Dr. Horowitz Bona Venture Interview

Joel Horowitz, Ph.D., said it was his college language requirement that gave him the idea to study Latin American history.
Horowitz, professor of history, plans to retire after 27 years of teaching at St. Bonaventure. He credited his trip to Mexico during his undergraduate career at the University of Pennsylvania to his love of Latin American history, specifically Argentinian history.
“It’s intriguing because there are real parallels with the United States as a country of immigrants, and I actually see the United States moving into a political situation that resembles Argentina, which is not a good thing,” Horowitz said.
He said while he will miss his students most during retirement, academia will still be in his future.
“I’m planning to write. I’m going to Argentina in September for a while, and I got invited to give a paper and do some research,” Horowitz said. “Eventually [my family and I] are going to move to the Boston area, and my goal is to write. I’ve got at least another book in me.”
Horowitz said he most enjoys teaching seminar courses in Latin American history because, “you actually get to deal with the students in a real way.”

A Second Interview with Dr. Horowitz

The largest circulating newspaper in Argentina Clarín published another interview with Dr. Horowitz ( in Spanish).  This interview focused on the current state of the labor movement in Argentina and its relationship with politics.

Dr. Horowitz's Interview

Dr. Horowitz was interviewed by Clarin, the largest circulation newspaper in Argentina.  You can listen to it (in Spanish) here.  (Don't forget the power of Google translate.)  The interview discusses the main arguments of Horowitz's book Argentina’s Radical Party and Popular Mobilization, 1916-1930 (University Park: Penn State University Press, 2008)which was recently published in Argentina as 
         El radicalismo y la movilización popular (1916-1930) (Buenos Aires: Edhasa, 2015). It also touches on connections between the era that Horowitz studied  and politics in subsequent eras, especially the 1940s and 1950s and the present.

Prominent Argentine Newspaper Interviews Dr. Horowitz

La Nacion, the most prominent newspaper in Argentina, recently interviewed Dr. Horowitz about his book El radicalismo y el movimiento popular. Click here to read the full interview in Spanish!

Dr. Horowitz Publishes Article on Soccer Club

Dr. Joel Horowitz, professor of history at St. Bonaventure University, has just published the article “Football Clubs and Neighborhoods in Buenos Aires before 1943: The Role of Political Linkages and Personal Influence” in the Journal of Latin American Studies, which is published by Cambridge University Press.

The article discusses how in the first decades of the 20th century, the inhabitants of greater Buenos Aires formed innumerable soccer clubs as part of a burgeoning civic culture. Many of these clubs not only proved enduring but helped to shape the sense of neighborhood that dominated much of the cultural and political world of the city. In this they differed from clubs in other South American cities, which tended to have much less of a barrio identity.

However, successful soccer teams required assistance to acquire land and construct stadiums. The evidence of club records and the local press shows that as the clubs grew in size and importance, politicians and other leading neighborhood figures became critical in obtaining the necessary resources for them, but in turn they made use of their association with the clubs to aid their election campaigns and build up their constituencies and clienteles.

SBU History Alum Matt Zaros Discusses His Senior Thesis

Matt with Dr. Horowitz at graduation

In the fall of 2013, I was enrolled in Dr. Robbins's Colonial American history class. One of the required books was Myne Owne Ground: Race and Freedom on Virginia's Eastern Shore, 1640—1676 by T.H. Breen and Stephen Innes. It's an absolute must read for anyone interested in early American history. The book depicts the lives of freed and enslaved Africans in Virginia up until 1676, which was the start of Bacon's Rebellion. Before 1676, Africans could buy their freedom, just like their white servant counterparts. Some freed Africans even became extremely prosperous citizens. I remember finishing the book in bewilderment. Why did Bacon's Rebellion change all that? Why did the process of freeing slaves halt after Bacon's Rebellion? It was these questions that I took with me into my final semester at Bonaventure. I decided that I would investigate how Bacon's Rebellion changed slave culture in America.

After countless hours in the library reading and writing, I finally got my answer. Before Bacon's Rebellion, slaves were given limited liberties. One of these limited liberties was the ability to have free time. With this free time slaves were able to gain skills such as: shoe-making, tool making, carpentry and hunting. Products made by the slaves were sold to slave owners. The money slaves made would go to purchasing their freedom.  Another liberty was the ability to associate with whites. Whites and Blacks worked in the fields together and they formed a common bond, just like any other group of workers.  

It was this common bond and the promise of freedom that unified blacks and whites under Nathanial Bacon to join together to overthrow the Virginia government in 1676 (this is a simplified explanation of the Rebellion).  Unfortunately for the Rebellion, Bacon died of dysentery and soon his Rebellion died too. With fresh troops from England and no leader the unified blacks and whites could not defeat the Government.  In order to make sure a Rebellion would not happen again the slave owners decided to racially separate whites and blacks. This ensured that  the two races could not communicate with one another. They also made slavery more brutal. Taking away the chance of freedom that they slaves once had. It was Bacon's Rebellion that caused slavery in America to fundamentally change.  

This whole project started with a simple question I had in a class. And I ran with it until I got the answers. Besides now having extensive knowledge of slavery in early America, the other thing I learned is if you have a question just keep going until you have your answer.

My Time as a History Major at Bonaventure by Max Schneller

My decision to choose history as my major in college was a relatively easy one. I grew up in Hurley, New York, a town that was established by the Dutch in 1662. Many of the old stone houses of the Dutch colony still exist along Main Street. This historic site along with many others is where I grew up and, ever since I was young, my parents told me about my area's history. Because of this constant exposure to history I quickly grew to love it.

My decision to choose Saint Bonaventure was also in large part because of young exposure. My grandfather and uncle both went to Bonas and so throughout my childhood and high school career I heard stories of Bonaventure. I truly knew that Bonaventure was where I was going to spend my college career, however, when I first visited the school and saw the history section of Friedsam Library. As a high school senior, I had never seen so many books devoted to history in one place. Even now, in my senior year at Bonaventure, I enjoy going down to the History section and simply skimming through the books.

Perhaps my favorite part of being a history major at Saint Bonaventure has been the way that I have expanded my knowledge of the histories of many regions and countries that previously I had no exposure to. These regions include the Middle East, Latin America, and East Asia. Before coming to Saint Bonaventure, I took many classes on European and American history, both of which I have learned a lot about at Bonaventure. However, once at Bonaventure, I immediately decided to take classes on Asian and Latin American history to broaden my historical knowledge. By my sophomore year, I was also taking Middle Eastern history classes. These classes offered a new challenge and were particularly interesting because of the way that all of the information was new. For truly expanding my knowledge in history and changing the way I look at the world I have to thank Dr. Horowitz, Dr. Zabad from the Political Science Department, Dr. Robbins and many other professors throughout this wonderful school.

My Time as a History Major at Bonaventure by Sam Moore

Ever since I was a child I have always had a passion for history. As I grew older, there was no question that I was going to study history in college. It is an interesting story of how I ended up at St. Bonaventure University. I had initially planned on attending Alfred University, but around February of 2010 my father convinced me to apply to SBU. Looking back, I waited way too long to apply. After taking one tour of the campus that spring, I knew instantly that this is where I was going to school.

I have enjoyed every day as a member of the SBU history program. I discovered very quickly that our history professors deeply care about their students' success not only in class but in life after college as well. The professors here have challenged me every step of the way. They have helped me developed my skills of writing, reading, and, most importantly, my ability to think critically. These three things are arguably the most important skills an individual can possess, and I know I will carry them with me for the rest of my life.

I think the most important aspect of this discipline is the fact that history challenges the way you think. One of the best parts about being a history major is discussing issues with other students. Almost every day, I find myself outside of Plassmann Hall discussing current and historical events with other history majors. I can remember having a conversation about this topic with Dr. Joel Horowitz. We both agreed that one of the best parts of college is that it exposes you to differing opinions, and differing points of view. Being able to acknowledge someone else’s point of view is one of the most important things a person can possess. I think it sets you up for success, and ultimately makes you a better person.

Two of the professors that have had the biggest impact on me are Dr. Maddalena Marinari and Dr. Joel Horowitz. Through the rigor of their course requirements they have molded me into a driven student. My plans for the near future consist of serving as an Active Duty Ordinance Officer in the United States Army. I eventually wish to pursue a Master’s Degree in Business.

My Time as a History Major at Bonaventure by Chelsea O'Connor-Rosiek

"So, what do you plan on doing with a history degree?"

                This is the question that every history major has to answer at least forty-seven times a week. It is usually asked with a condescending quality or bewilderment. I know I've heard it, and having to justify a personal choice at every turn gets tiring after four years. But I no longer find this question to be tedious because I could defend my degree until the day I die.

                 I could tell you more about the S. S. St. Louis, the Tango, or the Great Leap Forward than you would probably care to know, but the skills that I've learned as a history major extend beyond facts. I can digest and transmit information well. I can gauge other subjects through a historical lens, from medicine to film, and tell you what implications they convey. The skills I've learned are applicable in many areas of study. Sometimes I get overwhelmed at the prospect of the future but only  because there are so many things I want to do. With my degree in hand, I know I could achieve any of those things.

Studying European History with Dr. Horowitz (Daniel Leopold)

After studying history throughout my life in the United States, I’ve come to realize that our approach to history is America-centric. Even when studying World or European history, all events are filtered through an American lens, almost as if the world functions as a reaction to what we do. Such a geopolitical vacuum does not exist. The beauty of one class in particular that I am taking, “Europe Since 1815”, is that it completely challenges this misconception. Focusing on the dynamic events in history during that specific time and space period, its lens is not tinted with red, white, and blue, but rather targets what the title of the course promises.

Faculty Research Colloquium on Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Speaker: John Apczynski, Department of Theology, St. Bonaventure University 

Topic: The Political Implications of Pope Benedict's Resignation for the Catholic Church 

Place: Plassmann Hall, Room 110 

Time: 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 

Soda and cookies will be available. 

For more information contact Joel Horowitz, Department of History, ext. 2243 or jhorowit@sbu.edu