Bandits, Millenarians, Folk Saints, and Sharpers:
Conference in Honor of Paul Vanderwood

Reception to follow the conference

Paul J. Vanderwood (1929-2011) was a prolific and internationally recognized historian of modern Mexico who taught for his entire academic career at San Diego State University.  As some of his friends and colleagues are aware, Vanderwood’s early career was spent as an investigative journalist; he came to the field of Latin American history rather late, therefore, earning his PhD. at the University of Texas at Austin when he was already in his late thirties. Near the end of his life Paul Vanderwood acknowledged that he may have been more of a writer interested in Mexican history than a historian of Mexico concerned with writing, perhaps a fine distinction but an important one.  Nonetheless, he produced a body of works touching on social, cultural, political, and economic history, all of which profoundly illuminated the history of the Mexico he loved.  The purpose of this one-day conference is as much to analyze Vanderwood’s major works as it is to render a valedictory to a fine historian.  Each of his four major books, Disorder and Progress, the Power of God Against the Guns of Government, Juan Soldado, and Satan’s Playground, will receive the attention of an important historian of modern Mexico, with additional commentaries by other scholars and general discussion at all points by those attending the conference.  The UCSD, SDSU, and Southern California academic communities are welcome to attend, as well as interested readers of Vanderwood’s work from the greater San Diego-Tijuana area.

There is no cost of admission. Event is open to the public. For driving directions, please click here. For additional information, please contact Greg Mallinger at (858) 822-1696 or via email at gmallinger@ucsd.edu.