A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Professor of Middle Eastern History Nabil Al-Tikriti
On 27 March 2022, Middle East History Professor Nabil Al-Tikriti discussed the historical and politcal background to the Ukraine crisis for the Global Learning Council (GLC) at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Wichita, Kansas, via Zoom, and together with Prof. John Dreifort of Wichita State University. In the course of his presentation, Prof. Al-Tikriti walked the audience of roughly 40 GLC members through the various historical arguments in evidence thus far in the conflict betweeen Russia and Ukraine, and the evidence supporting various claims put forth. Al-Tikriti has observed elections in Ukraine in 2004 (Nikopol), 2014 (Lviv), and 2019 (Berdyansk), and has thus traveled throughout much of Ukraine and observed Ukrainian politics.
Anyone interested in screening the presentation, as well as the Q&A from the audience, can view the event recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFkYhOABkGM.
We are pleased to announce that the University of Mary Washington will host the third meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Ottomanist Workshop on April 1-2, 2022. This workshop, co-sponsored by the Harrison R. Tyler Department of History at the College of William & Mary, will provide an opportunity for scholars of Ottoman studies to gather, discuss their research, and receive substantive feedback. This initiative aims to bring together scholars of all stages based in the mid-Atlantic region who are working to advance the study of the Ottoman Empire and its interactions with the wider world from the late 13th century through the early 20th century. See the event schedule here.
The theme of the 2022 workshop will be “Continuity and Change Throughout the Ottoman Longue Durée.” We hope to promote interdisciplinary dialogue among academics whose scholarship is focused on transregional and transimperial connections, situating the Ottoman Empire and its study within broader discussions. Works in progress are specifically welcomed.
Logistics: The conference will be held in a hybrid format at the Digital Auditorium, Hurley Convergence Center (HCC), at the University of Mary Washington, in Fredericksburg, VA. The HCC address is: 1801 College Ave, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Workshop webpage: https://maow.umwblogs.org/
Zoom Registration: https://umw-sso.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqfuuqqzMjHtc0XVQZ8S1bSdoMY7TUKcHN
Please contact Nabil Al-Tikriti (naltikri@umw.edu) if you have any questions.
Professor of History and American Studies Krystyn Moon recently co-authored two articles on central Cuba.
Krystyn Moon, Professor of History and American Studies, recently co-authored two articles on central Cuba. “La Picadora: A Case Study in Cuban Agroecotourism,” which appeared last summer in the International Journal of Cuban Studies, looks at the impact of sustainable farming and tourism on a rural community that historically had not seen foreign visitors. “Food Access, Identity, and Taste in Two Rural Cuban Communities” interrogates Bourdieu’s notions of class identity by exploring food preferences among fishers and farmers in Sancti Spíritus Province. This essay was recently published in Gastronomica.
Moon’s research began through an educational exchange sponsored by COPLAC in 2015.
Professor of History Susan Fernsebner
Professor of History Susan Fernsebner was interviewed on With Good Reason, which airs Sundays at 2 p.m. on Fredericksburg’s Radio IQ 88.3 Digital and at various times throughout the week on stations across Virginia and the United States. Check the website for show times.
Gift Wrapped America:
These days almost all toys are Made in China. But that wasn’t always the case. Susan Fernsebner says that most Chinese toys were made in America. So the Chinese government incentivized creating toys that reflected its own national identity.
Also on the show: It’s all about the power of the almighty dollar. Meredith Katz (Virginia Commonwealth University) says that from From the Boston Tea Party to the Don’t Buy Where You Can’t Work, consumers have long known that. What companies are you avoiding this year? Who’s getting your hard-earned money instead? Also, for months, companies and experts have been suggesting that we hurry up and buy our Christmas gifts. It’s almost judgement day… will they arrive in time? Erika Marsillac (Old Dominion University) says that while it may be tempting to blame this on COVID-19, the reality is that we import almost everything and it’s adding up. Plus, Stefan Duma (Virginia Tech) spent the 1990s through the early aughts researching how to prevent face and eye injuries in the military. After publishing his findings, he started getting calls from popular toy companies to test their products.
Audio files of the full program and its companion news feature are posted on the WGR website: https://www.withgoodreasonradio.org.
Professor of History Susan Fernsebner
Professor of History Susan Fernsebner will appear on an upcoming episode of With Good Reason entitled “Gift Wrapped America,” premiering on Dec. 11 and running through Dec. 18. Dr. Fernsebner, whose expertise focuses on modern Chinese history, will discuss her research on toys, childhood and Chinese identity with host Sarah McConnell.
Summary: These days almost all toys are Made in China. But that wasn’t always the case. Susan Fernsebner (University of Mary Washington) says that most Chinese toys were made in America. So the Chinese government incentivized creating toys that reflected its own national identity.
Experts from Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University and Virginia Tech will also be featured.
The show airs Sundays at 2 p.m. on Fredericksburg’s Radio IQ 88.3 Digital and at various times throughout the week on stations across Virginia and the United States. Check the website for show times.
Professor of Middle East History Nabil Al-Tikriti presented a keynote address entitled “Revisiting “Yavuz Sultan Selim Nasıl Padışah Oldu”: The Selimşah-Korkud Correspondence” on Thursday, November 4. Presenting his 20 minute address entirely in Turkish, Prof. Al-Tikriti summarized and commented on the secondary literature and primary source correspondence between Prince Korkud (d. 1513) and the future Yavuz Sultan Selim (d. 1520) for the “Yavuz Sultan Selim ve Dönemi Sempozyumu / The Symposium on Yavuz Sultan Selim and his Era.” The symposium was hosted by Istanbul Üniversitesi (University) and Türk Tarih Kurumu (Turkish Historical Foundation). This was an invited appearance.
The symposium website includes further information, and photos. The conference proceedings should be published in the next few months.
Professor of History and Director of American Studies Krystyn Moon
Professor of History and American Studies Krystyn Moon is a member of the African American Heritage Trail Committee, which was recently presented with the Brenman Archaeology Award by the City of Alexandria. The city’s official announcement is below:
Alexandria Archaeological Commission Announces Winners of Brenman Archaeology Award
The Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC) is proud to announce the winners of the annual Bernard “Ben” Brenman Archaeology in Alexandria Award. The awards, named in honor of the late Ben Brenman, a longtime Commission chair, were presented by Mayor Wilson on Tuesday, October 26th at the Alexandria City Council meeting. Councilmember Redella S. “Del” Pepper read the proclamation.
The 2021 honorees are:
Griffin Burchard: Outstanding Preservation Advocate, for his contribution to the stewardship of Douglass Cemetery, one of Alexandria’s historic Black cemeteries; for planning and implementing his 2019 Eagle Scout project at Douglass Cemetery, including the creation of a new interpretive historical sign at the site; for raising awareness about these sacred and fragile sites and the recognition that preserving Black cemeteries means preserving the history of Black Alexandrians; and for immeasurably enhancing the quality of life in Alexandria by caring for the final resting place of those buried here.
Members of the African American Heritage Trail Committee (including UMW Professor of History Krystyn Moon, far right, pink shirt) accept the Brenman Archaeology Award from the City of Alexandria.
African American Heritage Trail Committee (Councilman John Chapman, Susan Cohen, Gwen Day-Fuller, Elizabeth “Indy” McCall, Maddy McCoy, Krystyn Moon, McArthur Myers, and Ted Pulliam, founding and current members): Outstanding Community History, in recognition of their dedication to researching and highlighting the contributions of African Americans to Alexandria’s historic waterfront and throughout the city; for their leadership in the community history movement that engages residents and visitors with new ways of telling Alexandria’s unique history; and for their commitment to instilling a sense of collective ownership of the past for all Alexandrians.
The Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC) established the Brenman Award in 2007 in honor of the late activist and retired U.S. Army colonel. Brenman had devoted himself to finding, preserving, and sharing Alexandria’s rich and diverse heritage, and was a founding member of the AAC, serving as its chair for 21 years. The AAC, a City of Alexandria commission, was the first of its kind established in the U.S.
The Brenman Award recognizes businesses, organizations, families, professional preservationists, volunteers, students, and other individuals who have demonstrated work or efforts in archaeological investigation, research, site protection, education, public interpretation, open space design, collections, or conservation.
The 15-member AAC is appointed by the City Council and develops goals and priorities for Alexandria’s archaeological heritage. The commission works closely with residents, government agencies, developers, and teachers to promote archaeology in the city.
Associate Professor of History and American Studies Will Mackintosh was interviewed on With Good Reason, which airs Sundays at 2 p.m. on Fredericksburg’s Radio IQ 88.3 Digital and at various times throughout the week on stations across Virginia and the United States. Check the website for show times.
In an episode entitled “Talkin’ Hurricanes,” which re-aired the week of August 6, Dr. Mackintosh, the author of the book Selling the Sights: The Invention of the Tourist in American Culture, discusses how in the early 19th century, Americans began to journey away from home–not for work or migration, but simply for the sake of traveling. It gave rise to a new cultural phenomenon: the tourist. Listen here.