CSU–Pueblo Phi Alpha Theta initiation and Pike presentation
 
Pueblo- The history club at Colorado State University – Pueblo will spice up its initiation of new members into the Phi Alpha Theta honor society with a presentation on the Pike Expedition next week. David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler will present “The Spy, the Vice President, and the Explorer: The Burr Conspiracy and the American West” beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 20 in the Occhiato University Center Aspen Leaf.

In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson made a startling discovery. Aaron Burr, Jefferson’s former vice-president and political ally, had been in contact with the senior general of the United States Army, James Wilkinson. Jefferson did not know that Wilkinson was a spy for Spain nor did he know that Wilkinson, solely on his own authority, had dispatched Captain Zebulon Pike on an exploratory expedition into the Southwest, a trek that would include an examination of Spanish territory. Burr and Wilkinson were plotting to conquer New Spain (Mexico) and wanted Pike, unaware of the real purpose of his expedition, to gather intelligence to aid that scheme. A more disturbing possibility was that Burr and Wilkinson planned to detach the southwestern United States to add to their new empire. When the shadowy outlines of the Burr conspiracy came to light, Wilkinson disguised his role in it by becoming a turncoat, Burr went on trial for treason, and Pike had rambled through a wild, exotic portion of the continent. Burr’s trial amounted to an unfolding, complex narrative that held the young nation rapt for months even as it helped to define the meaning of treason, the idea of loyalty, and the reach of government.

The Heidlers, residents of Colorado Springs, met while studying at Auburn University, where both received their Ph.D.s in U.S. History. As a husband-wife team, they have written numerous books and articles dealing with the history of the early American republic, the Antebellum period, and the Civil War, including The War of 1812, An Encyclopedia and the award-winning Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Social, Political, and Military History, which received the Society for Military History’s Distinguished Book Award in 2003. They are the authors of Old Hickory’s War: Andrew Jackson and the Quest for Empire, The War of 1812, Manifest Destiny, Daily Life in the Early Republic: Creating a New Nation, 1790-1820, and The Mexican War which went to press this past November. Their most recent book is on Indian Removal and will be published by W. W. Norton in 2006. The Heidlers have lived in northwestern Colorado Springs since 1993 and each maintain a regional teaching affiliation - David is associated with the History Department at CSU-Pueblo and Jeanne is a professor of history at the United States Air Force Academy.

Honor Society Initiation
The honor society of Phi Alpha Theta promotes the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. The society seeks to bring students, teachers and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways. The following individuals will be initiated into Phi Alpha Theta as part of the April 20 event:
PUEBLO
Cole L McGee
Zach Gittings
Glenn B. Greenacre
Ryan Miller
Adam Young

Faculty member Dr. Matt Harris, assistant professor of history, Pueblo West

AURORA
Jessica Ketcham


Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.