Tufts Historical Review

The submission deadline for THR Vol. 17: Sacrifice has been extended to February 15th. We look forward to reading your submissions!

The executive and editorial boards of Tufts Historical Review are so excited to announce the call for submissions for Volume XVII: Sacrifice.

From the Editors-in-Chief, Carl Svahn and Anna O’Sullivan:

The Tufts Historical Review Editorial Board is delighted to announce the call for submissions for Volume XVII of the Tufts Historical Review, an academic journal that seeks both undergraduate and graduate research papers of the highest caliber.

This year, we have selected Sacrifice as the theme for the journal. Sacrifice has taken many roles and forms throughout history, from religious martyrdom to battlefield bloodshed. But the impact of a sacrifice on history extends far beyond even the most rudimentary examples. 

Sacrifice has been at the root of some of the most definitive moments for states and peoples. Sacrifice can operate on a large scale; the compromising (or refusal to do so) of certain values has shaped many impactful moments in history, like the Age of Revolution and the birth of the German Empire. Yet, at the same time, some of the most striking sacrifices have come from a single person. For example, the willingness to give up one’s own future to protect their family, as seen with Empress Pulcheria of the Byzantine Empire, or the commitment to values even in the face of seemingly impossible odds and inevitable retribution, as seen with figures like Nelson Mandela and Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. 

The question of what one is willing to give up, or not, for their own desires and the needs of themselves or others has always shaped who that person, conflict, or movement truly is. All of history is touched by sacrifice.

The Tufts Historical Review is committed to publishing the finest undergraduate and graduate historical research. As such, we require that all submissions subscribe to the highest standards of academic quality. Failure to comply with the following requirements may result in the rejection of a submission.

• All submissions must be cited in accordance with the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition.
• No submissions that have previously appeared in another publication will be considered eligible.
• A cover page should be attached to each submission, including the title of the paper, the author’s name, email, and university affiliation. Please indicate your academic program in your submission email.
• Applicant’s information should only appear on the cover page.
• The subject of submissions should relate to events taking place before 1991
• Submissions should range between 3,000 and 8,000 words. Longer submissions are acceptable but will be subject to editing for brevity if selected.
• Submissions from undergraduate (B.A.) and graduate (M.A., Ph.D.) students are welcome.
• Please note that submissions need not explicitly reference the word “Sacrifice” to be eligible for consideration. We encourage broad interpretations of the theme!

The Tufts Historical Review is one of the few undergraduate-led journals of its kind in the United States. A highly selective publication intended to recognize outstanding student work in history and the humanities, the Tufts Historical Review is distributed to the libraries of leading research institutions, including Harvard University, Brown University, Oxford University, the College of William and Mary, and Georgetown University. Alongside an active student board of undergraduate and graduate students, the Tufts Historical Review works closely with an advisory board, including renowned scholars, such as Tufts University President Sunil Kumar.

All submissions must be emailed as Word documents (.docx) or PDF files to tuftshistoricalreview@gmail.com by February 1, 2024, for review by the editorial board. We appreciate your assistance in promoting excellence in undergraduate and graduate historical scholarship, and we look forward to reading your submissions!

The 16th volume of the Tufts Historical Review: Devotion is now published and available online and in print! This volume features four articles and an editorial from undergraduates in the United States and Canada centered around the theme of Devotion. The print edition is available on the Tufts University campus in East Hall, the Campus Center, and Tisch Library, or through our subscription service found this link. The journal can also be found as a PDF at this link.

We would like to thank our authors, staff editors, and copy editors for their hard work. Happy reading!

The submission deadline for Vol. 16 Devotion has been extended from February 14th to February 28th. We look forward to reading your submissions.

The Tufts Historical Review is now accepting submissions for Vol. XVI: Devotion! The window for submissions closes on February 14th 2023, so make sure to email your paper to tuftshistoricalreview@gmail.com soon. Before sending an email, please review our criteria for papers, which can be found on the ‘Submissions’ tab on our website. For inspiration on how to interpret the theme, read the “Call For Submissions” attached below.

From the Office of the Editor: 

The editorial board of the Tufts Historical Review has selected Devotion as the theme for this year’s journal. The commitment to an ideal that is at the heart of devotion has been a driving force throughout history. At first, devotion might conjure the idea of religious fervor and strict adherence to a certain faith, however, humanity’s devotion has taken many forms beyond the religious: personal, political, ideological. 

Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam saw the intersection of ideological and religious devotion through their commitment to black liberation rooted in Islamic values. Through the religious enthusiasm that swept across America in the 18th century, the Second Great Awakening impacted the landscape of American churches. Politically, devotion to leaders can dramatically shape the path of countries and regions. Gamal Abdel Nasser’s devoted and consistent popular support for his vision of Arab nationalism marked Egypt’s national identity and started a movement which left a lasting impact on the history of the region. Conversely, devotion to malicious ideologies can push people and nations to cause widespread suffering such  as the colonial exploits of European powers across the globe. 

Our innate drive to shape the world around us is realized through steadfastness and dedication. Every major cultural, political, and ideological transformation is rooted in one or many individuals’ devotion to a person, idea, or cause. This earnest pursuit of change is inextricably linked to both the human psyche and the progress of history. 

The submission deadline for Vol. 15 Defiance has been extended from February 1st to February 15th. Take advantage of this extension and submit your paper while you still can!

The Tufts Historical Review is now accepting submissions for Vol. XV: Defiance!! The window for submissions closes on February 1st 2022, so make sure to email your paper to tuftshistoricalreview@gmail.com soon. Before sending an email, please review our criteria for papers, which can be found on the ‘Submissions’ tab on our website. For inspiration on how to interpret the theme, read the “Call For Submissions” attached below.

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From the Office of the Editor:

The editorial board of the Tufts Historical Review has selected Defiance as the theme for this year’s journal. As people have sought to challenge the status quo or resist change, defiance has taken many forms throughout history. While every story of defiance is unique, what unites them all is a courageous stand against the powers that be. 

The study of movements such as the fight for women’s suffrage, the Non-Cooperation Campaign, and the Ghost Dance center our understanding of history around stories outside of the dominant power structures. Just as movements have challenged authorities, the actions of individuals have instigated broader societal change like how the refusal of Rosa Parks to give up her seat became a rallying point against segregation. On the other hand, resistance to the forces of change can also shape history. Defiance can be seen in the Catholic Church’s rejection of the Protestant Reformation that compelled the Church to create internal reforms.

Every great transformation in history is marked by defiance. Where there are power disparities, people have sought to disrupt them, and whenever there are new developments, there are those who seek to oppose them. The confluence of these competing forces propel the direction of history. 

In celebration of 15 years of publishing, the Tufts Historical Review has upgraded its website! This new website features a more comprehensive overview of our submissions criteria and process, an archive of past journals, and a more straightforward subscriptions process. We hope that this update facilitates your interaction with the Tufts Historical Review, in whatever shape it may take. Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2022 journal theme, coming in November!