VCU to Host 15th Annual William E. and Miriam S. Blake Lecture in the History of Christianity

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of History will present "Let Her Write of It Who Will: Women, Scholarship and Christian Tradition,"as part of the 15^th Annual William E. and Miriam S. Blake Lecture in the History of Christianity.  

The lecture will be presented by Barbara J. MacHaffie, Ph.D., Professor of History and Religion Emerita at Marietta College in Ohio.

The lecture will take place Monday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the Commonwealth Ballroom of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. The lecture is free and open to the public and will be followed by a reception.

MacHaffie's lecture will focus on the two editions of her book "Her Story: Women in Christian Tradition." She'll explore the origins of the 1986 edition and place the book in the context of women's studies, focusing on the portrayal of women as victims (such as those accused of witchcraft) and agents (such as leaders of the missionary movement) that had emerged by the early 1980s. She'll also explore how the book's 2006 edition reflects the shifts in and maturing of scholarship over the past 20 years.

The William E. and Miriam S. Blake Lecture in the History of Christianity is presented annually by a renowned scholar. The lecture is supported by an endowed fund established by the Blakes, their family, friends, colleagues and those who enjoyed the History of Christianity course, which Blake initiated and continues to teach.

For more information, visit http://www.has.vcu.edu/his/ and click on "events" or call 804-828-1636.