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Walter LaFeber, one of America’s most distinguished historians, wowed three generations of Cornellians from the moment he arrived on campus in 1959 down through his death in 2021. He was a legendary teacher whose lectures on American diplomatic history packed Bailey Hall in the 1960s and 1970s and was a prize-winning scholar whose insightful accounts of U.S. relations with Russia, Central America, and Japan and best-selling textbook, The American Age, became “must-reads” in history courses across the country. He was also a remarkable mentor to hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students who pursued careers in a variety of fields and industries. Walt liked to say that “a professor is someone who thinks otherwise,” an aphorism that resonates with the thirty participants in this conference and countless other Cornell alums whose lives he changed. This three-day conference is a testament to Walt’s lasting impact on his students, Cornell University, and the historical profession.

 or the image below to see a summary schedule of the LaFeber Festschrift Conference.

For more information about the various panels, round tables, and presentations please refer to the side menu.