History. On its own, it’s not a very exciting word. However this past weekend, February 28th, saw HISTORY given star power treatment at Austin Peay State University as the Theta Delta Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society and the university’s History and Philosophy Department sponsored the 2009 Regional Conference.

Austin Peay’s Theta Delta Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta National Honor Society hosted the 2009 Regional Conference this past Saturday at Austin Peay State University.

At the Registration Table, attendees picked up their packets.

The conference provided both undergraduate and graduate students of history with the opportunity to gain valuable experience by presenting their ideas in a friendly academic setting. Topics from a broad range of subjects including regional, American and non-American topics were welcome. Films and documentaries produced by the students were also accepted.

The Morgan Center was the hosting site for the one-day event which saw sixty students from fourteen universities and colleges give presentations of such diverse topics as Women’s History, Rome and Byzantine, Indian Warfare and Removal, Religion and Race, Gender in the South, Barbary Pirates, the American Revolution, WWI, Reform and Regulation, WWII Dilemmas on the Homefront, Issues of Religion through the Ages, Struggle for Independence and Identity, US Military in Nontraditio0nal Roles, American Revolution: Sea Battles, Labor and Economy in Nazi Germany, “Blues, Baseball and Black Male Identity,” Post WWII US Politics, and American Influence Overseas: Two Perspectives, Direct and Policy.

There were two roundtable events, the TSU Senior Projects and the MTSU Recent Projects in Public History. Additionally, there was a panel session of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society.

Group discussions followed panel presentations

Opening with a 7:30 AM registration start time, the Morgan Center was abuzz with presenters and attendees picking up credentials and sampling the breakfast buffet tables set out on the third floor. Their energy and buzz belied the quiet of the rest of the building during the early Saturday morning calm. The early morning session panels covered the subject areas of Women’s History, Rome and Byzantine, Indian Warfare and Removal, Religion and Race, Gender in the South, and the Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society panel.

Ben Malone and Tyler Moore, presenters from Midlle Tenn. State University

Individual presentations included “Workin’ Woman: Women’s Roles During the 1920’s and the Great Depression,” “Eleanor Roosevelt” Reluctant First Lady to Reformer;” “Development of Provincial Rights in the Roman Republic,” “The Spanish Influence on Creek-Cumberland Warfare,” “The Cherokee War,” “America’s Most Hypocritical Hour;” “Religious Themes in the Pro-Slavery Argument,” “A Refusal to Reform: Georgia Baptists and Integration,” “Privilege Yields Responsibility;” “Gender Roles in the Production of Food in the Antebellum South,” “The Peaceful Desegregation and Integration of the University of Tennessee at Martin;” “Thomas Jefferson and the Barbary Pirates: The United States First Encounter with Terrorism;” “Recipe for Perfect Foreign Language Acquisition,” “The Grammar Foundation: Where Does It Lead Us?”

As we are not yet capable of self-cloning-on-demand, this writer was not able to sit in on every panel group. However, a short summary of a few of the panel presentations visited hopefully with provide readers with a sense of the level of research and discussion which accompanied the day’s activities.

10:20 a.m.: Attending Session II Panel 13: Issues of Religion through the Ages presentations.

Gregory Bearringer, David Lipscomb University, third from left, responds to a question from a fellow Panel 13 presenter

Currently attending Monasticism, Matthew Paris and the Historical Tradition Traditions of  St. Albans by Gregory Bearringer of Lipscomb University:

Bearringer details the development of the monastic life and the personality of monks, their impact on French education and religious dogma in French upper society. Paris is denoted as having a disdain for the French, even its nobility, reflecting his English origin and relation with Henry III, despite his being dependent upon that same nobility for its gracious giving to the monastery for its survival and continuation.

Body, Soul and Spirit: Origen and Biblical Interpretation in the Third Century by Ben Malone, MTSU:

Ben Malone, MTSU, talks about "Body, Soul, and Spirit: Origen and Biblical Interpretation in the 3rd Century"

Origen was born in Alexandria, a metropolitan center of education, religious diversity as Christianity, Judaism and Muslim centers were located there. He undertook a detailed study of the Bible, writing about several books of the Bible. Origen was Christian in his beliefs, devotion and practice of religious faith, notwithstanding his conflicts with the hierarchy of the Early Christian Church. Malone further explains that  Origen was essential to the development and understanding of the  use of allegorical interpretation of biblical passages. He was the first Christian writer to utilize the allegorical interpretation of the Bible, a practice which was already in wide use in studies of Judaism and Islamic texts.

“Self, Soul, and Support: English Women Writers on Religion and Women’s Education 1670-1710″ by Tammy Prater, University of Memphis:

Tammy Prater, Univ. of Memphis, gives her presentation before Panel 13 attendees

Education of women was not a widely supported construct of 17th century English society. Women were only expected to be pious, chaste and mothers and good  housekeepers. Education, when it was  bestowed upon women, was directed at their being able to read the Bible but not how to write nor other elements of full education. “Custom is the tyrant behind all  ignorance and deprivations of women.

Comments: Keith Bates, Union University, Moderator.

Dr. Keith Bates, Univ. of Memphis, comments of the Panel 13 presentations

The presentation questions the role of women in 17th Century England and society. Women were seen as property more so than an equal part of society, the male dominance being the prevailing view of the times. Exposes the fallacies of the view of women as inferior and subordinate to men. An educated women is actually a better helpmate to her husband.

Origen saw himself as a more elitist Christian, regarding the average churchgoer as not being sufficiently devoted to the Church. He despised people coming to Church to socialize and be seen, rather than gain any further insight into their duties and responsibilities to God and the Church. He felt this was the prevailing reason for too many churchgoers of his day, especially the merchant class and noblemen. He was seen as a heretic and even persecuted by the Church. His allegorical interpretation of biblical text was not widely accepted during his lifetime.

Dr. Stephen D. Carls, Natl Advisory Bd, PAT, Union University, expresses appreciation

At the conclusion of this session, the conference moved to the mid-day luncheon in the Ballroom. Dr. Minoa Uffelman, APSU History and Philosophy Department, coordinated the conference preparations, acknowledged the invaluable assistance of her support staff. Dr. Tim Hall,President of APSU, gave welcome remarks to the conference attendees and presenters alike. Phi Alpha Theta National Advisory Board  spokesman, Dr. Stephen D. Carls of Union University, acknowledged the Honor Society’s appreciation to the Theta Delta Chapter and APSU for hosting the 2009 Regional Conference. He noted updates to the society’s website, benefits to society membership, including its newsletter and a myriad of gifts, clothing and souvenirs, along with the ability to replace certificates, all this and more information he ensured everyone understood several times over is  available at <wwwphialphatheta.org>.

Dr. Nelson announced the Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference Writers Awards winning papers as follows:

Dr. Nelson stands with the PAT '09 Regional Conference Writers Awards winners

I. Undergraduate Papers: Early America (Tie)- Michael Ramsey, “A Numerous and Unexpected Enemy,” Austin Peay State University, and Eric Turner, “Small Boat Operations in Long Island Sound, 1775-1779,” Austin Peay State University; 20th Century America (Tie)-  Hannah Holliday, “A Refusal of Reform: Georgia Baptists and Integration,” Union University, and William Conner, “To Hell with Habeas Corpus: The Government, The Press, and Japanese Interment,” University of Tennessee, Chattanooga; Non-US History: Jesse Tumblin, “The Conscription Crisis in County Meath, 1918: A Catalyst for Radicalization in Ireland’s Revolutionary Process,” University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

II. Graduate Student Papers: (Tie) – Ron Martz, “Deconstructing de-Ba’athification: How Ignoring Lessons Learned from de-Nazification of Germany and the Governance of Japan after World War II Ignited the Iraqi Insurgency,” Austin Peay State University; and Gabriel Fidler, “Football and the Public Sphere in Nineteenth-Century England,” University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

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Dr. Antonio S. Thompson, assistant professor of history and an APSU alumnus, will be available from 5-7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10 at the Pace Alumni Center at Emerald Hill to sign copies of his first published work, titled “German Jackboots on Kentucky Bluegrass: Housing German Prisoners of War in Kentucky, 1942-46” and published by Diversion Press.

The book signing is sponsored by the Office of Alumni Relations at APSU. Books will be available for purchase by check or cash only. Cost will be $20 at the signing, $15 for APSU students who present their college I.D.s.Thompson’s new book presents a case of American humanitarianism, adherence to international law, Southern hospitality and friendship and mutual respect between “enemies” in a brutal and bitter war. This academic work provides the first book-length look at the housing of German prisoners of war in Kentucky during World War II. It tackles the mysterious murals painted by prisoners at Camp Breckinridge, the Afrika Korps symbols left on chimneys at Fort Knox and the issues of Nazi versus anti-Nazi at Camp Campbell, now Fort Campbell.

“I believe that the treatment we gave to Axis prisoners in World War II is one of the greatest, and little known, stories of American history. It was a brutal and bitter war rife with atrocities, and yet the United States surmounted all difficulties to create the largest and most successful prisoner of war program in its history. We treated the prisoners the way we would want to be treated. American efforts in that regard during World War II set an example at the time that should be considered the international standard.” ~~ Dr. Antonio S. Thompson

The topic for his book stemmed from his graduate studies. For his thesis, titled “German Prisoners of War From World War II in America With a Focus on Kentucky and Tennessee,” he wrote about the American treatment of prisoners of war and how all prisoners of war during World War II were treated.

Thompson continued exploration of the topic with his dissertation, titled “Men in German Uniform: German Prisoners of War Held in the United States During World War II.” It was nominated for the Fritz Stern Prize awarded for works on German history and on the history of Germans in North America. He has revised his dissertation, now being considered for publication as his second book.

Currently, he is working on getting a journal-length article on the Vietnam War published and finishing two other articles, one on World War II and the other on U.S. foreign policy and American popular perceptions of it.

A native of Trigg County, Ky., Thompson came to APSU after having been an adjunct instructor at Midway College, where he taught various history and government courses. He also has taught history at Northern Kentucky University, Murray State University and Indiana University Southeast. He is a member of Phi Alpha Theta history honor society, Sigma Tau Delta English honor society and the History Graduate Student Association. He received his Ph. D. in history from the University of Kentucky, Master of Arts in history from Western Kentucky University, Bachelor of Arts in history from APSU and an Associate of Science in core curriculum from Hopkinsville (Ky.) Community College.

For more information about the book or the book signing, contact Thompson by telephone at (931) 221-7932 or by e-mail at .

Early Spring oil on Canvas by Betty Liles. This is the stream flowing through Rotary Park in Clarksville

The Downtown Artists Co-Op in beautiful downtown Clarksville is happy to announce a new art exhibit by long-time member artists Nada Fuqua and Betty Liles. The opening reception will be tonight, July 17, from 5:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. at our gallery located at 96 Franklin Street. The new works will be on exhibit through August 12. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon until 6:00 p.m. with no admission charge.

Nada and Betty are both from Hopkinsville, KY, and both work primarily with oil paints but do a variety of works in other media. Nada says that she loves the way oil paint moves, even how it smells. Nada says that painting has been her bobby for many years and she never stops learning and developing new techniques.

She says that, “This year I’m learning a new technique from an artist-friend in South Dakota. Using this technique I cover the canvas in layers of wet paint, often using complementary colors, then use styli of different shapes to define and make details.” Nada says that a number of her paintings in this show were done in this style.

Still Life by Nada Fuqua. Painted out of frustration while waiting for home repairs after flooding

Nada also loves painting portraits in live sittings using pastels. She says she receives satisfaction from seeing the pleasure that her friends and family get from the portraits for years to come.

Betty Liles is a native of Christian County, Kentucky. She studied commercial and fine art at Austin Peay State University and Murray State University. She says that the primary medium she employs is oils on canvas, “but I also use alkyds, acrylics, water colors and mixed media.”

In the upcoming show she has used a variety of media to paint landscapes, portraits, figure studies, still-lifes and abstracts. Painting is a passion that Betty has enjoyed all of her life and she enjoys the challenge of a variety of subjects and various media.

Betty and Nada are both members of The Portrait Society of America as well as the Hopkinsville Art League, the Downtown Artists Co-Op, the Tennessee Art League and other art organizations. Both are excellent artists who never stop studying and finding ways of stretching for a new challenge.
Cliff Whittaker