The Michael J. Colligan History Project
The Michael J. Colligan History Project is a joint undertaking of the Colligan Fund Committee of the Hamilton Community Foundation and the Hamilton Campus of Miami University made possible by the generous bequest of Michael J. Colligan, a prominent local businessman and amateur historian.
Since 2000 the Colligan History Project has brought over one hundred speakers to Hamilton, sponsored programs with schools and public libraries, and given awards for achievements in history. We welcome partnerships with institutions and groups serving the Hamilton community who are interested in historical perspectives. Since 2002 we have presented the John E. Dolibois History Prize to nine distinguished historians for substantial and sustained efforts to promote historical understanding in the community and nation. The Jim Blount History Educator Award is given to teachers who exemplify the outstanding commitment to history and education epitomized in Mr. Blount’s life and career. In accord with Mr. Colligan’s interests, we also offer programs regularly that relate to military history.
Learn about upcoming Michael J. Colligan History Project events on the mjcolligan project blog.
Contact Us
The Michael J. Colligan History Project is located in 532 Mosler Hall on the campus of Miami University Hamilton, Hamilton, Ohio 45011. The director is Matthew Smith, Assistant Professor of History, 513.785.3175.
Questions, comments and suggestions are always welcome.
Upcoming Events
David Blight
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
Thursday, March 30
7 p.m.
Parrish Auditorium, Hamilton Campus
David W. Blight, the Sterling Professor of History and Director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University, is the author of numerous bestselling books on American history. His 2018 acclaimed biography of renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass, “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom,” won numerous book awards, including the Pulitzer Prize in History, the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize, the Bancroft Prize for History, and the Francis Parkman Prize.
Timothy Egan
"The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl"
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
7 p.m.
Parrish Auditorium, Hamilton Campus
Timothy Egan is an acclaimed writer and veteran chronicler of the American experience whose interests range across history and landscape and into the spiritual realm. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, a popular columnist, and a bestselling author of nine books. “The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl” led to the Ken Burns film, “The Dust Bowl,” and won the National Book Award.