BHSU HISTORY STUDENT RESEARCH PAPER TO BE PUBLISHED IN JOURNAL BY CORNELL UNIVERSITY

A research paper by Black Hills State University student Madeline Mallindine is set to be published in an upcoming issue of the undergraduate research journal “Ezra’s Archives,” a publication by Cornell University.  

A history major, Mallindine’s paper “Positivism, Degeneracy, & Locura: Psychiatry in Modernizing Argentina,” explores the efforts of Argentina to modernize society and examines how psychiatry was used as a policing tool to confine people who did not fit social norms. The project also highlights debates within psychiatric circles about how best to create a mentally healthy society.  

“The opportunity to have my paper published has opened doors to meeting experts in the field and engage in historiographical debate,” said Mallindine. “Looking forward to my career plans, having this published research will help me in the competitive world of academia.” 

Mallindine began the research for this project as part of a final paper for an upper-level History of Latin America course last spring. To conduct her research, Mallindine studied Argentine medical journals from 1914 to 1922, as well as books, articles, and theses about the history and ethics of psychiatry. During the Fall 2024 semester, Mallindine continued to revise and expand upon the project during an independent study with Dr. Thomas Weyant, assistant professor of history at BHSU. 

“My favorite part of this research was that it provided a perfect capstone to my time here at BHSU. I’ve been able to see myself grow in my studies and aspirations, and the accomplishment of my research shows all the progress I’ve made,” said Mallindine. “I give a huge thank you to Dr. Weyant for supervising this research and helping me throughout the process.” 

“I am frequently humbled and astounded by the quality of work the students put together,” said Dr. Weyant. “To have Madeline’s work published in ‘Ezra’s Archives,’ a publication from the Cornell Historical Society, speaks to the quality of work she has generated. As an individual accomplishment, it is amazing, humbling, and rewarding, and I know that it is well-deserved. For the University, it is a reminder to our whole community of the great work our students are capable of when we rally around them and encourage them to excellence." 

Mallindine will also present portions of her research at the upcoming Black Hills Research Symposium being held on the BHSU campus Mar. 26 and 27.