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Dr. Peter Klem
Social Science Professor
" Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe. " — H. G. Wells, Outline of History 1920
| Brief Biography: Born in 1958 and raised in Rochester, New York, I've been living, and teaching at Great Basin College, in Elko, Nevada since the Summer of 2003. I also lived in Buffalo, New York for twelve years (1990 to 2002) working and pursuing my PhD at the University of Buffalo. The sixth of eight children, I grew up in the Rochester suburb of Irondequoit on, or near, the same plot of land the Klem family had been living on since 1816, surrounded by a large and loving extended family. Needless to say, I gained an interest in history from an early age, digging through old trunks in the attic -finding military uniforms and old photographs and bugging my elders with incessant questions. My father ran a small "mom and pop" grocery store, Klem's Drive-In Dairy. I got a late start on my formal education having chosen to follow in my father's footsteps and went to work in the store right out of high school in 1976. I'd probably still be there, but fate had other plans. When it burned to the ground in 1983 I was forced to change course and, after a string of dead end jobs, enrolled in college in 1986 to pursue my longtime interest in history. I'm glad I did! Since moving to Elko, Nevada I've been riding a lucky streak having landed a job at a beautiful little college, with great students, warm friends, and where I met my lovely wife Beverly also a recent transplant to the area and a teacher. We married in 2006 and live just out of town in Spring Creek with two mutts, an ornery cat, and a gorgeous view of the Ruby Mountains. Bev has three sons from a previous marriage and we enjoy seeing them and our two grandchildren- whenever we can. As terrible as the fire that destroyed our store, and the livelihoods' of three generations of Klems, was, I seriously doubt I would have had the courage to split from the safe, secure life I had laid out in front of me to pursue my true passion. Its funny how life's course is often guided as much by chance as by hard work and careful planning, isn't it?
Contact Information | Office Location: | EIT 122, Elko Campus | | Phone: | 775.753.2128 | | Email: | peterk(a)gwmail.gbcnv.edu
NOTE: Substitute @ for (a) when sending a message. |
Education
- Ph.D., American History, State University of New York at Buffalo, 2002
- Masters of Arts, American History, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1993
- Bachelor of Arts, History, Nazareth College of Rochester, Pittsford, New York, 1990
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| Memberships | - American Historical Association (AHA)
- Organization of American Historians (OAH)
- Society for Historians of the Early American Republic (SHEAR)
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Classes NOTE: Viewing syllabi in Word (blue symbol) or Excel (green symbol) requires that your computer has those Microsoft products.
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Whether or not syllabi are posted here is up to the discretion of the faculty member.
| HIST 101 |
| Title: | U.S. History to 1877 |
| Catalog Description: | Survey of U.S. political, social, economic, diplomatic, and cultural development from Colonial Times through Reconstruction. When taken with HIST 102 or 217, class satisfies the United States Constitution requirement. (Formerly HIST 101, U.S. History to 1865) |
| My Comments: | This class is repeated at 2:30PM T/Thr IAV |
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| HIST 105 |
| Title: | European Civilization ITo 1648 |
| Catalog Description: | Survey of the development of Western civilization from the dawn of human history to 1648. [H*] |
| My Comments: | This class is repeated at 1PM on M/W IAV |
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| HIST 415C |
| Title: | History of the United States: 1877-1929 |
| Catalog Description: | An analysis of the foundations of 20th century United States. Includes the pre-eminence of big business, subordination of politics, reform movements and the organization of labor, the impact of urbanization and immigration, agriculture and the completion of Manifest Destiny, cultural and intellectual trends, foreign affairs, the Progressive Movement, international affairs and World War I, and economic and social trends of the twenties. |
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Photo Gallery
Bev and Pete Summer, 2008 |
My grandaughter, Kenzie |
I was born for Elko - only 3000 miles away! |
Our nasty cat, Leo, waiting in ambush. |
The view from our backyard in Spring Creek |
Me in my brief capacity as talking head on the Elko news during the 08 elections |
The family store was open from 1926 to 1983. |
Took a trip to Oregon this Summer. Here's my wife Bev in Bandon |
We had never been to the Pacific Northwest.. Really amazing! This is Crater Lake |
Took a trip back east this past Summer. Here's my dad with Bev and I. |
Here's a newer pick of Kenzie from our 2010 trip. |
Here are t two of our three grandaughters, Lehlah and Solera. |
Our mutts Lucy and Marley |
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