Ryan Michael Lowry

“Memory dictates and history writes”

Pierre Nora, Realms of Memory: The Construction of the French Past, Volume 1 – Conflicts and Divisions

Hello! My name is Ryan Lowry and I am a graduate student at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. I am currently working towards a MA in History and a certificate in Museums, Heritage, and Public History. I am also a graduate TA for the History Department, as well as a from-home worker for Indeed. I have always wanted to work within the field of history, particularly in the area of research and archival preservation.

My area of interest is French History, specifically France after WWII to the present day. During my undergrad, I have done research on the French influence in Saint Louis as well. The reason why I find this period so fascinating is because after WWII France went through a major identity crisis that is still continuing to this day. Looking at the idea of what it really means to be French in a society that has just come back from the brink and now must embrace globalization is truly an interesting event to look at. Another unique aspect that I find interesting in Post-Modern France is the way in which higher education is restructuring how they teach history. Similar to the identity crisis of the 1970s, the field of public history is trying to reconcile itself with a global narrative of a former empire embracing the histories of their former colonies through the use of collective memories, or “les lieux de Mémoire”.

My goal for the future is to continue into a Ph.D. program in France where I can further develop my knowledge and get first-hand accounts of the socioeconomic and cultural changes of “l’hexagone”. After that, I hope to find work in research and publishing at the academic level as well as a position in the French archival setting. I have a long way to go in terms of reaching this illustrious goal–including improving upon my French minor–but I have faith that if I stick to it I can get to where I am heading!