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Augustana Historical Society highlights the history of Vietnam War, releases publication

A newspaper clipping published by the Augustana Observer on May 14, 1970, detailing a student protest between Augustana College and St. Ambrose University in regards to the Vietnam War and Kent State shootings.
Associate Professor of History at Augustana, Brian Leech
A newspaper clipping published by the Augustana Observer on May 14, 1970, detailing a student protest between Augustana College and St. Ambrose University in regards to the Vietnam War and Kent State shootings.

Augustana College’s Historical Society is releasing a new periodical publication covering the college’s history on Thursday, December 5. The first edition concerns the Vietnam War Era at Augustana.

On Dec. 5, the Augustana Historical Society (AHS) will celebrate the release of its new literature publication. The book release will take place in Augustana’s Carlsson Evald-Hall from 7-8 pm and feature a panel of contributing authors.

The Chronicle, Volume 1, discusses the late 1960s and early 1970s at Augustana and contains reflections from alumni and historical documents. Ann Boaden, professor emerita at Augustana and editor of the Chronicle, is one of the magazine’s authors and will sit on the event panel.

Boaden said she hopes readers will better understand the college's history and how the war impacted Augustana students. In 1970, Augustana and neighboring St. Ambrose students joined together for a strike against the US’s involvement in Cambodia and the shooting of four Kent State students.

“Some of the issues that Augustana struggled with, and some of the ways in which Augustana attempted to address situations that were plaguing the entire country at the time, and certainly academia at the time,” Boaden said.

The Chronicle cover features a photo taken by the college’s student newspaper, detailing the student protest. Boaden said these topics very closely relate to the ongoing war in Gaza with surrounding student activism still present at Augustana.

An image within Volume 1, known as the "painted room." This was a room that Augustana allowed students to put graffiti on at the height of Vietnam War protests.
Associate Professor of History at Augustana, Brian Leech
An image within Volume 1, known as the "painted room." This was a room that Augustana allowed students to put graffiti on at the height of Vietnam War protests.

“There is some connection between what we experienced in the 60s and what they’re experiencing now," Boaden said. "So, you don’t feel so much alone in this moment of history and this is a terrible moment of history.”

The volume also contains a photo of Augustana’s historical “painted room,” which highlights student artwork and graffiti on its walls at the height of the Vietnam War.

For more information, visit the college’s website.

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