History Students Present Papers at National Convention

By Mary Margaret Coughlin, C’08

Each year Mount St. Mary’s University participates in the Phi Alpha Theta Convention for undergraduates and graduate students studying history. The experience offers students the opportunity to meet distinguished historians and present their own research papers.

Mount senior Joe Vigliotti and junior Beth Kitchin, both presented papers this year at the March convention, which was held at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Maryland.   

Vigliotti presented “Forever on His Memory: Roger Brooke Taney’s Attempt to Avert Civil War,” an examination of the Dred Scott decision of 1857, and the role Chief Justice Roger Broke Taney played.  He had a special interest in Taney after moving to Taneytown, Md. and learning that the town was named after the chief justice.  Vigliotti received second place in the undergraduate division for best paper.

Kitchin’s paper, “Choose Christ, for Christ Loves America,” discussed the origins of modern evangelical Protestant influence in politics and used evangelical Billy James Hargis as a case study.  She argued that it was anti-Communism that drew the evangelicals together politically.  Kitchin will be awarded the Mount’s American Experience Prize at the Honors Convocation this year.

Both Vigliotti and Kitchin believe that the overall experience of the Phi Alpha Theta Convention was very rewarding.  Vigliotti said, “I love learning about anything and it was really fascinating to hear everything everyone had been researching.  That it took place at the Naval Academy was awesome.  It was amazing not only to be around so much history, but to be at an installation dedicated to the protection and preservation of our national security and country.”  Kitchin added, “Overall, the experience was excellent.  My fellow panelists, the moderator, the audience, and I were able to engage in a good academic discussion of the panel’s papers following the presentations.  In addition, I personally enjoyed the ability to get a broader picture of the scholarship being pursued by my fellow history students.”