2019 American Historical Association Interviews We interview historians and professors at the American Historical Association annual meeting in Chicago.
The New School history Professor Claire Potter talked about the 1969 Stonewall Riots and rise of the gay rights movement. She described the uprising and reflected on the legacy of the Stonewall Inn, now a national monument in New York City. This interview was recorded in Chicago at the annual American Historical Association meeting.
Purdue University graduate student Nancy Brown talked about the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. She described how Americans with HIV/AIDS often faced discrimination in housing, jobs and when seeking medical treatment. She also outlined some of the protections later provided in the Americans with Disabilities Act. We recorded the interview in Chicago at the American Historical Association annual meeting.
John McGreevy, professor at the University of Notre Dame, talked about 20th century Catholic politics and politicians. He compared the challenges faced by Al Smith and John Kennedy when they each ran for president. He also addressed the current sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. This interview was recorded at the annual American Historical Association meeting.
Western Carolina University Professor Benjamin Francis-Fallon talked about the Spanish-speaking vote in the 20th century. He described a group with distinct interests and voting patterns, and outlined how the national Democratic and Republican parties have courted various Hispanic constituencies. This interview was recorded at the annual American Historical Association meeting.
Former NASA chief historian Roger Launius talked about the history of the Apollo program. He described how the Cold War influenced early space missions and the excitement over the moon landing in 1969. He also explored Apollo’s legacy and speculated about the future of space travel. The interview was recorded at the annual American Historical Association meeting in Chicago.
In the 1950s and 60s, the CIA secretly funded Radio Free Europe, which broadcast anti-Communist propaganda behind the Iron Curtain. Kenneth Osgood, author of Total Cold War, talked about the program’s U.S. operations, which sought funds and support from politicians, corporations, and American citizens. This interview was recorded at the American Historical Association’s annual meeting in Chicago.
Elizabeth Todd-Breland talked about her book, A Political Education: Black Politics and Education Reform in Chicago since the 1960s. She described the overcrowding in African American neighborhood schools and shared stories of parents and teachers who pushed for better conditions. This interview was recorded at the annual American Historical Association meeting in Chicago.
University of Delaware Professor Tiffany Gill talked about the Green Book, a travel guide for African Americans produced during the Jim Crow era. First published in the 1930s, the books listed businesses around the country that accepted African American customers, when so many hotels, restaurants, and other travel destinations would refuse to serve them. This interview was recorded at the American Historical Association annual meeting in Chicago.
Princeton University Professor Kevin Kruse talked about the role of historians on social media and what he feels is their duty to provide context to current issues. He also discussed how media consumption has changed since the 1970s. This interview was recorded in Chicago at the annual American Historical Association meeting.
In the early 1900s, James Edward Shepard founded North Carolina College in Durham, which evolved into North Carolina Central University. Florida A&M Professor Reginald Ellis is the author of Between Washington and Du Bois: The Racial Politics of James Edward Shepard. In this interview, recorded at the annual American Historical Association meeting, he talked about Shepard’s involvement in education and politics, his impact on North Carolina, and how he navigated the Jim Crow era.
Shannon Withycombe, professor at the University of New Mexico, talked about pregnancy in the 19th century. She described the experience of childbirth, which often occurred at home, and the varied perceptions of miscarriages. This 15-minute interview was recorded at the annual American Historical Association meeting.
In 1968, Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress. She also ran for president in 1972. Barbara Winslow, founder of the Shirley Chisholm Project, talked about her early life, political career, and legacy in this interview recorded at the American Historical Association annual meeting in Chicago.
We interview historians and professors at the American Historical Association annual meeting in Chicago.
