detail of a painting of a person posing with stringed instrument for a painter
History
Orange and indigo colored woodblock and stencil on paper of three figures outlined in white.
History
Black and white photo of a group of soldiers leaving a shelled building
History
Print of a sailor on the deck of a ship kicking an enemy sailor into the water.
History
Black and white photo of two crouched soldiers looking out a window, one is point rifle out of the window.
History
Painting of a steam boat and sailboats on a river
History
Black and white photo of person at a sewing machine
History

Why study history at Vassar? Knowledge of history opens a window onto the past, helping us comprehend the complexities of life in remote and recent periods. At the same time history provides a vital perspective on current events and issues, illuminating the impact of the past on the world today.

The study of history at Vassar develops a range of skills that can be applied not only to further study but also to a wide variety of careers. Students learn how to track down reliable sources of information, then how to make sense of complex documents and varying viewpoints. In an age of information overload, these tools are more essential than ever. Read more

Stories

Protestors in front of the Supreme Court on May 3, after a leaked draft opinion showed the court was preparing to overturn Roe v. Wade and push women's rights back by half a century.

The Overturning of Roe v. Wade

One retired and two current Vassar professors hosted a webinar on June 29 to discuss the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.

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Images in slideshow

  1. Mathieu Le Nain (French, 1607–1677), The Painter’s Studio, Date: Nd, Oil on canvas, Purchase: Matthew Vassar Fund, Photo credit: The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
  2. Janet Nipi Ikuutaq (Inuit [Baker Lake/Qamani’tuaq], born 1935), Detail: Jealous Owl, 2000, Woodblock and stencil on paper, Gift from the Edward J. Guarino Collection in honor of Karen Merritt & Len Skovira, Photo credit: The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
  3. U.S. Marine Sergeant Bruce Allen Atwell, Combat photographs from Hue, Vietnam during the 1968 Tet Offensive, Black & white photograph, 1968
  4. Migita Toshihide (Japanese, 1863–1925), A Sailor of our Warship Sazanami Jumped onto the Deck of a Russian Ship. With a Thundering Cry “Hey You!” He Cut at the Enemy Captain and Kicked Him into the Water. —in the Sea Battle near Port Arthur, March 10, 1904, 1904, Color woodblock print: oban tate-e triptych, Gift of Frances Beatty Adler, class of 1970, and Allen Adler, Photo credit: The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
  5. U.S. Marine Sergeant Bruce Allen Atwell, Combat photographs from Hue, Vietnam during the 1968 Tet Offensive, Black & white photograph, 1968
  6. Judson Smith (American, 1880–1962), View of Poughkeepsie in 1840, Competition Sketch for Mural, Unrealized, Post Office, Poughkeepsie, New York, 1938/1939, Tempera & graphite on brown paperboard, Gift of the Judson Smith Family, Photo credit: The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
  7. Lewis Wickes Hine (American, 1874–1940), At Work in a Garment Factory, NY, 1931, Gelatin silver print, Gift of Alverta Van Dusen Lewis, Photo credit: The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center