A collection of scholarly writings honoring longtime Monmouth College professor William L. Urban has been published following more than two years of planning, writing and editing.
Urban, who retired in 2015 as the Lee L. Morgan Professor of History and International Studies after nearly 50 years in the classroom, was presented with a copy of the volume in June. Titled Urbanfest, the book contains essays and reflections by 22 former colleagues, students and friends whose lives and careers were influenced by or intersected with the noted historian.
The project was conceived and organized by Urban’s longtime faculty colleague Thomas J. Sienkewicz, Minnie Billings Capron Professor Emeritus of Classics. Retired Monmouth College communications director Jeff Rankin served as co-editor.
Urbanfest was inspired by the Festschrift tradition, which originated in Germany and honors distinguished scholars through a collection of essays written by colleagues, former students and friends. Such volumes are typically presented to the honoree during his or her lifetime.
Sienkewicz explained that he was inspired to organize this Festschrift not only because of Urban’s outstanding scholarship and publication record, but also because Urban had been his very supportive colleague and close friend for more than 30 years. He added that he also enjoyed working with such an excellent group of scholars who offer in this volume papers on a wide range of interesting topics, including: the college’s Canopus stone; the 1896 Democratic National Convention; the censorship of the Roman emperor Claudius; the relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Yemen after the Second World War; coaching Monmouth College’s women’s soccer team; and Welsh language education.
“Monmouth College,” said Sienkewicz, “should be especially proud of the impressive essays contributed by eight alumni of the college.”
The 328-page illustrated volume is divided into seven sections: Monmouth College; the City of Monmouth; Illinois and the Midwest; the United States; the Roman Empire, Then and Now; the World; and Literature.
In addition to Sienkewicz and Rankin, contributors include retired social studies and history teacher Thomas Best; retired Monmouth music professor James Betts; retired Monmouth English professor Mary Hanford Bruce; former students Brian Chabowski and Tiffany Ramsey Chabowski; former Monmouth history professors Stacy Cordery and Simon Cordery; former students Daniel Cotter and Neil Dahlstrom; friend Viv Edwards; former student Richard Harrod; former Monmouth foreign languages professor Fred Keller; retired Monmouth economics professor Kenneth G. McMillan; Monmouth trustee Bradley Nahrstadt; former student Joseph R. O’Neill; retired Monmouth librarian J. Richard Sayre; former student Sylvia Shults; friends Julia Sienkewicz and Janet Goodhue Smith; and retired Monmouth classics professor Vicki A. Wine.
Copies of the book are being presented to the Library of Congress, Monmouth College’s Hewes Library, the Warren County Public Library and the Warren County History Museum, as well as to each contributor. The volume is also available online at https://www.tomsienkewicz.com/Urbanfest.html.
The publication serves as both a tribute to Urban’s decades of teaching and scholarship and a lasting record of the many friendships, professional relationships and intellectual pursuits that grew from his nearly half-century at Monmouth College.
***Courtesy of Barry McNamara, Monmouth College***
