Season 2, Episode 12Guest: Alyssa Hirsch — PhD Student, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Fencing HistorianWhat we coverHow a varsity fencer became a fencing historianThe first spark: a Soviet fencing essay in high school and an interview with coach Anatolie SenicFrom Wayne State to Purdue to Illinois: tracing fencing’s place in American and world historyThe 1956 Hungarian Revolution and how émigré fencers reshaped U.S. clubsAlyssa’s dissertation: post-Soviet immigration, identity, and fencing as a path to belongingSources of history: magazines, oral interviews, advertisements, photographs, and archivesSurprises from research — Cold War cooperation and “game recognizes game” momentsHow universities and college teams shape access and inclusionFencing’s class barriers and underrepresented groups, and how programs like the Peter Westbrook Foundation help bridge the gapPreserving history: digitization, oral storytelling, and why every club has its own archiveAdvice for aspiring historians: start with your coaches, club posters, and communityQuick hits: time-travel destinations, favorite artifacts, research playlists, and the fencer she’d invite to dinnerQuotable“When I’m adapting to a new place, the first thing I’d look for is a fencing club.” — Alyssa Hirsch“History isn’t just politics — it’s people, choices, and friendships on the strip.” — Alyssa HirschTimestamps00:00 — Intro: turning archives into living stories01:10 — How Soviet anecdotes sparked a lifelong passion04:22 — Becoming a fencing historian05:58 — The 1956 Hungarian Revolution and émigré coaches08:14 — Alyssa’s dissertation: post-Soviet identity through fencing10:03 — Why fencing history is still largely untold11:17 — Research process: magazines, ads, archives, interviews12:59 — Surprising discoveries about Cold War respect and collaboration15:38 — Collegiate fencing as a bridge across skill levels17:48 — Class, race, and representation in U.S. fencing20:21 — Favorite find: a 1958 Soviet fencing manual22:41 — What being a fencing historian actually looks like24:22 — Advice for future researchers and club archivists26:32 — Quick hits: time machine, artifacts, playlists, and Helene Mayer
--First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA FencingHost: Bryan WendellCover art: Manna CreationsTheme music: Brian Sanyshyn

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