Illinois College history students presented at annual NCUR conference

8.20.2024

Six history students presented research they had conducted in their senior capstone course at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Long Beach, CA on April 8 - 10.

NCUR is an annual conference that allows undergraduate students to gain experience in presenting their research. Due to COVID-19, many of the last few meetings were virtual. This year, the conference was hosted in Long Beach, CA.

As part of the history major requirement, students are required to take a two-semester senior capstone course. Robert Kunath, William and Charlotte Gardner professor of history, encouraged the students to submit their research for the conference.

"The aim of the two-part seminar is to help students formulate research questions and produce a publishable piece of work," Kunath explains, "The project also encourages students to work with faculty from other disciplines outside of the history department."

Brock Neel '24 was placed in the poster presentation session at NCUR. He presented a poster that detailed aspects of his research into the historical controversy over the alleged negotiations between representatives of Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign and the government of Iran during the final months of the 1980 election. Neel carefully worked through key primary and secondary sources to argue that there were likely such negotiations and that they resulted in delaying the release of the US hostages held in Iran.

The other five students made oral presentations:

Shawn Oderio '24 presented his research into the Pullman National Historical Park in Chicago, which combines coverage of the innovative urban design of the Pullman factory and workers' community with commemoration of the 1894 strike and boycott and of the formation of the first labor union for black Americans, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Oderio argued that the site could do more to communicate the importance of the 1894 strike as a crucial moment in American labor history.

Kellen Peterson '24 presented his research into the understanding of masculinity and violence in American society in the early 1800s. He focused especially on the culture of dueling and Andrew Jackson's involvement in several duels early in his life, and noted parallels to contemporary portrayals of violence in American society.

Emily Pursley '24 presented her research that offered new historical interpretations of the New Philadelphia National Park, which marks the site of the first town platted and registered by an African-American (and former slave), Frank McWhorter. She has done extensive research on New Philadelphia for several years, and her Senior Capstone essay received the IC History program's Kirkman Prize for best history paper written this year.

Isaac Schreacke '24 presented his research on the effectiveness of the war propaganda films produced by the German government during World War I. Schreacke's research included two summers of faculty-student research with retiring professor of global studies in German Bernd Estabrook, in which he examined hundreds of short German films produced during the war. He argued that though German film propaganda was not very successful, creating it laid the foundation for the post-war German film industry.

Mackenzie Strong '24 presented her research on the origins of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), focusing especially on the importance of the news coverage in the 1960s and 1970s of abuses and maltreatment of disabled persons in the Willowbrook State School in New York. Strong argued that the coverage of Willowbrook contributed significantly to the climate of opinion that led to the passage of the ADA.

In addition to presenting their own research, the students were able to learn about other research undergraduates are completing across the country. They also had the opportunity to network with representatives of graduate schools and government agencies, allowing them to better understand the scope of professional options they have upon graduation.

Strong notes that the opportunity to present her research at NCUR is a highlight of her time at IC. "One of my most memorable experiences on campus was writing a 30-page paper for my history capstone under Professor Kunath," Strong explains, "Six of us were accepted to present our research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Long Beach, California. The entire trip was funded, and it was an incredible opportunity to meet grad schools, connect with other college students from all over the country, and learn from different fields. What made it even more special was getting to know classmates I hadn't connected with before due to COVID. It was a fantastic experience, both academically and personally."

Though Kunath was the professor to first encourage students to apply, the participation and organization of attending NCUR was a department-wide effort. Dane Wendell, associate professor of political science, worked meticulously to secure funding for the student participants. Jenny Barker-Devine, professor of history, attended the conference with the students and had a profound reaction to watching them present their research.

"These students arrived on campus in fall 2020 at the height of the pandemic," Barker-Devine says, "We were all so concerned about the class of 2024, from the very beginning. What's college going to be like for them? How are we going to help them move forward and get the experiences that they need? When I was watching them present, it just struck me. Look how far they've come."

To learn more about the history major at IC, visit ic.edu/history