Historical Perspectives lecture to focus on global aid, humanitarianism

The Center for History and Social Change is gearing up for the next installment in its long-running Historical Perspectives Lecture Series, set for 2 p.m. Thursday, April 24 in the Union’s Christie Theatre. Julia Irwin, an assistant professor at the University of South Florida, will present “Foreign Relief as Foreign Relations,” a lecture that focuses on her new book, “Making the World Safe: The American Red Cross and a Nation’s Humanitarian Awakening.” The book examines the history of the Red Cross from its 1881 founding, and also shows that with the organization’s evolution, Americans began to see foreign aid as a critical element in global relations. The event is free and open to the public. More details.