About Us

“…contrary to what you may have heard or learned, the past is not done and it’s not over, it’s still in process, which is another way of saying that when it’s critiqued, analyzed, it yields new information about itself.”
— Toni Morrison

Mission Statement

Past in Process is a peer-reviewed historical studies journal led by undergraduates at the University of Texas at Austin. Past in Process is not the traditional undergraduate research journal. Our focus is on making undergraduate research more accessible via our journal and accompanying online platform, Past in Posts. We take submissions of any length focused on historical studies. This includes content written for classes, thesis work, or independent study. History majors and students majoring outside of History are encouraged to submit work. We particularly encourage women and persons of color to submit, and welcome submissions across different periods and regions. Our staff consists of a multicultural group of undergraduate students working across various disciplines. We are committed to fostering diverse voices that are not always heard in historical studies. 

Our Initiatives

Past in Process is also heavily involved in our community. You can find our monthly podcast, Past in Podcast, on all major streaming services and under Past in Podcast on our website. If you are new to historiography and the study of history, you can find excellent resources to get you started under Resources on our website, as well as Crash Course style videos on various historical topics. Our online platform, Past in Posts, highlights interesting events in UT and Texas history, along with excellent shorter pieces that have been submitted to us. We also work with high schools across Texas to introduce students to historical research and primary document analysis.

Our History

Past in Process was founded in August 2020 by Ananya Dwivedi. It was created to promote and lift up diverse voices in historical research. Past in Process aims to create opportunities for undergraduate students across disciplines and areas to engage with history and to publish their research in different formats. Dwivedi and the team’s desire to create a sense of community during the COVID-19 pandemic led to the creation of Past in Podcast, the High School Outreach Program, and membership-at-large. Dwivedi was inspired by the passion demonstrated by her peers in the History department, as well as the need to understand how history affects every facet of life in the current moment.

Thank you to our supporters

We would like to thank the following people and institutions for supporting and encouraging Past in Process every step of the way. We appreciate your support!

  1. Dr. Madeline Hsu

  2. Dr. Lina Del Castillo

  3. Dr. Adam Clulow

  4. Dr. Daina Ramey Berry

  5. Jason Gentry

  6. Susan C. Somers

  7. Not Even Past

  8. The University of Texas at Austin History Department

  9. The University of Texas at Austin, College of Liberal Arts

  10. Apricity Magazine