Abigail Dollries, Guarini ’26 (MALS, Cultural Studies), was awarded the 2026 Byam Shaw-Brownstone Thesis Excellence Award for her thesis, Aestheticizing and Engendering Disease: The Case of Tuberculosis, an interdisciplinary examination of tuberculosis patients in 19th century America through cultural studies and the medical humanities.
What do you consider your hometown and how has it shaped who you are today?
I consider Cincinnati my hometown because it shaped both my sense of place and my curiosity about history. Growing up in Cincinnati exposed me to a mix of traditions, perspectives, and communities that rarely fit into a single regional category.
Cincinnati’s layered history is visible in its architecture, neighborhoods, and local traditions, and it encouraged me to think about how places evolve and how stories are remembered over time. Living in Toronto later broadened my perspective, but it also deepened my appreciation for the curiosity about people, culture, and history that Cincinnati first instilled in me.
Where did you earn your undergraduate degree and what was it in?
I earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, where I double majored in history and cinema studies. My studies fostered a lasting interest in the ways stories, images, and historical narratives shape our understanding of the world.
Tell us about your thesis. What is it about? What inspired you to pursue this research?
My thesis examines the cultural construction of tuberculosis in nineteenth-century America, focusing on how the disease was represented in popular print culture between 1830 and 1850. Rather than viewing tuberculosis solely as a medical condition, I explore how it became associated with ideals of beauty, morality, gender, class, and race.
Through newspapers, magazines, advertisements, and health literature, I trace how these narratives shaped public understandings of illness and identity. I was inspired to pursue this research by an interest in the intersection of medical and cultural history, particularly the ways societies assign meaning to disease beyond its physical effects.
What does it mean to you to receive the MALS thesis award?
Receiving the Byam Shaw-Brownstone MALS Thesis Excellence Award is incredibly meaningful because it recognizes a project that represents years of research, writing, and intellectual growth. Having devoted so much time to this project, receiving this recognition is especially rewarding. It affirms the value of my research on the cultural dimensions of health, illness, and identity, while reflecting the support that made the project possible.
I am particularly grateful to my thesis advisor, Professor Min Young Godley, whose guidance and encouragement were instrumental throughout the process. It is a reminder that meaningful scholarship is strengthened by guidance, support, and intellectual community.
Why did you choose Dartmouth to pursue your degree?
I chose Dartmouth for its strong sense of community and close-knit, interdisciplinary environment. The MALS program offered the flexibility to pursue my academic interests while engaging with diverse perspectives and fields. I was drawn to the breadth of campus involvement, from lectures and events to conversations beyond the classroom, and impressed by how invested people were in their work and in each other.
Interacting with students across disciplines enriched my experience and exposed me to new ideas. And, admittedly, it didn’t hurt that Dartmouth is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in New England.
What’s one challenge you faced in graduate school, and how did you overcome it?
One challenge I faced in graduate school was balancing deep immersion in academic work with staying connected to a broader social life. It was easy to spend long stretches in the library, absorbed in research. Over time, I learned to be more intentional about stepping away and engaging with the community around me.
One of the most rewarding parts of that shift was meeting friends across different programs, making the experience feel more collaborative than I initially expected. Finding that balance ultimately made my graduate experience more sustainable and enriching, both academically and personally.
What’s next for you—and what are you most looking forward to in this new chapter?
I am currently working as an archivist and librarian, where I continue to engage directly with historical materials and support research across a range of projects. I value the opportunity to work closely with archives and to help others access and interpret historical sources.
Looking ahead, I hope to continue growing as a writer and to further develop my own research interests. I am especially looking forward to deepening my engagement with historical inquiry in both professional and scholarly contexts, and to building on the skills I developed during my graduate studies.
What is your favorite place or activity that you like best in the Hanover area?
My favorite part of the Hanover area is how easy it is to be outside and surrounded by nature. I made the most of the nearby hiking trails, which became an important part of my graduate school routine. I also loved the local film culture, especially the Nugget Theater and screenings at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.
Lunch breaks with friends at Umpleby’s Bakery and Cafe and discovering hidden gems at Left Bank Books were small but meaningful rituals. These places made Hanover feel like a place where daily life and little moments of discovery came together beautifully.
