We are the Historical Review at the University of Washington, a student-run undergraduate journal showcasing writing and research in the field of history. The Historical Review was founded in 2019 by Wendi Zhou, Meredith Weinstock, Lillian Williamson, and Pattie Unakul as a place for students to showcase research and writing in the field of history. The journal is published once a year every Spring quarter. We believe that the study of history is critical to understanding present-day issues, patterns, and events. Our journal seeks to make history more accessible for students and foster conversation on the role of history in the present.
Check out the most recent issue of The Historical Review, our Spring 2025 edition: Volume 5! We are proud to present the work of Claire Killian, Brandon Spooner, Zachary Stiles, Harjot Singh, Kirin Yadav, Shirin Choi and members of the Poetry Club at the University of Washington in this edition of The Historical Review. Their pieces project an understanding of history as well as unique research and creative interests that we believe are pivotal in opening undergraduate student scholarship to a wider, more diverse community. Thank you, to our 2024-25 edition writers, your trust in our editors through this process and courage to share your work with us was the most important part of making this edition of our journal possible. (Read here!)
We take submissions from all undergraduate students and recent graduates from two-year and four-year institutions, with preference given to students from the University of Washington (all campuses) and two-year colleges in Washington state. The Historical Review accepts papers written for a course, independent research, and book and film reviews. Research papers must be at least 10 double-spaced pages in length. Book and film reviews should be no longer than eight double-spaced pages. If you are interested in submitting a paper, see more requirements and the submission process here.
In his analysis of cultural capital, Pierre Bourdieu revealed a profound truth about modern societies: power often cloaks itself in taste. Developed in the context of post World War II France, Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital which is defined as non-economic resources such as linguistic fluency, aesthetic sensibilities, and institutionalized educational credentials, remains a cornerstone of contemporary sociology not because it is static, but because it is elastic. As societies evolve, the currency of capital changes form but not function. Today, cultural capital persists as an invisible architecture of inequality, shaping who belongs, who succeeds, and who remains perpetually on the margins.... (Read more!)
Perhaps one of the most intriguing and important aspects of modern geographic disciplines involves the usage of remote sensing. Drones, satellites, and other forms of technology are utilized for the study of our Earth and the people who inhabit it. Quite literally, remote sensing is acquiring information about objects and areas without physical interference. Although we often view remote sensing as being a contemporary subject and being collected via the aforementioned technologies, remote sensing has been around for millennia. The Indigenous Iñupiaq people of Alaska are a whaling community and have been for thousands of years... (Read more!)