2108 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052

Thursday, August 27, 2026

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1789 - French National Assembly issues the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen."

1950 - First transmission of a TV program from continental Europe airs on the BBC.

1964 - Walt Disney's musical film "Mary Poppins," starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, premieres at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, and wins five Academy Awards.

1970 - Jimi Hendrix creates his last studio recording at Electric Lady Studios in NYC, an instrumental called "Slow Blues"

Meta to Pay Up to $17.1 Billion in Landmark Settlement Over Social Media Addiction Claims.
The New York Times.

"Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise" Offers a Timely Look at the Local Art World.
Washington City Paper.

A partial lunar eclipse is coming, and the U.S. is in a prime spot to watch.
The Washington Post.

Welcome back to campus, everyone! I hope everyone got some downtime to relax and recharge this summer. I'm excited about another school year and hope you are too. I look forward to seeing you around soon.

DC History Book Talk: 
No More Worlds to Conquer

Washington, DC stands among the literary powerhouses of the world. In No More Worlds to Conquer, local poet Brian Gilmore explores the city’s rich tradition of Black writers and poets, one that predates the Harlem Renaissance. Gilmore also shares his own story as a poet in DC and makes the case for the nation’s capital as a center of American literature.

Join the DC History Center and The People’s Archive for a conversation between Gilmore and Holly Bass tracing the literary life, politics, and influence of DC’s Black poets. Whether you’re a poetry enthusiast, DC scholar, or simply interested in the city’s Black culture and history, this conversation is for you!

When: Wednesday, September 2; 6:30–8:00 pm
Where: MLK Library, 901 G St NW

Register here.

Twenty-Five Years After 9/11:
War, Memory, and the World It Created
Institute for Middle East Studies // ESIA

Twenty-five years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, their consequences continue to shape United States foreign policy, military institutions, and public memory, as well as life across the Middle East and Central Asia.

The George Washington University’s Institute for Middle East Studies and the Quincy Institute’s Veterans in Foreign Policy Initiative is pleased to host an interdisciplinary panel of scholars of the Middle East and military history to examine how the United States and the Middle East were transformed by 9/11 and the wars that followed. The discussion will consider the evolution of the U.S. military and the “Global War on Terror,” the consequences of prolonged counterinsurgency and nation-building campaigns, the changing politics of the Middle East, and how 9/11 affected the lives of the people who live there, with attention to both state politics and the experiences of ordinary people.

When: Thursday, September 10; 5:00–7:00 pm
Where: 1957 E St NW, Room 602 & Online

Register here.

DC History Book Launch: 
Palaces of the Public

Join the DC History Center and the DC Preservation League for a special book launch of John DeFerrari’s Palaces of the Public, a lively, richly illustrated history of Washington’s hotels past and present. This event offers friends, family, and fans of John DeFerrari a special opportunity to see him in conversation with Architectural Historian Kim Prothro Williams. 

Palaces of the Public traces the evolution of the city’s hostelries, from 18th-century taverns and pre–Civil War boarding houses to modern hotels, motels, and boutique properties. Along the way, DeFerrari highlights hotels for women, tourist hotels, and hotels run by and for African Americans during segregation, as well as the role of historic preservation in saving landmark hotel buildings.

When: Thursday, September 10; 6:00–8:00 pm
Where: DC History Center, 801 K St NW

Register here.

Alum and Prof. Laura Schiavo (PhD ‘03) was recently named as the next director of GW’s Corcoran School of the Arts & Design! You can read more about her appointment via the GW Hatchet.

Alum Justin Mann (PhD ‘18) recently received tenure at Northwestern University!

Current PhD candidate Butheina Hamdah recently published a book review of Dilemmas of Authenticity: The American Muslim Crisis of Faith by Zaid Adhami with the journal Politics, Religion & Ideology.

Current PhD candidate Matthew Marciello was selected as a 2026-27 Dean's Graduate Lectureship (DGL) recipient and is currently teaching their Dean's seminar course titled "The Queer, Trans, and Intersex 1990s."

Prof. Melani McAlister was quoted by Al Jazeera in the article “Is Christian Zionism in the US on a decline?.”

Call for Applications: GW Libraries Special Collections Research Center is hiring for two student positions, one with the National Education Association Archives, and another with the Digital Services Unit. Click here and here to learn more // Deadline: Sept. 1, 2026.

Call for Applications: The Curran Fellowships are currently accepting applications. These are travel and research grants intended to aid scholars studying British magazines and newspapers. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Oct. 15, 2026.

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Like what you see? Have spotlights, kudos, events, or opportunities that you would like to share? We want to hear from you! Navigate to our feedback form using the link below, or more simply, forward your tip to amst@gwu.edu.