Unanticipated Limited Duties Advertisement - Summer 2012

The Department of History has posted an unanticipated Limited Duties teaching position for Summer Term 2012. The advertisement is available here.

 

In Memoriam - Professor Emeritus Frederick August Dreyer (1932-2012)

Professor Dreyer was born in Toronto 27 November 1932 and died in Kitchener at the Freeport Hospital on 20 January 2012. He attended Toronto schools and entered University College at the University of Toronto in 1950 as a scholarship student. He studied history, politics, some economics and languages and won the Canadian history prize in his graduating year. Fred become politically active in the CCF [now NDP], an enthusiasm that lasted throughout his undergraduate years. He remembered some of his instructors with admiration and fondness, including Donald Creighton. Others, such as C. B. Macpherson, he enjoyed less but said that Macpherson stimulated him to think. At Balliol College, Oxford, intending at first simply to do a second BA, he read history and took his degree in 1957. He then completed a Ph.D. under the supervision of Norman Gash at St Andrews in1962. For two years he taught history at Aberdeen University, then returned to St Andrews before coming to Western in 1964. Fred taught modern British and European history for many years and towards the end of his career gave a course in the history of Christianity. He was the author of two articles in Canadian history, more dealing with British politics, and others on Edmund Burke and John Wesley on whom he also published books: Burke’s Politics (1979) and The Genesis of Methodism (1999). A third volume on Ontario history, consisting of translated diaries of German Moravian missionaries amongst the Ojibwa in Southwestern Ontario, awaits publication. Fred was a man who liked arguments; every lecture contained at least one argument and ended with a clear conclusion. He was a fine teacher and colleague who served the Department as Graduate Chairman and sat in the University Senate. In his later years he was an active member of the Society for Academic Freedom and Scholarship. For more years Fred was active in the Conservative Party; as he aged he became more of a libertarian. His wife of many years, Elizabeth Joan Dreyer of New Liskeard, predeceased him in 2008. He is survived by the families of his daughter, Anne Dreyer of Horsham, England, and Edward Dreyer of Waterloo. Fred was always a polite and often a charming man full of clever, witty, perceptive and humorous perceptions. It was fun to be in his company. He was very special person and we shall all miss him a great deal.

 

Western Launches New Visual Presence

Western has adopted a new name and a new look.  Check it out at: 

http://communications.uwo.ca/brandnew/

Add/Drop for January

Please click here for a video link to a Social Science Academic Counsellor talking about adding and dropping a course. 

History Office Closure  

The History Department Office will be closed for the December holiday as of end of business December 23, 2011.  The Department will reopen on January 3, 2012.

History T-Shirt Design Contest

The History Department is looking for your design!  Click here for the poster. We are now accepting entries for the 2011-2012 History t-shirt design contest. Entries are due no later than Monday January 16th, 2012.

Professor Marta Dyczok

Professor Marta Dyczok co-organized and spoke at the Cambridge University Workshop, Independent Ukraine: 20 Years On. [MORE]

The 2011 History Department stair climbing team-"The Substantive Footnotes"

A team of 12 history department faculty, staff and students climbed over 472 stairs at the "So you think you can climb One London Place" stair climb fundraiser.  The team raised $563.00 for the United Way of London & Middlesex, on November 3rd.  Thanks to all who contributed.

Professor Marta Dyczok spoke at Harvard University symposium on Politics of Memory

Marta Dyczok organized and spoke at a Symposium her new research project on the Politics of Memory and Media at Harvard University on 30 November 2011. Also participating were one of Ukraine's top memory historians, Vladyslav Hrynevych and award winning journalist Andriy Kulykov. For details please see: http://www.huri.harvard.edu/calendar.html#2011_11_30

Congratulations to Professor Robert Wardhaugh

Prof. Robert Wardhaugh has taken over authorship of the best-selling Canadian history textbooks, Origins and Destinies.  Now in its seventh edition, Destinies:  Canadian History Since Confederation (Toronto: Nelson, 2011) has just been published.

Add/Drop for Undergraduate Students

Take a look at this video link for information on how to add/drop a course.

Take the Pledge to End Bullying

November 14 marks the beginning of Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.  This community initiative reflects the values that Western has been fostering for all faculty, staff and students since 2008, with the creation of the Safe Campus Community initiative.  [More]

History Holiday Food Drive

The Second Annual Great History Holiday Food Drive Challenge is set to begin next Monday, November 21 and last through to Friday, December 2.  Just like last year, this is a challenge issued to students in all History tutorials to bring in non-perishable food-items to help support the London Food Bank.  And just like last year, the tutorial which collects the most food during this challenge will win a pizza party that will be held during the last week of classes.

The London Food Bank is looking for canned fruits and vegetables, canned juice, dry pasta, rice, peanut butter, canned pork & beans, macaroni & cheese, soup, canned tuna/salmon and pasta sauce. 

Over the past year demands on the London Food Bank's resources have increased.  More families are forced to turn to the Food Bank more often.  Every month the Food Bank gives aid to an average of 3,000 families.  That is a number that only stands to increase.

Last year the History Department was able to collect over 200lbs of non-perishable food items.  We donated more food than several other departments combined.  This year we have a chance to beat our own record and lend even more of a hand to a much needed organization.

Prof. James Flath featured in 'Xinhuanet' (China's largest online news service)

Prof. James Flath was recently (Nov 11) featured in "Xinhuanet," China's largest online news service) for the return of an 80 year New Year print to its home town.  The original article can be viewed here.

Undergraduate History Award Winners

The students above were all smiles as they accepted their scholarships from the department of History.  The students were recognized for their high academic achievements.  For more information on the awards, please click here.