William E. Lass Minnesota History Symposium

Friday, April 5, 2024
9:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Centennial Student Union

William E. Lass Minnesota History Symposium FlyerLast August, Professor Emeritus William E. Lass passed away. To celebrate his life and commitment to the history of Minnesota, the History Program, University Archives & the Southern Minnesota Historical Center, and Library Services  at Minnesota State Mankato are hosting the William E. Lass Minnesota History Symposium on Friday, April 5. This is a one-day event with sessions on Minnesota history (second floor of the CSU), a keynote by historian Annette Atkins in Ostrander Auditorium, and an evening memorial event (Heritage Room) to celebrate the life and career of Professor Lass. Join us to honor Professor Lass's legacy and learn about new work on Minnesota history.

These events are free and open to the public.


Schedule 

9:00 a.m. – 9: 15 a.m. Announcements: Lori Ann Lahlum, Minnesota State University, Mankato
9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Welcome: 

Gwen Nell Westerman (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota), Minnesota State University, Mankato
“Doing History in This Place”

SESSION I (Choose One )

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

CSU 253/4/5: Roundtable: This Statue, This Place: Abraham Lincoln Statue at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Chair: Daardi Sizemore Mixon, University Archivist, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Discussants:

  • Christopher R. Corley, Dean of Library & Learning, Professor of History, Minnesota State University, Mankato

  • Gwen Nell Westerman, Professor of English and Humanities, Minnesota State University, Mankato

  • Ryley Lamb, History Graduate Student, Minnesota State University, Mankato

  • Keegan Stanley, History Student, Minnesota State University, Mankato


CSU 238 (Nickerson): Minnesota History 1

Chair: Jennifer M. McCutchen, University of St. Thomas

Papers:

  • Black Baseball in Minnesota: Individual, Gender, and Community Contexts by Paul Spyhalski, Minnesota State University, Mankato
  •  A Treasonable Letter: A German American Pastor and World War I by Carly DeLeu, Minnesota State University, Mankato (This paper received the honorable mention William E. Lass Award at the 2023 Northern Great Plains History Conference)
  • History in the Making: Minnesota’s New State Flag & Seal by Anita Talsma Gaul, Minnesota West Community & Technical College (Dr. Gaul served as Vice-Chair of the State Emblems Redesign Commission.)

CSU 204 (Nichols): Roundtable: Investigating Lost History: The Local Lost Stories Project

Moderator: Amy Mattson Lauters, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Discussants:

  • Alexandra Tostrud, Minnesota State University, Mankato

  • Alexander Haugen, Minnesota State University, Mankato

  • Nitiben Parekh, Minnesota State University, Mankato

  • Katie Leseman, Minnesota State University, Mankato

11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Lunch Break

SESSION II (Choose One)

12:30p.m - 2:00 p.m.

CSU 253/4/5: Minnesota History II

Chair: TBD
Papers:
  • Specificity Ensures Understanding and Justice: Exploring the Relation of Federal and Catholic American Boarding Schools in Northern Minnesota by Ruby O’Hagan, Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Beyond the Headlines: The Minnesota Roots of Symbionese Liberation Army Member Camilla Hall by Rachael T. Hanel, Minnesota State University, Mankato
  • Chasing Fast-Paced Paul: Paul Wellstone from Northfield to the Iron Range and Everywhere in Between by Cory Haala, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point 

CSU 238 (Nickerson): Reconciliation and Reunification Learning and Action Network

Moderator: Elizabeth Sandell, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Discussants:
  • Joe Whitehawk, Dakota Elder, retired Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor

  • Tina F. Gouty-Yellow, Dakotah Nation

  • Katie Boone, University of Minnesota

  • Shamsi Taghiyev, Minnesota State University, Mankato


CSU 204: Roundtable: Teaching Minnesota History

Chair: Lori Ann Lahlum, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Discussants:
  • Annette Atkins, Professor Emerita, Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict

  • Robert W. Galler, Jr., St. Cloud State University

  • Anita Talsma Gaul, Minnesota West Community & Technical College

  • Jeff Kolnick, Southwest Minnesota State University

  • Brett Neel, United South Central High School

SESSION 3 (Choose One)

2:15p.m - 3:45 p.m.

CSU 253/4/5: Tim Walz: Politics and Leadership

Chair: Angela Jill Cooley, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Presentation:

Tim Walz: The Political Appeal of Authenticity by Jeff Kolnick, Southwest Minnesota State University

Discussants:

  • Joesph Kunkel, Professor Emeritus, Minnesota State University, Mankato

  • Leigh Pomeroy, Mankato and 2004 DFL candidate for Congress in the 1st Minnesota Congressional District 


CSU 238 (Nickerson): Roundtable: William E. Lass: Teacher, Scholar, and Colleague

Chair: Matt Loayza, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Discussants:
  • Steve Potts, Minnesota North College

  • Rachael T. Hanel, Minnesota State University, Mankato

  • Daardi Sizemore Mixon, Minnesota State University, Mankato

  • Deborah L. Miller, retired, Minnesota Historical Society

  •  Charles Piehl, Professor Emeritus, Minnesota State University, Mankato

4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

Keynote Address (Ostrander Auditorium)

Dr. Annette Atkins, Professor Emerita, Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict

“I’m an Historian: What’s My Job?”

7:00 p.m. Dr. William E. Lass Memorial – CSU Heritage Room

(Print PDF Schedule of Sessions)

Sponsored by the History Program, University Archives and Southern Minnesota Historical Center, and Library Services.

Co-Sponsored by the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, American Indigenous Studies, Gender & Women's Studies, Office of the Provost, and the Blue Earth County Historical Society.

Contact

History Program
history@mnsu.edu