History

Cincinnati Riverfront historical image and modern image

Welcome to the Department of History, a community of teachers and students dedicated to socially relevant research and learning. Our students study abroad and close to home, where they have the opportunity to participate in community-engaged research through the Center for the City and with community partners, such as the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and the Cincinnati Museum Center. Through internships, co-ops, and independent and faculty-led research, our graduate and undergraduate students are making a difference as they learn. Our work is literally changing the landscape in the city and reinterpreting spaces – as you can see along the Wyandot Removal Trail. Our faculty has strengths in race and caste, empire and international relations, law, religion, cities, environment, medicine, public history, and more. 

While it is always a good time to study history, the need is all the more evident in a time of rapid change. Join us. 

1

New hires reflect UC’s commitment to research, innovation and impact

November 6, 2025

With the 2025-26 school year in full swing, the College of Arts and Sciences has welcomed five faculty members to lead departments that span from chemistry to journalism. Dean James Mack said these new hires “reflect our unwavering commitment to ‘Discovery in Action,’ as we continue to enhance our academic and research excellence”. With these additions, the future of UC is in good hands, and students can look forward to new opportunities for learning, research, and innovation.

2

How Halloween took over October

October 31, 2025

University of Cincinnati history professor Janine Hartman was featured in the Dayton Daily News discussing how Halloween has evolved from ancient Celtic rituals into a modern celebration embraced across cultures. Hartman says the holiday endures because it unites people through creativity, community and shared joy.

3

The burning river that fueled a US green movement

May 5, 2025

An article by the BBC takes the reader back to the late 18th and 19th centuries, when US prosperity was defined by the industrial revolution, a time with little regard for the pollutants that came with industrial expansion. UC's David Stradling, professor of history, cited as expert source in the article.

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