Department of History - Colorado State University

01/23/2026

Dry January might feel like a trend, but it's a movement that has been brewing for centuries.

On the latest episode of The Audit, CSU History's David Korostyshevsky unpacks the long history of sobriety movements—from the Temperance Movement of the 1800s to Prohibition and today’s shifting public health guidelines, and generational attitudes toward alcohol.

CSU History Instructor David Korostyshevsky discusses the origins of Dry January and humanity’s complex relationship with alcohol.

12/19/2025

A sweet way to bookend a great semester! 📚🧁

We wrapped up the semester with a faculty celebration featuring edible shout-outs to our historians who published books and research projects this year.

See our faculty posing with their cupcake book covers - edible editions and the real thing!

12/12/2025

Congratulations to Professor of History and Department Chair, Robert Gudmestad on the publishing of his latest book, “The Devil’s Own Purgatory.”

This is the first comprehensive history of the Union’s Mississippi River Squadron, a fleet that battled Confederate forts and fleets along the Mississippi River, waged a river-based counterinsurgency war, raided plantations and helped free thousands of enslaved people.

Learn more about “The Devil’s Own Purgatory”, here: https://libarts.source.colostate.edu/professor-of-history-robert-gudmestad-publishes-first-full-account-of-the-civil-war-era-mississippi-river-squadron/

11/20/2025

CSU’s History Matters project is reshaping how Colorado classrooms learn local history—by highlighting the under-told stories from our local Colorado communities!

“By using a hyperlocal, place-based focus, the project builds equity-driven curricula that center the under told histories of Fort Collins, Northern Colorado and the state of Colorado,” said Jessica Jackson, associate professor of history and director of social studies teaching.

Learn more about History Matters here: https://libarts.source.colostate.edu/history-matters-faculty-create-hyperlocal-history-curriculum-for-northern-colorado/

10/31/2025

Witchcraft and history come together in this special episode of KUNC 91.5fm's “In the NoCo.”

CSU historian Ann Little joins host Erin O’Toole to discuss what the witch trials of early America can reveal about today.

In 2025, witches and witchcraft appear to be having a moment. More Coloradans are saying they align with pagan, wiccan or other new age beliefs. So, with Halloween around the corner, we talked with a CSU professor who studies the history of witchcraft – and what it can tell us about the modern wor...

10/28/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Alexander Pittman, assistant professor of history, on his appointment to the History, Culture, Social Contributions, and Civil Government in Education Commission for the State of Colorado!

History Assistant Professor selected to Colorado Education Commission.

09/16/2025

“Jim Hansen was the keeper of Colorado State University’s story. Through his meticulous research, he helped us understand our own purpose and progress. His writing captured the essence of our land-grant mission and our work as ‘Democracy’s College.’ We will always be grateful for Dr. Hansen’s decades of dedication, and we know that his body of work will continue to guide us.” CSU President Amy Parsons said.

Join us in remembering the life and work of Jim Hansen, ‘The keeper of Colorado State University’s story’.

A memorial service will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Lory Student Center’s University Ballroom. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America or Pathways Care Center.

James Emil “Jim” Hansen II, who chronicled the definitive history of Colorado State University in several books and founded the CSU archives, passed away on Aug. 27 at the age of 86 after a long struggle with Huntington’s disease.

07/09/2025

CSU's retired history professors—aka the ‘Gaffers’—are rallying alumni to fundraise for the History Department they dedicated their careers to.

“The idea is to give the department some stability and sustainability in a time of great stress,” CSU alumnus Fred Anderson said. “History matters now more than ever. It’s the discipline at the very heart of the liberal arts.”

Those who wish to join their effort can do so by visiting the Gaffers’ Giving Initiative listed at the bottom of the article.

A group of retired Colorado State University faculty from the Department of History has launched a special fundraising campaign for the department as a public display of support during a difficult time for the liberal arts and all of higher education.

07/09/2025

When funding for a liberal arts education was threatened, an unsuspecting group stepped up. The group, affectionately called "the Gaffers," are a cohort of retired CSU history faculty who have been meeting for more than 20 years. The members call themselves “the Gaffers” because of the endearing slang term for elderly men used in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

When the college budget faced challenges, this group asked themselves, “What can we do?” Their answer: raise money for our history department. “History matters now more than ever. It’s the discipline at the very heart of the liberal arts,” says Fred Anderson, the group’s facilitator.

Read more about the Gaffers and how they are encouraging other emeriti faculty to start similar initiatives: https://col.st/zKNbh