Editor’s Note

I am happy to present the 2025 Winter Issue of the Princeton Historical Review. Continuing from the work the journal did last year, this publication saw numerous submissions from students attending colleges and universities across the country. It is my hope that the group of articles that we have selected for this publication reflects the exciting diversity in topic and methodology that is possible through undergraduate historical research.

Samantha Moon’s article on women forced into prostitution in Nazi concentration camps provides insight into their experiences through their testimonies and other archival materials. Nicole Tian’s article covers how the case Yick Wo v. Hopkins, despite its ruling, failed to address the discriminatory laws affecting Chinese laundries and how the social and economic conditions of Chinese immigrants at the time factored into this. Rachel Kuhn provides insight into the life of Patience Copp, a widow taverner who lived in Boston in the early 18th century. Taking a more biographical approach, Rachel charts how Patience Copp, after becoming a widow, dealt with the legal and social challenges and managed to succeed as a businesswoman.

Kelly Park’s article analyzes the ama and haenyeo (two groups of women divers from Japan and Korea respectively). Kelly’s work looks at how different biases and forces have shaped portrayals of these two groups throughout the years. Finally, Seyoung Choung argues against the understanding of diplomacy within East Asia in the 16th century as one defined by Confucian values and Chinese-cultural hegemony and instead makes the case that the Joseon Kingdom, Ashikaga Japan, and Ming China based their diplomacy on a more “rational” understanding of the region and its politics.

Seiyoung Jang '25