History

Being a first-generation college student gave Carly Fraser a lot to think about. She was not overly concerned about academics because she had earned college credits while in high school.

It’s a story about New York City and its residents — but Albion College history professor Marcy Sacks was the expert who contributed to an article featured in the Feb. 15 edition of the New York Times. The article, “Before Lincoln Center, San Juan Hill was a Vibrant Black Community,” describes the predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhood that was razed to build the Lincoln Center.

Robina Quale Leach, professor emeritus of history, died Sept. 24, 2022, in Spring Arbor, age 91.

Following a pair of postponements—one due to technical issues; the other, a snowstorm—the Albion College and Albion communities came together March 1 at the Bohm Theatre.

The Albion history professor develops rich stories from photographs and film across the first half of the 20th century.

The historian with a passion for photography makes sure his classes are far more than snapshots of dates and facts, but a “human experience.”

From uncovering old documents to gathering oral histories from alumni, the Build Albion Fellow’s FURSCA project adds to her experience gained as a student employee in the College archives.

Albion College professor of history Wesley Arden Dick recounts a 2017 dinner conversation aboard an Amtrak train with Chloé Zhao, and how he and his wife, Leslie, were inspired by the filmmaker’s best director Oscar acceptance speech during the April 25 Academy Awards.

In partnership with two leading organizations championing the study of history, Albion joins eight other colleges—and is the only Midwest institution—offering a four-year $5,000 award to students declaring history as their major at the time of admission.

“Late Friday night, July 27, television programs were interrupted by the very sad news that Civil Rights giant John Lewis had died following a battle with cancer,” Dick writes. “My generation was introduced to John Lewis through his bravery and we followed his political career as a congressman from Atlanta, Ga. As a professor, one of my joys is telling his story to my history students.”