By Rachel McFarland 

A major issue of the world today is the appropriation of historical artifacts and artwork. This has been an issue since colonialism, but the first movement towards putting things back in order came after the events of World War II. Prior to and during World War II, the Nazis had multiple campaigns where they would steal and “lawfully” acquire major works of art that were owned by Jewish people living in what was then the German Empire. During this time period “over 20% of Europe’s art by the end of World War II” was looted.

By Jace Hoppel 

Introduction 

The world of nationalism and nationalistic thinking is quite the mixed bag. An ideology that can inspire revolution to incite democracy, but can also promote highly racial ideologies. Regardless of how you look at it, one thing that all can agree is quintessential to nationalism is history. The prospect of knowing what either your ancestors or forerunners of your country did is bound to rally up nationalistic pride. 

So what does it look like if that sense of nationalism is threatened? One particular example is the exploitation of a nation’s artifacts, a clear sign of its history, in order to be displayed in museums (usually in Western museums). Nations like Greece, India, and various African, Meso, and South American nations have been large victims of artifact exploitation, but one country especially has been hit hard by this—Egypt. 

By Nathan Guerra 

Introduction 

Every year, millions of people visit the Acropolis in Athens to marvel at the beauty of the Parthenon. Originally built as a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena after the Greeks’ victory over the Persians, this architectural masterpiece embodies the legacy of the Athenian Golden Age. 

In 1801, Lord Elgin is said to have received a Firman, a royal decree or official document issued by the Ottoman Empire granting permission or authority, which allegedly allowed him to remove and export sculptures from the Parthenon and other ancient buildings on the Acropolis. This led to Lord Elgin removing what is estimated to be half of the surviving sculptures from the Parthenon ruins. 

Each semester, the BGSU Department of History highlights the extraordinary work of our senior students. This spring, Erika Putnam was recognized with the Donna M. Nieman Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence in History for her capstone project. This study, developed in The French Revolution (HIST 3420) with Prof. Kara Barr and polished in Professional Practices in History (HIST 4001) with Prof. Douglas Forsyth, explores how fiction has shaped public understanding of one of the most violent and misunderstood periods in revolutionary history. 

Her paper, titled “Evolving Narratives: A Historiographical Review of the Reign of Terror in Historical Fiction Since the Mid-Nineteenth Century,” examines how storytelling influences historical memory and interpretation. 

We invite you to take a deeper look at this work in Erika’s own words, and to watch the public presentation of her project. https://youtu.be/SPOQrUOpo_s?si=j1gDZw4uaD7E_nIm

Emeritus Professor Lillian Ashcraft-Eason was recently featured on WGTE’s All Things Considered in a special Radio Diaries segment highlighting the life and influence of Elder Lightfoot Solomon Michaux (1885–1968)—a charismatic African American minister whose national radio broadcasts made him one of the most prominent Black religious figures of his time.