Meet Patrick Ayres, PhD student in Historical Studies
Dr. Erik Alexander (left) and Patrick Ayres (right), 2019 Graduate School Awards Reception
Although Patrick completed his master's thesis to complete his MA in Historical Studies at SIUE in the spring of 2019, the accolades for his thesis began pouring in more recently. His thesis, titled "Embattled Conservatism: Hamilton Gamble and Conservatism in Civil War Missouri" has received two major recognitions this fall. In September, the Missouri Historical Society named Patrick as the 2019 Lewis E. Atherton Prize winner for the best master's thesis on Missouri history and biography, which marked the first time a SIUE student received the award. Shortly thereafter, SIUE named Patrick as the winner of the 2019 Outstanding Thesis Award winner, and he was recently presented that award at the Graduate School Awards Reception held last month.
Patrick's thesis advisor, Dr. Erik Alexander, said that "Patrick's thesis is exceptionally well researched, including far more original research than is typically expected of a history master's thesis. He completed a substantial amount of original archival research in Missouri using private letters, manuscripts, and newspapers. Patrick's thesis also makes a significant contribution to an emerging historiographical literature on the history of conservatism in the nineteenth century as a distinct political ideology."
Patrick is furthering his pursuit of graduate education at SIUE, as he began in the co-op PhD program in Historical Studies this fall.
Know a deserving student or alum that we should highlight in Cougar Pride? Contact us at graduateschool@siue.edu to let us know!