CSU History Professor Makes 3rd Appearance on NBC’s “Who Do You Think You Are?”

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 wins Telly Award for history of CSU Documentary!

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 […]

CSU students provide Windsor with historical chronicle of churches, factory

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 […]

History Colorado announces new State Historian’s Council

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 […]

Dr. James Hansen, Author of Democracy’s College in the Centennial State, Reflects on CSU’s 150th Anniversary

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.