About Us

The Department of History thrives on its close relationship with many other departments, centers and area studies programs in the humanities and social sciences at Cornell. The faculty includes more than a dozen prize-winning authors as well as winners of Cornell’s prestigious teaching and advising awards.

Spotlight on History Alumni

Photograph David Langbert courtesy of National Archives

History Alum and Diplomatic Records Archivist Receives Foreign Policy Prize

History Degree Shines Light on Alumna's Real Estate Business Career

A Career in Corporate Finance ~ How My History Degree Helped Me Get There

Popular Destinations

Department Contacts and Administration Cornell Historical Society Public History Initiative

History Events

Sep 11

Thursday 12:00 PM

Crucibles of Power

TBD

Sep 26

Friday 01:00 PM

The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement

TBA

See all events

History News

A white haired man and a woman in bright red shirt and sweater stand leaning against a cow with a painting of a cow on it, with a barn in the back and sunflowers and grass on its legs.

Udderly Delightful: Meet the Alum Behind ‘CowParade’

Jerry Elbaum ’61, JD ’64, founded the organization that mounts bovine-themed public art shows in cities around the globe

Ticket stubs & COVID tests: 2020s Big Red life, in scrapbooks

As a final project, a popular course on Cornell history lets students create miniature time capsules for future generations.

person at a desk with computers, looking thoughtful

From halting cancer to protecting soldiers, Big Red research is at risk

A look at some projects imperiled by federal funding cuts—and how you can support your alma mater through ‘Cornell Matters’

Book cover: The Greater Second World War

Global perspectives reframe timeline and scope of WWII

This summer marks the 80th anniversary of the “official” end of World War II, but a new book co-edited by Ruth Lawlor, assistant professor of history, extends the war’s timeline back to 1931 and into the mid-1950s.

Computer screen showing images of three newspaper ads from a long time ago

Research at risk: Records of enslaved people seeking freedom

A research project collecting records of freedom-seeking enslaved people in the pre-Civil War U.S. came to a halt when researchers received a stop-work order from the National Endowment for the Humanities in early May.

people in military fatigues stand by the side of a street

Military use in Los Angeles coming right up to Insurrection Act

History professor David Silbey points out restrictions on and risks of using active-duty military to respond to protests.

From posters to precedent, humanities scholars showcase their research

Projects spanned topics from Confederate cemeteries to Korean textiles.

Norton honored with top alumni award from Harvard

The Centennial Medal recognizes alumni who have made fundamental and lasting contributions to knowledge, their disciplines, their colleagues and society

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