History

  • CSUN History Department

Special Programs

The Whitsett Program in California History supports scholarship on the history of California and the American West, through an endowed Chair in California History (held by Dr. Josh Sides).  The program supports several programs each year including the Whitsett Lecture and the Whitsett Graduate Seminar in California History.

The Department has long maintained an active field study program in which students travel to historic sites and to archives.  In April 2013 a graduate seminar on the history of espionage traveled to the National Archives in Washington DC in April of 2013.  Other recent activities have included a trip to Paris in June 2011, and trip to Poland and Germany   (co-sponsored with Jewish Studies) in 2011 and 2012.

For many years the History Department supported the Natchez Courthouse Records Project.  Established by Prof. Ron Davis, and carried on by Dr. Joyce Broussard, the project has taken students from Northridge to do research in the rich Courthouse archives of Natchez, Mississippi.  Students involved in project produced many articles, and several books.  Alumni of the program have moved on to PhDs and teaching positions at Universities and Community Colleges.  At the present time, no trips to Natchez are planned, but the project continues to provide support for students interested in Southern history to undertake research in Natchez and other locations.  Interested students should contact Dr. Joyce Broussard.