ULM history students present at regional conference

Published March 17, 2026

Three people standing in a row smiling.

CAPTION: (L-R) Ireland Aaron, Mateline Bratton, Antoine Iles 

MONROE, La. – Students from the University of Louisiana Monroe history department presented papers at the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society Regional Meeting of Louisiana Chapters in Lafayette, La, on March 6, 2026. The student group included undergraduates Ireland Aaron and Antoine Iles, along with 2025 graduate Mateline Bratton.  

Ireland Aaron discussed twentieth-century New Orleans’ red-light district in her essay entitled “Queens of Desire: How the Madams of Storyville Weaponized Mixed-Race Fantasies for Power and Profit.” Antoine Iles, meanwhile, spoke on Monroe’s local history, presenting “Coca-Cola and the American Dream: How the Biedenharn Family Rose to Fame.”  

Recent history program graduate and soon-to-be LSU doctoral student Mateline Bratton shared her paper titled “Between Saints and Sickness,” an examination of the many medieval methods used to treat cases of the Black Death.  

“Not only was I excited to see these students seize the opportunity to present, but I was also impressed at the quality of their papers and their communication skills,” said Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, Professor of History and ULM History Program Coordinator.  

Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society is a professional society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. They seek to bring students and teachers together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and improve historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways. Learn more at phialphatheta.org.