Tag Archives: History

GRAVE CIRCUMSTANCES (Cemetery preservation video)

The Cemetery Preservation Project, managed through the UM-Flint History program, is now in its eighth year.

What comes to mind when someone says "summer?" Sun? Sand? Waves along a beach? What about cemeteries, gravestones and a sense of community? Well, for a group of UM-Flint students, led by Thomas Henthorn, the university's Dorothea E. Wyatt Professor of United States History, the latter is exactly what it's all about. The group will spend[…]

Bujak's UM-Flint experiences led him to U-M Law School

Joseph Bujak's experiences at UM-Flint prepared him to excel at U-M Law School.

Joseph Bujak knew from an early age that he wanted to pursue a career in public service. At 17, he began an internship at the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac, which he has continued throughout his studies at the University of Michigan-Flint. Recently graduating with a double major in political science and history,[…]

Forging relationships at the Factory Two makerspace (Video)

Thomas Henthorn, the Dorothea E. Wyatt Professor of United States History at UM-Flint, teaches students and community members about the art of blacksmithing at the Factory Two makerspace.

Factory Two is a community makerspace located in the heart of downtown Flint. The space provides tools, equipment and training for those eager to learn. Members can access cutting-edge technology like 3D printers and drones and time-honored traditions in the wood and metal shops to make items as delicate as jewelry or as durable as[…]

Revolution and Resilience: UM-Flint students can travel to Cuba for (essentially) free

UM-Flint faculty members Stephanie Vidaillet Gelderloos (front) and Thomas Henthorn (rear) will be leading students on a funded trip to Cuba in 2025. They are pictured here near a mural in Viñales, Cuba, approximately 114 miles southwest of Havana.

Despite being just 100 miles off of Key West, Florida, it can seem that Cuba is a world away. Since the U.S. embargo against the island country first began in 1960, the Caribbean nation has been largely isolated – politically and economically – from its neighbor to the north. But despite the embargo and restricted[…]

UM-Flint professor explains the Celtic origins of Halloween

John Ellis, UM-Flint professor of history, recently spoke on the Celtic origins of Halloween ahead of a faculty-led trip to Dublin, Ireland.

So you've set up the 12-foot skeleton in your front yard, spent a whole paycheck on candy for the neighborhood kids, and dusted off your Dracula cape. But did you know that Halloween traditions like carving pumpkins, wearing costumes and sharing ghost stories stem from Celtic traditions and customs? A group of UM-Flint students will[…]

UM-Flint history professor honored with U-M Regents' Award for Public Service

Thomas Henthorn, the Dorothea E. Wyatt Professor of United States History at the University of Michigan-Flint.

One might think that studying history is only about learning about the past, but for Thomas Henthorn, the Dorothea E. Wyatt Professor of United States History at the University of Michigan-Flint, it's also a gateway to the present and future.  Case in point, Henthorn empowers his students to influence Flint's contemporary community meaningfully by engaging[…]

UM-Flint unveils trailblazing cannabis-centric course

“The History and Culture of Cannabis" is the first course covering the plant to be taught at UM-Flint.

Students in one new University of Michigan-Flint course are hoping for "high" marks this fall as they delve into the past, present and future of one of the country's newest cash crops.  The course, titled "The History and Culture of Cannabis," examines cannabis' deep roots in global history, the traditions of its use and its[…]

UM-Flint history program's cemetery preservation project receives $15K gift

The UM-Flint Cemetery Preservation team (pictured left to right: Lisa Horn of Novi, Wendy Kimberly of Fort Gratiot, Izzy Guertin of Fenton and Mary Ann Kost of Linden) pose in front of a gantry crane at Old Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Flint.

Some University of Michigan-Flint history majors are ready to dig in and get their hands dirty to preserve local cemeteries and additional funding from the A.G. Bishop Charitable Trust is ensuring the ongoing project will continue. Each summer for the past seven years Thomas Henthorn, associate professor of history, and a team of interns have[…]