WMU Home > WMU News

WMU News

WMU News on Twitter

Ethnohistory in the spotlight

Oct. 20, 2009

KALAMAZOO--The relationship between history and ethnohistory will be examined in a presentation on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Western Michigan University by a noted archeologist.

Dr. Patricia Galloway will speak at 7:30 p.m. in Room 2301 of Sangren Hall. Her address, which is free and open to the public, is titled "Who Reads, Practices and Owns Ethnohistory and Who Should?"

In her talk, Galloway will examine ethnohistory at the intersection of history and anthropology and place it within the emerging and ongoing discussion about whether the people who are written about in the social sciences should have any say in the discourse that portrays them. The presentation in particular will interest students and faculty in anthropology, history, comparative literature, cultural studies and related disciplines.

Galloway was a medieval archaeologist in Europe in the 1970s and, from 1979 to 2000, worked at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History as a documentary editor, archaeological editor, historian, museum exhibit developer and manager of information systems. She now teaches in the School of Information, University of Texas-Austin. Her notable book publications include "Choctaw Genesis 1500-1700," "The Hernando de Soto Expedition" and "Practicing Ethnohistory."

Galloway's WMU visit is through the Visiting Scholars and Artists Program and co-sponsored by the departments of anthropology and history.

The WMU Visiting Scholars and Artists Program was established in 1960 to contribute to the intellectual life of WMU and the community by providing funds for academic units to bring distinguished scholars and artists to campus. In addition to meeting with faculty and students, these scholars address the community at large. Since its inception, it has supported more than 600 visits by scholars and artists representing more than 60 academic disciplines.

The chair of the committee that oversees the program is Dr. Elke Schoffers, associate professor of chemistry.

Share |

Media contact: Mark Schwerin, (269) 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/news