Engaging with History: The PHA Experience
By Sandra Huffman ’86
Connecting with people who work in archives, museums, heritage management, archaeological jobs, and even corporate roles that draw from historical knowledge can reveal the expansive career opportunities available to history students. One way to meet all these professionals is to attend the annual conference of the Pennsylvania Historical Association (PHA), a regional professional event focusing on Pennsylvania and mid- Atlantic history.
This supportive environment also enables students to showcase their work, receive constructive feedback, and build valuable relationships that can serve as a foundation in their future careers. According to Bonnie Rock-McCutcheon, Ph.D., assistant professor of history and ancient world studies, “For students to be able to make those connections, to take the initiative, to expand their networks, it gives them the benefits of what they would get at a larger college or university, while also allowing them to enjoy the benefits of what they get here at Wilson.”
This year, Rock-McCutcheon attended her third PHA conference held October 10-12, 2024, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, which centered on “Identity and Politics in the Mid-Atlantic.” While her experience as an ancient Greek and Roman scholar did not lend itself to her presenting at the conference, she was able to help by organizing the student research section of the program. Rock-McCutcheon and Maxine Wagenhoffer, Ph.D., director of the Hankey Center for the History of Women’s Education and assistant professor of history, encouraged several Wilson students to present at this year’s conference. Three undergraduate students summarized their findings visually on posters in the student research section organized by Rock-McCutcheon and one graduate of the master’s program made an oral presentation during a session on “Patriotism and Identity in the Second World War.” Wagenhoffer also presented during a separate session.
The PHA conference not only enhanced student confidence, but it also allowed these Wilson students to engage in a collaborative way with their professors and their future profession. Rock-McCutcheon explained, “The conference is a really good chance for students to meet people from a wide range of professions so they start to get an idea of what they might want to do (with their careers).” Long-term, she hopes that more history students regularly attend the PHA so they can progress each year from observing to presenting. She said, “Last year, we took five students and this year I took four students, but they all gave presentations. I see bright things in the future.”
“Wilson College and Its Effect on the Civil Rights Movement”
Jeremiah Loyer ’27 came to Wilson to pursue a degree in secondary education, but he found greater fulfillment as a history major and now aims to work as an archivist. He serves as treasurer of the Wilson history club and as a student employee at the Hankey Center for the History of Women’s Education. He enjoys attending Wilson’s traditional events and learning about the College’s history.
For his project, Loyer researched the activism of Wilson alumnae Pat Vail ’63 and Judy Walborn ’63 during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, both locally and nationally. He conducted his research primarily in the archives, using resources like the Billboard magazine available online. He expressed interest in continuing to research Wilson’s history and possibly exploring more alumni stories. He is especially interested in graduates from the 1880s.
“Queer History in Franklin County, Pennsylvania”
Anne Wolfrum ’27 demonstrates a diverse academic journey, initially opting for equine studies and later shifting to chemistry due to her father’s experience as a biochemical engineer. Ultimately, Wolfrum’s decision to major in history, complemented by minors in chemistry and ancient world studies, highlights the interdisciplinary nature of her education and her passion for archive work and preservation.
Wolfrum researched the social and political atmosphere in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area and revealed complexities involving the queer community’s history and the implications of being open during the mid-20th century. She used resources available at the Dickinson College archives and found support through connections made during the PHA conference, including a valuable contact for further research on queer history and its intersection with women’s rights and the civil rights movements.
“Native Americans of Pennsylvania: The Cultural Protection and Conservation of the Susquehannock- Conestoga People”
Matthew Line ’25, a history major with a minor in ancient studies, transferred to Wilson from Hagerstown Community College. His PHA project was the first part of his senior thesis project which focused on general history of the Susquehanna Native American tribe prior to European contact. Line has always been interested in indigenous communities and has worked with the Student Conservation Association (SCA), a national organization that helps organize support for underfunded national, state, and city parks. Learning about indigenous communities in a nearby park led him to consider a senior thesis project to design a framework for a Wilson College land acknowledgement statement.
“Women of Wilson College: Wartime Response During World War ||, 1941-1945”
Ciji Holthaus ’22 MET, ’24 MH is a mother of four who returned to college while her husband was in the Marine Corps, completing multiple tours in Iraq. Despite earning a degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, she faced challenges in obtaining certification because of frequent relocations. Finally, when her husband retired, she enrolled in the Teacher Certification Pathways program at Wilson, where she earned her teaching certification in 2018. After a few years, she returned to Wilson to earn a master’s in educational technology and later came back to complete a second master’s in humanities with a concentration in history and material culture. She currently works as a social studies teacher at Fannett Metal High School.
At the PHA conference, Holthaus presented findings from her master’s thesis that focused on what Wilson College looked like during World War II, which stemmed from her personal experience as a military spouse during wartime. “I was doing all the family things, but there were times when I felt like I wasn’t doing enough,” she explained. So, she wondered what Wilson women were doing during the war.
Holthaus used the digitized archives available through the Hankey Center, especially the Wilson Billboard newspaper, as her primary source to paint the story about what the College’s women were doing during wartime. She also analyzed the Gettysburg College newspaper for the same time period in order to make a gender comparison between the two campuses.
What she found was that Wilson was creating leaders out of women in the 1940s. Gettysburg had minimal news about any Red Cross work, while at Wilson, the Red Cross opened a workroom. “Women signed up for hours. They knit bandages for troops and started out with bundles for Britain before the U.S. got involved, but when we got involved, they amped it up,” said Holthaus. She found that the work on campus was so successful because 90% of Wilson’s students in 1942 were involved in the Red Cross.
For Holthaus, the supportive nature of Wilson continues today as she credits current faculty and administrators with helping her follow her passions while still balancing family and work. “I’ve gotten so many opportunities from working with Wilson and that might also be why I keep coming back,” she said. Holthaus aims to continue her research and studies, including a potential doctorate.
