To the experts and enthusiasts of early North American history, Ann Little, Ph.D., is perhaps best known for her work as a CSU professor of 21 years and as an award-winning author. But to the viewers who tuned into the July 31 episode of NBC’s “Who Do You Think You Are?”, Little was the expert […]
Frank Boring is seen here outside of the CSU History Main Office holding his 2021 Telly Award for his documentary “The Great Experiment: Colorado State University 150 Year History” made through CSI Films On PBS. Frank collaborated with History faculty, Dr. Jared Orsi and undergraduate student, Charlie Dreyer to create this documentary, highlighting the history […]
Yufna Soldier Wolf works with CSU and the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery to preserve her father, Mark Soldier Wolf’s, collection of Northern Arapaho documents
By Kurt Knierim “This is some of the best professional development I have ever attended,” said a participant in the third installment of a collaboration between the CSU Department of History and social studies teachers throughout Poudre School District. With the demise of the federal Teaching American History grants in 2011, there was a void […]
By Ken Rock with contributions by Jim Hansen, Dave McComb, Loren Crabtree, and fellow Gaffers We who later became known as “the Gaffers,” were once young historians but have made the transition from active faculty to Professors Emeriti. Our numbers have included David McComb, Art Worrall, Bill Griswold, Wayne Clegern, Dan Tyler, Jim Jordan, John […]
The Department of History is keeping busy during these challenging times. There are many accomplishments and updates to share and celebrate among our students, faculty, and staff. Faculty and Staff News Ann Little was awarded one of three Howard H. Peckham Fellowships by the Clements Library, University of Michigan and co-edited the Fall 2019 issue […]
A group of CSU graduate students recently gained professional experience in the art of going back in time by performing a historical analysis of churches and a sugar-beet factory in the town of Windsor. Adam Thomas, an instructor in the Department of History who had previously done a historical analysis of downtown Windsor, turned to […]
DENVER, Colo. (July 16, 2018) ━ Today, History Colorado announced the formation of its first State Historian’s Council in its 139-year history in Colorado. The State Historian’s Council will be led by noted historian and author Dr. Tom Noel, who will be joined on the council by respected historians from across the state. The new council will include […]
Dan Tyler was happy to help in 2012 when former CSU President Tony Frank asked if he could assist students closing in on graduation who were struggling financially. The result was the Gateway to Graduation Scholarship, which has helped dozens of students in the College of Liberal Arts reach the finish line and earn degrees. Tyler, […]
Most of my professional life has encompassed researching, preserving, and writing about CSU’s past. I came Fort Collins in 1966 with a background in the history of higher education, and six years later, initiated a project that resulted in an institutional archive and a comprehensive study, Democracy’s College in the Centennial State (1977). More than a dozen publications ensued, often in collaboration with graduate students; and in 1981, I began providing a historical essay for commencement ceremonies. This scholarly activity involved individual program, college, outreach, and campus developments, which usually included chronological milestones.
In order to refute the admonition that “history is just one damn thing after another,” I typically organized CSU’s past into identifiable periods. The sesquicentennial anniversary provides a singular opportunity to highlight selected examples.
