Course Description: Relying on his many historical projects and experience, Dr. Peterson is eager for people to create and leave their personal story. Historians traditionally rely on letters, journals, newspaper, and public records to reconstruct biography. Are these rich sources relics of the past? Why are our lives important and who is going to care if we do not leave a record.? This week we will examine why personal reflections, essays, memories are important to record as a record of significance. Every life is significant and he will try to convince the students that they should make a record. Calling upon his own recent efforts, he is on a “divine” mission.

Course Instructor: A native of Idaho, Ross graduated from Utah State in 1965. He then completed a PhD at Washington State University in 1968. After three years at the University of Texas-Arlington, he returned to USU in 1971. He served as Department Head from 1976-1984. He returned to USU as Vice President of Advancement from 2007-2011. Peterson teaches Recent American History as well as courses in African American Studies. His publications include a biography of Idaho Senator Glen H. Taylor and histories of Idaho, Cache County, and Ogden, Utah. His wife Kay, and all three of his sons have USU degrees.
ross.peterson@usu.edu