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March 2008
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Adelphi University
Ruth S. Harley University Center
In celebration of women’s history month and the work of historian Gerda Lerner, the Adelphi University Department of History will have “Women’s engagements in peace and social justice projects” as its theme. In addition to the department’s usual presentation of faculty member papers and engaged discussion, it will also elicit the participation of high school students and their teachers.
Schedule (PDF 12 KB)
High school social studies teachers and students are invited to attend this exciting conference event. Should the teachers wish to submit student papers for this event, which will take place in March 2008, we ask that teachers assign some of the works described in our bibliography (PDF 64KB), or those with similar emphases.
Paper Topics and Objectives
Inspired by the work of women historians that have either published and/or engaged in social justice endeavors and political activism, this theme will be university-wide for fall 2007 and spring 2008. The contest is open to all high school students and the history department suggests that these students select books that are closely in keeping with the themes emphasized in Adelphi’s university-wide event. Among the readings in the bibliography-in-progress, for example, are the works of Gerda Lerner, founder of the first women’s studies program in the United States at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she is now a professor of history emerita. Central to these works that we are suggesting in our bibliography are chapters of her autobiography, including those that shed light upon her pacifist activities such as chapter nineteen of Fireweed: A Political Autobiography (2002), "Neighborhood Women and Grassroots Human Rights," which sheds light on Gerda Lerner’s block-busting efforts in Jamaica, Queens. In keeping with our inclusion of Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore’s "Diplomatic Women," in Gender and Jim Crow: Women and the Politics of White Supremacy in North Carolina, 1896-1920 (147-175, 1996), we would like to emphasize the event’s goal of incorporating issues that pertain to the work of women of color and/or minorities. Additionally, and again, as reflected in our bibliography, we would like students to utilize both the secondary works of historians and primary source material.
The objectives of the high school student papers should be a) To have students study the history of women’s engagements in these peace and social justice projects and b) consider the challenges that these women faced in light of the strategies they used to confront them. c) to consider how the strategies of women historians might be applicable to the existing problems and challenges of our time. Students’ papers which meet these criteria successfully should be nominated in keeping with the process outlined below. We will invite some students to Adelphi to participate in our conference and ask the winners to briefly discuss their papers during a five to ten minute presentation. During the reception for our March 2008 conference we will also invite selected high school students to present their work via poster presentations.
Eligibility
The contest is open to all high school students whose papers are nominated by their teachers. The subject of the paper must be related to the theme of this conference, as outlined above and must be the contestant's original work.
Paper Format and Requirements
- Due date for papers: Friday, Feburary 15, 2008
- Papers will not be accepted after midnight of Friday, February 15, 2008
- The font of these papers should be no larger than twelve.
- The number of pages should be from ten to twelve.
- Chicago style documentation must be used, in keeping with the following Diana Hacker site.
To maintain a fair selection process, the contestant’s name and school should appear on a cover page and not on the essay itself.
For more information, please contact Dr. Cristina Zaccarini at cristina.zaccarini@gmail.com.
Prizes
All of the schools of the prize winning students will receive a plaque
- 1st prize: $500
- 2nd prize: $300
- 3rd prize: $200
Judges
We are asking high school social studies teachers to please consider volunteering to be a part of a three-judge selection committee that will make a final decision about which high school students’ papers can be presented at the conference. We will maintain a list of names of volunteers.
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Contact Us
For additional information, please contact:
Department of History
Blodgett Hall, Room 200
Adelphi University
P.O. Box 701
Garden City, NY 11530-0701
p - 516.877.4790
This page last modified on 21 February 2008
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