Spring 2007

SFSU HSA Newsletter

San Francisco State University History Students Association

Important Dates 
 

February 4 - Lecture: Egyptian Third Intermediate Period and the New Kingdom at the Rosicrucian Museum.
February 5 - HSA Monthly Meeting from 3-4pm in SCI 270.
February 10 &11 - National Civil War Association Winter Quarters Conference in Benicia.
February 13 - Lecture: A History of the San Francisco Labor Movement at UCSF Laurel Heights Campus.
February 13 - Lecture: History of San Francisco’s Bayview / Hunters Point at the Oakland Museum of California.
February 16 - Deadline to apply for Spring graduation.
February 16 - Deadline for call for papers for the North American Conference on British Studies.
February 28 - Deadline for HSA Student Paper Symposium submissions.
March 4 - Lecture: Ptolemaic Period and Egypt After the Pharaohs at the Rosicrucian Museum.
March 5 - HSA Monthly Meeting from 3-4pm in SCI 270.
March 7 (tentative) - HSA Movie Night: with Prof. Rodriguez at 4pm in SCI 270.
March 5-9 HSA Book Drive
March 10 - Lecture: Unearthing the Potters of Ancient Mycenae at the de Young.
March 26 - HSA Student Paper Symposium from 1pm to 4pm in SCI 270.
March 28 - Lecture: Underwater Archaeology in Israel: Recent Discoveries at the de Young.
March 30 - Caesar Chavez - no classes
April 1 - Deadline to apply for graduate school at SFSU.
April 2 - HSA Monthly Meeting from 3-4pm in SCI 270.
April 3 - HSA Movie Night: “Danton” with Prof. Curtis at 4pm in SCI 270.
April 9-13 - Spring Break - no classes
April 16 - HSA Graduate Hopefuls Forum from 3-5pm in SCI 270.
May 7 - HSA Monthly Meeting from 3-4pm in SCI 270.
May 19 - Lecture: Plague in the Time of King Tut’s Grandfather, Amenhotep III at the de Young.
May 21-25 - Finals Week
May 26 - Graduation Day
June 25 - Summer session begins.

Scholarships and Awards

As many eager but impoverished history students have found, there are relatively few scholarships for history students. The best place to start is the SFSU searchable scholarship page at www.sfsu.edu/~finaid/ scholarships, which includes scholarships only available to SFSU students. These scholarships are well worth applying for, as they give you the best chance of receiving a scholarship. Large scholarship listings, such as scholarships.com and fastweb.com can be useful, but there is a smaller chance of receiving one of these scholarships. Check with your and/or your family members’ place of work to see if they offer scholarships. Many scholarships require proof of your financial need, which you can do at the FAFSA website at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Some SFSU scholarships worth a look:

The Gary and Cynthia Bengier University Scholarship is available for undergraduates with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The deadline is in early May.

The Kiana Dressendorfer Scholarship in Archaeology is available to graduate and undergraduate students. An essay on Archaeology and a minimum 3.0 GPA is necessary to apply. The deadline is in late April.

University Women’s Association Scholarship for men and women is available for continuing students with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The deadline is in early March.

The Associated Students Scholarship is available to continuing students who plan on attending full-time in the next academic year and who have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Deadline is in early February.

The Jenny Low Chang Scholarship, honoring the 1977 biology student who was murdered in the school library, is available to students with a minimum 2.0 GPA. Deadline is in early February.        

Historical Associations and Societies

For those students who plan on having a career in history, membership in a historical association or society can be beneficial. In the short term, many of the associations and societies offer scholarships and other benefits. Membership in these associations will put you in touch with like-minded professionals, and they can be helpful later, when you are looking for employment.

American Association for State and Local History (www.aaslh.org) organizes and supports those who preserve local history. It is especially geared toward small historical organizations and museums. Student membership is $30/year.

American Historical Association (www.historians.org) is the largest historical organization in the US. The AHA is focused on professional historians and has an annual convention that doubles as a job fair. Join the AHA If you plan to have a career as a historian. Student membership is $37/year.

American Jewish Historical Society (www.ajhs.org) tries to collect and preserve Jewish-American history. They are the oldest ethnic historical organization in the US and the publishers of American Jewish History. Membership is $50/year.

Association for the Study of African American Life and History (www.asalh.org) is the organization responsible for setting the theme of Black History Month. They are the oldest and most prestigious African-American history organization, and they publish The Journal of African-American History. Student membership is $20/year.

California Historical Society (www.californiahistoricalsociety.org) is the state’s official historical society. Its goal is to encourage public interest in history and preserve historical materials. Their headquarters/ museum is at 678 Mission Street in San Francisco. Membership is $60/year.

Chinese Historical Society of America (www.chsa.org) has regular lectures and movie nights. Their museum at 965 Clay St. in San Francisco has a large selection of permanent and special exhibits. Student membership is $30/year.

California Preservation Society (www.californiapreservation.org) is devoted to historic preservation. Their events train and educate the public about preservation, while they lobby the state government for most historical preservation. Student membership is $40/year.

International Oral History Association (www.ioha.fgv.br) is dedicated to creating a worldwide network of oral history scholars. Student membership is 22€(~$28)/year.

National Civil War Association (www.ncwa.org) are the ones responsible for all those reconstruction battles, but their true aim is to present living history to the public. They have many events throughout the year, including re-enactments and balls. Membership is $40/year.

Organization of American Historians (www.oah.org) encourages scholarship and teaching about American history. They publish the Journal of American History, which is free with membership. Student membership is $25/year.

San Francisco History Association (www.sanfranciscohistory.org) is dedicated to preserving San Francisco historical materials and holds monthly meetings at the Mission Dolores School auditorium. Membership is $25/year.

San Francisco Museum and Historical Society (www.sfhistory.org) sponsors events like historical walking tours. They have exhibits at Pier 45 and the South Light Court at San Francisco City Hall. Membership is $40/year.

First Annual History Student of the Year Award

We’re still looking for the HSA student of the year. We’re looking for club members who help out and participate in club events, are good students, and display all around excellence. In April the officers will vote for who they find to be the most deserving of this award, so get involved.

Graduate Hopefuls Forum

This is especially for you, Juniors! Thinking about grad school? What to know how the process works, where to start, and what to expect? On April 16^th, from 3 to 5pm, in SCI 270 (the history lounge) a panel of students who have successfully completed the process will be there to answer any questions. We will be happy to give hints, tips, and opinions. If you are even contemplating going to graduate school, please come to this informative forum.

Student Paper Symposium

On March 26^th from 1 to 4 we will be holding our second student symposium in SCI 270. The symposium will showcase the best papers that SFSU history students have to offer. In-depth discussions of historical issues will be discussed, and free food will be served. If you want to participate and share your paper, submit your paper to the HSA box in the History Department Office by 5pm on February 28^th. Papers on any subject in history will be accepted.