Saint Vincent College - History Department

08/27/2026

Looks like it was the summer for Bearcats to visit England! Dr. Gil Bogner traveled with his family in May. Dr. Bogner is pictured in front of Rochester Castle, which he explains is "where King John famously caused the original towers to collapse by undermining them during his siege of 1215." Of course, a music fan can't skip Abbey Road! You'll see him crossing it in the second photo. Finally, Dr. Bogner's wife, Elyse, and his son, Harry, strolled with him through the peaceful cloisters of Salisbury Cathedral. We're happy the Bogners returned to Saint Vincent considering how fun their summer was!

08/24/2026

This summer Dr. Elizabeth Baker traveled through the East Coast for work and pleasure. She spent time at Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library to study Anglo-American transatlantic reform associations. Dr. Baker visited President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park, NY, and President Theodore Roosevelt’s house in Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY. A trip to Mystic Seaport in Connecticut allowed her to see the only surviving wooden whaler left in the United States.

08/13/2026

Faculty and students have been busy this summer! Dr. Emily Arledge, C'15, led student researchers as they worked together to understand the lives of enslaved men and women in Westmoreland County.

Members of the SVC Department of Education used this research to design curriculum for local high school classrooms. You can learn more by attending the Boundaries of Freedom Symposium in November. This work was made possible through a generous grant.

Saint Vincent College and Westmoreland Historical Society receive a $15,000 CIC grant for “Boundaries of Freedom” mapping unfree labor in PA.

08/04/2026

Where in the world does research take Bearcat historians? For Jack Quinn, C'27, it took him to London over the summer to work on his senior thesis. Students like Jack benefit from the research funding opportunities available through Saint Vincent.

07/01/2026

Registration is ongoing for the Boundaries of Freedom Symposium. Drawing on student and faculty research, this symposium will introduce attendees to new resources about the history of slavery in Westmoreland County. Our keynote speaker will be Alonna J. Carter, the Associate Curator of the Museum of African American History at the Senator John Heinz History Center. Please consider joining us!

06/17/2026

Curious to learn more about local history? Surprised to discover that slaveholding existed in Westmoreland County? Members of the History and Education Departments are working hard this summer to prepare for the Boundaries of Freedom Symposium in November. Keep an eye out for more information in the coming months. We hope to see you there!

📚🔍 Calling all Social Studies Teachers, Historians, Museum Professionals, and History Enthusiasts!

Join us for the Boundaries of Freedom Symposium on November 4, 2026, at Saint Vincent College as we explore the often-overlooked histories of slavery, freedom, resistance, and abolition in Western Pennsylvania. Discover new research, classroom-ready resources, digital archives, and local stories that can enrich teaching, scholarship, and public history initiatives.

Free registration thanks to a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges. Come learn, connect, and help bring these important stories to light.

📅 November 4, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
📍 Fred Rogers Center, Saint Vincent College

https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fboundariesoffreedomsvc.weebly.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ctracy.mcnelly%40stvincent.edu%7C21a707577e9046f42f4508decad6f837%7C57cc97f0039b48f480a1f40341889c0b%7C0%7C0%7C639171221776840728%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3IwdfcPxMXDVMTiGjbfJ1NmcDtVAdQz1uK4SnYVkX5g%3D&reserved=0

05/26/2026

Wow, it's still hard to believe our seniors graduated earlier this month! Congratulations to Brayden Boggs, Joel Brooks, Laura Heinzeroth, Isabella Jolly, Nicholas Matro, Joseph Meintel, and Caleb Spillar.

05/11/2026

As an incoming freshman student, Jack Quinn was first undecided on his area of study despite always having a strong interest in history. Along the way, he enrolled in Peace and Justice in Historical Perspective, a history class instructed by Dr. Timothy Kelly, chair of the Department of History housed in AHSS, and was hooked.

Learn more about Jack's experience presenting at the 2026 American Historical Association's Annual Meeting.

Saint Vincent College junior Jack Quinn presents his research on music's role in the Vietnam War era at the annual meeting of the American Historical Association.

05/04/2026

Isabella Jolly, C'26, is pictured here with Father Paul Taylor, President of Saint Vincent College, as she received the Award for Academic Excellence in History at the Honors Convocation. Ms. Jolly is a history major with minors in anthropology and public history. She will pursue graduate school for anthropology after graduation. Congratulations to Isabella!

04/24/2026

On Wednesday, the Saint Vincent College Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta inducted its newest members and honored its graduating seniors. Congratulations!