Join us for the first-ever Iowa History Conference, which will bring together scholars, students, and museum curators and directors who will share their Iowa-focused research with the public.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

No registration required!

Location

The State Historical Society of Iowa
600 E. Locust St.
Des Moines

Sponsored by the University of Iowa Office of the Vice President for Research and the State Historical Society of Iowa. Refreshments will be available throughout the day.

 

Agenda

Session 1
9 - 10:15 a.m

History Education in Iowa

Geode A Room

Panelists:

  • Mike Graziano, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, University of Northern Iowa
  • Rebecca Koerselman, Associate Professor of History Education, Northwestern College
  • Stefanie Wager, Iowa Department of Education

Civil War History

Geode B Room

Panelists:

  • Sarah Purcell, Professor of History and Chair of Digital Studies, Grinnell College
  • Brie Swenson Arnold, Associate Professor of History, Coe College
  • Leslie Schwalm, Professor Emerita of History, University of Iowa

Iowa's Environment

Goldfinch Room

Panelists:

  • Rebecca Conard, Professor of History Emeritus, Middle Tennessee State University
  • Amahia Mallea, Associate Professor of History, Drake University
  • Jonathan Andelson, Director Emeritus of the Prairie Center, Grinnell College
  • Cornelia Mutel, Author and Retired Senior Science Writer, University of Iowa

Iowa Archaeology

Auditorium

Panelists:

  • John Doershuk, Director and State Archaeologist, Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa
  • Bill Quackenbush,  Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Ho-Chunk Nation
  • Jonathan Buffalo, Historic Preservation Director, Meskwaki Nation 
  • Suzanne Buffalo, Senior Deputy Clerk of Court, Meskwaki Nation Tribal Court
  • Lance Foster, Tribal Vice Chairman and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska
  • Lara Noldner, Bioarchaeology Director, University of Iowa of the State Archaeologist
  • Elizabeth Reetz, Strategic Initiatives Director, University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist

Session 2
10:30 - 11:45

Community-Engaged Learning

Geode A Room

Panelists

  • Nick Benson, Executive Director, Office of Community Engagement, University of Iowa
  • Cara Burnidge, Associate Professor of Religion, University of Northern Iowa
  • Thomas Connors, Associate Professor of History, University of Northern Iowa
  • Dominic Dongilli, PhD Candidate in American Studies, University of Iowa

Iowa, War and the Homefront

Geode B Room

Panelists:

  • Edie Hunter, Business Administrator, University Museums, Iowa State University
  • Mike Vogt, Curator, Iowa Gold Star Military Museum
  • Lisa Heineman, Professor of History, University of Iowa
  • Matthew Walsh, Professor of History, Des Moines Area Community College

Heritage Museums

Goldfinch Room

Panelists:

  • LaNisha Cassell, Executive Director, African American Museum of Iowa
  • Alisa LaCanne, Youth and Community Educator, Danish Museum of America
  • Stefanie Kohn, Curator, National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library
  • Jennifer Kovarik, Collection Manager, Vesterheim
  • Laura Carpenter, PhD student in American Studies, University of Iowa
  • Andy Whiting, Director of Community Outreach & Development, National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library

Indigenous History

Auditorium

Panelists:

  • Christina Gish Hill, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Iowa State University
  • Stephen Warren, Professor of American Studies, University of Iowa
  • Kevin Mason, Associate Professor of History, Waldorf University

Lunch
Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Plenary
Auditorium
1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

Charity Nebbe

Keynote Speaker

Charity Nebbe became the host of Talk of Iowa in 2010. It was a homecoming for her as she moved back to her native state. She began her career in public radio at WOI Radio in Ames, Iowa when she was a student at Iowa State University and has been working in public radio ever since. Early in her career she created Chinwag Theater a nationally syndicated public radio show that she produced and co-hosted with well-known author Daniel Pinkwater. She spent ten years as a host and producer at Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor.

In addition to her award winning radio work Charity is also the host of Iowa Ingredient on Iowa Public Television and the author of the children's book “Our Walk in the Woods,” published in 2008. Charity is co-founder of Let Me Run Eastern Iowa Corridor, a character development and running program for boys.

Session 3
3 - 4:15 p.m.

Collecting and Preserving

Geode A Room

Panelists:

  • Janet Weaver, Curator, Iowa Women's Archive, University of Iowa 
  • Kate Levasseur, Program Manager, Archives, World Food Prize Foundation
  • Douglas Firth Anderson, Professor Emeritus, Reference Librarian and Archivist, Northwestern College

Writing and Preserving Iowa's Agricultural History

Geode B Room

Panelists:

  • Ricki King, Owner, Roots to Branches Genealogy
  • Candy Streed, Director of Partnerships, Silos and Smokestacks
  • Jaime Nicolet Rutan, Curator of Collections, Archives, and Exhibits, Living History Farms
  • Amy Bishop, Rare Books and Manuscripts Archivist, Iowa State Archives and Special Collections

Faith in Iowa

Goldfinch Room

Panelists:

  • Sarah Dees, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Iowa State University
  • Osamamen Oba Eduviere, PhD Candidate, Religious Studies, University of Iowa
  • Lori Witt, Associate Professor of History, Central College 
  • Christopher Chase, Senior Lecturer, Religious Studies, Iowa State University

Iowa Civic Engagement

Auditorium

Panelists:

  • Leo Landis, State Curator, State Historical Society of Iowa
  • Carrie Ann Johnson, Coordinator of Research and Outreach, Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, Iowa State University