Get to Know the 2017 History Scholars: Midori Kawaue

Midori Kawaue is a 2017 Gilder Lehrman History Scholar. These 15 exceptional college students were in New York City, June 4–9, learning from eminent historians and exploring New York City through a historical lens. Here Midori describes highlights from the program.

Brought up in Japan, I was inspired by how Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series created a three-dimensional world for me to experience the physical forces that framed her 19th-century American pioneer life. Eventually, my affection for these novels evolved into a passion for US history.

For a history nerd, my experience with Gilder Lehrman’s History Scholar Award program was like opening a treasure box. From participating in numerous lectures given by renowned historians, to encountering rare manuscripts like the original engraving of Paul Revere's Boston Massacre, to walking around Times Square with my fellow scholars, I found myself tearing up with joy during the entire week. This year, the History Scholars had a chance to take part in lectures by seven historians whose research ranges from Women in the Revolutionary War to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s relationship with the US Navy. It was an overwhelming experience sitting in a room with professional historians who devoted their entire lives to a specific subject or person. 

My favorite talk was on "Mourning Lincoln" by Dr. Martha Hodes. Through letters, diary entries, account books, and other archival material, Dr. Hodes presented her research on how the nation reacted to Lincoln’s assassination. Before this lecture, I had never wondered about the diverse ways people mourned Lincoln and how strongly grief manifested in personal narratives. In this way, every lecture provided me new knowledge that expanded my intellectual horizon.

My ultimate career goal is to pursue a PhD in History of Science and research transnational connections of science in the Atlantic World. The History Scholar Award program provided me with not only new knowledge of US history, but also strong connections that will help me, as a young historian, build my career. I am already looking forward to working with my fellow History Scholars in the near future. 

Midori Kawaue is a 2017 graduate of DePauw University, where she was an international student majoring in history and French. She is the co-editor of a 700-page Civil War prisoner-of-war diary, which is currently under review at Kent State University Press. In 2016 she was one of six fellows selected from a national pool for the Historic Deerfield Summer Fellowship Program.