The History of the

Trinity College History Department    

[1945-1946]  [1954-1955]  [1962-1963]   [1969-1970]   [1990-1991]  [1999-2000]

Trinity College History Department: 1969-1970

    In the 1969-1970 academic year at Trinity College emphasis was placed on “preparing the student for the continuing education which a rewarding and constructive life will require of him”. In the next year the emphasis would be the same except for the fact that women would now be admitted to the college. The admittance of women would present a new type of diversity that would effect most aspects of life at Trinity College. The faculty would become more diverse along side the changing student body.

     The history department faculty in 1969-1970 was for the most part homogeneous. All the professors were white males, which seemed to be a reflection, with some exception, of the student body at Trinity. The department was on it’s way to becoming more diverse in the range of topics that were being taught. Although there was still an emphasis on European, Western, Medieval and Ancient history, there were other topics such as African and Asian history being taught. The assistant Professors seemed to be the guiding force in adding diversity to the courses taught. Professor Steele taught courses on Africa and the Middle East and Professor Netting taught courses on Japan, although his specialty was Russia. Professor Oxnam taught courses on China and there was one graduate course taught about India by lecturer Ferguson.

    The history department in 1969-1970 was a popular department with 61 students majoring out of a total of 290 seniors, about 21% of the graduating class. Trinity offered a total of 18 majors including the newly added sociology major. The history department had about 5% of the total faculty in the school. The department was on the road to making big changes in its diversity of topics/courses and faculty that would have a positive effect on not only the students but the faculty as well. Other schools of the same caliber as Trinity were also making changes in terms of diversity of what was taught and seemed to be doing so at a more rapid rate than Trinity. In 1970 Wesleyan University already had a Latin American Studies department. Although perhaps moving at a slower rate, Trinity was making very important changes in the history department that would eventually lead it to being highly diverse.

What could one find in the History Department?

    Out of a total of 178 faculty including 13 emeritus professors, 10 of those taught in the History Department. That was about 5% of the total faculty teaching at Trinity College in the 1969-1970 academic year.  There were 290 graduates in the class of 1970; 61 of them or about 21% were from the History Department.  

   History major requirements:

    Students concentrating in history were expected to plan a program that included several of the following areas: Europe, United States, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Their program should have also covered a broad chronological range, from the ancient to the modern period.

    Majors were required to take twelve courses in the department. They were urged to take history 101; if possible this should have been done before the student applied to the Chairman for admission as a major.

    One half-year seminar History 391 or 392 was required of all majors in their junior year; and one half-year seminar History 401or 402 is required of majors in their senior year. Seniors with superior records were eligible to apply for admission to one of the full year thesis seminars (History 403-404), offered in place of the half-year senior seminar. To fulfill the requirements for the History major, students had to pass a general examination. 

    Categories of courses:

The United States:
Europe:
Non-western:

    Summary:

      History majors were expected to study a broad range of course topics and time periods.  This expectation by the History Department that it's majors have a diverse knowledge of history would only continue to grow through the years.  

What is the History Department like at:

Wesleyan        Yale         UCONN

Quotes:  

Professor Walsh discusses the influence of the 1960s on the Trinity History Department, here.    Professor Walsh discusses the role of the new types of historical analysis, such as Marxism and Social History, here.