Calvin history students present their honors theses and independent research projects in our annual History Student Colloquium.

Calvin history students present their honors theses and independent research projects in our annual History Student Colloquium.
by Will C. De Man In the days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are filled with a general feeling of anxiety and worry. For some, it’s anxiety over how they’ll keep up their rent or pay their bills. Others worry for their sick or elderly loved ones, who are particularly at risk. Still others have …
Continue reading Our Fathers’ Freedom: The American Revolution and the COVID Crisis
by Matt Beukema. You’ve likely heard the question or even asked it yourself. After answering “History” to the question of what I studied in college comes that dreaded second question. The question that comes nearly 90% of the time to history (and English, I’m sure) graduates. “Do you want to teach?” I don’t know why …
Continue reading The Dreaded Second Question – Or, In Defense of My Major
by Jesse Damsteegt Whatever our political leanings, for many of us the 2016 election season has been stressful and disruptive. But for Calvin student Jesse Damsteegt, the election excitement unfolded at the site of her history internship. This fall semester, Jesse is interning at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in downtown Grand Rapids, helping …
Continue reading How Donald Trump Ruined My Day and (Almost) Owed Me $15
by Kristin Du Mez. I’m not sure I’ve assigned a monograph in a history course before that was more eagerly devoured than Daniel Williams’ God’s Own Party. “I can’t believe I didn’t know any of this before!” was a frequent refrain, and this in a class of upper-level History and Political Science majors, self-proclaimed political …
Continue reading Ask the Author: Daniel Williams on God’s Own Party
by Kristin Du Mez. We’re in the midst of a fascinating political season. As we look to potential realignments, particularly when it comes to the role of evangelicals in party politics, it is worth looking to history to see if we might be able to gain greater insight into our current situation. One important book …
Continue reading Ask the Author: David Swartz on Moral Minority