History

Bestselling author Jeff Benedict ’91 presents ‘The Dynasty’ to his alma mater
Benedict gives master class on storytelling

Jeff Benedict ‘91 visited Eastern Connecticut State University on March 5 to discuss “The Dynasty,” his nonfiction book-turned-television docuseries about the New England...

Posted on March 06, 2024 by Noel Teter

Warriors transcribe Black history at Douglass Day

This year’s Douglass Day Transcribe-a-Thon at Eastern Connecticut State University gave students, faculty and staff the opportunity to celebrate Black History month by transcribing historical...

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Elisabeth Craig

Kirchmann publishes 'Polish American Voices'
Book recounts 400 years of Polish immigrant history

Professor Emerita Anna Jaroszyńska-Kirchmann's new book, “Polish American Voices: A Documentary History, 1608-2020," compiles 145 documents of Polish American immigrants and...

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Elisabeth Craig

3 ECSU Foundation gifts benefit history center, career services, STEP/CAP

Three programs at Eastern Connecticut State University — in Connecticut history, career services and summer transition — will benefit from recent gifts to the ECSU Foundation.

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Eastern undergrads present research at liberal arts conference

Eastern represents at regional liberal arts conference

Fifteen Eastern Connecticut State University students made the long drive to Mahwah, NJ, on Oct. 27 to present their research on topics ranging from history to coding. The presentations at the...

Posted on November 07, 2023 by Marcus Grant

Honors history students present at New England conference

The education of children in Japanese American relocation camps in the United States during World War II, and the threats posed to democracy by corporate interests near the turn of the 20th...

Posted on November 02, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Carenen gives history lesson on Arab-Israeli conflict

History Professor Caitlin Carenen presented on the historical context of the Israel-Hamas War during a heavily attended “flash talk” on Oct. 18 in the Science Building. Carenen...

Posted on October 24, 2023 by Michael Rouleau

More high school students earn credits at Eastern with dual enrollment

A growing number of high school students in Connecticut are enrolling in courses that can earn credits at Eastern Connecticut State University under a dual enrollment program that recently received...

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

History majors uncover lost relics in Willimantic Town Hall

Eastern history majors and members of the History Club uncovered centuries worth of historical documents in the top floors of the Willimantic Town Hall at the conclusion of the spring 2023 semester.

Posted on October 04, 2023 by Elisabeth Craig

Teaching a book’s history reveals another story
Emily Todd co-edits collection of essays

Emily Todd, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, has always been drawn to studying literature and history. She has combined the two interests in her new book, “Teaching the History of the...

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

History professor writes about New York City as the nation’s early capital

New York City’s brief tenure as the nation’s capital is the subject of an article by Thomas Balcerski, associate professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University, in the new...

Posted on June 01, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

2 professors win Board of Regents awards for teaching, research

Two Eastern Connecticut State University faculty were recognized for excellence in teaching and research by the Connecticut Board of Regents in its annual faculty awards.

Posted on May 30, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

History website shows what Willimantic was like in 1910

The second phase of “Digital Windham,” a website created by historians at Eastern Connecticut State University went live on May 4 with new exhibits exploring what Willimantic was like...

Posted on May 16, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Internships lend real-world experience in spring 2023

Nearly 100 Eastern Connecticut State University students completed internships in the spring 2023 semester. Students explored a variety of opportunities on and off campus that related to their...

Posted on May 01, 2023 by Molly Boucher

Eastern hosts 'Humans and the Environment' symposium

Four Connecticut-based scholars described the ecological impacts and anthropogenic changes that humanity has had on the environment at a symposium at Eastern Connecticut State University on March 24.

Posted on April 05, 2023 by Jack Jones

Eastern hosts Douglass Day 'Transcribe-a-Thon'

Most people are likely to recognize Feb. 14 as Valentine’s Day. However, there is another occasion to be celebrated on this date: the birth of civil rights and anti-slavery activist Frederick...

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Noel Teter

Eastern history professor presents on legendary Virginia witch

For centuries, stories have been told around Halloween in the Virginia Beach area about the mysterious and mischievous Grace Sherwood, the “Witch of Pungo.” Eastern Connecticut State...

Posted on November 07, 2022 by Noel Teter

Elizabeth Bartoshevich completes her digital history project.

2 summer research fellows study digital history and computational chemistry

Two Eastern students spent their summer’s completing research fellowships under close faculty mentorship. Senior History major Elizabeth Bartoshevich continued a digital history project...

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

3 student papers awarded by Latin American and Caribbean Studies program
Papers investigate immigration and sexual diversity

The Latin American and Caribbean Studies program recognized three students in its 2022 annual Student Paper Awards. History major Max Turner ’22 won the top prize, whereas Sociology major...

Posted on July 26, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

Campus Briefs
Commissioner's Cup | 'Book of Queer' | College of Distinction

Eastern wins 5th consecutive Commissioner’s Cup; Eastern named a 2022-23 College of Distinction; Eastern names 2 permanent deans; Student wins NAACP scholarship; Historian Tom Balcerski...

Posted on June 17, 2022

Historian Tom Balcerski appears in ‘The Book of Queer’

Thomas Balcerski, professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University, appeared in the first episode of the Discovery+ mini-series “The Book of Queer,” premiering throughout...

Posted on June 08, 2022

History Department presents ‘Digital Windham’
Project captures Windham’s history online

The History Department at Eastern Connecticut State University hosted its grand opening presentation of “Digital Windham” on May 4 in Webb Hall. Digital Windham is the flagship project...

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Michael Rouleau

Students reflect on spring 2022 internships

Eastern Connecticut State University students participated in both on-campus and off-campus internships during the spring 2022 semester. Internship locations ranged from Eastern’s Office of...

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Jacob Blain and Bobbi Brown

Abigail Donaghy in the show, the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Abigail Donaghy, an actress on the rise
Eastern student balances school with show business

Abigail Donaghy was 13 years old when her father brought her to an open audition in New York City that forever changed her life. Today, at 21, she is a full-time Eastern student who is managing a...

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Molly Boucher

Student's research grant funds tobacco history documentary project

Eastern Connecticut State University sophomore Eugene Bertrand was awarded an Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Project Grant by Eastern’s Provost and Undergraduate Research...

Posted on March 29, 2022 by Bobbi Brown

Understanding the war in Ukraine
Professors Moore and Carenen lend historical perspective

Two faculty members from the Department of History at Eastern Connecticut State University provided historical context on the war in Ukraine in a flash talk presentation on March 2. Professor Scott...

Posted on March 03, 2022 by Michael Rouleau

Campus Briefs

Sierra Club names Eastern a 'Cool School’; Eastern partners in AAC&U-sponsored open educational resources project; Big Read kicks off in October with program centered around...

Posted on September 27, 2021

Balcerski’s presidential presentations reach audiences nationwide

Thomas Balcerski, associate professor of history at Eastern, is a highly acclaimed presidential historian, CNN contributor and author of “Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan...

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern students teach of The Amistad’s journey to freedom
Partnership with Discovering Amistad serves Hartford-area middle, high schoolers

Eight students from Eastern Connecticut State University are working with Discovering Amistad this September and October, teaching Hartford-area middle and high school students about the famed...

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Michael Rouleau