Grad Student Receives Prestigious Scholarship

Carolyn Gonzales
OSU Communication Services
405-744-6260

RESEARCHING PROHIBITION-History graduate student James Klein recently received one of only four prestigious scholarships given annually by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. He will use the scholarship as he continues working on his dissertation on the Prohibition Era in Oklahoma.
James Klein, an OSU doctoral student in history, was recently awarded the Region III American History Scholarship Award from the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (CDA) in the State of Oklahoma. The $2,000 award is one of only four given in the United States, annually.

Klein, an Iowa native, says he chose a career in history because it's his passion and because it allows him to institutionalize his desire to continually learn throughout his life. He hopes to teach at a small research institution after he completes his degree.

He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Iowa.

Klein has now finished his doctoral coursework at OSU and is currently working on his dissertation, which focuses on the Prohibition Era in Oklahoma.

He became interested in prohibition when he wrote a paper on the subject at IU.

When he was accepted into the OSU History Department's graduate program, he said the prospect of studying about prohibition in Oklahoma was a real draw because of the state's interesting history during that era.

"There were a lot of things going on at the same time as prohibition, including the women's suffrage movement, an active Socialist Party, a group of farmer's opposed to World War I and the beginning of the oil industry. In addition, several ethnic minority communities were located in the state," he said.

Klein plans to finish his dissertation in the next couple of years. He says he appreciates the academic guidance he receives from his professors, especially Dr. Ron Petrin and Dr. Elizabeth Williams.

He says OSU's history faculty also are very understanding about the financial situation of graduate students and try to help whenever possible. Dr. William Bryans, history department head, wrote a letter of recommendation for Klein's CDA award application.

Klein also was recently awarded the University Foundation Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, given by the OSU Graduate College. He says he is very grateful for the academic recognition and financial assistance provided by the awards.

Klein's wife, Teresa, is working on an educational counseling master's degree at OSU.
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