On June 22, 23 and 24, 2023, the World History Center and the World History Association hosted the 32nd annual meeting of the World History Association at the University of Pittsburgh. The three- day event brought together over 200 academic historians, college instructors, and secondary school teachers from thirteen different countries. By any measure, the event was a success!
During the conference, participants had the opportunity to share innovative research and teaching practices and to explore many of Pittsburgh’s cultural institutions. The program included 64 sessions, many of which reflected the conference theme of Energies. Two plenary sessions, one featuring Victor Seow (Harvard University) and one featuring Brian Black (Penn State University), addressed fossil fuel history in China and in the United States respectively. The variety of panels about both world historical teaching and research is evidence of the vibrancy and diversity of people working in the field of world history. Conference organizers also planned an opening reception at the beautiful Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and a closing reception at the Frick Fine Arts Cloister Area.
Generous sponsorship from the Carnegie Museums and the Senator John Heinz History Center allowed conference goers complementary admission to all four Carnegie Museums as well as the Heinz History Center and the Fort Pitt Museum. Participants could also choose to attend four free excursions to Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark (with sponsorship from the World History Center), the Maxo Vanka murals at St. Nicholas Croatian Church in Millvale (with sponsorship from the European Studies Center and Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies ), a curator-led tour of the Heinz History Center, and a special tour of the Pitt Nationality and Heritage Rooms sponsored by the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs.
In addition to its regular sessions open to all participants, the conference hosted a special professional development workshop for world history teachers organized by the World History Center’s Alliance for Learning in World History (ALWH). The professional development workshop consisted of three accepted-participant-only workshops led by University of Pittsburgh History Department faculty and archivists in which teachers had the chance to discuss and learn about global energy history in a variety of contexts.
Conference organizers were aided by the help of numerous student workers. Undergraduate history major and alumna Catherine Raspanti helped organize the teacher’s workshop and ran the Center’s social media accounts. Nicholas Demjan, also an undergraduate history major and recent alum, collaborated with the University Library System’s Archives and Special Collections staff to create an exhibit for the conference titled Pittsburgh Energies, Global Impacts. The exhibit is on display on the third floor of Hillman Library. An additional ten students assisted during the conference and had an opportunity to attend sessions. Many participants observed that their communicativeness and good cheer was a highlight of the conference, and we agree! We are proud to have offered professional development opportunities to Pitt undergraduates.
Thank you to all of our sponsors, student workers, and support staff from the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences Social Sciences Division, Pitt IT Client Services, Summer Conferences, and the Office of Facilities Management for your support in making this conference a success! Click here to see a full list of sponsors.
Scroll down to see pictures from the conference.
Inaugural session of the ALWH teacher's workshop with Pitt Archivist Zach Brodt on the "Homestead Steel Strike: Global Perspectives in Primary Sources."
A panel in honor of the WHC's founder and visionary world historian, Dr. Patrick Manning--followed by a standing ovation in his honor!
WHC leadership team of Drs Ali Straub, Ruth Mostern and Molly Warsh with some of our extraordinary Pitt alums helping run this conference! Thanks to Sam G., Riley B, Catherine R. and Nick D and the whole neon-shirted team!
Closing keynote by Dr. Victor Seow, Harvard University, “Energies: A Useful Category of Historical Analysis?”
Two of our amazing student workers, forming human arrows in their neon shirts to help attendees find their way around campus!
