The End of History (again)? The purpose and practice of history in Post-Liberal America
Date : Tue 29 Apr
Time : 13:00 - 14:00
Cost : €0
Luke Wadding Library, Cork Road Campus, Waterford
The Luke Wadding Library in association with the Department of Arts presents ‘The End of History (again)? The purpose and practice of history in Post-Liberal America’ a talk by Dr Christopher Curtis, Professor of History at Georgia Southern University and the inaugural Wexford Research Professor on Tuesday, 29 April 2025.
This is an open, free public event which is taking place from 1pm to 2pm in the Special Collections Room (LB30) of the Luke Wadding Library on the Cork Road Campus. Booking is not required.
Abstract
Dr Christopher Curtis will talk briefly about how the economic, social, and political changes of the past two decades have challenged the paradigm of historical practice, as it emerged during the nineteenth century, to support liberal government and nationalism. He will offer some preliminary thoughts on what it all means for the discipline today with questions and discussion to follow.
Biography
Dr Christopher Curtis is a Professor of History at Georgia Southern University and the inaugural Wexford Research Professor. He earned his PhD in history from Emory University, and he holds a Master’s degree from Virginia Tech and a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina as well.
He served as the Vice Provost for Research at Georgia Southern from 2019 to 2024. Previously, Dr Curtis managed the consolidation of Armstrong State University with Georgia Southern University in his capacity as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and then as Vice President for the Armstrong and Liberty Campuses.
He also served as the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and the Chair of the Department of History. Prior to coming to Savannah, he held both faculty and administrative positions at Claflin University and at Iowa State University. He began his teaching career as a high school teacher in Virginia.
Before his career as an educator, he served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps. He deployed as part of the advance expeditionary force to Panama as a platoon commander in 1988-1989 and served as part of an anti-terrorism security force based out of Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico.