Will Schneider

In this episode of Beyond Footnotes, we explore the history of the American West through music. Our guest is William Schneider, a second-year graduate student who recently completed his Master thesis “Music and Race in the American West.” We discuss how music is a valuable form of historical analysis, despite being underutilized by historians, and that it plays a significant role in understanding racial power dynamics in the 19th century American West. Will also describes his experience writing a thesis; from the beginning research to the defense, which is enlightening information for those working on a masters or honors thesis. Keep an eye out on PDXScholar (http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/) for access to Will’s thesis,“Music and Race in the American West.” He is slated to graduate this quarter. His research focuses on the social and intellectual history of the United States with an emphasis on the 19th century.