Department of History, SUNY Brockport

08/17/2026

This summer Elisabeth Hartke had the opportunity to participate in the ROC City Fellows program, which introduces undergraduate and graduate students to the many areas of work and operations within the City of Rochester. Through the program, she was placed with the Office of Public Integrity (OPI), a small but important office dedicated to supporting public confidence in local government.

check out our blog to read more about Elisabeth's time at the Office of Public Integrity.

https://www.sunybrockporthistorydept.net/timelines/from-public-history-to-public-integrity-my-summer-with-roc-city-fellows/

07/03/2026

Job opportunities at Smithsonian Folklife.

The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage is for two full-time permanent roles based in Washington, D.C.

The Center is seeking a supervisory archivist for the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, home to documentation from the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the catalogs of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, and more. This new position applies professional archival principles and methods of archival collections development, arrangement, preservation, documentation, and description to the organization and management of archival collections. Applications are due July 24.

Additionally, the Center is seeking an experienced individual to serve as gift officer. The position builds and manages a portfolio of prospects and donors to execute a program focused on high-capacity giving. The position is responsible for efforts resulting in significant contribution levels to the fundraising goal. Applications are due July 22.

See the full job descriptions and instructions to apply on our website: https://folklife.si.edu/jobs

📸: Photo by Sonya Pencheva, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives

06/24/2026

Buffalo History Museum is hiring a Collections Assistant. https://buffalohistory.isolvedhire.com/jobs/1797468?fbclid=PAVERFWASpCypleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAad7p4uOuGtxMXxp89HGKmJDtIwnqX9Z5zxZxVe9g4AlPUQLUUJaD-rBZtA-yw_aem_PJDN-NhlZZYRHXRNxP3ULQ

Join The Buffalo History Museum as the full-time Collections Assistant. This two-year, donor funded role offers emerging museum professionals a unique opportunity to work closely with our extensive museum collection, helping to preserve and document invaluable artifacts. You will gain hands-on exper...

06/02/2026

Please join us in Congratulating Dr. Jamie Spiller on being appointed the Distinguished Teaching Professor.

Dr. Spiller was acknowledged at the May 22nd award recognition dinner.

(Pictured Faculty members of the Department of History left to right: Dr. Angela Thompsell, Dr. Paul Moyer, Dr. Jamie Spiller, Dr. Jose Torre, Dr. Michael Kramer and Dr. Anne Macpherson)

05/21/2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

We celebrate your hard work, perseverance, and achievements as you begin the next chapter of your journey. We are especially proud of our graduates in the History Department, whose curiosity, dedication, and passion for understanding the past will help shape the future.

Here’s to the memories made, the lessons learned, and the bright futures ahead. Congratulations, graduates — your story is just beginning!

Pictured here are Charles Richardson and Dr. Mac, celebrating alongside our graduates!

05/18/2026

May the Fourth be with you!

Gabby Plane and J Colton Murphy teaming up for a joint 390 presentation — bringing the force, the knowledge, and the collaboration!

05/14/2026

Dinah Gifford was awarded 3rd place and a $250 prize in the Library Research Award, presented by Mary Jo Orzech and Bonnie Swoger.

She was recognized for her outstanding research essay, “Legal Battles of Japanese-American Policies During WWII.”

Read more on our blog:
https://www.sunybrockporthistorydept.net/timelines/dinah-giffords-essay-awarded-the-george-s-queen-history-essay-award/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRyrmZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFJd3I1Qk1ieGhDSE04WVM4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuZ247EW23vUruH7t-kJseAf6pyAbqeUzw0V7FFh0lf2TQdE83siBgc0I106_aem_f0NZL8kimLeYm8vTtsU9cA

05/05/2026

Alum Gary Brandt has published three novels (set in the Finger Lakes) and is now working on a project on novelist Kenneth Roberts whose books from the 1930-1940s depict key moments in American History. Gary was inspired by two of his professors at Brockport - Steve Ireland in History and W. Raymond Duncan in Political Science. He calls what they did "magic."

05/04/2026

SUNY Brockport proudly recognizes Dinah Gifford as the recipient of the George S. Queen Essay Award for her outstanding work, “Legal Battles of Japanese-American Policies During WWII.” Congratulations, Dinah, on this well-deserved honor!

"'Over and above any man-made creed or law is the natural law of life – the right of human individuals to live and to creatively express themselves. No man was born with the right to limit that law. Nor, do I believe, can anyone justifiably work himself in such a position.' These words from Gordon Hirabayashi’s 1942 letter, “Why I Refuse to Register for Evacuation,” highlight the basic rights that were denied to over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II."

Read the full essay on our blog!
https://www.sunybrockporthistorydept.net/timelines/dinah-giffords-essay-awarded-the-george-s-queen-history-essay-award/