In May, David Goldfield, the Robert Lee Bailey Professor of History, delivered lectures at three East China universities, drawing connections between 19th and 20th century economic and social developments and contemporary U.S. society. Goldfield is an academic specialist for the U.S. State Department; he leads seminars and workshops abroad on various aspects of American political culture.
He spoke on “Making an Urban Nation” to 50 master’s and Ph.D. history students from East China Normal University on May 12 and 100 undergraduates from Hangzhou Normal University on May 13. During one question-and-answer session, graduate students raised critical questions related to public transportation, air pollution and efforts to balance economic development with making a habitable urban environment.
Goldfield also presented “Abraham Lincoln: American Idol” to 100 freshmen from Zhejiang University. He discussed how President Lincoln was transformed from a relatively unpopular president during his tenure to one of the most admired presidents in U.S. history.
According to State Department officials, Goldfield’s lectures were well-received and stimulated many questions about how changing social values influence historians’ interpretations of events and former leaders.