel: https://liberalarts.vt.edu/.../faculty/shaily-patel.html

08/07/2026

Tune in on Monday, August 10 at 8 p.m. to watch senior history major Macie Alford investigate a mysterious fire and uncover a deeper story about Appalachian history in "A Silent Fire." The documentary airs on PBS Appalachia Virginia and Blue Ridge PBS.

08/06/2026

Through the Bike 76 VA project, History professor Tom Ewing is helping uncover the stories behind U.S. Bicycle Route 76 and the Virginia communities along the way. Discover how public history helps us better understand the places we call home. 🚲

What if a bike ride could take you through Virginia’s history? 🚲

A Virginia Tech public history project is transforming U.S. Bicycle Route 76 into an immersive experience that connects cyclists and travelers with the stories, people, and communities that define the Commonwealth.

Through podcasts, digital maps, and local partnerships, researchers are preserving history while encouraging exploration.

Read the full story: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/08/outreach-cece-us-bike-route-76.html

07/17/2026

Welcome to the first issue of ECHO, the digital magazine of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. This edition celebrates the voices, journeys, and impact of our extraordinary community.