Guillaume de Syon, Ph.D.

Professor, History at Albright College
From Lancaster, Pa.

Teaching a variety of courses from Ancient Civilizations to the Nuclear Age. I endeavor to assist students in finding a new historical spark through independent studies, special projects in courses and occasional Albright Creative Research grants. I also offer general talks and lectures to surrounding community groups, including churches, synagogues, book groups and online programs such as WITF's "Mind Matters." My research interests are wide-ranging.

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Interests + Expertise

History of Technology Aerospace history European popular culture Holocaust Studies Modern Germany Modern France

Education

Tufts University
Boston University
George Washington University

Projects + Publications

“Dialoguing speed and new standards. The Concorde prototypes and the establishment of a new culture of safety,” in Ferrum 93 (2024): 104-111.

After flying on the Franco-British Concorde supersonic transport (SST) plane, some passengers complained that it felt no different from a regular jet (except for the acceleration on takeoff.) One of the "fathers" of Concorde noted that making them feel bored was "the hard part." Why could you careen across the Atlantic in shirt sleeves on this SST when Mach 2 military pilot must suit up and breathe oxygen in special masks? This article offers three examples of the challenges Concorde British and French designers encountered. To this day, the Concorde (retired in 2003) has yet to be replaced.

August 2024 - Articles

“Une fusée en plastique : la pratique participative dans la culture populaire spatiale” in Sociétés et Représentations 57 (Spring 2024): 155-172.

Why would the general public want to build a model of the Saturn V moon rocket? Or the space shuttle, something most of only saw on TV or in the newspaper? To be part of this great space experiment. (published in French by the Presse de la Sorbonne)

May 2024 - Articles

“’No Sir, It’s an American Aircraft:’ Selling the A300 to the American public in the 1970s.” in "Nacelles, Past and Present of Aeronautics and Space" vol. 11/21

How the Airbus consortium suceeded in breaking into the US commercial aircraft market

January 2022 - Publications

“Rushing to Suit Up: French Aviation’s Adjustment to Wartime, 1914-1916,” in Maude Bass-Krueger and Sophie Kurkdjian, eds., Fashion, Dress and Society During WWI. London, UK: Bloomsbury

As a new military service, aeroantics in WWI had to develop its own identity, partly through the design and adoption of new uniforms and colors. This piece examines the case of French aviators in the first half of the Great War. Article availebl in open access.

Articles

Guillaume in the News

Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award Presented to Guillaume de Syon, Ph.D.

Guillaume de Syon, Ph.D., professor of history at Albright College, has been named the 2024 recipient of the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award. Presented every other year, the award honors outstanding, full-time members of the faculty who best exem...

May, 13 2024 - Verified by Albright College Faculty

Farewell to an icon: Boeing delivers last 747 jumbo jet

February, 01 2023 - Verified by Albright College Faculty

Farewell to an icon: Boeing delivers last 747 jumbo jet

February, 01 2023 - Verified by Albright College

Boeing makes final delivery of an icon: the 747 jumbo jet