Research is at the core of the undergraduate history curriculum. From History 201 (the Historian’s Craft) to History 600 (Advanced Research Seminar), our majors hone their research skills and do archival research in a wide variety of settings, from across Library Mall at the Wisconsin Historical Society and Memorial Library Special Collections to archives across the world.
Support for undergraduate research
In addition to campus fellowships such as the Hilldale Research Fellowship, the History Department offers financial support for undergraduate research undertaken as part of senior theses, directed studies, or internships:
- Davis-Gerstein Research Fellowship ($2,500)
- Alice D. Mortenson Undergraduate Scholarship in Russian History ($3,000)
- History 506 Internship Scholarship ($500)
You can find more information about these awards on the History undergraduate program’s scholarships page. Applications for these awards are submitted online via Scholarships@UW-Madison.
Writing Prizes and Publications
Every year, the department awards up to eleven writing prizes to recognize outstanding undergraduate research and writing. These awards range from $200 to $1250, and you can find more information about eligibility and the application process on the undergraduate program’s scholarships page.
Our majors also present their research to the UW community at the Undergraduate Symposium, held annually in Spring semester.
The department’s undergraduate journal, ARCHIVE, is one of the venues in which majors can publish their research projects. The journal is organized and edited by History majors. Every spring they publish a selection of outstanding historical scholarship by their fellow undergraduates.
Showcase of Recent Undergraduate Research
- Hilary Miller presented research from her History 201 with Professor Ciancia at the Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention in New Orleans. Watch it on YouTube!
- Matthew Scharpf and Tristan Krause worked as interns for the Wisconsin Veterans Museum’s Oral History Project on the Voices from Afghanistan podcast/video series.
- Ryan Smazal started an internship this month with the Historical Society’s Maritime Preservation Project/UW’s Sea Grant Institute. His first article for The Great Lakes Takes, which is the Sea Grant’s blog, just went live. Read the article!
- WISCONSIN 101 is an exciting public history project that has featured the work of many of our majors.
- History/journalism major Danielle Sklarew co-founded the Young Feminists Club at Blackhawk Middle school with support from a HEX-U grant. Read more at the Young Feminists Blog or in the Isthmus.