The Department of History at ODU offers comprehensive Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in History
05/15/2026
Come check out the HIST 396: Topics in Today's Public History class's exhibit "Delenda est Norfolk: The Tidewater Revolts" commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence! This student-created exhibit explores the Tidewater's Revolutionary Era resistance to British authority. Discover the many ways Virginians shaped the struggle for American independence. The exhibit is on display in Perry Library until July 6, 2026.
05/12/2026
Congratulations to Dr. Elizabeth Fretwell on receiving the College of Arts and Letters Robert L. Stern Award for Excellence in Teaching!!
04/17/2026
Graduating?? Come celebrate with us this afternoon and receive a cord to wear at graduation!!
04/16/2026
04/13/2026
03/25/2026
Congratulations to Dr. Elizabeth Fretwell on the publication of her book!
Tailoring Identities reveals the rich history behind the gendered and occupational identities of Benin's craftspeople and how their mastery over the material world positioned them as experts in style and sartorial meaning. Drawing on archival records from Benin, the United States, France, and Senegal and connecting them with oral histories, local material archives, and insights from her own apprenticeship with a Beninois master seamstress, Elizabeth Ann Fretwell demonstrates how West African tailors became important technological and cultural agents.