WashU History Department

10/12/2026

We're excited to welcome to our campus this week historian Carly Goodman, who is the author of Dreamland: America’s Immigration Lottery in an Age of Restriction (University of North Carolina Press, 2023). She is also an assistant professor in the Department of History at Rutgers University—Camden.

All are welcome to attend this lecture.
"Crisis," Uncertainty, and Immigration Restriction in the 1990s
Day, time, location: Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 1pm in the Goldberg Formal Lounge (located in the Danforth University Center).
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Learn more:
https://history.washu.edu/events/crisis-uncertainty-and-immigration-restriction-1990s

10/07/2026

Still deciding on a major? Thinking about adding a major or minor? Looking for undergraduate research opportunities?
Join the Department of History on Monday, October 12, for the Fall 2026 Major-Minor Fair.
Whether you’re undecided, considering a double major, or just exploring; please stop by!
⏰: Monday, October 12, 3-4:30 p.m.
📍: WashU Athletic Complex

Visit the link in the comment section of this post for more information.
https://history.washu.edu/events/fall-2026-major-minor-fair

09/16/2026

Join us to celebrate 100 years of the History PhD program at WashU!
Visit our website to learn more.
https://history.washu.edu/events/100-years-history-phd-program

100 years, generations of PhDs ❤️ 🏛️ 💚

This weekend, the WashU History Department will host a centennial celebration of its doctoral program featuring expert panels and alumni Q&As. The event will be streamed for those who cannot attend in person.

🔗 Learn more from WashU Arts & Sciences and register at the link in the comments.

08/31/2026

Coming up soon: The 2026 Freedman Fall Address. This year's lecture will be Thursday, September 3, 2026, featuring Peter Kastor, Samuel K. Eddy Professor of History at Washington University in St. Louis, presenting “The Long, Strange Trip to Trump: The Presidencies of Your Lifetime and the Road Ahead.” The event will be held in person at WashU’s West Campus in Clayton, with a Zoom option available.

Event details and registration: https://osher.wustl.edu/calendar_event/2026-freedman-fall-address/

08/18/2026

At this year's A&S History Open House, we invite new students to meet our faculty and students, explore the history major and minor, learn about Medical Humanities, discover overseas opportunities and research initiatives; finally, cool off with some ice cream! 🍦

📅 Tuesday, August 18, 2026
10:00 - 11:30 AM
Olin Library (Olin 142, near north entrance)
Ice cream will be provided
🎡 Try our prize wheel to win prizes such as Fitz's Root B**r gift cards
Learn more about:
- Courses in History / Medical Humanities
- Missouri Historical Society
- Study Abroad
- John M. Olin Library
- We’re Making History! and Living History Scholars
- Phi Alpha Theta Honorary
- Gateway History Journal
- Becker Medical Library

Learn More: https://history.washu.edu/events/arts-sciences-open-house-fall-2026

07/21/2026

Congratulations to Kim Lacey, who has been awarded a 2026 Research Grant from the American Historical Association:
The Bernadotte Schmitt Grant!

Kim Lacey, who recently defended her dissertation in the History PhD Program, will be using the grant to further her research and to strengthen the early chapters of her book manuscript.

https://history.washu.edu/news/kim-lacey-awarded-bernadotte-e-schmitt-grant-0

07/19/2026

Ben Wexler, graduate student in History, recently published a paper in the journal Naharaim, published by Franz Rosenzweig Minerva Research Center, HUJI.

In this piece, he offers a compelling look at Charlotte Salomon’s "Leben? oder Theatre?", exploring themes of mimetic violence and sacred performance in her semi-autobiographical masterpiece.

Read on to learn more about Ben Wexler's research process for this piece:
https://history.washu.edu/news/ben-wexler-publishes-article-naharaim

07/17/2026

Even during the summer, our WashU History community continues to make headlines.

Nicole Spangler, a rising senior studying classics and history in WashU Arts & Sciences, received a prestigious Beinecke Scholarship, becoming the first WashU student to win that honor since 2014.

Read more here:
https://history.washu.edu/news/rising-senior-nicole-spangler-awarded-beinecke-scholarship

07/01/2026

"WashU Expert: Why Did the Colonies Declare Independence?"

Learn about this topic from Peter Kastor, professor of history and American Culture Studies in WashU Arts & Sciences, in this Q&A:
https://source.washu.edu/2026/06/washu-expert-why-did-the-colonies-declare-independence/

06/16/2026

Lee Morrison, a graduate student in History at WashU, has been selected as one of six fellows for the WashU Center for the Humanities' semester-long residency during the 2026–27 academic year. Congratulations!!

Learn more:
https://history.washu.edu/news/lee-morrison-selected-2026-27-graduate-student-fellow