Who We Are

Linda Gerstein, Paul Jefferson, Roger Lane, Emma Lapsansky, Paul Smith, Alexander Kitroeff, James Krippner, Lisa Jane Graham, Bethel Saler, and Darin Hayton. Collectively, we are specialists in many world regions and most approaches to the study of history. We invite you to get to know us better.

What We Do

Although many graduates of the History major have gone on to distinguished careers as scholars, teachers, and curators, it is not the primary goal of the Department to prepare students for the historical profession. Rather, we seek to train students in the fundamental habits of mind of the historian's craft -- skills and attitudes that will provide a foundation for excellence in a wide range of careers and professions, including teaching, law, medicine, business, and public service. Thus at every course level -- our 100-level introductions, our 200-level surveys, and our advanced seminars -- we emphasize the critical reading of texts, an analytical approach to thinking about historical issues, and the preparation of clear, persuasive, and professional quality reports, essays, and research papers.

What Makes Us Unique

Location

• Haverford is 10 miles away from Philadelphia and the wealth of resources that it offers students of history. Valley Forge National Park is a musket shot away up I-76. The area offers well over 100 world-class museums and galleries, as well as the collections of several major universities and colleges.

Scholarly Opportunity

• Haverford combines the individual attention of a small liberal arts college with the range of courses offered in larger institutions. Students may combine their courses at Haverford with those offered by Bryn Mawr College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania. The combination of close working relationships with faculty and a spectacular range of course offerings is unsurpassed in an undergraduate environment.

Quaker Collection

• More than 32,000 titles and 250,000 other items, this extensive collection details the broad range of Quaker thought and work from the 18th century onward. Original documents concering the Revolutionary War, abolition and emancipation, peace activism, and historical Philadelphia offer a fascinating glimpse into the past.

Tradition

• Since its inception in 1833, Haverford College has had a deep committment to the humanities and the rigorous study of history. Our department has produced such scholars as Thomas Bisson ('54) and William Caferro, '84. In particular, History 361, our junior seminar has received national accolades as an innovative introduction to the historian's craft. Within this rich tradition, we continue to innovate and explore. Come join us!