Welcome
Welcome to the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. We are dedicated to teaching and researching the history of the world. We believe that obtaining a nuanced and informed historical perspective can help every citizen think critically, clearly and creatively.
The History Department’s Guide for Majors and Minors is available here.
The Department of History Spring 2019 Course Catalog is now available here.
Enjoy the latest edition of the History Department’s News, Clio’s Clipboard here.
News and Announcements
Speaker Event: Lee Reiherzer presents “Winnebago Beer, a History of Brewing in Winnebago County.”
The talk will cover the advent of brewing in Winnebago County and chart its explosive growth through the 19th century to its lingering decline in the 20th century. With visits along the way to the areas saloons, taprooms, and hop farms. All of it leading to the...
read more“The program (Black Thursday Remembered 50 Years Later) was fantastic. I loved it. I could see the changes, feel the changes in Oshkosh. I felt a relief of pressure that has been with me for 50 years. Coming back to campus wasn’t hard; what was hard for me was going to Dempsey. It took me 15 minutes to walk into Dempsey, but it was the best 15 minutes because it was the last thing I had to do to get over Black Thursday. Your Chancellor invited us into his office. I have never experienced anything like that. I walked in and I walked out. I walked in and I walked out. It wasn’t like in ‘68. Then I walked in, and I was walked out and put into trucks. But now, today, I’m leaving Oshkosh with joy in my heart and thankfulness that the Lord gave me the opportunity to be alive to see this day because this is a day that will be with me forever.” (1 of 2)
(Note from Grace Lim, instructor and founder of Humans of Oshkosh: Henry Lee Clay was among the group of students who on Nov. 21,1968 occupied the president’s office at State University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, now UW Oshkosh to advocate for a more racially inclusive campus. Ninety-four students were arrested and expelled from the University in the event that became known as Black Thursday. On Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, Clay and other members of the Oshkosh 94, were invited back to UWO for a program that included a dramatic reading of the events leading up to Black Thursday and a video that showcased a number of the Oshkosh 94. Full disclosure: I am the producer of the video, “Black Thursday Remembered: Moving Forward.” As a person who believes in the power of storytelling and the power stories have to unite people, I urge you to take the time to watch the program in its entirety. The photo above was taken the next day at a small gathering of Oshkosh 94 participants, students and faculty. Before he left, Mr. Clay was asked by students for a photo and a goodbye hug. We were given permission to post this exchange. The Black Thursday Remembered 50 Years program and video can be seen www.kaltura.com/tiny/y0ck6. The photo gallery can be found here. www.flickr.com/photos/uwoshkosh/sets/72157673572637507/)
Dear Campus Community,
This evening, UW Oshkosh will commemorate Black Thursday, November 21, 1968, when “ninety-four African American students attending the Wisconsin State University at Oshkosh engaged in a dramatic demonstration within the university administration’s executive offices.”
Due to the capacity of the Music Hall in the Arts & Communication Center, we are unable to accommodate everyone who wishes to attend. However, we have arranged for the program to be live-streamed. You can click on the following link to join us via live stream: uwosh.edu/live/
We thank you for your interest in this event and we hope you enjoy sharing it with us.
Regards,
Dr. Carey-Butler
Academic Support of Inclusive Excellence