ODU History

Come check out the HIST 396: Topics in Today's Public History class's exhibit "Delenda est Norfolk: The Tidewater Revolts" commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence! This student-created exhibit explores the Tidewater's Revolutionary Era resistance to British authority. Discover the many ways Virginians shaped the struggle for American independence. The exhibit is on display in Perry Library until July 6, 2026.

Congratulations to Dr. Elizabeth Fretwell on the publication of her book!

Tailoring Identities reveals the rich history behind the gendered and occupational identities of Benin's craftspeople and how their mastery over the material world positioned them as experts in style and sartorial meaning. Drawing on archival records from Benin, the United States, France, and Senegal and connecting them with oral histories, local material archives, and insights from her own apprenticeship with a Beninois master seamstress, Elizabeth Ann Fretwell demonstrates how West African tailors became important technological and cultural agents.

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