Exciting Lineup of Guest Lecturers to Visit Dr. Matthew Booker’s History Classes

In Fall 2024, History professor, Dr. Matthew Booker, will teach U.S. Agricultural History (HI 360) and Modern U.S. History (HI 254). U.S. Agricultural History “investigates the profoundly important changes–and surprising continuities–in American agricultural life. Not only are economic and technological forces explored, but also the racial and ethnic diversity of American farm families, the social life of farming communities, the politics and policies of agrarianism and the changing value and meaning of farm work.” Modern U.S. History looks at how, between 1865 and 2001, the United States emerged from shattered disunion to become a diverse, powerful world empire.

Dr. Booker invites guest speakers, particularly to his US agricultural history course, for several reasons. Says Booker, “First, students love to hear from exciting guests who work on the topics we teach, like community historian Kevin Ashley. Teaching is also a chance for me to learn. I like to bring experts whose research is expanding the field–people like Andre Taylor (Public History MA ’20). Then, guest speakers can reveal the remarkable resources at NC State. Our archives and special collections are full of great stories, as students discover in a conversation about the role of farm women in household economies with NCSU Librarian Virginia Ferris. Finally, NC State has hundreds of interesting faculty, many of whom are interested in history and are just waiting to be asked. My invitations to guest lecture are often reciprocated, and it’s good for historians to mingle with scholars like Chancellor Randy Woodson, himself a formidable plant scientist.”

First on the docket is the aforementioned Andre Taylor, ’20 who will visit Dr. Booker’s U.S. Agricultural History class on August 29. His lecture, “Cowpeas, Okra, Millet, Sorghum, Sweet Potato” explores the topic of colonial foodways and agriculture. Andre Taylor is a public historian and award-winning journalist with specialties in oral history, African American history, and African American foodways. Andre is a doctoral student at William and Mary University, and has an MA in Public History from NC State 2020, and a BA in History from NC A&T University, 2018.

Future speakers include, NC State Chancellor, Randy Woodson, who will speak on the history and future of land grant universities, Virginia Ferris, Lead Librarian for Outreach & Engagement at the Special Collections Research Center at D.H. Library, will discuss tomato clubs, agricultural extension and archival resources, Dr. Rob Dunn, Senior Vice Provost of University Interdisciplinary Programs and a Reynolds Professor in Applied Ecology at NC State who speak on the future of agriculture, and Kevin Ashley, contributor to the Coronado Black History Project. He will discuss recovering community history and respect through archival and oral history.