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Reflections on the American Studies Program

We encourage a continuing dialogue among alumni and current faculty and students.  If you would like to include your thoughts about American Studies or news about your own life and work, please email the Program Manager, Judith Ferszt.  For confidential notes or concerns, please contact the Program's Director, Dirk Hartog.

Dean Boorman, '48

My educational career was influenced by the Program. My father was a civil engineer, and I started out to get first an A.B. and after that a B.S.  I took enough engineering type courses at Princeton so that I was admitted to MIT as a junior in civil engineering. However, I was always more of a liberal arts type, and after my junior year at MIT switched to the two year graduate course in city planning, and ended up with a Master's in that field, where I have worked ever since, having my own consulting firm since 1962. 

Ruth Bush, '90

I learned how to learn.  Many of my fellow students, who were doctors and nurses, were amazed that I could keep up with and challenge them when I, the "non-science major," began a Master's in Public Health with a concentration in biostatistics.  Such a program was easier than preparing for a AMS 201 precept!  I continue to love the multi-disciplinary nature of learning about and trying to understand America.  In the almost 20 years since I have graduated that concept has been challenged and modified in many ways.  I believe my undergraduate experience continues to help me to think critically, to challenge, and to embrace the concept of America.

Elizabeth Anspach Carlson, '83

I graduated from the American Studies program in 1983, with a concentration in English.  I have such great memories of working with Professors Emory Elliott, David Van Leer, and Valerie Smith!  After graduating, I went into the field of elementary education. In 1995, I relocated to North Carolina with my young family.  Soon,  the rich, multicultural music heritage of our part of the state caught my attention.  I met with other people in our community  interested in this subject, and we formed Carolina Music Ways Music Heritage Resource Group, www.carolinamusicways.org.  This project combined my backgrounds in American Studies and in education, and I have found it to be very rewarding.  I feel blessed to have had the experiences and training I received in the American Studies program at Princeton, as they set me on a meaningful path that I continue to enjoy greatly.

Richard Cummings, '59

Having completed the program when I was at Princeton,  I am thrilled to learn that it is flourishing in such splendid fashion.  James Ward Smith and Perry Miller conducted the seminar during my junior year, which was the most stimulating academic experience I had as an undergraduate.

Jess Deutsch, '91

I've always felt that the American Studies aspect of my Princeton experience was really the way that I confirmed that no matter what I'd do in my life professionally, I'd want to incorporate the idea of cross-disciplinary thinking...And, as it's played out, I've been lucky enough to do just that. Most recently, my graduate background in education and social work is being put to exciting use as the Assistant Director for Health Professions Advising right here at Princeton. I love the chance to work closely with students who tend to have interest in both science and the humanities, and who are on the verge of shaping what healthcare will look like in this country and beyond. 

Clem Dinsmore ’65

I loved the program—everything about it -the professors, the courses, the seminars.  My career undoubtedly has been affected by my participation in the program.  One example: as a VISTA Volunteer lawyer during 1968-1969 in Anacostia, D.C. my most notable community advocacy success was to help persuade the Congress to appropriate the monies necessary to the restoration of the last home of Frederick Douglass in Anacostia. 

Peter Maruca, ' 87

What a fertile, thought-provoking concept (America)!  Since my graduation in 1987, I have been thoroughly steeped in America, working as an itinerant carpenter on both coasts, playing a lot of folk music and finally settling down and starting my own little construction company.  We specialize in renovating, remodeling, salvaging (and occasionally moving) uniquely American structures.  I focused on American architectural history as an undergrad and I love both it and the level of craft at which we “play the game.” 

Spencer B. Meredith, '53

I was fortunate to have been in the PAS (Program in American Studies) and it was the educational foundation for my life.  Because it was cross-disciplinary we covered a lot of ground, and I learned to be a generalist, picking information from all sources, and the program gave me an understanding of the complexity that is my country and its culture.  We were exposed to the ideas that made us productive human beings, and we did well with our lives, in all manner of fields. 

Connie Quarles Wonham '83

I guess the biggest impact the program had on me was that it was my first experience with the concept of an integrated curriculum, and I found it so much more interesting to meld the history with the literature and the art history. I went on to teach middle school English and history for 15 years, and I have no doubt that echoes of the American Studies program resonated in my teaching. 

Ari Weinberg, '99 -- following "Reunions 2009:  Reinventing American Studies in the 'New' Princeton."

After hearing the talk of proliferation of Ethnic Studies at Princeton, I am decidely of the mind that these programs/centers should exist within the American Studies program. It is a slippery slope towards Balkanization when other groups wish to follow the example of Latino Studies or even African-American Studies. I understand the politically charged nature of African-American Studies, but even this program should be recognized as a subset of American Studies.
 
I applaud the Lapidus family for their understanding of this and endowing a course in Jewish American Studies AND NOT pushing through a Jewish-American Studies program. I believe Sidney was at the meeting as well and backed this up. In terms of ethnic or gender studies devoted to a certain geography or time period, the macro category should take precedent.
 
As a Classics major, with an American Studies certificate, I understand the geographic and temporal nature of disciplines. But, with 2000 years of reflection to back me up, a Jewish Classics program or an African Classics program seems all but absurd.
 
If we at Princeton are set on creating an educational legacy with stronger departments and well-rounded students, the route of specialized American Ethnic Studies outside the purview of American Studies would do the school a disservice.