A trio of West Virginia University history professors have earned state Humanities Council awards for their research that looks at blacks and American Indians in the turn-of-the-century United States and the roles women played in medieval Europe.
Drs. Tyler Boulware, Katherine Bankole and Kathryn Staples each were awarded the councils 2007 Fellowship Award for their work.
The award, which comes with a $2,500 research stipend, is open to public school teachers, college professors and independent scholars across the state who launch research studies in history, art, archeology, ethics, religion, language and other disciplines in the humanities.
Boulwareteaches and researches early American history with a focus on American Indians and the colonial frontier. His proposal,Deconstructing the Cherokee Nation: Town, Regional and National Identities among 18th Century Cherokees,focuses on identifying the formation, border conflict and nation building of the Cherokees in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Bankole, who formerly directed WVU s Center for Black Culture, specializes in black history with an emphasis on 19th and 20th century history and Africana studies. Her project,Unforgotten Sister: 19th Century Memoirs of Africana Women,studies the identity and history of women in the African diaspora.
Staplesteaches medieval Europe, British and world history with an interest in western civilization and womens, gender and family history. Her proposal,Flexing Economic Muscle: Interpreting DaughtersPower in Medieval London,looks at daughterhood through social and cultural history of medieval and early modern Europe.
The Department of History is delighted to have fine young scholars like professors Boulware, Bankole and Staples,department chair Dr. Steve Zdatny said.We are proud they have been so successful in winning these competitive grants.
The fellowships provide opportunity for advanced study and research, and recipients must devote time to investigation, reflection and writing. Applications are judged on their concept, definition and relevance to the field of humanities.
