History
About History
Our Program and Courses
By the time you graduate, you will be able to:
- Recognize history as an intellectual process involving selection and evaluation of material and construction of arguments.
- Understand history as a series of major turning points and the process of change over time.
- Read and understand primary, secondary and tertiary sources and identify the place and purpose of each for historical study.
- Develop critical awareness of your own approach to the past.
Learning Outside the Classroom
Research & Independent Studies
Do you want to research Lancaster’s history in World War I? Or maybe you want to uncover the complicated history of the women’s suffrage movement? You can at F&M. As you dive into the intricacies of the past, you’ll discover historical areas or ideas you want to further explore. The good news? You won’t have to wait until graduate school to launch your investigation.Explore research at F&M
Off-Campus Study
At F&M, you’ll find extraordinary opportunities to study abroad. Our history majors have studied in Australia, Austria, China, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Spain, and Tanzania, to name a few places. You, too, can make study abroad integral to your experiences and research.Explore off-campus study at F&M
The History Club
The History Club, an F&M student organization, is an intellectual and social opportunity to enhance your academic experience. The History Club examines historical events with a critical eye and perspective and provides students the opportunity to discover more about history.Museums & Libraries
F&M’s Phillips Museum of Art and the nearby North Museum, a natural historical collection at the southern end of campus, offer comprehensive materials on historical topics. Additional resources for history students include F&M’s two research libraries: Shadek-Fackenthal Library and Martin Library of the Sciences, which houses F&M’s archives and special collections.Explore the F&M College Library
F&M Leadership Fellows
Franklin & Marshall Leadership Fellows are purpose-driven communities of students who exemplify F&M’s commitment to meaningful
impact through leadership, innovation, and problem-solving.
We offer several tailored tracks, including:
- Public Service Leadership Fellows, a program designed to help you explore democratic engagement, ethical governance, and collaborative leadership.
- Sustainability and Food Systems Leadership Fellows, a program that helps you build the knowledge and leadership skills needed to secure the future of food and food cultures.
As an F&M Leadership Fellow, you’ll access:
- A $15,000 annual merit scholarship ($60,000 total over four years)
- Dedicated faculty mentorship from professors who guide your academic and leadership path.
- Hands-on opportunities to solve real-world problems alongside local organizations, businesses, and research partners.
- A tight-knit community of motivated peers.
- Tailored leadership coaching to build the confidence, skills, and growth mindset needed to make an immediate impact.
Success Beyond F&M
Fellowships
It’s not uncommon for history majors to pursue fellowships, which offer often-funded experiential learning opportunities such as advanced study, research, internships, service, travel, and more. Our graduates have pursued teaching and public service fellowships with organizations such as Teach for America and Americorps. They also go on to complete fellowships overseas with the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, for which F&M is recognized as a top-producing institution.Explore fellowships at F&M
Graduate School
Many of our history majors choose to pursue graduate school after F&M, with a significant number enrolling in law school. Our graduates have completed their advanced degrees at the best universities, including:- American University
- Columbia University
- Drexel University
- Johns Hopkins University
- New York University
- Rutgers University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Villanova University
Career Paths
History at F&M provides a strong foundation for many professions. Our graduates hold diverse positions such as:- Attorney
- Business executive
- College professor
- Editor/publisher
- Filmmaker
- Foreign service diplomat
- Government official
- History teacher
- Journalist
- Judge
- Law clerk
- Marketing writer
- Social worker
Student Spotlight
Exploring Lancaster's Revolutionary History the Diplomat Way
Inspired by an F&M professor and the College’s “ampersand” approach, the government major spent his summer focused on his passion for history, serving as a research assistant and archivist at Lancaster’s Historic Rock Ford. The estate’s grounds include the mansion of Gen. Edward Hand, who served as adjutant general of the Continental Army under George Washington.
“As the estate’s newest research assistant and archivist, I’m entrusted with sifting through its Revolutionary War documents, categorizing and organizing them, and overhauling the mansion-turned-museum’s entirely pre-digital archives,” Dockery said. “Although I’ve flexed my research muscle in the classroom, archival work is a new labyrinth of challenges. My diligence and conduct on the job are not only valuable for the quality of the research, but they are also marketable skills cherished everywhere, giving me an advantage in the post-graduation job market.”
Read More
Student Spotlight
“Every day I think of how lucky I am to be part of a community that is both motivating and exciting.”
“The main thing that led me here was the amazing students and the community they create,” he said.
Grabowski added that F&M students strike a unique balance.
“They are brilliant, driven, hard-working people, but also prioritize being friendly, welcoming and fun to be around,” he said. “It is hard to find other students that are more well-rounded than they are, and every day I think of how lucky I am to be part of a community that is both motivating and exciting.”
Read More
Alumni Spotlight
A Semester in Paris: ‘Night at the Museum’ Could Never Compare
“Going through the finished product on opening night with my colleagues, seeing it all come to life without Tyvek commercial wrap on the floor was crazy,” Axford said. “When we came out, the credits on the wall said all our names, including ‘avec la collaboration de Ruth Axford.’ I may have happily cried walking home along the Champs Elysées, amazed at everything I accomplished in only four months.”
Read More
Related Fields of Study
Africana Studies
Learn to view the world through diverse perspectives, from Africa and the regions of the Diaspora to the lived experiences of Black Americans today. Africana Studies at F&M explores the range of interrelated histories, cultures, and intellectual contributions of Africans and those of African origin, all the way back to the cradle of civilization itself.
American Studies
Engage with the oldest multifaceted major at F&M. As a student of American Studies, you’ll enjoy a true liberal arts experience, exploring several disciplines to develop analytical skills and critical judgment and to examine the range and diversity of American experiences, identities and communities.
Government
F&M’s Department of Government has earned a reputation as one of the finest in the country. Study government at F&M and examine power, politics, justice, equity, and change while developing skills in language, economics, mathematics and philosophy.
F&M History in Action
August 28, 2026
Building the Impossible: An F&M Alum’s Mission to Create the World’s Fastest Aircraft
As chief executive officer of high-speed aircraft company Hermeus, Zach Shore ’06 leads the effort to push the boundaries of what’s possible by building the world’s fastest autonomous aircraft.
May 6, 2026
F&M Helps Celebrate Opening of Lancaster’s Stevens & Smith Center
Community spirit filled the air in downtown Lancaster as thousands of people attended a May 2 block party to celebrate the opening of the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy on Vine Street.
April 28, 2026
The Subtle Strength of Leading Through Connection
When Ella Peeples ’26 arrived at Franklin & Marshall College, she was looking for the same close-knit mentorship she had cherished in high school. What she found was a platform to become that mentor for others.